Is Cheerleading a Sport or an Industry?

[ACEDAD]

GACheerpeach - I agree with all your ideas. Here are my two cents:

1. Cap and/or standardize registration fees.
2. Eliminate kickbacks to gym owners for participation.
3. Reduce the number of Competition Companies, thereby making a National Title more meaningful.

And King - I have to disagree with you on your subsitiution comment. If your starting quarterback or pitcher is out, you have to sub with a "lesser" athlete in that position. Same with cheer......

Most of what you are suggesting is not compatible with the free enterprise system in America.

Particularly number 3: What if it was your competition company that "we" decided to shut down?

The events exist because there are customers.

 

[King]

Maybe that was a point I should ave mentioned before. Our competitions exist in large part to make money, more so than other sports. In part because of the nature of our sport. Nothing wrong with it, it is just a piece that makes what we do so unique.

 

[doubletrouble]

Most of what you are suggesting is not compatible with the free enterprise system in America.

Particularly number 3: What if it was your competition company that "we" decided to shut down?

The events exist because there are customers.

That's why it's an industry and not a sport. I believe the question raised was what steps needed to be taken to make cheerleading a sport as opposed to an industry? I feel pretty strongly that the chher world would be taken more seriously if those steps were implemented.

As for #3, Greedy me would be upset, but if I was altruistic about the sport as opposed to the industry, I'd guess I'd be taking one for the team.

 

[ACEDAD]

Maybe that was a point I should ave mentioned before. Our competitions exist in large part to make money, more so than other sports. In part because of the nature of our sport. Nothing wrong with it, it is just a piece that makes what we do so unique.

Other sports don't make money?

 

[soFIERCE08]

Why not? What's to stop a team from always having trained back-ups?

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i feel a team doesn't have trained back ups because parents don't want to pay 6000 a year for their child to not perform. and then if a gym tried to put that athlete on a lower level team, the athlete may just move to another neighboring gym where they will be on a higher level. for example, an athlete doesn't make Gym A's level 5 team even though they have a full. but, they can go to Gym B where they will be placed on a level 5 team. chances are, that athlete will go to Gym B.

 

[ACEDAD]

Maybe that was a point I should ave mentioned before. Our competitions exist in large part to make money, more so than other sports. In part because of the nature of our sport. Nothing wrong with it, it is just a piece that makes what we do so unique.

So who runs the competitions? Who maintains the equipment? Remember there are no venues set up like baseball, football, basketball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, softball, etc.

 

[SharkDad]

i feel a team doesn't have trained back ups because parents don't want to pay 6000 a year for their child to not perform. and then if a gym tried to put that athlete on a lower level team, the athlete may just move to another neighboring gym where they will be on a higher level. for example, an athlete doesn't make Gym A's level 5 team even though they have a full. but, they can go to Gym B where they will be placed on a level 5 team. chances are, that athlete will go to Gym B.

I've seen plenty of teams with trained back-ups. It could easily be a child from another team who knows the routine and is already at that competition. That way they are on a performing team, but can still be used as a sub.

I think Worlds teams have the option to bring 3 subs. I know some teams bring them. I can't imagine all that preparation and not having someone to fill-in for a last minute injury.

 

[King]

Level 5, yes. But what about a youth level 2, lets say. Do you think there are backups hanging around for them? Most of those teams are not even full on a large team. And at a smaller gym they may be the only youth or mini team in the gym. Then what? Even at Rays it can be difficult when people don't show up or quit last minute. We are better equipped than most, but it is still extremely difficult to manage.

 

[SharkDad]

So this is one point, and admittedly a different issue at different levels and different gyms. My point to the start of this whole discussion is:

There are plenty of problems to be solved to make cheer better. If they are solved as an industry, decisions are made from the standpoint of making money and market decides. If they are solved as a sport, the governing body decides for the best interest of the athletes and the entire sport. Hopefully all the coaches and event produces have buy-in because they want to further the sport. . .which makes them more money in the longrun.

Other sports work that way, and this discussion shouldn't include just All-star. The entire sport is much bigger and gets more voice if issues are handled for All-star, High school, and College.

 

[doubletrouble]

Well, I also don't think there are many benefits for calling cheer a sport, even if we want to. If it was a sport, besides recognition what really would it benefit?

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Validation that cheerleaders are athletes. NCAA participation and scholarship opportunities.

 

[cheerislove8]

For college sake, it would be huge if cheerleading was considered a sport for scholarships. And overall, I think it would increase the safety by making overall rules about using mats and whatnot.

 

[King]

So this is one point, and admittedly a different issue at different levels and different gyms. My point to the start of this whole discussion is:

There are plenty of problems to be solved to make cheer better. If they are solved as an industry, decisions are made from the standpoint of making money and market decides. If they are solved as a sport, the governing body decides for the best interest of the athletes and the entire sport. Hopefully all the coaches and event produces have buy-in because they want to further the sport. . .which makes them more money in the longrun.

Other sports work that way, and this discussion shouldn't include just All-star. The entire sport is much bigger and gets more voice if issues are handled for All-star, High school, and College.

Agreed, but that means high school, college, and Allstar need to start playin. The same game then.

 

[King]

Validation that cheerleaders are athletes. NCAA participation and scholarship opportunities.

There is validation that were athletes already, just not that what we do is a sport. As for NCAA... That's a completely different animal. What would participation bring us? The scholarship opportunities would be nice, but do you think they would really put money into this sport when they don't have to as it is?

 

[King]

Validation that cheerleaders are athletes. NCAA participation and scholarship opportunities.

There is validation that were athletes already, just not that what we do is a sport. As for NCAA... That's a completely different animal. What would participation bring us? The scholarship opportunities would be nice, but do you think they would really put money into this sport when they don't have to as it is?

 

[GAcheerpeach]

If implement my five simple rules all the rest of the problems will fall into place...

The competition companies would all have to play by the same rules and you aren't eliminating anyone. If they don't like the rules they can choose not to be a part of it.

Just like in nearly every other business in America the strong owners would survive and the shady owners would vanish (think construction). For some reason this industry tries to cater to everyone and that isn't good business (even for a sport).

All the rules I posted are used in nearly every other sport. You can't be considered credible if you let anyone show up and play your game. Think how horrible the NBA, MLB or NFL would be if anyone who threw together a team could compete at the same level.

More on rules - The NFL is one of the strictest sports organizations and yet they rake in BILLIONS every year. It's because everything is structured and they portray that everyone and everything is on a level playing field. all star cheering has the complete opposite reputation. Outsiders think the whole industry is crooked because of lack of rules and enforcement of the rules that exist.


The best part is there is still tons of money to go around plus you might actually see an increase in the number competitors.