All-Star Spirit Cheer 2/12 - 13/2011 Hartford, CT

[ececheer]

True but what if they are on that team?

they do.. at spirit fest they had a list of the teams and the crossovers from the other teams & it said junior5 and large senior open 5.

 

[sierraaa1]

I agree that there should be more of a reason for having someone crossover than because they "want to cheer on two teams". I don't have a problem with somebody filling in if they NEED somebody for a position, but team stacking is a little bit wrong. I'm a little bit more forgiving of the practice if it's a smaller gym though, because it's kind of one of those "danged if you do and danged if you don't" things! As a smaller gym, it's probably going to be a challenge to make a level 2 team that competes with a team like say, Stingrays, who yes, will have a true level 2 team, but have an abundance of kids at every level, unless you use crossovers. But I do think it's much more impressive to be true to level, using a bunch of crossovers is kind of a cop-out!

they only have 3 girls from level 5 have on youth 2 and, im pretty sure 2 dont have a full. only one has a full. and on sr. 2 they have 2 crossovers and one doesnt have a full she only has a bhs. so its not like the teams is completely ALL level 5. only 2 of the 4 crossovers for youth and senior have a full.

 

[DONTstopNOW]

I wasn't talking about Sparks specifically, I was just saying my attitude on crossovers in general. Like I said, if you need somebody to fill a position, i don't blame a gym at all for picking somebody who is clearly going to do it well. I don't think crossovers make or break a team, obviously a team's success is based more than one person having a double full.

 

[CIAgiraffe]

I agree that there should be more of a reason for having someone crossover than because they "want to cheer on two teams". I don't have a problem with somebody filling in if they NEED somebody for a position, but team stacking is a little bit wrong. I'm a little bit more forgiving of the practice if it's a smaller gym though, because it's kind of one of those "danged if you do and danged if you don't" things! As a smaller gym, it's probably going to be a challenge to make a level 2 team that competes with a team like say, Stingrays, who yes, will have a true level 2 team, but have an abundance of kids at every level, unless you use crossovers. But I do think it's much more impressive to be true to level, using a bunch of crossovers is kind of a cop-out!

I totally agree!

 

[allstarmama]

they have most of their level 5 kids on either youth 2 and senior 2. yes, it is insane among other things. Not exactly the way I would want to win a division, and I can't think of many gyms who play the same game, but it is legal. Praying for the crossover rule to pass (wish they would address the level crossovers as well) so they can't team stack any more. When you have kids that can throw a double-full on level 1 and 2 teams, there is something very wrong.

Funny that your name is "quitthedrama" as you seem to be stirring it up

You said above that they have MOST of their level 5 kids on either youth 2 or senior 2. Let's just break it down for you. They have 3 level 5 teams in the gym...approx 60 level 5 athletes. They have 3 kids that cross to youth (one of which does not tumble beyond a BHS I think) and 2 kids that cross to senior 2. One from J5, who crosses so she can fly and one from so5 that does not throw level 5 tumbling. So that's a total of FIVE athletes that cross to these teams out of approx 60...hardly MOST.

 

[CatsCoach113]

Unless your a huge gym like Stingrays or Cheer Athletics it's almost impossible to NOT have crossovers!!!! Having 1,2 or even 5 fulls out of 20 or 36 kids does NOT make u a level 5 team, and is by no means "stacking a team" 1 or 2 crossovers to a youth or senior 2 team is not the reason why they are good... They are just a good team and people need to except it... On the level 2 team I coach we have 4 crossovers from are Jr 3 team because if they didn't cross down we would of have 16 kids on the team and thats not what we wanted. Yes they may have tucks but we are a small gym and that was are only option. It's not like they can throw there tucks on the level 2 team anyways so them having more tumbling dosen't even matter! .. (all of that was just my opinion)

 

[flygirl2011]

Unless your a huge gym like Stingrays or Cheer Athletics it's almost impossible to NOT have crossovers!!!! Having 1,2 or even 5 fulls out of 20 or 36 kids does NOT make u a level 5 team, and is by no means "stacking a team" 1 or 2 crossovers to a youth or senior 2 team is not the reason why they are good... They are just a good team and people need to except it... On the level 2 team I coach we have 4 crossovers from are Jr 3 team because if they didn't cross down we would of have 16 kids on the team and thats not what we wanted. Yes they may have tucks but we are a small gym and that was are only option. It's not like they can throw there tucks on the level 2 team anyways so them having more tumbling dosen't even matter! .. (all of that was just my opinion)

I agree....Not to mention when you have injuries and or people leaving the team......I cant believe how when there is a good team people need to find something wrong with that......good gyms should be using good teams as incentive to make their teams work harder...they shouldnt be trying to rationalize by bashing another team or gym...

 

[CatsCoach113]

I agree....Not to mention when you have injuries and or people leaving the team......I cant believe how when there is a good team people need to find something wrong with that......good gyms should be using good teams as incentive to make their teams work harder...they shouldnt be trying to rationalize by bashing another team or gym...

Exactly!! Use it for motivation to work harder, dont bash a team cuz there good. Espically when everyone does it!! I no at cheersport like 3 yrs. Ago Right after FCA Diamonds competed at least 5 girls came off the mat and ran to level 3 warmups yes they may have fulls, even doubles but they cant throw it in a level 3 preformance so what's it matter?!? .. So what 5 level 5 kids cross to level 2 teams.. Until the rules don't allow it they are not breaking any rules. And to say the team is only good cuz of those 2 or 3 kids is probably making the other kids only on level 2 feel bad like they arnt important to the team... IMO

 

[wildcatmom]

Just as a warning to anyone who won the hoodies this weekend....don't put them in the dryer. My daughter's is now half the size that it was....ooops!

