Oh please, if they change the appearance and etiquette guidelines but leave the real issue (bottom age on seniors and tumbling) alone I will scream. I can get on board with the appearance stuff...whatever it doesn't hurt the sport. The bottom age on seniors will effectively take out some small gyms. If it was just Sr Restricted 5...okay. But to insist that every kid on your senior level 3 team be over 10? What they are asking gym owners to do is to exclude kids from the sport because they are "to advanced" or not advanced enough. Susie's parent's are going to high tail it for the nearest large gym that has a youth or junior 3 and probably take a majority of Susie's friends with them. Cheer parents can be vicious. Yes some will understand and be adults about it, taking their kids to another facility. But for every one of them there is a psycho behind them that will take it personally and try to take as many people with her as possible.
I can understand the concerns with tumbling but the way that it was "solved" is horrible. It would be akin to President Obama standing in front of Congress and saying, "I have decided to change x, y, and z! Don't like it? To bad." I don't like any governing body telling me what they think is best for me or my kid. You govern all star and I'll decided what she wears, what gym we go to, and who trains her.
Just to drop a little knowledge on the athletes screaming they'll go to gymnastics. Be prepared what you wish for. You will be doubling if not tripling your practice time. My cp was training 6-9 hours a week as a Preteam Level 3 (because you don't get to compete until your level 4 most places). When we moved to Texas...as a Level 4 competitive gymnast...20 HOURS A WEEK. They wanted her home schooled and doing 2 a days. Have a boyfriend? Forget it... Have a an "extra" activity you like to do? Drop it.... And what other posters have said is true also, you will be stripped down to your back handspring (if your lucky) and built back up. Now Power Tumbling and Acro may be different, and I believe that if kids do run for gymnastics that is the two areas they will be funneled into.
I still think USAG is gleefully rubbing their hands together in the corner waiting for this to all fall out. We have to many gold medalists that think we are pretty awesome and Amanda Borden herself just started an all star program of of her gym in AZ. What I personally think is happening is that they are trying to force the sport to look more like STUNT and A&T so parents can make the connection between All Star and what their kid can get a college scholarship in. Laugh all you want but we are one step away from long sleeve jerseys with numbers on the back.
