All-Star Let's Start A Pro League

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King

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Basing it off Lark's idea what if we started a pro league? First year just 6 teams at 6 locations: TG, Rays, Cali, CA, CEA, and Twisters.

All athletes compete in a division that looks like IOC5 except people are only 18 and up. They do 5 competitions (Jamfest, NCA, CHEERSPORT, NCA, and Worlds) and get points for how they score and how they finish. The winner of the season is from total points from the year.

All teams are paid for by a sponsor (so free to compete and train). The sponsors could be like Nfinity or Rebel or Varsity. It would not be a job, just a no cost expenditure.


No one can switch teams mid season. Once you go pro you can never go back to amateur open teams. Teams take 30 people for the year and cannot addon extra people (rosters declared at the beginning).

What do y'all think?


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Ok for scoring we keep it simple. They compete and get a final competition score. Since there are 6 teams you get reverse placement points. 6 for first, 5 for second... And so on. But to keep it interesting you get 1 bonus point for each place higher that you score over your raw.

So if you have 6th place raw but hit and get 3rd you get 4 points for getting 3rd but also 3 bonus points for placing higher than your raw.

This rewards people who hit.


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Definitely an interesting concept, but in my opinion... why would anyone want to dedicate that amount of time to something they aren't going to be paid for? If I'm good enough to be on Top Gun (example, because I'm definitely nowhere near!) I would just cheer on their team, and not get paid anyway. Or would they be getting paid and I just didn't understand correctly?
Obviously, 18+ can be on regular open teams, and if you're "serious" you can join one of those big 6 gyms and be a part of those "better" teams... but aren't they all competing at Worlds anyway? Plus I think a lot of open teams now are free for participants anyway. If only the best of the best are competing, why create something new to achieve something already in existence... because can't all those teams just compete at those big comps anyway? Just my opinion.
 
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You have to pay now to be on an open team. It costs to fly, stay at hotels, and theoretically entry fees.

I'm saying for all competition parts and flying and room and board paid for.


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You have to pay now to be on an open team. It costs to fly, stay at hotels, and theoretically entry fees.

I'm saying for all competition parts and flying and room and board paid for.


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Okay, so this "pro league" would essentially be a way to be on an open team for free?
Not trying to say "this is a bad idea" because it does sound interesting. I'm just wondering what the difference would really be for those athletes, other than paying to be on a team.
 
What made you pick these teams?

I'm just wondering because it seems like Gym Tyme would be a logical gym to include, however I know off the top of my head that their team is primarily comprised of UofL athletes....but I can't say the same for the 6 you listed.

Would created cheerleading "pro" team....have anything to do prohibiting college athletes from participating?
 
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Okay, so this "pro league" would essentially be a way to be on an open team for free?
Not trying to say "this is a bad idea" because it does sound interesting. I'm just wondering what the difference would really be for those athletes, other than paying to be on a team.

To begin with, yes. I don't think the market is there yet to pay them to be on a team. But costs to BE on an open team, even just for travel, are pretty high. So 6 gyms chosen, all who've won worlds multiple times, get an open team that has no cost. Each team is open to sponsorship and its a way for lots of companies to promote themselves in cheer. And instead of just winning once all year and be done you reward the entire year.
 
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What made you pick these teams?

I'm just wondering because it seems like Gym Tyme would be a logical gym to include, however I know off the top of my head that their team is primarily comprised of UofL athletes....but I can't say the same for the 6 you listed.

Would created cheerleading "pro" team....have anything to do prohibiting college athletes from participating?


Actually thinking on it farther I think you do two leagues, all girl and coed. Both 6 teams each and each league has different gyms (a gym can be across both leagues). So include GT, Spirit, World Cup... I can't think of another three at this second.

College cheerleaders are still not technically athletes (STUNT is not a sport legally and not subject to NCAA rules) so that wouldnt be an issue. NCATA athletes would not be able to participate.

Gymnastics has this saying at every gym: Start here... go anywhere. Well anywhere for cheer is an open team. This would be a way to create a league where at least tuition and competition expenses are free and sponsors can get their name out there.
 
We have a lot of leagues, federations, organizations that are still a work in progress. I think it's best to get one thing right before we start creating a whole new entity.
 
Not sure about competing as a pro and then never being eligible as an amateur again..

I have been a professional athlete for 9 years now, but even if I went to the Olympics, I could decide to redeclare my eligibility for amateur status, sit out the required time (2 years I think?) and return to competition without a problem. Sure, people do it to cheat the system, but many have a drastic change in their life that requires it. Competing as a pro doesn't always mean it would be bad to go back to amateur competition.
 
I like the concept because it essentially gives cheerleaders something to look forward to.

How would picking the teams work though? Would it be a draft and kids can declare for the draft and teams pick them? Would it be like oh hey I am going to show up and these try outs and see what happens? Would it be based on location alone, like if you live in California, Oregon, Washington, you can try out for California. If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, you can try out for Cheer Athletics.

What about alternates? I know you said no mid season additions, but what about injuries?
 
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With 30 allowed to be on the roster you have to use your athletes wisely.

I probably wouldn't do a draft first year unless people were willing to move. In the beginning people would have to have jobs to support themselves outside of cheer.


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