All-Star Usasf Independence

[Ashley]

Essentially, you are asking the USASF to have more control/power over the location/type of events that EPs are allowed to have. (Either that, or have the USASF run more of its own events.) Sometimes, you need to be careful what you wish for.

The USASF already says that part of determining if an EP can give out bids at a certain event is how many other bid events are in that area. I don't know how much that's actually enforced, but that's certainly not new. Not every EP can have their worlds event in Dallas, for example. It would limit which teams could go to each event (at least for bids) but EPs would still have control.

 

[f5forever]

I say just limit the number of bids all together. Let the (independent) USASF give the EP's an allotted number of bids, but let the EP's distribute them at their discretion.

P.s. BlueCat I wish I could shimmy your earlier suggestions a million times!

 

[acxjags]

Varsity did the industry a huge service by starting the USASF and helping it get its legs. But I guess the main question is....When this was conceptualized what was the long term plan. To keep it or to let it go once it was self sustaining? I definitely think having anyone back it or financially own it makes it very hard for the USASF to do their job. (i.e--Hypothetically what would they do if they had to impose a punishment to Varsity for whatever reason and they are owned by Varsity? How would that work?) Asking for a release of vested interest is a huge double edged sword. This has to be done and it has to be done with a lot of prior planning for a 5 or even 10 year plan financially and industry wise prior to the deal being closed. I am sure Varsity wouldn't want to invest all this money and time in to this organization for it to be turned over and have it crash with in 2 yrs. I would love to see this organization become a solo act. But it needs to be carefully thought out and not a HEY LETS GET IT AWAY FROM VARSITY. Thats not the driving force. I would hope the buy out or separation would have Varsity help make the transition smooth and provide support over a period of time. I think an abrupt transition may not be the safest way to go. But what do I know. Do I agree it needs to happen....yes. But it needs to be done right. I am assuming all parties involved are in that planning stage if this becomes real. 5678---Go

 

[BlueCat]

Adding to my earlier comment, I am always torn on the "Varsity" issue. I am among the biggest NCA fans on the planet & I trust/respect/admire ASCheerMan as much as anyone in the whole industry. I also like Lance, Carol, and nearly all of the "old school" NCA types as well. NCA All Star Nationals is still the absolute king of all cheer events in my opinion. I would imagine we are their biggest single customer. Heck, our main gym is practically a shrine to the NCA logo.

Our experiences with nearly every other Varsity brand have been surprisingly negative. (exception - ACA) If only NCA were still a separate brand . . .

 

[ACEDAD]

Our experiences with nearly every other Varsity brand have been surprisingly negative. (exception - ACA) If only NCA were still a separate brand . . .

So, basically, you're saying Jeff Webb and UCA ruined it.

 

[SharkDad]

A fundamental that needs to get fixed is that this is an industry running a youth sport, not a youth sport being supported by the industry.

I like all of BlueCat 's guidelines except I strongly feel that safety of the athletes needs to be the #1 priority of the governing body, not just move up.

Anyone brought up in any sort of safety culture would tell you that an organization as big as Varsity under the auspices of AACCA could have done much more for athlete safety a long time ago if that was their true primary concern.

Just over 18 months ago I thought a lot about this and this is what I came up with: Cheer - Fixing The Sport | Fierce Board - We Talk Cheerleading


Sent from the Fierce Board App that's cooler than ACEDAD's

 

[SharkDad]

I do. My name is Tayler Easton and I work for Varsity (not the USASF). I cheered at Clemson/Rockstar.

Tayler I am very happy with the opportunities your affiliation with Varsity have brought you and I really enjoyed seeing you grow from and AllStar cheerleader to college and now a true professional.

I hope you understand a bit of frustration the sport feels over things that have happened over the years. Perhaps from where you are you might be able to effect some change as well.


Sent from the Fierce Board App that's cooler than ACEDAD's

 

[newcheerdad]

A fundamental that needs to get fixed is that this is an industry running a youth sport, not a youth sport being supported by the industry.

In one sentence you hit on my entire disconnect when it comes to all-star cheer.

After all, all-star cheer is still a youth sport and not solely a for-profit enterprise, right?

 

[BlueCat]

Like others have mentioned, I expected a response like this from them. Some PR person wrote that statement and short of directly saying "Piss Off" they basically said we will ignore this proposal because we can. They have all the power and they like it that way, it's going to take a monumental effort to gain USASF Independence from the almighty grips of the Varsity brand. I would like to see it happen but it won't be easy.
The question here is what happens when the deadline passes with no positive movement on the issue? What's the next step? Will other EP's and vendors join in? Will Gym owners unite against Varsity (doubtful). Will enough Parents band together to put pressure on Varsity and USASF and more importantly, will it matter?

