All-Star Nontumbling Worlds Teams

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I would argue the opposite and these examples further eliminate the need for a NT division. Alicia Sacramone and every other apparatus specialist never would have made it on to the national circuit if she didn't have all of the elite elements on every apparatus. You can't be an Olympic level gymnast with level 4 gymnastic skills on any apparatus. Drew Brees could never be an NFL defensive lineman - he's a specialist at his position just as all players are. With the current scoresheets the worlds levels are very similar when it comes to specialists. I know more than a few World Champions who do not have strong level 5 tumbling, but they are the best on the team when it comes to stunts, just as some are not strong bases or flyers but their tumbling is the best on the team. Those athletes contribute the most for the parts of the scoresheet they are strong in, and smart coaches put a team together to maximize each area of the scoresheet versus "full team everything". The industry determined that the XS division shouldn't have any restrictions and opened the division to all teams, and given less athletes are available to fill senior worlds teams the division is exploding. Unrelated, - if the majority of gyms can't field a team of more than 20 athletes that's something the industry should be concerned with.
ill give it a season or two... People were too, skeptical of the extra small division being added and now people are ok with that division, atlthough i wish it wouldve stayed with restrictions for one more season for smaller gyms. But i do think it takes more then one year to build up anything to be successful. I really havent seen any teams outside lady lux from cea and the international non tumbling team out of cheersport sharks though.
 
I would argue the opposite and these examples further eliminate the need for a NT division. Alicia Sacramone and every other apparatus specialist never would have made it on to the national circuit if she didn't have all of the elite elements on every apparatus. You can't be an Olympic level gymnast with level 4 gymnastic skills on any apparatus. Drew Brees could never be an NFL defensive lineman - he's a specialist at his position just as all players are. With the current scoresheets the worlds levels are very similar when it comes to specialists. I know more than a few World Champions who do not have strong level 5 tumbling, but they are the best on the team when it comes to stunts, just as some are not strong bases or flyers but their tumbling is the best on the team. Those athletes contribute the most for the parts of the scoresheet they are strong in, and smart coaches put a team together to maximize each area of the scoresheet versus "full team everything". The industry determined that the XS division shouldn't have any restrictions and opened the division to all teams, and given less athletes are available to fill senior worlds teams the division is exploding. Unrelated, - if the majority of gyms can't field a team of more than 20 athletes that's something the industry should be concerned with.

This.

There are plenty of kids on Worlds teams just to fly, just to tumble, etc. because they're elite in those areas.

I bet that many of the kids on an NT could be an asset to another Worlds team in their specialty area (stunts, etc.)
 
THAT being said, no other sport caters to athletes that only have a portion of their skills honed and rewards them at the top level.

....Olympic skiing? Alpine, Cross Country, Freestyle, Jumping, Nordic combined (jumping and cross country). Olympic equestrian? Dressage, Jumping, Eventing (combination of dressage, cross country and jumping).

But 4.2 isn’t a worlds division. Can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I know that if NT was strictly a Summit division I would probably have about 300% less gripes about it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think it's in World's for two reasons. The first being space, there's simply more room at World's than there is at the Summit. The second I believe is truly a pro-active move. More information keeps coming out on the long term effects of youth sports on growth plates, tendons, joints, and the intensity and level kids are being trained in all youth sports. AMSSM article. Multiple joint replacements, uneven limb lengths and short tendons from repairs aren't really what I think most parents wish for their kids future just to say they did an elite top level youth sport. Youth football could have, and should have, been more proactive.
 
Different people have different views of what Worlds' purpose should be. How you view that drives your opinion on a bunch of these issues.

Most common views of what should be the main purpose of Worlds:

1. Determine / award the strongest, most elite teams in our sport in the highest divisions.
2. Promote the sport generally and add divisions as needed to foster the most total growth.
3. Generate revenue for USASF and/or IASF to fund salaries/projects/initiatives/etc.
4. Protect/enhance the value of the USASF board members' premier (bid-giving) events

These aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but how you prioritize them can determine your opinion of things like: How many divisions should be at Worlds, how you weight categories, how geography affects results, etc.
 
I stand by my original statement that if it truly is for the growth of the sport at the international level, it belongs at ICU only. Seeing the NT teams in the US... furthers my opinion. Sorry.
 
I am of those who like the new divisions, for me, as long as they compete against each other, it does't take anything away from "normal" level 5 or 6 teams and it allows more athletes a chance to live their dreams, I'm fine with it. That said, I respect everyone's opinion.

