- Dec 28, 2009
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The cheer world is not exactly good at keeping secrets... Someone spill.
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This type of program is easier for the USASF to adopt because they are the governing body. NCA or Varsity could set rules, but we don't govern anything except for our events. So our scope of power and influence w/these types of issues is limited to our actual competitions. Our ethics committee is called: disqualification. We reserve the right at any of our events to penalize teams who violatesuch rules as level safety rules (with safety deductions), compete illegally in Small Gym divisions (disqualification) or represent themselves with such a poor level of professionalism ( banned from NCA for one year)year).In other news, how realistic is it that USASF or Varsity will ever start an ethics committee used for reporting and handing out sanctions? I understand this is a time consuming and expensive, people aren't objective, blah blah blah. No coaches involved AT ALL. Details aside, is this a focus or has it been discussed by those that are more important in the industry? (I'm lookin' at you ASCheerMan...)
The USASF has two different committees that address these concerns. When a USASF Coach is accused of being in violation of their Professional Code, anyone in the industry has the right to bring forth a case to be heard by the USASF Disciplinary Committee. This committee is made up of primarily coaches from around the country. They will review the case and associated Gym Owner, in addtiion to the facts, the notes taken and anything else relevant before making a decision and a suggested penalty for the defendant (in the event that the Coach in question is found guilty). The USASF Board of Directors reviews the findings of the Disciplinary Committee, contributes their own 2 cents, and develops the official ruling and (when applicable) a penalty fr the Gym Owner and Coach.
All work done by these committees is kept confidential (in the spirit of protecting the innocent and everyone involved). One complete findings are posted to the USASF website.Are the committees looking at any violations right now??
On the flipside, I would want to be tried by a group of people who empathized with my position and the environment I work in. Just like a jury is made up of other tax paying citizens.
Individuals with a personal relationship or a specifically competitive relationship with the defendant are recused from the committee on a case-by-case basis.
If I were a coach of an all star team in Dallas, there may be another coach from a rival local gym or coach from our main competition at Worlds that would make me uncomfortable, but there are thousands of coaches from the state of California or Oregon or New York (or wherever) that have no reason to unfairly prosecute me during an investigation. And this pool of peers has a vested interest in the current all star world and doesn't bring with them the prejudices regarding 'the way things used to be.'Would you want someone that is currently involved in the industry that might be your competition over someone that was formerly involved (used to be a coach, retired from coaching to be on the ethics committee)? I agree with someone understanding the cheer coach mentality, but cheer is a small family and things can get ugly quick.
The cheer world is not exactly good at keeping secrets... Someone spill.
I think one of the most important things is that teams who break rules by using illegal athletes in any capacity should be outed to the public by the EP who finds them in violation of the rules. There should be a way to look up if anyone was disqualified at a competition and for what reason.I was talking to some people this past week about breaking the rules, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what an appropriate punishment is for breaking them.
What do you think is an appropriate punishment for the gym, team, coaches, athletes in these situations:
- Using an illegal (over/under age) athlete to obtain a bid If discovered after bid awarded, bid stripped and team not allowed to compete at competition for which bid was awarded; Gym and team name released to public on competition website
- Using an illegal (over/under age) athlete to compete at worlds Gym not allowed to compete at Worlds following year with any team; Gym and team name released to public on Worlds website
- Using an illegal substitution (already used max # or didn't have release) at worlds Same as second response
- Using a crossover at worlds (cheer/cheer or dance/cheer) Same as second response
- Breaking ethics rules (recruiting at a competition, code of conduct, etc) Coach and gym fined a predetermined amount for particular transgression; coach and gym name released to public on competition website
- Substance abuse while competing Suspension for remainder of season; up to individual gym to allow athlete to return following season
- Substance abuse while coaching Suspension for one year from coaching in any capacity; predetermined fine paid to governing cheer body
- Coaches disregard for General Safety rules (appropriate surfaces, skill progressions) First transgression - warning; further transgressions result in a predetermined fine and possible suspension from future competitions depending on what the rule was broken
I'm good at keeping secrets.. I know what it is. It will get out eventually, but it's a private matter and doesn't need to be exposed at the moment.