All-Star Summit Reflections And Recommendations

[quitthedrama]

so is the same not true for the non worlds teams? usually they are the ones who make up the bulk of your revenue for your program.

Agreed they are just as important (I have a CP that is not on level 5), but in reality, Worlds is the biggest event of the year with the most to lose/gain, and I see nothing wrong with that. Not all of the best teams in the country are going to go to the Summit (proof positive with all of the paid bids that got turned down), but it would be hard to convince me that there is some amazing level 5 team out there that got a paid bid and had a chance to win Worlds and didn't go. I don't think the Summit should be the week after Worlds either. I think there needs to be enough time in between the two so that every team competing at either can have their coaches' full attention. I think having the Summit the first week in April could be ideal, but as I said before it will compete with UCA if it continues to be at Disney.

 

[King]

Agreed they are just as important (I have a CP that is not on level 5), but in reality, Worlds is the biggest event of the year with the most to lose/gain, and I see nothing wrong with that. Not all of the best teams in the country are going to go to the Summit (proof positive with all of the paid bids that got turned down), but it would be hard to convince me that there is some amazing level 5 team out there that got a paid bid and had a chance to win Worlds and didn't go. I don't think the Summit should be the week after Worlds either. I think there needs to be enough time in between the two so that every team competing at either can have their coaches' full attention. I think having the Summit the first week in April could be ideal, but as I said before it will compete with UCA if it continues to be at Disney.

The Summit needs to be the second to last event and close to end of April. It will, honestly, probably bleed off US finals within 3 years. While there were teams that turned down paid Summit bids it was mostly because it was a first year event and All Levels (the last incarnation) sucked. I understand the trepidation.

Having the end of the year FINAL even to cap things off is great for everyone. It allows you to plan your season now. Summit takes off everyone is going to move tryouts to the following weeks after. It is going to give a bunch of stability to cheer. I'm quite excited for it... once they fix the order.

 

[MissCongeniality]

so is the same not true for the non worlds teams? usually they are the ones who make up the bulk of your revenue for your program.

And that is why I think having these two competitions back to back (no matter the order) is a nightmare for many gyms and families!

 

[King]

And that is why I think having these two competitions back to back (no matter the order) is a nightmare for many gyms and families!

Yes. Necessary evil though. And why for the community the greatest week of cheer ever.

For gym owners it gives a reason for year round competition now as well. Gyms have a hard time finding reasons for people to pay for March and April before tryouts. And when gym owners struggle it means they have a harder time staying open and keeping cheer strong.

 

[RaRaMama]

I wasn't at the competition, so I can't speak to the pros/cons of the Summit...but I can say that I think some sort of all levels end of season, bid only event is a great idea. I'm not sure making it after Worlds is a great idea though. I still think Worlds should be the end of season event.

I don't really understand the whole "only level 5's should get that prestige". As said before, there are plenty of kids that won't make it to a level 5 team, but have amazing skills at their level and should be showcased just like the level 5's. My daughter is an awesome backspot, she performs great, she is clean.....but she is scared to death of tumbling. I don't know that she will ever be a level 5 simply because of her tumbling. Does that mean if she is on a rockin J2 team that they shouldn't be given their moment to shine? I don't think so. Worlds is a dream for a lot of atheletes, and for a variety of reasons, a lot aren't able to attain it. This gives lower levels a dream to work towards. I also think this gives smaller gyms that may not be able to field a level 5 team an opportunity to showcase their talents as well.

 

[dance2874]

I was waiting on a mom from our gym to post front view but here is our team that doesn't deserve a chance to showcase their talents at the end of the year in some of your opinion at a Worldslike event and compete against all the other Y2 that had sync tumbling just like them at L2, etc., because that right there usually worked in their favor at most comps, but not at Summit, every Y2 youth looked very similar in skills and ability, clean, etc. And maybe we didn't all post our Summit practicewear here because of straight negativity Summit was receiving from some, plus none of us had been before, what if it was something we all felt duped into attending? It wasn't. But I didn't see a team there that wasn't at least wearing a gym Summit Tshirt from their gym.

The were AMAZING!!

My CP will quite possibly never reach a level 5. She started later than some and her tumbling is a struggle at times. I feel the lower levels most certainly should have a bid only competition. They work just as hard and deserve a place to shine. I also agree it needs to be before Worlds in order to keep Worlds as the final, most prestigous competition.

After what I saw/heard this weekend I think our gym will be seeking bids for Summit this season. One of our gyms level 5 teams was there and from what I can tell had an amazing experience....and they also got new practice wear ;)

 

[Bystander]

Maybe just make worlds for actually "worlds" teams! Meaning international divisions only. Really as it is now its just a Nationals for the majority of those teams that are there. Saying your a WORLD champion when a month earlier the exact same teams all competed in a two day national doesnt really make a lot of sense! I mean are the NCA champions also WORLD champions too? Summit can be 1-4 on thurs fri and 5's on sat sun.

 

[yojaehs]

Maybe just make worlds for actually "worlds" teams! Meaning international divisions only. Really as it is now its just a Nationals for the majority of those teams that are there. Saying your a WORLD champion when a month earlier the exact same teams all competed in a two day national doesnt really make a lot of sense! I mean are the NCA champions also WORLD champions too? Summit can be 1-4 on thurs fri and 5's on sat sun.

I like most of this. However Thur/Fri is always a bad idea (only thing that's a worse idea is MONDAY). Mainly bc of schools and kids missing school.

