All-Star Discounts For Elite Tumbling?

[Helen uk uni cheer]

So...
1) Gyms are luring kids away from their competitors to field Worlds teams.

2) Uniforms are getting tinier, more ornate, and more expensive than they need to be.

3) There is a lack of EP diversity.

4) Correct execution is not rewarded/valued enough.

I'm worried.



*Chris Brown voice* These gyms ain't loyal.

Come to the uk while we have less EP'S they are mostly independent from each other this year the three major ep's are giving bids for euro summit

Also you get different experience from each ep. UKCA is on dead floor and I think more ICU style with some weird rules (no bobby pins in hair and no intentional glitter on the skin) while future cheer is more american and oftens runs really late
There are others and cheer is expanding so quickly here.

Uniforms used to be in the £70-£80 region now you can pay over £100 and it is annoying especially as I have found out I will only get my uniform for the last comp of the season and am basicallt paying £100 to wear it once as I dont know what I am doing next season

 

[SL&AM]

When there was drama at a gym in STL and it split into 2 gyms. 1 offered full tuition to all LVL 5 athletes.

 

[WinstonsGirl]

Some gyms in my area have been known to offer free tuition to their adult boys, otherwise they couldn't afford to cheer period. This rubs me the wrong way since I'm not a boy and wouldn't qualify.

 

[klynn64]

And here will come the life ain't fair brigade. Lol

I hear you. My cp struggles with tumbling. She never did gymnastics and started AS when she was 12, a big 12. It doesn't come easy to her. She will most likely never have a standing full.
So I will continue to pay! ;)

And pay.....and pay. I feel your pain.

 

[klynn64]

Some gyms in my area have been known to offer free tuition to their adult boys, otherwise they couldn't afford to cheer period. This rubs me the wrong way since I'm not a boy and wouldn't qualify.

I've heard of instances where boys don't pay because it's so hard to get boys to join the gym.

 

[cheermommaRN]

A gym in AZ advertised a couple months ago for "level 5 athletes" but the skills they described were R5 at best. My cp needs to get her butt in gear so I can stop paying:p

 

[TealShades]

What about those kids that will never get their full/double but goes from being level 1 for several years then get their back tuck. And it's sold and consistent. If gyms are going to reward athletes for getting lvl 5 skills then it should be the same for those going from 1 to 3 or whatever. I don't know it's seems unfair but that's just me I guess.

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

I've heard of instances where boys don't pay because it's so hard to get boys to join the gym.

This I have heard of. This happens in dance too.

 

[Pebbles49]

Some gyms in my area have been known to offer free tuition to their adult boys, otherwise they couldn't afford to cheer period. This rubs me the wrong way since I'm not a boy and wouldn't qualify.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on this and if I was a lawyer, I think all female cheerleader should file a class action suit against any gym and USASF organization for Reverse Discrimination...Come to think of it, I think, a class action suit can be file against gyms that force parents with athletes on lvl 1-5R for financially destitution because we are being forcibly to pay for services that enriched a small segment of a gym...This is an unfair and unconstitutional contract...just saying!

 

[BowsnBling]

There are some nor cal programs that have done this practice for quire some time, lets say close to ten years. I think in nor cal it started cause it was incentive for the kids to catch up with the so cal teams. It worked for one specific gym for a long time. Not sure if they still use it or not .

 

[klynn64]

If you win titles they will come. Winning titles (in particular on Level 5/6) brings in the athletes. Athletes mean money and success, and even more titles. That's part of the logic in a gym choosing to lure high level athletes with the promise of no tuition. It's a calculated business decision and a component of their business model.

But there would seem to be a price to be paid for that approach as well. All of the loyalty that the cheer business is heavily reliant on would be greatly diminished. It seems like athletes are being reduced to a commodity to go to the highest bidder. A better deal comes their way and they will be gone with no regrets. They have no ties to bind or keep them. It's all business. And loyalty accounts for nothing for all those Level 1-5R homegrown athletes that fund this business model. There is no incentive for a gym to progress an athlete. They can just go buy any athletes that they may need and then keep the others paying tuition. It just all seems so impersonal and disloyal. Does the end justify the means ?

And what happens if someone comes in with the requisite tumbling skills but never been a flyer or based, and has no dance game ? That's an expensive nugget.

Is cheer headed more and more in this direction or is it just a select few that feel it's necessary ? This type of thing makes cheer seem more like a pro sport and less like it's intended to be.

 

[Official OWECheer]

If you win titles they will come. Winning titles (in particular on Level 5/6) brings in the athletes. Athletes mean money and success, and even more titles. That's part of the logic in a gym choosing to lure high level athletes with the promise of no tuition. It's a calculated business decision and a component of their business model.

But there would seem to be a price to be paid for that approach as well. All of the loyalty that the cheer business is heavily reliant on would be greatly diminished. It seems like athletes are being reduced to a commodity to go to the highest bidder. A better deal comes their way and they will be gone with no regrets. They have no ties to bind or keep them. It's all business. And loyalty accounts for nothing for all those Level 1-5R homegrown athletes that fund this business model. There is no incentive for a gym to progress an athlete. They can just go buy any athletes that they may need and then keep the others paying tuition. It just all seems so impersonal and disloyal. Does the end justify the means ?

And what happens if someone comes in with the requisite tumbling skills but never been a flyer or based, and has no dance game ? That's an expensive nugget.

Is cheer headed more and more in this direction or is it just a select few that feel it's necessary ? This type of thing makes cheer seem more like a pro sport and less like it's intended to be.

So much in society seems microwaved, and now it's spreading to cheer. Lots of gyms no longer want to take the time to train athletes from square 1, they just want ready made level 5 kids. *sigh*

 

[klynn64]

So much in society seems microwaved, and now it's spreading to cheer. Lots of gyms no longer want to take the time to train athletes from square 1, they just want ready made level 5 kids. *sigh*

I really don't like that being the case. It seems that the sport is increasingly being driven by $$ and influence rather than by a love of the sport.

 

[cheerKT]

I've heard of instances where boys don't pay because it's so hard to get boys to join the gym.

This happens a lot as well.

You'll also find majority of open/international teams do not pay tuition and are heavily discounted in other areas. I think it's pretty common for most gyms to take a loss on their international teams.

 

[SL&AM]

So much in society seems microwaved, and now it's spreading to cheer. Lots of gyms no longer want to take the time to train athletes from square 1, they just want ready made level 5 kids. *sigh*

This makes me sad.