- Dec 4, 2009
- 14,108
- 19,303
- Moderator
- #61
I guess I am just asking the question... does every gym deserve the right to field a Worlds team even though most shouldn't?
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I see your point (especially in using gymnastics as a model). My issue is the education to teach cheerleading safely isn't hard! But it is ruined more times than not. My hopes are that Summit being the way it is now may allow some gyms to focus on levels they could more appropriately tackle.I guess I am just asking the question... does every gym deserve the right to field a Worlds team even though most shouldn't?
I see your point (especially in using gymnastics as a model). My issue is the education to teach cheerleading safely isn't hard! But it is ruined more times than not. My hopes are that Summit being the way it is now may allow some gyms to focus on levels they could more appropriately tackle.
Issue is (in the cheer world) how many coaches do you know that don't "think" they DESERVE a Worlds team?
Can the USASF create a TRUE test to separate coaches by level of knowledge? I tested up to 8 in gymnastics (years ago) and that was HARD. I honestly believe our newest Tiny with a white crayon could pass the current "tests".
So to ask them to properly qualify coaches is a stretch. USASF doesn't want to tell anyone "you aren't good enough for me to take your $".
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Honestly, I'm not sure cheer is prepared to handle it. By that I mean if you walk into an ELITE gymnastics gym it has a very different feel than most. I know many gyms think they could handle it but in my heart of hearts I just don't think cheer is ready. If a gym were to qualify as "elite" I think business models would need to change. Practice times would change etc. etc. Cheer parents complain about 6 hrs a week. If I pay to test and qualify as an "elite" program I would increase price/time commitment etc. I personally would LOVE it! Those that currently eat, sleep, breath it would. Those that never feel they know enough and want the best for the SPORT would LOVE it.I think Worlds education should be hard. There should be a cutoff and failure amount. If there aren't real consequences no one is motivated to get better.
Case in point: after Ice at Worlds will anyone make the mistake of hugging someone again?
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In my opinion, if a level 5 athlete has the potential to compete on a Worlds-winning team, and they're able and willing to make the sacrifice to drive/fly to cheer practices at a mega-gym, then they should. They don't have a moral obligation to cheer at a local gym. The gyms are still businesses, and the athletes are customers.This year it seems like many athletes are relocating to top name programs. In our region it is getting more difficult to field a coed team due to so many athletes moving across the country strictly for cheer. What impact will it have on the average gym on a National level or at bid competitions? What happens if it gets to the point where Worlds being dominated by a handful of programs and they are the only ones in the medals in each division? Thoughts?
I do not have a problem with people making a long distance journey to be on whatever team they want to on. My husband always says "level 5 got to drive". The bigger question why isn't this talent being developed for the most part in house. When I see explicit twitters from gym owners offering freebies including housing to several athletes in a season, primarily males, it is concerning on so many levels. These are not one off's it is a significant number of athletes.
Top Gun offers host families to their males, and have been for quite sometime. Why is this a problem all of a sudden? I'm sure that other gyms are doing the same to field large coed teams. The majority of programs that have coed teams scholarship boys these practices are not new.I do not have a problem with people making a long distance journey to be on whatever team they want to on. My husband always says "level 5 got to drive". The bigger question why isn't this talent being developed for the most part in house. When I see explicit twitters from gym owners offering freebies including housing to several athletes in a season, primarily males, it is concerning on so many levels. These are not one off's it is a significant number of athletes.
Top Gun offers host families to their males, and have been for quite sometime. Why is this a problem all of a sudden? I'm sure that other gyms are doing the same to field large coed teams. The majority of programs that have coed teams scholarship boys these practices are not new.
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This is my opinion whether it is top gun or whatever gym is offering these scholarships to only males vs females on the same team with the same skills. Just because something has be done over a period time does not make it right.
I am in no way saying that the boys should get scholarships and not the girls. However boys are much harder to come by in all stars so I understand the why. I'm not complaining a lot of gyms are starting to offer scholarships regardless of gender based on standing fulls and doubles and I'm ok with that.This is my opinion whether it is top gun or whatever gym is offering these scholarships to only males vs females on the same team with the same skills. Just because something has be done over a period time does not make it right.
We do get a few that say they were happy where they were, but simply want a better chance to be competitive at the highest levels. However, that is NOT what most of them say. Most say that they did not enjoy their experience at their previous gyms and had heard from our current athletes how fun it can be. The main point is that "winning" is not as big a factor as most people make it out to be.
I haven't had the chance to talk to those specific athletes, but I would say the situation you have described is NOT what we typically experience with the athletes coming from other programs. That is why I said "most" of their kids.
No way Divisions that is just nonsense. It's like the every Suzie deserves to win mentality.
As a parent, I don't quite understand moving state to state for cheer. With gymnastics and figure skating, I can understand if your child is veering in the direction of potential Olympic talent. You could be setting up their future. We all know who Brian Boitano and Shawn Johnson are...their sports offer the potential of fame and fortune. Is it for a ring? For their 15 minutes of fame as a cheerlebrity who will never be famous outside of the cheer world? I'm trying to understand....