While I agree with the research answer - especially in the light of me being in the field so therefore aware of shenanigans that can go on behind the scenes, I am wondering how a brand new to cheer parent would apply it? To my knowledge there is not an unbiased what your should know before you sign your child up for cheer document that is at the top of Google search, FierceBoard, other message boards, etc. I mean a parent whose child never cheered, the parent never cheered and have no clue as to where to even start to look. Many times what we loudly claim as research in reality is just our preference for our favorite gym(s) based on competitive style/flair, competition results, and friendships.
For example if I look at the what is passed on as research now for when my daughter first started cheer there would of only been 2 gyms to go to out of 75 in the state. One 90 minutes away and another 3 hours away. And even they did not have 100 percent favorable ratings but they are definitely the most popular and therefore the most advocated for gyms in the state. She would of never cheered. I would not be coaching. There is no way I would of put her in that situation with school. I would not of put myself or my wife on the road after work, juggling schedules just to get her to one of those two gyms so she could see if she liked cheer and to learn a handstand, cartwheel, back walkover and BHS. It didn't matter if she went to Worlds, CheerSport, NCA, Jamfest Indy. I was just trying to get her exposed to the sport she said she wanted to try, have some fun and fit it in the family budget. As she remained in the sport those things became more important, whereas I think the research answer becomes even more relevant and enforceable.
In short we need to continue to find better ways to educate rather than berate.