All-Star Open For Debate, What Would You Rather Have?

[Ashley]

Yes. but of the 125,000 allstar cheerleaders (on the low end) they all know more about Worlds than they do about college cheer.

Well sure, because it's the ultimate competition in their sport. But when I was cheering in college, I didn't know *anything* about all-star cheerleading until we started competing locally at all-star competitions to get some mat time before Daytona. I remember my teammate explaining levels to me. But then again I also didn't know anything about NCA/UCA nationals until I was in college.

 

[Ashley]

As an international team from Canada, Worlds is definitely the 'big deal', but because of course not everybody is a level five athlete, our level three and four teams go to UCA. I'd love to go to NCA for once just to be able to see what it's actually like though!

We're talking about NCA/UCA college nationals, not all-stars in Dallas/Disney.

 

[King]

Well sure, because it's the ultimate competition in their sport. But when I was cheering in college, I didn't know *anything* about all-star cheerleading until we started competing locally at all-star competitions to get some mat time before Daytona. I remember my teammate explaining levels to me. But then again I also didn't know anything about NCA/UCA nationals until I was in college.

Not saying college isn't still the most prestigious, I think at this moment thats a tough argument to pin down. But in 5 years it will most definitely be Worlds over college.

 

[ILCheer4You]

Outside of the Cheerleading World Top Gun is a movie, World Cup is a soccer tournament, and Cheer Extreme/Athletics/Force is an oxymoron.

This is very true. Trust me, I love the world of allstar cheerleading and winning a Worlds title would be such a monumental experience. However, in the general non-cheering population - I mention Lexington and people often know UK's cheer program. Now perhaps that's just the laymans circle I run in...they all follow college sports. If I mention Stringrays (as one example) in context of a cheer program, they stare at me blankly. For me, the Stingrays cheer program is 100% identifiable and flat out amazing. Perhaps I am strictly looking at the question from an outsider's perspective. I do think that the allstar cheerleading population is much larger and sees Worlds as much more prestigious.

In the end, I'd take either title equally any day of the week! But I'm not picky.

 

[King]

This is very true. Trust me, I love the world of allstar cheerleading and winning a Worlds title would be such a monumental experience. However, in the general non-cheering population - I mention Lexington and people often know UK's cheer program. Now perhaps that's just the laymans circle I run in...they all follow college sports. If I mention Stringrays (as one example) in context of a cheer program, they stare at me blankly. For me, the Stingrays cheer program is 100% identifiable and flat out amazing. Perhaps I am strictly looking at the question from an outsider's perspective. I do think that the allstar cheerleading population is much larger and sees Worlds as much more prestigious.

In the end, I'd take either title equally any day of the week! But I'm not picky.

i would take recognizability of the singular non iconic program. how about the program to beat Kentucky for two years? or who won Division III this year?

 

[ztaprincess]

I personally would rather have a UCA/NCA ring and the recognition at my university. I love allstar cheer and a worlds ring would be nice, but growing up I watched the college competitions on TV and always wanted to be like them so having a ring like they do would mean so much more to me.

I think it may be a generation thing. As Kingston said allstar will eventually overshadow college and will be held much higher to more people. The generation in cheer now have focused more on allstar instead of college. There are many allstar cheerleaders that have no clue about how college cheer works or what team won this competition and how many rings they have. If this question was asked say 6 or 7 years ago the answers would be completely different I think.

 

[cheercoachz]

Well, Shooting Stars' goal was to win at NCA last year, and they did, but in an ideal world, everybody would like a ring AND a jacket. Are any of us truly ever satisfied? lol Answer? No....there is ALWAYS the next competition. Fierce competition in the cheer world...whew

 

[Ashley]

Well, Shooting Stars' goal was to win at NCA last year, and they did, but in an ideal world, everybody would like a ring AND a jacket. Are any of us truly ever satisfied? lol Answer? No....there is ALWAYS the next competition. Fierce competition in the cheer world...whew

We're talking NCA/UCA College Nationals - the worlds of college cheerleading. Not NCA Dallas All-Star Nationals.

 

[MakeYourMark]

id much rather win worlds worlds

 

[cheerKT]

I agree, college championships get more recognition through their school, and simply because people understand it more. They understand collegiate sports compete nationally, and if you're the best, you're National Champions. Go to the same people and say I'm an allstar World Champion in the Senior Semi-Limited Coed division and they will look at you like you have 2 heads.

But personally, I would like a Worlds ring more. Although both are special.

 

[wcdad]

A champion college team earns recognition and respect from their school and classmates (on the whole). They are typically held in high regard for the year and announced with their title during home games, etc. They are a part of something "bigger" because they have gained additional fame through their performances at sporting events. They are on tv more because their games and competitions are televised. It brings honor to the school, so it is appreciated at some capacity, by a larger community. Outside of that school community, there is a cheer community that brings another circle of fans.

Allstar world champions are also celebrated and recognized, but the glory and victory seems a bit more compartmentalized. Not everyone recognizes that Gym A from their town is a world champion. They are more likely to know that the cheerleading team for their beloved hometown college team is a national champion. Now in the cheer community, it seems that the allstar following is a bit more fanatical. So while the cheer community following may be more intense, it is one less circle of recognition.

I understand that there are exceptions to everything I stated above. In fact, in some situations it may be entirely opposite. However, this is what my personal observations have been.

*Case in point, think Louisville Cheer Calendars and how well they sell.

I agree with this, and speaking of the calendars if any one wants one let me know, my CP is selling them..

 

[Mr May]

my two cents, i think they all have their merit, but it depends on what you are doing. clearly a college cheerleader is going to say college cheer etc etc. now had you asked me two years ago, college titles were the thing that mattered most to me. that is mostly because we had to work so long and hard to get one. you got 5 minutes on a mat after a year of work, and there were more teams competing against us. my gymtyme nca jackets were 2 weeks of work vs 2 or 3 opponents. but now that i am a cheer director, all star and worlds championships are my focus. my parents here have no idea what a louisville is, or sfa or tvcc for that matter. what a better award, an emmy, grammy, oscar or tony? i say try and egot and get em all.

 

[wcsstilldeath]

I feel like if you tell an outsider " i won worlds this weekend" they will think thats alot more impressive then " i won nationals" considering there are hundreds of cheer company nationals throughout the season. Cheerleaders know that NCA jacket is like gold and so prestigious. which do you think would get a better response?

 

[King]

We keep saying ' to outsiders' but really to outsiders if you won cheerleading, college or allstar, you probably won a contest with who had the better pom pom shaking.

It's within the world of cheer that matters, and the opinions drive and energy right now is moving more towards allstar.

Can I add I would prefer if it were setup that college was still highly revered? Aiming for something greater than you are now is a huge motivation for people and I don't like the idea that Worlds is (or definitely will be depending on the time frame) the pinnacle. That means high schoolers will have reached the top and be done. I would love for college to make a comeback and be what it was to me back in the early 2000's.

But with open teams becoming stronger I don't see college taking back much. In general allstar kids prefer the allstar style. They may want to cheer on their college (so much fun, loved it) but this allstar world they spent 10-15 years in just goes away in college? Everything they knew is now wrong? For college to survive and thrive back to the point it once was it has gotta change with the times.

 

[F!ERCE]

I would prefer a Worlds title.

...Not that I would complain about either.

.......And not like either will ever happen. Sigh.