All-Star Nearby Gym Controversy

[SL&AM]

The kids around here try out in May, so personally that is when I would try to get other athletes to change their current situation, otherwise you are just messing with parents and children and keeping them from focusing on their current team.

I kinda disagree with your last sentence. If I were the parent in this situation my response would be simple, "Thank you for the offer, but we're happy at our currently gym." Click. I doubt I'd even tell the owner or other parents because it would be a done deal. No one is messing with your current gym beyond yourselves. As for May, I'd agree but my CP is still competing with her team in May and if try-outs work the same as they did last year could feasibly already been on her next season team before she's done with her current one.

 

[AScheer]

We're from the same state, so I assume I know which gym owner you're talking about but really it could be any of them. Unfortunately this isn't uncommon. I know quite a few gym owners that wouldn't hesitate to do this. I learned a long time ago it's part of the game and they aren't going to stop anytime soon. I have a different set of beliefs on what should and shouldn't be done, and I can't expect everyone else to have those same beliefs.

 

[jasoncheerdad]

I kinda disagree with your last sentence. If I were the parent in this situation my response would be simple, "Thank you for the offer, but we're happy at our currently gym." Click. I doubt I'd even tell the owner or other parents because it would be a done deal. No one is messing with your current gym beyond yourselves. As for May, I'd agree but my CP is still competing with her team in May and if try-outs work the same as they did last year could feasibly already been on her next season team before she's done with her current one.

Unfortunately the other gym has solicited many of our athletes and have even offered them incentive money to help with "quitters fees" if they leave mid-season. I guess this is just normal shaddy business practice from what it seems like. The parent did tell her no thanks but was pretty upset that the owner sought her out and thought it was okay to do such a thing.

 

[SL&AM]

Unfortunately the other gym has solicited many of our athletes and have even offered them incentive money to help with "quitters fees" if they leave mid-season. I guess this is just normal shaddy business practice from what it seems like. The parent did tell her no thanks but was pretty upset that the owner sought her out and thought it was okay to do such a thing.

The best thing to do is ignore, ignore, ignore---she will eventually give up.

 

[CookieMomster]

Playing devil's advocate here but why do we feel cheer needs a special bubble when it's common place in other businesses?!? I've been solicited by head hunters and other companies all the time to come work from them. Sports reps from colleges and universities scout all the time and early admission can disrupt a team. It happens in professional sports all the time with trades and athlete's who represent themselves.

Is it shady or just part of business?

ETA: The grass is always greener for some people, and people are always on the hunt for bigger and better. It's human nature.

 

[jasoncheerdad]

Playing devil's advocate here but why do we feel cheer needs a special bubble when it's common place in other businesses?!? I've been solicited by head hunters and other companies all the time to come work from them. Sports reps from colleges and universities scout all the time and early admission can disrupt a team. It happens in professional sports all the time with trades and athlete's who represent themselves.

Is it shady or just part of business?

ETA: The grass is always greener for some people, and people are always on the hunt for bigger and better. It's human nature.

My opinion you are comparing adults to children. When someone is pressuring my 10 year old I have a huge problem with that. Good business capitalizing on young children who are not even mature enough to make those kind of decisions or even understand consequences is wrong. I believe there are other terms for when grown adults solicit under age children........ Before someone starts the that is not what was said.... do you honestly think they didn't talkto the children at competitions without the parent present?

 

[SL&AM]

My opinion you are comparing adults to children. When someone is pressuring my 10 year old I have a huge problem with that. Good business capitalizing on young children who are not even mature enough to make those kind of decisions or even understand consequences is wrong. I believe there are other terms for when grown adults solicit under age children........ Before someone starts the that is not what was said.... do you honestly think they didn't talkto the children at competitions without the parent present?

That is an entirely different thing and veers into the world of stalking. If adults were approaching MY underage athlete and causing them anxiety or fear without my presence that is an entirely different thing from a parent receiving a phone call from the other owner. In that case, I would likely seek legal action---I would start with a certified letter from an attorney stating that they are not to speak to my child and if that didn't work move up to a restraining order. I would also be annoyed with whoever was in charge of my child at the time of the incident because it is their job to ensure they can get through warm-up and performing unharmed. I also wouldn't allow my athlete to walk around the venue without a parent/adult present. There are lots of way to handle this type of situation, they just involve more work.