Nothing will change unless there is tremendous pressure put on them to change. Varsity will not simply give up its control out of generosity or "fairness" until they are basically forced to. I am certain they assume people will just forget about this.

• NCA got a lead in the all-star industry - Varsity purchases them.
• NACCC looks like it is about to unite the coaches and create their own set of rules, Varsity creates the USASF to avoid losing that power.
• IFC looks like it is about to gain some headway in the international market & get cheer included in the world-wide sport community - Varsity creates the ICU & convinces USASF to pass rules banning anyone from participating in Worlds if they even GO to one of their events.
• NACCC refuses to die, USASF "merges" with NACCC and falls under their control.
• Acrobatics & Tumbling starts to gain some headway, Varsity starts STUNT, blocks NCATA's inclusion into the NCAA, and sabotages court case that potentially would have led to the recognizing of cheer as a sport.

So, here are our "independent" governing bodies of cheerleading:

Varsity
6745 Lenox Center Court, Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38115

AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors)
6745 Lenox Center Court, Ste 318
Memphis, TN 38115

USASF (United States All Star Federation)
6745 Lenox Center Court, Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38115

ICU (International Cheer Union)
President: Jeff Webb

USA Cheer
President: Jeff Webb

ASIP (Association of Spirit Industry Professionals)
contact information:

• Becky Gennings (bgennings@varsityspirit.com)
• Mike Nordengren (mnordengren@varsityspirit.com)

 

[yojaehs]

Nothing will change unless there is tremendous pressure put on them to change. Varsity will not simply give up its control out of generosity or "fairness" until they are basically forced to. I am certain they assume people will just forget about this.

• NCA got a lead in the all-star industry - Varsity purchases them.
• NACCC looks like it is about to unite the coaches and create their own set of rules, Varsity creates the USASF to avoid losing that power.
• IFC looks like it is about to gain some headway in the international market & get cheer included in the world-wide sport community - Varsity creates the ICU & convinces USASF to pass rules banning anyone from participating in Worlds if they even GO to one of their events.
• NACCC refuses to die, USASF "merges" with NACCC and falls under their control.
• Acrobatics & Tumbling starts to gain some headway, Varsity starts STUNT, blocks NCATA's inclusion into the NACCC, and sabotages court case that potentially would have led to the recognizing of cheer as a sport.

So, here are our "independent" governing bodies of cheerleading:


Varsity
6745 Lenox Center Court, Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38115

AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors)
6745 Lenox Center Court, Ste 318
Memphis, TN 38115

USASF (United States All Star Federation)
6745 Lenox Center Court, Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38115

ICU (International Cheer Union)
President: Jeff Webb

USA Cheer
President: Jeff Webb

ASIP (Association of Spirit Industry Professionals)
contact information:

• Becky Gennings (bgennings@varsityspirit.com)
• Mike Nordengren (mnordengren@varsityspirit.com)

BEST BlueCat POST EVER!!!!

Reason #1 why I am and will always be an NCATA fan and NOT a STUNT fan.
Along with many other things in this post I LOVE!

 

[gofriars610]

I still find it HORRENDOUS that Jeff Webb sabotaged the court case against QU. He set the sport back 15 years with those comments.

 

[L5cheermom]

USASF and Varsity have had adequate time to formulate a response. As many of us suspected there is nothing. I suggest we all utilize those addresses and ask that they at least provide a thoughtful response.

 

[BlueCat]

• Acrobatics & Tumbling starts to gain some headway, Varsity starts STUNT, blocks NCATA's inclusion into the NACCC, and sabotages court case that potentially would have led to the recognizing of cheer as a sport.

EDIT: blocks NCATA's inclusion into the NCAA.

 

[Ashley]

I still find it HORRENDOUS that Jeff Webb sabotaged the court case against QU. He set the sport back 15 years with those comments.

I don't think his comments were necessarily wrong though. Everything he said is pretty much true. But I hate that his company is actively working to make life difficult for A&T to become an NCAA sport.

 

[TwistedLady]

According the USASF website, there are 250+ gyms in Texas, and 15 in Delaware. It would make sense that you'd need to balance out regions in such a way that you don't have 500 gyms in one region and 50 in another - while still maintaining some sense of a "regional" competition.

But again, this is a sidebar to the bigger issue, which is the USASF's overall role in cheer.

Lol!! 15 in Delaware? I live here and was unaware. Haha!