 

[quitthedrama]

Funny that your name is "quitthedrama" as you seem to be stirring it up

You said above that they have MOST of their level 5 kids on either youth 2 or senior 2. Let's just break it down for you. They have 3 level 5 teams in the gym...approx 60 level 5 athletes. They have 3 kids that cross to youth (one of which does not tumble beyond a BHS I think) and 2 kids that cross to senior 2. One from J5, who crosses so she can fly and one from so5 that does not throw level 5 tumbling. So that's a total of FIVE athletes that cross to these teams out of approx 60...hardly MOST.

Not looking to start drama at all. This is a board and we are all entitled to our opinions. I respect those that don't see a problem with someone crossing down 3 or 4 levels. I feel differently. The crossover issue is my biggest pet peeve in cheer, the majority of my posts are about it, and I feel this industry will never be recognized as a sport until there is a set of rules consistent with other recognized sports. It isn't about being a sore loser - to me these are the types of things that make people consider cheer to be "a joke". There is no other sport that allows elite to compete with advance beginner/intermediate. Whether it is 1 level 5 athlete or 10 who crossover, I don't feel it should be allowed. Although you say one of the crossovers doesn't have a full, there are so many other level 5 skills these kids have that give a huge advantage to a level 2 team - jumps, motions, standing tumbling, stunting, dance. All of these components are clearly harder and more technical on a level 5 team than a level 2. I specifically said it was legal in my post, but I also have the right to my opinion that it is team stacking, particularly when a gym is fielding 8 teams and have divisions with lower levels they could pull from if they really needed the numbers. My apologies that I don't know the specific counts of how many level 5 crossovers are on the level 2 teams - I saw a lot more than 2 running to warmups this past weekend, but as I said I feel even 1 is too many, 3 is 15% of your team and very easy to place in the routine to give a huge advantage. Not looking to target any gym either - I think Sparks has amazing level 5 teams, great athletes and great choreography and I always enjoy seeing them perform.

 

[WyldWon]

My daughter was asked to cross down from Level 5 Senior to Junior 3 last year because someone quit mid season....she was placed in that girls spot (who wasnt an exceptional cheerleader) so she was in the back for most of the routine...if the coaches wanted her for her level 5 talent she would of been in front and had an amazing diagonal pass. BTW...CatsCoach13 was her coach...an amazing and very fair one at that!!!!

 

[flygirl2011]

Not looking to start drama at all. This is a board and we are all entitled to our opinions. I respect those that don't see a problem with someone crossing down 3 or 4 levels. I feel differently. The crossover issue is my biggest pet peeve in cheer, the majority of my posts are about it, and I feel this industry will never be recognized as a sport until there is a set of rules consistent with other recognized sports. It isn't about being a sore loser - to me these are the types of things that make people consider cheer to be "a joke". There is no other sport that allows elite to compete with advance beginner/intermediate. Whether it is 1 level 5 athlete or 10 who crossover, I don't feel it should be allowed. Although you say one of the crossovers doesn't have a full, there are so many other level 5 skills these kids have that give a huge advantage to a level 2 team - jumps, motions, standing tumbling, stunting, dance. All of these components are clearly harder and more technical on a level 5 team than a level 2. I specifically said it was legal in my post, but I also have the right to my opinion that it is team stacking, particularly when a gym is fielding 8 teams and have divisions with lower levels they could pull from if they really needed the numbers. My apologies that I don't know the specific counts of how many level 5 crossovers are on the level 2 teams - I saw a lot more than 2 running to warmups this past weekend, but as I said I feel even 1 is too many, 3 is 15% of your team and very easy to place in the routine to give a huge advantage. Not looking to target any gym either - I think Sparks has amazing level 5 teams, great athletes and great choreography and I always enjoy seeing them perform.

 

[flygirl2011]

What is a joke and making cheerleading look bad is the negativity, badmouthing, facebook statements and drama that people create out of imaginary storylines. ....to make themselves feel better about their own programs.....The new Rules proposals say no more than 20% of your team would be able to crossover to a different team....On a small team thats 4 cheerleaders.....and yes I saw many gyms this weekend taking kids off the mat after competing and heading back to warmups....Who cares....that is what it is......I thought we werent talking about specific gyms...." quitthedrama".... if those people focused instead on what their own individual gyms do well, rather than continuing to make themselves feel better by finding flaws in other programs then the image of cheerleading would continue to improve.
I saw many great shows of good sportsmanship in both arenas this weekend...Core Athletics, CNY ...USA...Sparks..Cheerfactor..ECE..Spirit Central all cheering each other on...

 

[meesh3369]

my only issue w/ this was not the crossovers cause they aren't breaking rules as stated it was the hour long wait till awards i wish they could of competed out of order...it's a very long weekend to have to pro long awards is torture ha

 

[CatsCoach113]

my only issue w/ this was not the crossovers cause they aren't breaking rules as stated it was the hour long wait till awards i wish they could of competed out of order...it's a very long weekend to have to pro long awards is torture ha

That's hy jambrands are the best!! They put in the computer who crosses over where only once and BAM no issues. That Indy sch. Did nor change once!! And ur not gonna tell me out of alllll those teams no1 had crossovers!