All-Star Crossovers And Sandbagging

[Cheermom1969]

True story. A Level 2 team at a gym I once worked at was routinely stacked with athletes from the Level 5 team. Especially for a big competition. The weakest level 2 flyers were taken out of the air and the Level 5 flyers put in their place. Point jumpers and dancers got moved in favor of the Level 5 kids. This went on a few times that year. Near the end of the season one of the Level 2 kids literally snapped. She about got to fighting with one of the Level 5 athletes in practice. The argument could be heard thought the gym. "Y'all always coming in here to rescue us like we suck or something. We dont need you. We do great without you before, we don't need you now. " Of course it got way worse than this with fists about to fly and the athlete was kicked out of the gym.

The strange thing to me is that the coaches and owners were completely oblivious to how the kids on that Level 2 team felt about being moved around and replaced every time a big competition came up. All the owners and coaches wanted to do was win at all costs, which they felt in order to do that they had to do what they did. That But to the athletes that were on the Level 2 team since the beginning of the season, that Level 2 was their team. Their only team. They wanted to own it, good or bad. They wanted to work. They viewed the Level 5's coming in as trespassers, mocking them saying they weren't good enough.
They were willing to accept the results, win or lose. It was the owners and coaches that could not.

And THAT is the biggest shame on the gym owners and coaches that do this sort of thing. The level 2 athletes are willing to practice, fight through the routine, learn, and become better athletes. And the adults won't let them. I don't blame that girl for snapping.

 

[Lablover]

I'm my opinion, yes it is ok. There is a huge difference between working a skill and having it down with perfect execution. Droplet competes on a level 3 team and tried out with a full and jumps to tuck. She actually initially made a level 5 team but was moved down to 3 when it became obvious that she was not ready to compete those skills.

As everyone says, there is a lot more to cheer than tumbling.

I completely agree there is definitely more to cheer than tumbling. I guess my point was you can stack a team and not use crossovers.

 

[CAmom66]

To give credit where credit is due, it's not all about the athletes. Coaching and choreography are a huge part of the equation! I would put my money on a team of all "True Level 2" athletes led by the best coaches and choreographers in the business, over a team of Level 5 athletes (doing a level 2 routine), led by less talented and experienced coaches and choreographers any day!!

 

[MzLyn23]

Well I've really got to think about this during the weekend away at a National Comp with CP and hubby. I think I witnessed this during the weekend, This meaning the crossover issue from higher levels to lower levels. After speaking to my husband about it because this is new to him and I explained to him the situation, he himself said there should be a rule or something. For example look at little league and how many controversies about using older boys to play in younger divisions etc. Well USASF already has an age grid maybe since now all athletes must be registered that not only their ages get registered but their competing levels.... For example I swear to you I saw a level 5 team perform then when level 2 performed there were level 5 athletes on that team... How is that competitive by any means... Its competitive cheer its not "oh well we are going to use our level 5/4 athletes in lower levels so each division has a jacket or gets first or a bid." I know its probably never gonna happen but I really think USASF should think about doing something to keep competition fair. I can say my CP and her team were devastated to get 2nd and yes the team that got first were fantastic but I think their "true level" is questionable... Its difficult to see a true level 2 team perform and go against a team that looked twice as big and with YEARS of experience... I've seen level 2 teams that were amazing with excellent tumbling and stunting but they were true level 2, no crossovers to their higher levels... I under stand level 5 crossing to 4 maybe 3 if necessary but not 1 or 2... and vice versa... maybe a 1 to 2 or even 3 for stunting etc... or 4 to level 3 or 2 but not one.. that's ridiculous... I even understand small gyms that really need the crossovers to have complete teams but this particular was not small at all at least not compared to cp's gym which is truly a small gym....

That is all for now...

 

[Cheerleading Is My Life]

I have personally been a crossover for 5 seasons, the first three crossing 2-3 and the last two crossing 3-4. I have always been one of very few crossovers to the lower level team, as my gym does not make teams just to win. I do not consider this sandbagging. Tumbling on my level 3 team helps me to perfect my technique for my level 4 tumbling and it let's me compete more. In no way do I make the team amazing all of a sudden just because I'm a true level 4 athlete on a level 3 team. I don't even base a main stunt in the pyramid, I just base the middle prep. I do however disagree with crossing 2 or more levels, and having a high number of athletes crossing. I would really like to know however, how level 5s crossing to level 2 even enjoy practising? I compete level 3 and I think extensions, torches and back handspring are boring, never mind an athlete who can do fulls and elite level 5 stunts.