I think it should go on weekends and go over 3 weeks.
Week 1 - Summit
Week 2 - ICU
Week 3 - Worlds




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[Level5Mom]

The Summit is NOT Worlds, so why does it have to be an issue to level 5 athletes that they are holding it in the same venue as Worlds? There are multiple cheerleading competitions every year at Disney and I don't hear anyone complaining about those? The Summit is finally a VALID event where you actually have to make finals, something these boards has complained about wanting for years. Now we have it! So the prize is a ring, that doesn't mean it's Worlds! Many teams who win NCA purchase rings for their athletes, no one complains about them.

A change of perspective is all it takes: it's a great National, must get a bid, eliminates bottom half for finals, has a ring for a prize. It should not even be compared to Worlds, because it's not Worlds.

The arguments should be about when and where (for accessiblity reasons), not what. JMO.

 

[BlueAndGreenMom]

It was a great, well run, exciting competition. I do agree with King however that it needs to be before Worlds.
The level of competition was awesome and all the teams were great. The awards were exciting and we loved it! My daughter is level 5 (jr) but I enjoyed watching all the teams this weekend- they truly were the best of the best.
My only complaint is that there needs to be some crossover rules- possibly similar to Worlds. While it is 100% legal to cross from a 2 to to a 5, that doesn't make it right. I understand some teams have injurys and you need to fill in, but having tryouts to put together your summit team isn't fair IMO. If you truly want the best of the best, I feel like the team that wins the bid should be the team to go-

 

[12stepCheermom]

I like most of this. However Thur/Fri is always a bad idea (only thing that's a worse idea is MONDAY). Mainly bc of schools and kids missing school.

I think it should go on weekends and go over 3 weeks.
Week 1 - Summit
Week 2 - ICU
Week 3 - Worlds




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I love the schedule here. Allows for practice time for both sets of teams. Now if the summit just moves to another venue (somewhere central or west coast to balance travel) and adds some crossover restrictions (or at least roster restrictions so you can't change your entire summit team roster from the bid team) then were building a legitimate, bid-only competition for lower levels that may actually produce a "legitimate" National Champion.


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[cccheermomx2]

I posted this in the Summit vs. US finals thread before I found this one, so sorry for the repost, but I think it fits better here.


I didn't attend the summit this year, so my opinion is purely speculation. But, my biggest "gripe" so to speak with the summit, is the fear that it will take away from worlds. Last year I took my then level 3, 13 year old to Worlds just to watch. The awe and admiration that took over her for the whole weekend was amazing to say the least. I feel like if she had been to a similiar, same venue, same rock star feel event as a level 3 athlete, it surely would have taken away from the experience, and can only imagine the same would be true if she were competing.

Worlds is something that young kids strive for, for some (my daughter included) it is their strongest motivation to get level 5 skills. "I can't wait until I am on a level 5 team and can go to worlds." With The Summit being the very next weekend in the very same arena, I feel it takes away from it.

Like NCA, only the level 5 athletes (with a few exceptions, I believe this year the exception was the special needs teams) get to compete in the arena. That is something prestigious, reserved for them. I feel the same about Worlds. Worlds is like the Olympics of our sport, the best of the best competing for the honor of the World Champion title.

I understand the argument that Suzys gym doesn't have a level 5 team or Suzy just doesn't have the ability to be a level 5 athlete, BUT not every swimmer, gymnast or skier gets to go to the Olympics either. I feel like this screams the "every kid makes the team" mentality and I am not a fan.

Now, to have a competition of this type, a end of season, invitation only event for the level 1-4 teams in a different venue with a different set up, I am all for it. But NOT the same venue.

 

[callmecoach]

I like most of this. However Thur/Fri is always a bad idea (only thing that's a worse idea is MONDAY). Mainly bc of schools and kids missing school.

I think it should go on weekends and go over 3 weeks.
Week 1 - Summit
Week 2 - ICU
Week 3 - Worlds




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The only problem I see with this is families with multiple kids on different levels. That's why I think it would be tough to have the Summit even one week before Worlds. If you've got a kid competing at Summit and you just want to stay the week until Worlds, but you've got a kid on a Worlds team who has practice every day that week, how do you work that out?

Did anyone run into this problem this year in reverse order (a child competing at Worlds, another child with practice that weekend/week to prepare for Summit)? If so, how did you work it out?

ETA: And then if they are two weeks apart, are families expected to travel to Disney, come home and then travel back again? Kids couldn't miss two weeks of school, and two trips just isn't feasible for most people, especially those making long trips from the west coast, northern states, etc.

 

[3cheermom]

We attended The Summit and I thought it was a very well run event. My cp is on Large Senior 3 and this was the toughest competition we had all year. I don't have a problem with it being at the same venue as Worlds and because I don't have a cp that is on a Worlds team, I didn't have a problem with it being right after Worlds but I can see where it could cause some financial strains if I had both. But I think because it was the first year for Summit, most teams/parents were not able to plan for it. If it continues to grow and become an annual event that everyone looks forward to then people can plan accordingly.

I also agree with the other comments, not everyone will make it to Worlds and this is not Worlds, it is the Summit, just because it is the held in the same venue does not make it Worlds. That accomplishment and experience will still be there when/if you make it to Worlds.

I think Varsity did a great job at making The Summit a unique experience. I hope it continues and whatever team my cps are on, we get a bid and make it back.

The only disadvantage for me is that I had one cp whose squad got a bid and one cp whose squad didn't so only one of my cps got to experience it.:)

 

[BigBow]

maybe Disney isn't the right venue for either. there have been many complaints that this sport has outgrown the WWOS for World's. I would think if the Summit took off, the crowd would be even worse considering it's levels 1-5, not just 5.