basically what @
Just-a-Mom said.
there probably isn't a youth activity out there that is perfect, but most are moving forward and getting better. cheer, IMO is regressing.
for one, the cost is astronomical. (though for the most part comparable with
high levels of other sports) this also depends on what region of the country you live in and what your priorities are. i'd be willing to pay an extra $10-$20 a month for a quality and certified coach, but monthly tuition isn't the only thing you pay for. add in the $300-$500 uniforms every 1-3 years. The $90 shoes every few months because they fall apart thanks to their shoddy craftsmanship. the mandatory $100 practice outfits, which are really just glorified bra and underwear. the $50 bow. the $50 required makeup sets. and then the travel. at the higher levels, i understand traveling to a larger nationals to then be able to travel to worlds/summit/etc. but (using stingrays as an example for a second) my tiny 1 three year old should not be required to travel to WSF-lousiville, CHEERSPORT-Atlanta (not totally traveling, fine), NCA-Dallas, UCA-Orlando in one season. sure i could go elsewhere, but then the quality instruction/coaches come back into play. because of the cost, cheer is also pricing out many families who would love to participate, which is just silly.
next, the laughable governing body. they're trying, i'll give them that. but when the coaches of the industry don't respect the leaders and their decisions, why even bother having one? they can't even stick to the same rules for more than one season. what sport do you know of that changes the rules every year? and then the gym owners and coaches basically riot and throw tantrums to get their way. or the "voting" on new rules where "Everyone's vote counts." until the results of the vote are taken to the "leaders" and they get to choose to do whatever they want anyway and turnover votes if they don't like the results.
the politics. which again, isn't exclusive to cheer. and it happens at all levels, but i'm going to use level 5 as an example right now because it's easy. look at the past few weeks of worlds bid winners and how the winning teams aren't getting paid. again, what sport do you know of that doesn't award the winner the top prize? like hey, your soccer team just won the championship, but we're going to name the other team the champions and give them the trophies. nope. doesn't happen. or the TG/CEA bid situation where the lovely film of the nice act happening includes the EP saying, I easily could have just made TG win if i wanted to, no questions asked (he didn't, because maybe he's a good guy, but the fact that he didn't even blink an eye shows that it is very easy to do and it clearly does happen)
which brings me to my next point. the scoring. why is it so easy for an EP to just change a score and choose a different winner if he so pleases? because the scoring is not live or public and it is extremely subjective. the universal scoresheet will be wonderful, but it isn't going to fix the biases and subjectivity of the scoring.
and then there is, of course, the new trend of slutty uniforms. and yes, i am straight up saying the word slutty. not the kids in them, but these new uniforms (if you can even call them that) are embarrassing and tasteless. I lose respect for and cannot take gyms seriously who are wearing them and you want the outside world to recognize you as a sport? it's not possible. (and here we are going full circle - as the governing body sees this trend happening and makes rules to combat it, the gym owners are throwing tantrums and using nude mesh, booty shorts, backless uniforms, and tube tops as a way to say eff you USASF. i also have a good feeling the full top ruling will be overturned before ever coming into effect because if they lose business, they can't make money)
and then there's the hair and makeup, which again as @
Just-a-Mom said is pageantry. why does your five year old need hair bigger than their head (and a matching bow that weighs more than their heads), smokey eyes, and red lips? you can argue that it makes you feel "fierce" and that attitude makes you a better athlete all you want. you still look ridiculous. and you're doing nothing to make cheerleading look legitimate in the public's eye.
there's probably plenty more, but all i can think of at the moment. and all this coming from a kid who grew up in the sport. if i ever have a daughter (lord help me if i do) she will be proudly wearing a baggy jersey (with whatever bra she pleases underneath), shorts, and cleats. because i would refuse to put her in this "sport" if cheer continues to travel down this path. though i really hope it gets its act together, because i did love it.
