All-Star Varsity's Monopoly

[Future]

What I will agree with is EDUCATION, and good people, are the best regulators around. Whether #Metoo, Smoking, Vaping, Concussions, Opioid Crisis, etc. the biggest changes have happened when people are educated. As with concussions, that information didn't come from a sport governing body, the information that truly impacted people came from the documentary Peter Landesman wrote and produced. #Metoo didn't come from a government group, it came from women that were tired of the silence and shame. Title IX doesn't come without its own controversies and is being challenged not only by the accused, but the victims, as well. Public schools are struggling to meet regulatory math, science and reading scores with their current budgets, and as I said in my first statement, I believe the majority of schools would be forced to ground their cheer programs if regulated. There is no money just sitting around waiting to "afford cheerleaders the opportunity to know and utilize protective measures." Honestly, I hope you're right and I'm wrong, and thank you, I love a great discussion and appreciate your input, as well.

@dat.jpp the above video was put together and articulated well, however, there really wasn't anything to expose. Varsity created businesses to support their businesses (camps, comps and product), from there, it opened the door for private gym owners and other cheer related businesses. Currently, there is no sport to take back, because the score sheet, age grids, safety regulations, etc. continue to evolve every year to adapt to cheers fast growth, skill level, and safety needs. If the IOC fully recognizes the ICU as a sport, I believe it will cause another huge evolution from the top down. Like everything though, unfortunately, it takes a lot of money and patience to get there.

Education will not be enough to expose the cheer industry for all the dark corners...the cheer industry has not cleansed from within and victims are hesitant, afraid, to come forward. 'The Wizard of Oz'...those within the hierarchy, put forth mandates and rules as if it is for the betterment of the industry...they claim the change is for safety or for industry growth. It is geared 100% towards the top company and their needs. Example: There is no organization in the cheer industry that has the proper tax structure to apply to the USOPC for membership and to be under SafeSport rules. USASF requires (for $20) all to take the SS course, but if there is an issue, reply to [email protected]. There is NO other sport that is allowed to police itself. Ricky Despain was a member of USASF for around 10 years or so....AND he has been a registered sex-offender for al least that long...how does this slip by the radar?....because the rule-making bodies are going through the motions...setting out rules that will enhance the top...screw child-athlete safety! Go to: BreakTheCheerSilence.org. There are over 88 cheer sexual arrests that have shown up online....USASF only lists 14.... And the school sideline cheer programs should be sidelined....and competitive teams should be regulated...why do sideline cheer athletes need to perform the same skills as competitive?...grass surfaces are being used and are not safe...they are still in the rule book because that is what summer camps...a vital part of the top company needs to run their summer camps...

 

[catlady]

Education will not be enough to expose the cheer industry for all the dark corners...the cheer industry has not cleansed from within and victims are hesitant, afraid, to come forward. 'The Wizard of Oz'...those within the hierarchy, put forth mandates and rules as if it is for the betterment of the industry...they claim the change is for safety or for industry growth. It is geared 100% towards the top company and their needs. Example: There is no organization in the cheer industry that has the proper tax structure to apply to the USOPC for membership and to be under SafeSport rules. USASF requires (for $20) all to take the SS course, but if there is an issue, reply to [email protected]. There is NO other sport that is allowed to police itself. Ricky Despain was a member of USASF for around 10 years or so....AND he has been a registered sex-offender for al least that long...how does this slip by the radar?....because the rule-making bodies are going through the motions...setting out rules that will enhance the top...screw child-athlete safety! Go to: BreakTheCheerSilence.org. There are over 88 cheer sexual arrests that have shown up online....USASF only lists 14.... And the school sideline cheer programs should be sidelined....and competitive teams should be regulated...why do sideline cheer athletes need to perform the same skills as competitive?...grass surfaces are being used and are not safe...they are still in the rule book because that is what summer camps...a vital part of the top company needs to run their summer camps...

Again, I'd love to believe that there is some entity out there that is 100% when it comes to the safety of children, but I have yet to know or hear of that organization. The unfortunate truth, is it easier to fire someone and send them on their way than go through possible lawsuits concerning defamation of character. How do sex offender teachers and coaches slip under the radar in public schools? I never stated sideline cheerleaders should be performing competitive skills, what I said is I believe all HS cheer would be grounded (sideline and competitive) if regulated, because there is no extra money just sitting around in our schools for equipment and qualified coaches. Many schools are cutting out sports, because they can't afford them. As far as grass surfaces, how many gym owners have their athletes practicing on the grass at hotels and outside convention centers? It doesn't take a governing body for a gym owner to regulate their own athlete safety, and it doesn't take regulation for parents to pull their kid from a gym, school or coach they feel is unsafe. There's unfortunately dark corners everywhere, and that includes regulating and governing bodies.

