All-Star Recruiting? What Is To Far?

[BowsnBling]

So with everything that has been going on with 'cheerlebrities' leaving what I would call their home program to go to new gyms, I started wondering: Are these gyms or the main gym in question approaching these kids and if so how do you feel about it?

I do feel that their is a small window from the time the team last competes to tryout dates that it is still wrong to do but not as tasteless because the season is over. Yet, overall I do not like the idea of actively recruiting other gyms athletes.

Also, what type of incentives are these kids being offered? I just don't like 'the can of worms' that this situation is opening. Anyone else worried for our sport like I am?

 

[megaflipper]

The Cheerlebrity created value and is using it to his/her advantage. It is a two way street. The present gym needs to be creative to hold onto its talent. What about the larger gyms grabbing all of the smaller gyms talent after the smaller gym spent years teaching the athlete their skills? I feel this is a larger issue.

 

[BowsnBling]

The Cheerlebrity created value and is using it to his/her advantage. It is a two way street. The present gym needs to be creative to hold onto its talent. What about the larger gyms grabbing all of the smaller gyms talent after the smaller gym spent years teaching the athlete their skills? I feel this is a larger issue.

I agree that this issue is important no matter who you are talking about, I don't think its right any way you slice it!

 

[lakerfantlc]

It’s called capitalism....if you want to keep customers...give a better product...people and customers do not come with a pink slip....:deadhorse:

 

[dawgshow]

I'm not a fan of recruiting at all. My personal feeling is that a gym should have information available about what it offers, answer any questions people have, truthfully return any phone calls or emails, but do NOT approach these children (remember they are still children---sorry if you don't want to hear that) or their parents trying to get them to jump fence. Once an athlete approaches said gym, though, I see nothing wrong with saying "we'd love to have you and here's why!"
Don't even get me started on waiving fees.

 

[SarahS]

I don't have any problem with any kind of recruiting during the off season. These are kids who don't have an obligation to stay at any particular gym for more than a season. It seems to me that some kinds of recruiting (waiving fees, etc) might be financially unsustainable, but that's more of a business problem than a recruiting/ethical problem (and, if the gyms play their cards right, they'll make money with kids who follow big names to their gym). I think certain kinds of "recruiting" (ie badmouthing other gyms and athletes) would serve as anti-incentives for me to consider a gym. Each athlete and parent should be able to choose a gym based on whatever criteria is important to that family; if you don't like recruiting, don't go to a gym that recruits.

 

[BowsnBling]

It’s called capitalism....if you want to keep customers...give a better product...people and customers do not come with a pink slip....:deadhorse:

I think you misunderstand my main message in the thread, I am saying that I don't agree with recruiting that includes gifting items to athletes or parents. Believe me I understand if your product is not good you will lose kids, I get that, I am just talking about recruiting.

 

[cheercurl]

So with everything that has been going on with 'cheerlebrities' leaving what I would call their home program to go to new gyms, I started wondering: Are these gyms or the main gym in question approaching these kids and if so how do you feel about it?

I do feel that their is a small window from the time the team last competes to tryout dates that it is still wrong to do but not as tasteless because the season is over. Yet, overall I do not like the idea of actively recruiting other gyms athletes.

Also, what type of incentives are these kids being offered? I just don't like 'the can of worms' that this situation is opening. Anyone else worried for our sport like I am?

I must be living in a cave? What cheerlebrity has left their home gym for a new one?

 

[lakerfantlc]

I think you misunderstand my main message in the thread, I am saying that I don't agree with recruiting that includes gifting items to athletes or parents. Believe me I understand if your product is not good you will lose kids, I get that, I am just talking about recruiting.

again...capitalism...if a gym wants to give free tuition or whatever...they should be able to..its their money they are losing and other people who don’t like it...dont go there...we are a free society...freedom to chose what gym we do or do not go to...but trying to control the gym who should also have the freedom to do what they want...if it is tacky...people will see through it and not come....but the freedom MUST remain..IMO

 

[BowsnBling]

I must be living in a cave? What cheerlebrity has left their home gym for a new one?

Some in the Atlanta have been moving around a little bit.

 

[lakerfantlc]

I must be living in a cave? What cheerlebrity has left their home gym for a new one?

rumor going around gabi left top gun for trinity

 

[BowsnBling]

again...capitalism...if a gym wants to give free tuition or whatever...they should be able to..its their money they are losing and other people who don’t like it...dont go there...we are a free society...freedom to chose what gym we do or do not go to...but trying to control the gym who should also have the freedom to do what they want...if it is tacky...people will see through it and not come....but the freedom MUST remain..IMO

I respect your opinion. :)

 

[cheerymom]

I'm just thinking that gyms that have to resort to gifts, freebies, bad mouthing the competition, etc don't seem very confident and if athletes agree to those terms they need to be prepared for the possibility that if they are unable to "perform" to the expectation they could be passed over for the next big thing.

 

[lakerfantlc]

I'm just thinking that gyms that have to resort to gifts, freebies, bad mouthing the competition, etc don't seem very confident and if athletes agree to those terms they need to be prepared for the possibility that if they are unable to "perform" to the expectation they could be passed over for the next big thing.

agree...and if thats the case...you shouldn’t go there..but its their right to offer free whatever...no different than any store buy one get one....they are free to give away whatever...and if they badmouth other gyms...then you have the freedom to not go there...:)

 

[Level5Mom]

So with everything that has been going on with 'cheerlebrities' leaving what I would call their home program to go to new gyms, I started wondering: Are these gyms or the main gym in question approaching these kids and if so how do you feel about it?

I do feel that their is a small window from the time the team last competes to tryout dates that it is still wrong to do but not as tasteless because the season is over. Yet, overall I do not like the idea of actively recruiting other gyms athletes.

Also, what type of incentives are these kids being offered? I just don't like 'the can of worms' that this situation is opening. Anyone else worried for our sport like I am?

I think I see where you are going with this....like if Trantastic Allstars offer kids 5K, a clothing line and a reality show to come cheer with them this year, who's to say that next year Craptapulous Allstars won't offer the same kids 8K, a car and pay off their house to come cheer for them. I think it is taking this sport in a direction that is unchartered in our industry so far. Yes we've seen scholarships around to date (for males), but this opens up a new era, and I agree with you that I don't know if I like it. These are high school kids and younger (for the most part), and we are now starting to treat them like pros. I'm not sure I want to see the industry follow this path....