- May 18, 2011
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Well, I guess I have some explaining to do!
First off, I want to let you know that I am neither an athlete, nor an ex-cheerleader or a coach and not even close to being an expert, I am basically just a proud cheer dad that's been following this sport for the past 6 years, I've been to more or less 50 competitions, in the US and Canada, I've been through all the emotions, from coming close, to failing miserably, to winning it all, my daughter went through scolar to All Star teams, from level 2 to level 5 and even coached for a while...In all those years, I got to be a little better at judging from my seat or the fan zone at the events but aside from my predictions getting better and better with the times, I still am far far away from being an expert. So that's that for my cheer experience.
Now I must say that being a bit older, my background is also way different than most of you here...My area of expertise, in my time, was baseball, hockey...and bowling!
So my questioning of the rules comes directly from my own background. Never, in any way shape or form would you even think of changing divisions because of a poor start or even injuries, and certainly not to have a better chance at winning...You made your bed, you lied in it, you had a miserable season, learn from it and come back stronger the next year. And that may work for those sports, but if you over level a team because of their initial potential, the risk of injury trying to have a level 2 athlete do level 3 skills is high. I know this, because I've done it. I've looked at kids and viewed the potential, not the reality and had to adjust course once reality hit hard.
I'm sure you can understand where I'm coming from, same as I understand the cheer world is a whole other ball game…
Another thing I want to make clear is that I don't mind teams changing levels or divisions yearly, In fact, not only do I don't care what level teams are from one year to another, I can't even remember what level they were when I get to see them! Too much categories for my little head if you ask me but that's a whole other question for a whole other time. The concept of too many divisions is subjective. If the goal in sport is inclusion of children for fun, athleticism and friendship, then we should have as many divisions as we can to include athletes. Maybe not all of them should be competitive, but I wouldn't want cheer to ever be in a place where Sally can't do cheer because shes not good enough.
Also, I know just enough to realize that level 6 and 5 are not that far away from each other and that often, level 5 is tougher and more competitive than 6.
As for the Viqueens Spirit from Norway, forget about what they did last year or the year before...It bugged me that they spent the whole season up to last week at level 6, and even if the video I've posted maybe wasn't their best effort this year, we can see they have skills...If they can hit those moves, they should, in my mind, hit level 5 NT moves pretty easily, again, maybe I'm wrong but I think I saw enough Level 5NT competition this season to have at least a little knowledge to back me upBut level 5 and 6 skills aren't even close to the same. Especially pyramids! I know level 6 teams that can hit rewinds like pros, but doing a double up to stretch is a struggle. We had an IO6 team that struggle bussed their way into 2019. Coaches made the choice prior to their bid event to add guys to their team and become IOSC6. The team is significantly stronger as a result. It was strategic for them, but I don't see the fun in allowing a team to flounder because people outside of the team or program may have an opinion about it (and people sure did have an opinion)
All in all, I still think it's sad that teams who've battled it out all year, compared themselves, tried to upgrade to level up and be competitive with each other, may not even get a chance to experience day 2 (There's also the INTL rules of 3 teams per country that's a problem here…) or a podium for a team that switched level in the last stretch, to be in the newest division, the one they have a better chance of dominating. That maybe does wonder for the siwtching down's team self esteem but what does it do for those who will get left out after giving it their all, all season long? Thats assuming the reasoning for a team switching divisions though. Frequently we just assume its to win without knowing circumstance. Maybe Viqueens had half their team unable to afford going to Florida, and athletes who could replace them couldn't perform at level 6, and they had to get another bid? Maybe they just want to crush 5.0? Maybe they hate tumbling and saw another viable option to attend? Who knows.
In a sport based largely on sportmanship, one that's trying to gain momentum and credibility, I personally think it's not the way to go about it...
So, now that we got that out of the way, let's go back to the subject at hand from another angle, I'll ask my question differently :
How much of a gap is acceptable as it pertains to levels/categories and a time frame for a team to switch ? After one month, 1 competition? 2? How close is too close to Worlds to switch? Should there be a limit or not? I don't think there should be a limit on when because circumstances change quickly and dramatically in cheer and not always do coaches or programs have the options to fill in with a viable athlete. At one point this year, I went down 4 athletes on a team of 14 and had to make dramatic changes, including changing level for one event in order to make it work.
Changing levels isn't as easy as anyone would think. It takes extensive work to change skills from one level to the next. If people want to switch the week before, and obtain a bid through approved channels, then they've earned the bid and they're entitled to do it.
Same with levels, you compete all year at IOAG6 or co-ed or Senior or whatever, what would be an acceptable « downgrade » DURING a season? Should there be rules to regulate this and prevent teams switching just to have a better shot at gold? Again, assuming why a team is changing divisions. I think IASF/USASF would be hard pressed to prove that a team switched divisions to have a better shot at winning and not because it's a logistical or personnel issue.
Maybe all is fine the way it is too, like I said earlier, it doesn't really matter to me beacause I don't hit the mat! My girl does and she and her team, this year or any other year or team before have always performed well under any circumstances so I don't fear any team coming her way...Be it a US, Canadian or any other country's team
By the way, she doesn't know I'm over here talking cheer...My bet is she wouldn't like it so much, further more on this subject as she basically has the same opinion as you on the matter, after all, it's her sport and she knows the rules that apply, I am the one who's questioning the rules, and no, I don't do it in front of her, I just ask questions, she answers, I oblige and move on.
Hey, I think I answered most of the questions and then some didn't I ? So I'll leave it at that!
Again, thanks for your time and your informative answers, much appreciated
I hope my bold answers above aren't combative, because they're not meant to be at all. I've been on this board for a lot of years and more often than not, people assume that teams change divisions as some ploy to win, when in reality, who knows.