I've seen some pretty good IO5NT, IOC5NT and Global teams and of course, I've also seen some that just are not ready.

Like I said, it allows athletes that were probably going to leave cheerleading because of age, injury (or any other reasons why they just could't get their tumbling skills on par) to live their dreams, it doesn't take anything away from all the years of sweat and tears they've put into their passion...of course, it also allows feds and associations to make more money out of athletes that were about to leave but that's a whole other story !

As for the argument that other sports don't have "specialists", I think it's been answered already, from hockey to baseball, football, almost every sport has its specialists so I'll leave it at that.

One thing I will add is tell you to be on the look-out for this division at Worlds because there's lots of rumours floating around that level 6 teams or other level 5 teams, midway in the season, are moving to 5.0 or Global, some for a chance to win, some because they lost an athlete or two or just because they have no chance in a bigger division.

An example of this is the Norwegian Team Viqueens that finished 2nd at Worlds last year in level 6, they tried to keep up but with lots of new faces on the team, decided to go 5.0 for the reminder of the year. Others are following the same trend so keep an eye out, it could get interesting by the time Worlds come around !

Finally, thanks to those who posted videos of 5.0 and Global in the January 2019 Videos thread, I will try to add some myself.

Keep up the good work and share all the vids you can !
 
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Different people have different views of what Worlds' purpose should be. How you view that drives your opinion on a bunch of these issues.

Most common views of what should be the main purpose of Worlds:

1. Determine / award the strongest, most elite teams in our sport in the highest divisions.
2. Promote the sport generally and add divisions as needed to foster the most total growth.
3. Generate revenue for USASF and/or IASF to fund salaries/projects/initiatives/etc.
4. Protect/enhance the value of the USASF board members' premier (bid-giving) events

These aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but how you prioritize them can determine your opinion of things like: How many divisions should be at Worlds, how you weight categories, how geography affects results, etc.

Agreed, but #1 is where athletes and fans are going to keep their focus, whereas a governing body has to consider all four of your points.

#1 The Nordic ski winner can't necessarily win the Jumping or Cross Country ski event, but has the talent to win it combined. Does that make the Nordic skier more or less talented or deserving of a medal? Begin the never ending debate. Cheer can be similar and I don't buy into "I've seen the NT teams this year and they aren't deserving" logic. The NT5 division, if it gains interest, will eventually out stunt the L5 combined just because that's what happens when specific talents and training are honed in on. Gymnastic trained tumblers and trained dancers are some of AS's biggest critics, because AS technique generally lacks in comparison, but that's because of the time and expense it takes to cross train. Cross trained athletes are extremely impressive, but their individually trained counterparts are equally impressive to most fans.

#2, #3 and #4 are the realities no one wants to address. #2 Youth football could not gain interest internationally, not just because of violence (rugby is violent), but because of cost to dress an athlete, cost of resources to be competitive and the cost of injury physically and financially. Internationally, it's not about catching up in skills, that happens fairly quickly, it's about the wealth and talent pool it takes to catch up to be competitive (D1/D2 debate). The US is a wealthy country, tumble training and injuries are expensive. Provide a NT option in cheer, gain more interest and talent not only abroad, but across a larger economic pool in the US, as well. #3 and #4 Truth, everyone wants to get paid, have benefits and job security, but no one wants to pay the prices it takes for anyone else to get the same. Another truth, if you don't protect/enhance the value of your business, there will be someone else that will acquire it or do a version better than you. People are legitimately complaining about the cost of youth sports, but geez people, heaven forbid a governing body offer a more cost effective option that has the ability to be equally impressive at an elite level and include people in a wider economic range.
 
I stand by my original statement that if it truly is for the growth of the sport at the international level, it belongs at ICU only. Seeing the NT teams in the US... furthers my opinion. Sorry.
What was wrong with the NT teams in the US ? After seeing Lady Lux compete i was thinking it was pretty interesting personally , lots of stunting makes it quite original , its all a matter of opinion though.
 
Another thought. If anyone has watched America's Got Talent the past few years you have seen some dance groups come in with some incredible stunting. If you haven't, watch a few minutes of Zucaroh below. This is a good example if you don't protect or evolve your business how someone can come in and provide, not necessarily a better version, but definitely a version that might attract some of your customers. (ETA 3:20 and 5:41 are amazing)

 
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