 

[Future]

Again, I'd love to believe that there is some entity out there that is 100% when it comes to the safety of children, but I have yet to know or hear of that organization. The unfortunate truth, is it easier to fire someone and send them on their way than go through possible lawsuits concerning defamation of character. How do sex offender teachers and coaches slip under the radar in public schools? I never stated sideline cheerleaders should be performing competitive skills, what I said is I believe all HS cheer would be grounded (sideline and competitive) if regulated, because there is no extra money just sitting around in our schools for equipment and qualified coaches. Many schools are cutting out sports, because they can't afford them. As far as grass surfaces, how many gym owners have their athletes practicing on the grass at hotels and outside convention centers? It doesn't take a governing body for a gym owner to regulate their own athlete safety, and it doesn't take regulation for parents to pull their kid from a gym, school or coach they feel is unsafe. There's unfortunately dark corners everywhere, and that includes regulating and governing bodies.

When the regulatory body states its okay to throw and build on grass surfaces.... the message is it is safe. Sports in general have NGB’s that are bound by Congressional law to set standards that have the participants best interest in mind... the cheer industry forces this “standard watch” into the parent. Of course, every parent should and could pull their child-athlete from an activity if they feel it is unsafe, however, when the NGB has set up rules, they will instinctively follow them to a point. The cheer NGB does not have the child-athletes best interest front and center.
Your points are valid.... and there is an organization that wants what is best for the athletes and participants... just needs the right time to come forward....

 

[OldskoolKYcheercoach]

Education will not be enough to expose the cheer industry for all the dark corners...the cheer industry has not cleansed from within and victims are hesitant, afraid, to come forward. 'The Wizard of Oz'...those within the hierarchy, put forth mandates and rules as if it is for the betterment of the industry...they claim the change is for safety or for industry growth. It is geared 100% towards the top company and their needs. Example: There is no organization in the cheer industry that has the proper tax structure to apply to the USOPC for membership and to be under SafeSport rules. USASF requires (for $20) all to take the SS course, but if there is an issue, reply to [email protected]. There is NO other sport that is allowed to police itself. Ricky Despain was a member of USASF for around 10 years or so....AND he has been a registered sex-offender for al least that long...how does this slip by the radar?....because the rule-making bodies are going through the motions...setting out rules that will enhance the top...screw child-athlete safety! Go to: BreakTheCheerSilence.org. There are over 88 cheer sexual arrests that have shown up online....USASF only lists 14.... And the school sideline cheer programs should be sidelined....and competitive teams should be regulated...why do sideline cheer athletes need to perform the same skills as competitive?...grass surfaces are being used and are not safe...they are still in the rule book because that is what summer camps...a vital part of the top company needs to run their summer camps...

If you really believe that a spring floor or matted surface is significantly safer than a grass surface for preventing catastrophic injuries in building, you have zero understanding of the kinematics of trauma.

 

[coachrah]

If you really believe that a spring floor or matted surface is significantly safer than a grass surface for preventing catastrophic injuries in building, you have zero understanding of the kinematics of trauma.

Can you share that scientific study? I would love to learn more about the science. Also, skills on hardwood surface and the safety? I was told recently if you take the AACCA certification for High School that you become a member of USA Cheer. Thanks in advance...love reading your posts.

 

[coachrah]

Again, I'd love to believe that there is some entity out there that is 100% when it comes to the safety of children, but I have yet to know or hear of that organization. The unfortunate truth, is it easier to fire someone and send them on their way than go through possible lawsuits concerning defamation of character. How do sex offender teachers and coaches slip under the radar in public schools? I never stated sideline cheerleaders should be performing competitive skills, what I said is I believe all HS cheer would be grounded (sideline and competitive) if regulated, because there is no extra money just sitting around in our schools for equipment and qualified coaches. Many schools are cutting out sports, because they can't afford them. As far as grass surfaces, how many gym owners have their athletes practicing on the grass at hotels and outside convention centers? It doesn't take a governing body for a gym owner to regulate their own athlete safety, and it doesn't take regulation for parents to pull their kid from a gym, school or coach they feel is unsafe. There's unfortunately dark corners everywhere, and that includes regulating and governing bodies.

For me an unfortunate and perhaps unrealized dark corner will be that athletes in cheer and their parents/coaches will never know the light because of a cultural system that has been implemented for decades. The event producer supersedes the needs of the athlete by leaps and bounds. The 2.5 minute routine with thousands of participants is by design not in keeping with how athletes in other sports warm up or given space if they have traveled far to compete. Add to that calling something a National or World championship without a true sport path may very well be strategic but not how other sports operate.
Creating so many Division levels at these multiple “National” championships may lure in the everyone gets a trophy mentality but the prestige is watered down. The only winner is the producer. However, for anyone that has ever participated in a Real National or post season championship... the athletes needs from warmups, hotel placement, competition start and stop time, reporting, sponsorships, safety, fan seating, etc are all in place.

