- Dec 14, 2009
- 1,960
- 5,349
There are many parents and coaches that have sounded alarms for years. Years. They were all summarily dismissed or discouraged (one way or the other) from speaking their fears. Those that kept speaking got branded with the term conspiracy theorists, alarmists, doom sayers, etc. that continues to the day.
The current state is not sustainable. On one hand after two years of pushing for numbers to show all this growth, a number was supposedly released at a USASF meeting (it was reported by an industry insider) that All Star Registrations had grown by over 8000 athletes. That however only counted for new athletes that registered to compete. It does not mean they ever competed, or have remained in the sport. There is also no industry tracking at least that I am aware of of athletes that are no longer cheering due to reasons other than aging out. So from that point of view it only looks like growth, so what is the problem?
The problem is that on the gym owner side, there are losses that are killing gyms. Costs that they can not control. Gyms closing right and left and no one is batting an eye. So many are trying to keep up with the Jones when they filed for bankruptcy 3x already. So many are chasing the new bling, the new cheerlebrity, the new fad. All of that distracts from the fact the costs are eating away this industry. IMO it feels like those at the top have to know what is really going on at the gym owner/coach/parent/athlete level and are simply doing what they can to make what they can and cash out. Not all of them mind you but enough that no real change is occurring on this front.
There are numerous affordable competitions, end of year events to attend to control costs. They too offer jackets, rings, trophies, etc. Some even offer a rebate program as well. The issue is one by one they are being bought out by a certain company with owners being silenced from announcing it until after gyms have registered and can't get a refund. The ones that won't sell out have seen venues blocked, hotels blocked and other behaviors that many would say are sure signs of a monopoly but those who support it say is an oligaphy. (sp?) I have had numerous friends told point blank that if they did not sell out they would be shut down. Blacklisted. Silenced. Who does that but someone trying to make sure you have no other option but their events and vendors. The people who are trying to provide reasonable cost saving events are being run out of business just like many of the small gyms are.
The blame is then put on small gym owners that they are all bad business people and coaches. That is why they could not keep their gym open. Sorry but that is complete BS. I have seen too many lose their gyms and their passions over costs that they could not control. Costs that are continually promoted to their clients as you must have this, go here, do this or else your gym is no good. or else it is a natural market contraction that must happen and it is better for the athletes because they get to go to a better bigger gym. SMH.
We used to be able to control costs by staying wherever we could. Now with stay to play, that eliminates that option and drives the cost up even more, often for a crappy hotel miles away from the venue.
Parents who ultimately control the purse strings who won't say no also have some culpability. There are things like uniforms, bows, practice wear etc that they can say we don't need all that and wont pay for it. Heck when I started in on the cheer side of things a t-shirt and soffee shorts were all that were required to practice in. Now we have different outfits for different days, special events, end of year events, coordinate hair bows, etc. Most of that is no longer optional as it once was. Yes they are cute, but they cost money! (In my Mr Krabs voice) Oh but you can mark it up and make a profit! Not when you have parents with sleuthing skills better than the FBI that will call the vendors, find out what it really costs and then let everyone know that you are an unfair gym owner trying to make a profit selling a 3 dollar sports bra for 5 dollars! Shame on you!
If there is blame, we all must take a share. We have fiddled while Rome burned. Where do we go from here is what concerns me now.
The current state is not sustainable. On one hand after two years of pushing for numbers to show all this growth, a number was supposedly released at a USASF meeting (it was reported by an industry insider) that All Star Registrations had grown by over 8000 athletes. That however only counted for new athletes that registered to compete. It does not mean they ever competed, or have remained in the sport. There is also no industry tracking at least that I am aware of of athletes that are no longer cheering due to reasons other than aging out. So from that point of view it only looks like growth, so what is the problem?
The problem is that on the gym owner side, there are losses that are killing gyms. Costs that they can not control. Gyms closing right and left and no one is batting an eye. So many are trying to keep up with the Jones when they filed for bankruptcy 3x already. So many are chasing the new bling, the new cheerlebrity, the new fad. All of that distracts from the fact the costs are eating away this industry. IMO it feels like those at the top have to know what is really going on at the gym owner/coach/parent/athlete level and are simply doing what they can to make what they can and cash out. Not all of them mind you but enough that no real change is occurring on this front.
There are numerous affordable competitions, end of year events to attend to control costs. They too offer jackets, rings, trophies, etc. Some even offer a rebate program as well. The issue is one by one they are being bought out by a certain company with owners being silenced from announcing it until after gyms have registered and can't get a refund. The ones that won't sell out have seen venues blocked, hotels blocked and other behaviors that many would say are sure signs of a monopoly but those who support it say is an oligaphy. (sp?) I have had numerous friends told point blank that if they did not sell out they would be shut down. Blacklisted. Silenced. Who does that but someone trying to make sure you have no other option but their events and vendors. The people who are trying to provide reasonable cost saving events are being run out of business just like many of the small gyms are.
The blame is then put on small gym owners that they are all bad business people and coaches. That is why they could not keep their gym open. Sorry but that is complete BS. I have seen too many lose their gyms and their passions over costs that they could not control. Costs that are continually promoted to their clients as you must have this, go here, do this or else your gym is no good. or else it is a natural market contraction that must happen and it is better for the athletes because they get to go to a better bigger gym. SMH.
We used to be able to control costs by staying wherever we could. Now with stay to play, that eliminates that option and drives the cost up even more, often for a crappy hotel miles away from the venue.
Parents who ultimately control the purse strings who won't say no also have some culpability. There are things like uniforms, bows, practice wear etc that they can say we don't need all that and wont pay for it. Heck when I started in on the cheer side of things a t-shirt and soffee shorts were all that were required to practice in. Now we have different outfits for different days, special events, end of year events, coordinate hair bows, etc. Most of that is no longer optional as it once was. Yes they are cute, but they cost money! (In my Mr Krabs voice) Oh but you can mark it up and make a profit! Not when you have parents with sleuthing skills better than the FBI that will call the vendors, find out what it really costs and then let everyone know that you are an unfair gym owner trying to make a profit selling a 3 dollar sports bra for 5 dollars! Shame on you!
If there is blame, we all must take a share. We have fiddled while Rome burned. Where do we go from here is what concerns me now.