 

[jasoncheerdad]

That is an entirely different thing and veers into the world of stalking. If adults were approaching MY underage athlete and causing them anxiety or fear without my presence that is an entirely different thing from a parent receiving a phone call from the other owner. In that case, I would likely seek legal action---I would start with a certified letter from an attorney stating that they are not to speak to my child and if that didn't work move up to a restraining order. I would also be annoyed with whoever was in charge of my child at the time of the incident because it is their job to ensure they can get through warm-up and performing unharmed. I also wouldn't allow my athlete to walk around the venue without a parent/adult present. There are lots of way to handle this type of situation, they just involve more work.

Also, said gym is soliciting athletes while they are at her gym for their middle school cheer practice. I walked in and my daughter was stunting with the competition team not her middle school team. I about had a come apart on the coaches. Then, we get into our car and my daughter says it happens all the time she didn't understand what the problem is.

 

[CookieMomster]

That is an entirely different thing and veers into the world of stalking. If adults were approaching MY underage athlete and causing them anxiety or fear without my presence that is an entirely different thing from a parent receiving a phone call from the other owner. In that case, I would likely seek legal action---I would start with a certified letter from an attorney stating that they are not to speak to my child and if that didn't work move up to a restraining order. I would also be annoyed with whoever was in charge of my child at the time of the incident because it is their job to ensure they can get through warm-up and performing unharmed. I also wouldn't allow my athlete to walk around the venue without a parent/adult present. There are lots of way to handle this type of situation, they just involve more work.

This! Phoning and approaching parents is completely different than approaching minors. Your OP was about calling parents.

Also, said gym is soliciting athletes while they are at her gym for their middle school cheer practice. I walked in and my daughter was stunting with the competition team not her middle school team. I about had a come apart on the coaches. Then, we get into our car and my daughter says it happens all the time she didn't understand what the problem is.

How are they getting in to the gym to solicit? I'd have bigger issues that the current gym is letting people in who aren't supposed to be there than by the soliciting!

 

[CookieMomster]

Double post

 

[amy1k]

He's saying her middle school practices at an Allstar gym. During the middle school practices, coaches approach his child and work on stunting with her and their Allstar teams.

Your child must be very talented. I'd approach the owner of the Allstar gym where the school practices and tell them it makes your daughter uncomfortable. Also talk to her middle school coach.

 

[jasoncheerdad]

This! Phoning and approaching parents is completely different than approaching minors. Your OP was about calling parents.


How are they getting in to the gym to solicit? I'd have bigger issues that the current gym is letting people in who aren't supposed to be there than by the soliciting!

This gym coaches some of the middle school and high school teams along with the sponsors from the schools.

 

[amy1k]

The coach is possibly not even aware that she is an Allstar cheerleader at a rival gym. I wouldn't be surprised by a coach approaching a school athlete trying to recruit. Also...the fact that she's there representing her school also makes it less problematic to me. It would be different if it was at a cheer competition wearing an Allstar uniform from a rival gym.

 

[jasoncheerdad]

The coach is possibly not even aware that she is an Allstar cheerleader at a rival gym. I wouldn't be surprised by a coach approaching a school athlete trying to recruit. Also...the fact that she's there representing her school also makes it less problematic to me. It would be different if it was at a cheer competition wearing an Allstar uniform from a rival gym.

Oh no, the all star coach knows we are a rival gym. Unfortunately, I cannot be there for her middle school practices when this is occurring. I am strongly considering turn it in to our state's organization that is over athletics for middle and high schools. I didn't sign a waiver for her to participate with an all star team at this gym. If she gets hurt while not with her middle school squad who is responsible?

 

[SL&AM]

Also, said gym is soliciting athletes while they are at her gym for their middle school cheer practice. I walked in and my daughter was stunting with the competition team not her middle school team. I about had a come apart on the coaches. Then, we get into our car and my daughter says it happens all the time she didn't understand what the problem is.

This would break down to a talk with the MS coach, under no circumstances is she to be doing anything else with any other team. If they have nothing to do, you'll pick her back up. Honestly, and I know I'm often coined as the snarky one around here so I say this not to be rude or snarky, but it appears that you're enabling this situation as much as you may want it fixed.

If the MS coach doesn't understand the rivalry, it's up to you to talk to her/him. If the MS coach consistently allows her athletes to be pulled into other team practices, do you really trust MS coach enough to leave your daughter in his/her care? If you remove your daughter from this situation, will the other owner have less room to get to you? Yes.

My final question, have you actually talked to the rival gym owner about any of this? Because if not, it's all a moot point and you need to start at square one with better communication.