All-Star Teams That Go Up Against No One....

[The Sixth]

I'd say, there are bigger things to worry about. And if you do, it just makes you look jealous. Not because of the skill (or lack of as pointed out) but because of the attention they get.

Marketing themselves by bragging about it, IS obnoxious. But being able to do what they do is just the way the industry is set up, and as others have mentioned, geography plays a part as well.

If people are impressed by anything with the word "nationals" attached to it, that speaks of their own ignorance. For me *personally* NCA Nationals would be the only one I'd consider noteworthy.

 

[idrive]

I hate going to a competition so my kids can compete against no one! There are too many comps out there today. The purpose for these comps is to make money and if they can with only one team in every division they will keep doing so.

 

[bowsandpros]

Pop Warner hasn't had that rule for years either

Then I have no idea what I'm thinking of! Hahaha. I'm not sure, because I've never been to more than one all-star competition that has a team that's in a lone division. I was just throwing caution to the wind and hoping that this information made sense. Thank you for correcting me!

 

[Onfire381]

Makes me crazy when this happens! People in town who don't know any better think this place is super great because they always win. Literally, they have probably only competed against a TOTAL OF 15 teams all season, in about 6 or 7 different competitions.

Ummmm......Hmmmmmm. Been there, done that, got the shirt (or sweatshirt literally) on my CPs former team.

 

[AScheer]

We have a couple of teams around here that do it. On purpose. It's no secret and they have even been known to change divisions last minute just to prevent going against anyone. The parents either don't mind or don't realize that they are paying this much money to go against no one. The most annoying part is they will bash other programs for not getting first and winning all the time, and will never tell anyone who doesn't already know, that they went against no one. I wish that EP's would combine similar divisions like they used to if there weren't very many teams in the two divisions. I personally hate having no competition. I guess I'm old school in the sense that I would rather get 5th in an extremely hard division than 1st against no one.

 

[ACEDAD]

I wish that EP's would combine similar divisions like they used to if there weren't very many teams in the two divisions.

This should be a requirement. Whatever the closest level division is.

 

[FA_pinknation]

I think as an athlete and coach you learn so much from competing at a variety of competitions and going against teams both good and bad. Recently I've noticed the following trends with many Canadian gyms and I find such a shame that although their intentions are for short-term success and titles, they are only hindering their athletes and business in the long run.
1) Gyms only attending competitions where they know opposing Team/Gym XYZ will not be so that they have a better chance of winning.
2) Gyms going to a so-called "National championship" which is run by a janky no-name EP and with little to no opponents. And then they consistently use these titles for advertising purposes.
3) Taking your 15 best athletes from Junior/Senior 4/5 and having them compete Small Junior 2 just to win. I understand having a few crossovers here and there but this practice to me is just plain bad sportsmanship.
4) Asking a competition to split a certain division in your favor
5) Switching divisions once a preliminary schedule has been posted in order to not be against a certain team.

You learn way more from losing than you do winning and I think good, healthy competition is essential if you want to progress as a gym.

 

[munchkinmom]

what do you think about teams that purposely find competitions that no one else in their level is in...... there is a local team around me, and they do this all the time, and people think they are amazing.....it just kills me b ecause no one else competed against them lol

what are your thoughts..... are those considered fake wins? i think they are... but thats just me

I was gonna let this whole thread go if you were a child, but since you seem to be an adult coach if not an owner: as a parent I would be absolutly mortified if someone in charge of my program came on a public message board and made these comments about a nearby gym. There may be many reasons why they go to competitions with no one else in their level, you've been given several, and I know of several more.

People formulate opinions of gyms for many reasons, and scoresheets is often just a small part of that. I've left tumbling programs and teams because people of people's attitudes and/or they weren't safe. Leaving because they weren't competative is not something that would cross my mind any time soon, and in the mean time the "best" gym for us would be one that supports my CP and allows her to grow as an athlete and welcomes us as family. If you run a healthy
supportive program, people will like you regardless of what other gyms are doing.

I have no idea who the other gym is, and have no dog in your fight, I'm hundreds of miles away, but this is not the way to raise yourself up. If you want to have an honest discussion about single team divisions, that's fine, leave the other program out of it.

