catlady
Cheer Parent
- Jun 6, 2012
- 2,817
- 6,228
If the *World* championships are truly about worldwide participation, then IMO #3 in your list is the only relevant one. The United States does not need help retaining kids or growing programs. The only thing the United States needs help with is to stop pricing-out their families and driving down participation numbers.
I don't hate non-tumblers. If this were an ICU division addition I would be in full support.
I would also be in more support if USASF/Varsity was honest and instead said, "Hey, with Worlds, Summit, and D2 Summit, we're contracted for three full weeks on Disney property and we need to bring in more revenue on our "off" days - enter "International" Summit divisions on the weekdays before Summit and, I can almost guarantee, an extension of Worlds into more weekdays because there's too many divisions." At least it would be honest.
You make a great point. Cp just came off of her third knee dislocation (front walkover) at a cost of $1260. Tumble privates at $1925 to correct bhs technique and start learning a running tuck. Her first knee dislocation (cartwheel half turn) needed surgery and PT at $3600+. Medical bills and tumble privates have been the most costly part of both of our cp's cheer years and NT IS a great way for cheer in the US to stop pricing out many athletes that want to, but can't afford the medical risks long term or financially. The average individual healthcare deductible is now at $4358 and family is at $7983, that's the true elephant in the room when it comes to youth and adult sports in the US.
As far as being World's worthy, there are plenty of sports in the Olympics that people debate if they should be there, or not. Rock, broom and ice, who would have thought? I guess I don't understand the resistance. Lifting and throwing people is pretty impressive to me, with or without the tumbling.