 

[OldskoolKYcheercoach]

Can you share that scientific study? I would love to learn more about the science. Also, skills on hardwood surface and the safety? I was told recently if you take the AACCA certification for High School that you become a member of USA Cheer. Thanks in advance...love reading your posts.

It’s not a scientific study:

It’s 15 years of experience at the bedside with every emergency, critical care, and trauma national board certification known to man. I coach cheerleading by day and wield my super powers as an emergency department nurse in a regional trauma center by night. It’s my job to know and understand the types of injuries to look for based on how force was applied to anatomy. I’ve done one lecture on the topic, but the scope is beyond the confines of a message board post.

Spring floors and cheer mats reduce repetitive use injuries, they might reduce concussions caused by primary impact, but they do very little to prevent the truly catastrophic injury.

 

[catlady]

For me an unfortunate and perhaps unrealized dark corner will be that athletes in cheer and their parents/coaches will never know the light because of a cultural system that has been implemented for decades. The event producer supersedes the needs of the athlete by leaps and bounds. The 2.5 minute routine with thousands of participants is by design not in keeping with how athletes in other sports warm up or given space if they have traveled far to compete. Add to that calling something a National or World championship without a true sport path may very well be strategic but not how other sports operate.
Creating so many Division levels at these multiple “National” championships may lure in the everyone gets a trophy mentality but the prestige is watered down. The only winner is the producer. However, for anyone that has ever participated in a Real National or post season championship... the athletes needs from warmups, hotel placement, competition start and stop time, reporting, sponsorships, safety, fan seating, etc are all in place.

The #1 issue with everything you stated above is cost. You have to get so many teams, or cap the amount of teams (so you don't need additional days) in those venues to keep cost down. If you expand warm up times, add space, reduce the start/stop times, control seating, expand safety, demand close housing for athletes, etc. you are adding time, space, controlling housing and ultimately, adding a lot of expense. Kay Bailey and GWCC fall into the top ten largest convention centers in the US, ESPN is a "state of the art facility," these are multi million dollar structures and spaces that can't be compared to the pricing of other non-professional sports that use much smaller facilities or outdoor fields.

Market Insider <<<PLEASE CLICK These people that keep writing articles saying "cheer is a $2 billion industry" and make it sound like that's all profit are doing the industry a great disservice. Market Insider via Moody's (financial intelligence agency), proves there is no huge pile of extra Varsity money laying around to lower prices or expand expenses. Growing anything takes time, patience, a lot of money, and you have to control the debt.

 

[alpaca]

. Kay Bailey and GWCC fall into the top ten largest convention centers in the US, ESPN is a "state of the art facility," these are multi million dollar structures and spaces that can't be compared to the pricing of other non-professional sports that use much smaller facilities or outdoor fields.

Serious question, but what about ESPN its considered state of the art? I was unimpressed with it at Summit last year. I really felt that it wasn't much different than some of our local comps. I heard that CP's team did not get to perform in "the good" hall. So maybe that has something to do with it. I was really underwhelmed at my experience as a spectator in the venue. I expected it to be something special and it wasn't.

 

[catlady]

Serious question, but what about ESPN its considered state of the art? I was unimpressed with it at Summit last year. I really felt that it wasn't much different than some of our local comps. I heard that CP's team did not get to perform in "the good" hall. So maybe that has something to do with it. I was really underwhelmed at my experience as a spectator in the venue. I expected it to be something special and it wasn't.

"State of the art facility" is the wording they use on their website which is why I put it in quotes above. Ultimately, it's still a large multi million dollar third party facility parents are going to pay for no matter their expectations. There aren't many large capacity venues with usable exhibition space to choose from, and I looked because I wanted to see where they could hold one Open National. It appears nowhere without running for many days.....unless they do bids (ETA-and with bids, it would still have to run for many days).

1. McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, 2,760,000-square-foot (256,000 m2) of exhibition space[3]
2. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, Exhibition space: 2,100,000-square-foot (200,000 m2). Total area: 7,000,000-square-foot (650,000 m2)[4]
3. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Exhibition space: 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2), 3,200,000-square-foot (300,000 m2) total space[5]
4. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area[citation needed]
5. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 1,500,000-square-foot (140,000 m2) exhibition area; 3,900,000-square-foot (360,000 m2) total area[6]
6. Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) total area
7. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.: 2,300,000-square-foot (210,000 m2) total area
8. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado: 584,000-square-foot (54,300 m2) exhibition area; 2,200,000-square-foot (200,000 m2) total area
9. Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2) total area
10. George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, 853,000-square-foot (79,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,800,000-square-foot (170,000 m2) total area

 

[UCFKnights07]

"State of the art facility" is the wording they use on their website which is why I put it in quotes above. Ultimately, it's still a large multi million dollar third party facility parents are going to pay for no matter their expectations. There aren't many large capacity venues with usable exhibition space to choose from, and I looked because I wanted to see where they could hold one Open National. It appears nowhere without running for many days.....unless they do bids (ETA-and with bids, it would still have to run for many days).

1. McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, 2,760,000-square-foot (256,000 m2) of exhibition space[3]
2. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, Exhibition space: 2,100,000-square-foot (200,000 m2). Total area: 7,000,000-square-foot (650,000 m2)[4]
3. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Exhibition space: 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2), 3,200,000-square-foot (300,000 m2) total space[5]
4. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area[citation needed]
5. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 1,500,000-square-foot (140,000 m2) exhibition area; 3,900,000-square-foot (360,000 m2) total area[6]
6. Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) total area
7. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.: 2,300,000-square-foot (210,000 m2) total area
8. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado: 584,000-square-foot (54,300 m2) exhibition area; 2,200,000-square-foot (200,000 m2) total area
9. Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2) total area
10. George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, 853,000-square-foot (79,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,800,000-square-foot (170,000 m2) total area

im kinda surprised that havent moved or tried to move it to the orange county convention center. it literally is down the street from disney. It would probably be set up like cheersport (which i dont know if spectators, love or hate that setup but..) I have to wonder if there have ever been talks behind the scenes about moving it there. Or what would stop them from wanting to have it there. I know they have some form of contract but i would think disney would still benefit cause programs would still use disney properties to stay.

 

[catlady]

im kinda surprised that havent moved or tried to move it to the orange county convention center. it literally is down the street from disney. It would probably be set up like cheersport (which i dont know if spectators, love or hate that setup but..) I have to wonder if there have ever been talks behind the scenes about moving it there. Or what would stop them from wanting to have it there. I know they have some form of contract but i would think disney would still benefit cause programs would still use disney properties to stay.

I've wondered, as well. USA Volleyball has their Jr. Qualifier and Championship April 24-26 there this year (attendance 23,000) according to the OCCC event schedule. USA Volleyball may have a multi year contract? I have no idea. If IASF and USASF had the option to go there, my guess is it boils down to weighing the pros and cons of ESPN with an athlete entry fee being a park hopper, it being Non-STP, and free parking (...for now) versus a Convention Center athlete entry fee, STP (USA Volleyball has a STP policy, as well), and parking fee. I'm guessing they would need a venue from approximately April 21-May 5 to set up, have World's/Summit, and tear down, so it may just being about getting a venue for that long. It would be interesting to know what the pricing difference would be.

ETA: I forgot Disney, also, has a long term partnership with Varsity now. Disney Partnerships & Sponsorships with Varsity Spirit

 

[weheartcheer]

If you really believe that a spring floor or matted surface is significantly safer than a grass surface for preventing catastrophic injuries in building, you have zero understanding of the kinematics of trauma.

Spring floors and 4" mats are significantly safer surfaces than grass.

The potential for brain injury on selected surfaces used by cheerleaders. - PubMed - NCBI

"RESULTS: Critical heights for the surfaces tested ranged from 0.5 ft (0.15 m) for concrete and vinyl tile installed over concrete to more than 11 ft (3.35 m) for a spring floor. Increases in grass height and soil moisture resulted in an increase in the critical height for grass surfaces. Only spring floors and 4-in (0.10-m)-thick landing mats placed on traditional foam floors had critical heights greater than 10.5 ft (3.20 m), thus providing enough impact-absorbing capacity for performance of 2-level stunts."

 

[OldskoolKYcheercoach]

Spring floors and 4" mats are significantly safer surfaces than grass.

The potential for brain injury on selected surfaces used by cheerleaders. - PubMed - NCBI

"RESULTS: Critical heights for the surfaces tested ranged from 0.5 ft (0.15 m) for concrete and vinyl tile installed over concrete to more than 11 ft (3.35 m) for a spring floor. Increases in grass height and soil moisture resulted in an increase in the critical height for grass surfaces. Only spring floors and 4-in (0.10-m)-thick landing mats placed on traditional foam floors had critical heights greater than 10.5 ft (3.20 m), thus providing enough impact-absorbing capacity for performance of 2-level stunts."

I said true catastrophic injury.

concussion is not catastrophic.

 

[UCFKnights07]

I said true catastrophic injury.

concussion is not catastrophic.

Multiple concussions are not a good thing..... Id much rather smack my head on a spring floor vs. grass. There is definitely a difference.