 

[Drkilluzionz]

We had a team at a Florida event get a Summit bid in the Junior 2 division but the Summit awards just so happen to be during the level 4 and 5 Awards...half the gyms J4 got up to receive the bid and take their picture. -_-

 

[Cheermom1969]

We had a team at a Florida event get a Summit bid in the Junior 2 division but the Summit awards just so happen to be during the level 4 and 5 Awards...half the gyms J4 got up to receive the bid and take their picture. -_-

Were the initials of the team RR?

 

[coach12]

I have personally been a crossover for 5 seasons, the first three crossing 2-3 and the last two crossing 3-4. I have always been one of very few crossovers to the lower level team, as my gym does not make teams just to win. I do not consider this sandbagging. Tumbling on my level 3 team helps me to perfect my technique for my level 4 tumbling and it let's me compete more. In no way do I make the team amazing all of a sudden just because I'm a true level 4 athlete on a level 3 team. I don't even base a main stunt in the pyramid, I just base the middle prep. I do however disagree with crossing 2 or more levels, and having a high number of athletes crossing. I would really like to know however, how level 5s crossing to level 2 even enjoy practising? I compete level 3 and I think extensions, torches and back handspring are boring, never mind an athlete who can do fulls and elite level 5 stunts.

totally off subject, but your avatar pic....WOW! gorgeous flexibility if that's you!

 

[retiredl5cheer]

totally off subject, but your avatar pic....WOW! gorgeous flexibility if that's you!

LOL I think that's Gabi from Cali. Are you pulling our legs?

 

[Cheerleading Is My Life]

LOL I think that's Gabi from Cali. Are you pulling our legs? [emoji14]

Haha yes that's Gabi, I don't feel comfortable with a picture of myself on here!

totally off subject, but your avatar pic....WOW! gorgeous flexibility if that's you!

 

[flcheermom]

Were the initials of the team RR?

They also had a Sr 3 team a couple of years ago with a lot of their level 4/5 athletes. I have always seen at least one lower level team from them made up of higher levels.

 

[coach12]

LOL I think that's Gabi from Cali. Are you pulling our legs?

 

[Official OWECheer]

LOL I think that's Gabi from Cali. Are you pulling our legs?

Ba dum tsss.

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

True story. A Level 2 team at a gym I once worked at was routinely stacked with athletes from the Level 5 team. Especially for a big competition. The weakest level 2 flyers were taken out of the air and the Level 5 flyers put in their place. Point jumpers and dancers got moved in favor of the Level 5 kids. This went on a few times that year. Near the end of the season one of the Level 2 kids literally snapped. She about got to fighting with one of the Level 5 athletes in practice. The argument could be heard thought the gym. "Y'all always coming in here to rescue us like we suck or something. We dont need you. We do great without you before, we don't need you now. " Of course it got way worse than this with fists about to fly and the athlete was kicked out of the gym.

The strange thing to me is that the coaches and owners were completely oblivious to how the kids on that Level 2 team felt about being moved around and replaced every time a big competition came up. All the owners and coaches wanted to do was win at all costs, which they felt in order to do that they had to do what they did. That But to the athletes that were on the Level 2 team since the beginning of the season, that Level 2 was their team. Their only team. They wanted to own it, good or bad. They wanted to work. They viewed the Level 5's coming in as trespassers, mocking them saying they weren't good enough.
They were willing to accept the results, win or lose. It was the owners and coaches that could not.

That story is heartbreaking . True level 2 parents should have banded together and complained w/ the threat of not going to the competition.

 

[Cheermom1969]

They also had a Sr 3 team a couple of years ago with a lot of their level 4/5 athletes. I have always seen at least one lower level team from them made up of higher levels.

If the gym initials are CE and the j2 team is RR, that's who we just lost to at NCA. None of us are convinced it was a true level 2 team but not much we can do about it. If they are, then congrats but just not sure.