All-Star Varsity Bought American Cheerleader Magazine?

[JulieP]

You know what I love about Jam Brands? They have a universal score sheet. And they break down their score sheets into these really easy-to-understand scoring grids. And their Jam Score employees are amazingly helpful. I'm Jam Brands all the way. (And no, I'm not a Jam Brands employee.)

Agreed. When I look at my teams' scores I can easily identify where they are missing points and refer to the grid on how to improve. My biggest complain would be their unwillingness to correct a score. At Jamlive Chicago, they misscored my junior team in stunt and jump difficulty, and said it wasn't their policy to correct scores. Apparently "all scores are final". The judging coordinator rewatched the video and even confirmed that the score given was wrong. Because of a deduction for a stunt fall, it wouldn't have changed our placement, however it was still frustrating- particularly because we were mis-scored at a jam brands event the previous weekend and had already discussed the issues at the previous event and with the Jam Score staff and Jamcare Rep so we wouldn't have the same problem at Jam Live. So much for that.

 

[SharkDad]

This a million times! I say we get a group of us together and start a coup. It'll be like Russia 1991.

You can. Here's where the power lies: the coaches. What I have stated above is obvious and out in the open.

My vision for fixing the entire sport of cheer is in the governing bodies.

Step 1: everyone become members. WIth 4000 voting coaches instead of just 700, you have some real power to change things. Now vote in changes like making the athlete registration, background checks, and drug testing mandatory. The only people not for these things would be people who are cheating or don't want to comply. With true membership you can now fix your governing body from the inside out: FIX THE BYLAWS. Make thed USASF officially file as a non-profit and change the board membership so that it is made up of coaches from the accross the country. Change the bylaws so that no industry company or employee can sit on the board. There is no reason for it and no other youth sport works this way. It's a conflict of interest.

You can fix USA Cheer in the same way. As coaches, band together and demand that these two governing bodies work for the sport and not for the industry.

 

[kristenthegreat]

You can. Here's where the power lies: the coaches. What I have stated above is obvious and out in the open.

My vision for fixing the entire sport of cheer is in the governing bodies.

Step 1: everyone become members. WIth 4000 voting coaches instead of just 700, you have some real power to change things. Now vote in changes like making the athlete registration, background checks, and drug testing mandatory. The only people not for these things would be people who are cheating or don't want to comply. With true membership you can now fix your governing body from the inside out: FIX THE BYLAWS. Make thed USASF officially file as a non-profit and change the board membership so that it is made up of coaches from the accross the country. Change the bylaws so that no industry company or employee can sit on the board. There is no reason for it and no other youth sport works this way. It's a conflict of interest.

You can fix USA Cheer in the same way. As coaches, band together and demand that these two governing bodies work for the sport and not for the industry.

I'm with him. Let's make it happen people!!

 

[Ceacoach]

Perfect storm ahead...brace yourself

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

I'm with him. Let's make it happen people!!

The USASF have been promoting this for quite some time. The EPs are very strongly represented because they have the time and money to attend meetings and such. The average coach cannot leave his or her gym to make it to Doral for NACCC meetings or any USASF regional meetings. However, The NAB is a great place to start. Make sure all member coaches are voting for someone who will represent their goals and needs. Not just some name you know because they are from a mega gym. Also I think the USASF will be rolling out regional board members to meet and discuss regional thoughts and concerns. I believe the goal for every coach should be to do what it takes to make our sport legitimate and respected. Their will be coaches who do not want this because they cheat or do not follow the rules, but I think those are few and as the USASF works to legitimize our sport those people will either be out of a job or jump on board.

Every coach on this board needs to start saving $$$ and plan on attending the NACCC meeting in Doral in MAY!!!

 

[kristenthegreat]

The USASF have been promoting this for quite some time. The EPs are very strongly represented because they have the time and money to attend meetings and such. The average coach cannot leave his or her gym to make it to Doral for NACCC meetings or any USASF regional meetings. However, The NAB is a great place to start. Make sure all member coaches are voting for someone who will represent their goals and needs. Not just some name you know because they are from a mega gym. Also I think the USASF will be rolling out regional board members to meet and discuss regional thoughts and concerns. I believe the goal for every coach should be to do what it takes to make our sport legitimate and respected. Their will be coaches who do not want this because they cheat or do not follow the rules, but I think those are few and as the USASF works to legitimize our sport those people will either be out of a job or jump on board.

Every coach on this board needs to start saving $$$ and plan on attending the NACCC meeting in Doral in MAY!!!

Coaches don't necessarily need to 'go' anywhere. They filmed some if not all of the videos from the regional meetings and the major meeting. I watched them on youtube from home. What we need first is to get EVERYONE registered and EVERYONE voting. Look how SOPA/PIPA got crushed because EVERYONE got behind it. If everybody decided to get behind and VOTE, things can change...

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

Perfect storm ahead...brace yourself

I mean no disrespect, but I'm not sure if a post like this is appropriate. It will lead to speculation as to what you mean. So can you please explain yourself so that we don't have to read all the post following that will be assumptions as to what you are talking about.

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

Coaches don't necessarily need to 'go' anywhere. They filmed some if not all of the videos from the regional meetings and the major meeting. I watched them on youtube from home. What we need first is to get EVERYONE registered and EVERYONE voting. Look how SOPA/PIPA got crushed because EVERYONE got behind it. If everybody decided to get behind and VOTE, things can change...

