Goodness, it is the silly season for sure. Kids miss for a variety of reasons. Family illness, acute illness with one or multiple athletes (ever been to NCA with 1/2 a team with the flu? I was in 2006), school, travel, and yes injury. In a team of 36 over a year it is guaranteed you will have kids out at some point, and really almost every competition is seems. Does not have to be an acute injury and does not have to be cheer related. On these high profile teams to not have someone prepared to step in when someone is out is not doing your job. Now, for instance, SE has 37 athletes going to Vegas with probably 100 family members or much more. I suspect each family is spending a minimum of 2k but probably more since flights are at least $300. Now with entry fees and others expenses this one team is spending over 100k on the trip. Big investment of time and money. Since we want them to perform well, and cannot predict a severe ankle sprain or acute influenza (have seen 20 confirmed cases this week, so it is hitting early) or a sick family member, or whatever, it pays to be prepared. We want them to have their best shot at being successful. Now, maybe move on to something more important, like the next Honey Boo Boo pageant result.