 

[Mcfierceburger]

what do you think about teams that purposely find competitions that no one else in their level is in...... there is a local team around me, and they do this all the time, and people think they are amazing.....it just kills me b ecause no one else competed against them lol

what are your thoughts..... are those considered fake wins? i think they are... but thats just me

Well we have just started a 4.2 team and we wont be against anyone until Nationals which is our last comp. Plus we don't have the choice on what team we get on and we can't help that, honestly I'd love to compete against someone all the time.

no this is a level 5 international open team that skill wise isn't a level 5, they are maybe level 3, but due to their age they gotta b a 5, which is stupid, i wish cheer would let older peeps start at a lower level but it is what it is.... but ya they seek out comps with no competition....kinda silly..... and then they brag so so much

In Australia they allow older people to compete in lower level teams, just last year in our Coed Senior 3 we had team members ranging from 16 - 30. The reason is because the sport isn't big or old enough to have quite the age grid like the US does.

 

[Valvalmom]

I think as an athlete and coach you learn so much from competing at a variety of competitions and going against teams both good and bad. Recently I've noticed the following trends with many Canadian gyms and I find such a shame that although their intentions are for short-term success and titles, they are only hindering their athletes and business in the long run.
1) Gyms only attending competitions where they know opposing Team/Gym XYZ will not be so that they have a better chance of winning.
2) Gyms going to a so-called "National championship" which is run by a janky no-name EP and with little to no opponents. And then they consistently use these titles for advertising purposes.
3) Taking your 15 best athletes from Junior/Senior 4/5 and having them compete Small Junior 2 just to win. I understand having a few crossovers here and there but this practice to me is just plain bad sportsmanship.
4) Asking a competition to split a certain division in your favor
5) Switching divisions once a preliminary schedule has been posted in order to not be against a certain team.

You learn way more from losing than you do winning and I think good, healthy competition is essential if you want to progress as a gym.

#3 is my all time pet peeve. Level 2 teams are there for level 2 athletes to shine. Not to throw a few level 2 athletes behind a bunch of level 4s.

 

[SmileyRyleigh]

Personally I think it's ridiculous. If there is nobody in your division, than you should have to beat a max score to get the banner/jackets.
To outsiders who know nothing about cheer that walk into a gym and see all of these "national champions" banners, it makes them think the team/gym is awesome because they're unaware of how they got them. I don't think it's about being "national champions"... I don't think they think they're actually "national champions" (with the exception of a few who haven't figured out we know you competed against nobody... stop bragging) ... it's to show it off to the people outside of the gym/cheerleading world that see it and think "oh... they have a lot of national champion banners. they must be really good."
And then there's gyms that purposely avoid specific large name competitions because they know they won't place well and go to craptastic's cheerleading showdown in some elementary school gym in the middle of Antarctica just to have another banner.. clearly, i'm exaggerating... but you all know what i mean.

We have a couple of teams around here that do it. On purpose. It's no secret and they have even been known to change divisions last minute just to prevent going against anyone. The parents either don't mind or don't realize that they are paying this much money to go against no one. The most annoying part is they will bash other programs for not getting first and winning all the time, and will never tell anyone who doesn't already know, that they went against no one. I wish that EP's would combine similar divisions like they used to if there weren't very many teams in the two divisions. I personally hate having no competition. I guess I'm old school in the sense that I would rather get 5th in an extremely hard division than 1st against no one.

hmmm.. i think i know who this is about.... :rolleyes:

 

[Nothanks]

I've already said this...but there is a minimum score at a lot of competitions. and there has been for years. It's just very low. I know most jam brand competitions have a minimum score. I would wager a safe guess that varsity brands do as well.

 

[Goosepatrick]

I've already said this...but there is a minimum score at a lot of competitions. and there has been for years. It's just very low. I know most jam brand competitions have a minimum score. I would wager a safe guess that varsity brands do as well.

Funny...my daughters team got a National champion sweatshirt at a JAMfest Nationals competition. :(

 

[Nothanks]

Funny...my daughters team got a National champion sweatshirt at a JAMfest Nationals competition. :(

I'm not sure what you mean...that you don't believe they do and your daughter got a jacket when there was no competition?

 

[Goosepatrick]

I don't believe it's true always because they did get a sweatshirt without any competition