I was told the Doral meeting would not be webcasted.

 

[Ceacoach]

No need to speculate...I think it goes without saying that the industry climate is becoming increasingly unstable and conditions are right for massive, turbulent changes over the next 6 months. This is a very critical time for gym owners and coaches to become involved in industry decisions and more importantly for us to stick together.

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

No need to speculate...I think it goes without saying that the industry climate is becoming increasingly unstable and conditions are right for massive, turbulent changes over the next 6 months. This is a very critical time for gym owners and coaches to become involved in industry decisions and more importantly for us to stick together.

Thank you for clearing that up. I had more than 6 different things in my mind that I thought you meant. Haha. I agree with you 100% I think that coaches need to see that VB, like other EPs, hold a bigger voice in our sport than coaches (although some disagree with this). I believe now that gym owners are becoming more aware of the business side of competitive cheerleading many of them are wanting to get involved. I believe that coaches and gym owners are the backbone to this sport and to watch small to middle sized EP's CEOs make six figures while most gym owners volunteer their time or make very little is frustrating, and we wonder why they can't get along for the progression of our sport. They are protecting their bottom line. We blame VB the most because they are the oldest and the most successful, but no EP in my opinion is any better. It's time for gym owners and coaches to stick together and encourage membership in the USASF so that we can have an equal voice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SharkDad]

No need to speculate...I think it goes without saying that the industry climate is becoming increasingly unstable and conditions are right for massive, turbulent changes over the next 6 months. This is a very critical time for gym owners and coaches to become involved in industry decisions and more importantly for us to stick together.

Pleased to see this opinion from a coach who is a leader in the sport.

P.S. I know how to write/change bylaws. . .

 

[GDaddyLS]

I wonder if their advertising will be the same? Or will only varsity brand be promoted?
Surely they will cover worthy non-varsity events?

I believe SI was bought out by varsity in 2005-6 and it has continued as SI.

Laying off the staff... Not cool.

Thats not true... SI used to be partnered with the Jam Brands, until now...

 

[GDaddyLS]

But they could, and you would never know it! When Varsity bought out NCA, they also got their uniform company Cheer and Dance (or what ever it was called). Now they've bought Spirit Innovations (which were awesome). Other companies stopped making uniforms b/c they just couldn't compete-and also stopped offering camps (American Championships used to make uniforms, but stopped several years ago....then they sold out to Varsity, who took over their comps and they stopped doing their private camp service).

There are a few competition companies that are left that haven't been bought out, but I can see some of them going soon:

Cheer Ltd (I don't see them selling out. Ever.)

Spirit Brands, which is Cheer Tech/Mid Atlantic/ ECC (I can see them going for the right price, but it would take a while to close that deal-because I think there would be a lot of back and forth in negotiations)

Coastal (Battle at the Capitol)....Since they're now part of JAMBrands, I don't see them going to the Dark Side.

ACDA (Reach the Beach)....I could see them going to Varsity, but since they've merged with Spirit Unlimited (parent company is Epic) I don't see them going, because Spirit Unlimited wouldn't go.

AmeriCheer-won't go.

ECDA-this one is iffy like Spirit Brands.

These are ones that are the larger of the independents that I could see Varsity going after. Some of the smaller ones just wouldn't be worth their time to buy up, they could just force them out by offering an event in the same area the weekend before or after theirs for a lower registration fee.

Contrary to popular belief Cheersport is an independent company and operates completely separately of Varsity. The only "partnership" cheersport and Varsity have are with the Varsity Family Plan rebate program. Also here's the link to the IEP website as well as a list of "independent" event brands that are not owned by either Varsity or Jambrands... Looks to me that this group of people is larger than both Varsity and the jambrands.

IEP

IEP MEMBER COMPANIES
All Things Cheer & Dance
American Cheer and Dance
AmeriCheer/AmeriDance
Champion Cheer & Dance
Cheer America
Cheer Champion Express
Cheer and Dance Extreme
Cheer LTD
Cheer Star Productions
Cheer USA Championships
Contest of Champions
Dance Xtreme USA
ECDA
Greater Midwest Cheer Expo
JAMZ
Mardi Gras Spirit Events
Redline Cheer and Dance
Spirit Celebration
Spirit Unlimited
Twisted Athletics
United Cheer
US Spirit
WSA

 

[MissBee]

Contrary to popular belief Cheersport is an independent company and operates completely separately of Varsity. The only "partnership" cheersport and Varsity have are with the Varsity Family Plan rebate program. Also here's the link to the IEP website as well as a list of "independent" event brands that are not owned by either Varsity or Jambrands... Looks to me that this group of people is larger than both Varsity and the jambrands.

IEP

IEP MEMBER COMPANIES
All Things Cheer & Dance
American Cheer and Dance
AmeriCheer/AmeriDance
Champion Cheer & Dance
Cheer America
Cheer Champion Express
Cheer and Dance Extreme
Cheer LTD
Cheer Star Productions
Cheer USA Championships
Contest of Champions
Dance Xtreme USA
ECDA
Greater Midwest Cheer Expo
JAMZ
Mardi Gras Spirit Events
Redline Cheer and Dance
Spirit Celebration
Spirit Unlimited
Twisted Athletics
United Cheer
US Spirit
WSA

I only commented on the ones that I've worked with.

 

[RockstarCheer]

Cheersport and Universal Spirit are both Independent...They both participate in the Varsity Family Plan