All-Star Larger Gyms At Local Comps

[Fameous MOM]

I have heard this before so I am going to ask.....
This weekend Fame attended a local comp in Richmond (soffe open- which you should attend if you are going to CANAM nationals in Myrtle Beach). We were the largest gym there and won every division we were in. I overheard parents from another local gym saying that we should no be there- that we were trying to make the other gyms look bad. That our gym was too big to compete at a regional competition. My question is why shouldn't we compete locally? That is how we get practice for bigger comps and is also a marketing tool for showing off our gym to maybe get more cheerleaders next season. Do you think that local gyms should not compete at a regional comp?

 

[JulieP]

I have heard this before so I am going to ask.....
This weekend Fame attended a local comp in Richmond (soffe open- which you should attend if you are going to CANAM nationals in Myrtle Beach). We were the largest gym there and won every division we were in. I overheard parents from another local gym saying that we should no be there- that we were trying to make the other gyms look bad. That our gym was too big to compete at a regional competition. My question is why shouldn't we compete locally? That is how we get practice for bigger comps and is also a marketing tool for showing off our gym to maybe get more cheerleaders next season. Do you think that local gyms should not compete at a regional comp?

Not to mention that local competitions are probably the only way that an athlete's extended family or friends can come support them.

 

[NJ Coach]

I think someone's bitter they lost.

 

[laughAlittle]

I think that bigger gyms are entitled to compete wherever they want, however I understand the frustration from smaller gyms. It really does hurt them in the long run for numerous reasons.

 

[Fameous MOM]

I think someone's bitter they lost.

I agree. The parents I overheard said - I heard the coaches make them have extra practices if they are going to a competition and that they keep them longer if they are hitting their stuff. The other parents was like - that is CRAZY.
Hmmm call me crazy but my daughter is on a j5 team and I love when they add practices to make sure we look our best!!! Maybe I am the crazy one.

 

[east2westandbackagain]

They sound uneducated about what it takes to be successful. I would just brush it off, any parent that is going to take the success of a child away and deminish it with harsh words about the kid or program is a sad soul. Jealously is an evil thing. Hold your head high, your program has worked for it.

 

[Fameous MOM]

They sound uneducated about what it takes to be successful. I would just brush it off, any parent that is going to take the success of a child away and deminish it with harsh words about the kid or program is a sad soul. Jealously is an evil thing. Hold your head high, your program has worked for it.

Thank you!!! You are so right!

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

I can see both sides of the fence. You guys should be able to compete wherever you please. If you had to travel everywhere, your bill would be even higher than what it already is. Taking advantage of in town competitions are how you get experience without the huge cost. However, those cheerleaders you are talking about marketing to and adding next year will come from another program. You forget about the bond that was built between the gym and those kids. I've lost good kids to larger gyms, not because we're bad, but because there is some kids who want to be a part of big teams. Where the grass is greener. It sounds like FAME is the deal so why wouldn't they want to switch to the larger more successful gym? I can understand the frustration of parents / coaches who are building a level 3/4/5 program, but continue to lose talent to bigger names. It's like 3 steps forward and 5 steps back. But I wouldn't sweat it. It's capitalism! Laissez faire!

 

[Fameous MOM]

I can see both sides of the fence. You guys should be able to compete wherever you please. If you had to travel everywhere, your bill would be even higher than what it already is. Taking advantage of in town competitions are how you get experience without the huge cost. However, those cheerleaders you are talking about marketing to and adding next year will come from another program. You forget about the bond that was built between the gym and those kids. I've lost good kids to larger gyms, not because we're bad, but because there is some kids who want to be a part of big teams. Where the grass is greener. It sounds like FAME is the deal so why wouldn't they want to switch to the larger more successful gym? I can understand the frustration of parents / coaches who are building a level 3/4/5 program, but continue to lose talent to bigger names. It's like 3 steps forward and 5 steps back. But I wouldn't sweat it. It's capitalism! Laissez faire!

I did not look at it that way! That makes sense!

 

[WisconsinIsFierce]

Big name teams should not be only entitled to big competitions. Why would that be fair? If you want to become a successful gym you need to compete against actual competition. Everybody loses sometimes, next year they'll just have to come back stronger.

 

[tumbleyoda]

I can see both sides of the fence. You guys should be able to compete wherever you please. If you had to travel everywhere, your bill would be even higher than what it already is. Taking advantage of in town competitions are how you get experience without the huge cost. However, those cheerleaders you are talking about marketing to and adding next year will come from another program. You forget about the bond that was built between the gym and those kids. I've lost good kids to larger gyms, not because we're bad, but because there is some kids who want to be a part of big teams. Where the grass is greener. It sounds like FAME is the deal so why wouldn't they want to switch to the larger more successful gym? I can understand the frustration of parents / coaches who are building a level 3/4/5 program, but continue to lose talent to bigger names. It's like 3 steps forward and 5 steps back. But I wouldn't sweat it. It's capitalism! Laissez faire!

And this is the dilemma that many small gyms face. You cant get bigger (and theoretically in many peoples minds better) if you are continually losing your top level kids to other programs - esp when it is something you cant compete against ie size, recruiting "scholarships" or the perception that bigger is always better and that small means you are doing something wrong. Your attitude about it is right on point! Keep on doing what you do to the best of your ability and make it work with whomever and how many you have.

 

[Underestimated]

im from a fairly small gym. i continue to take my teams to large events to see if my teams are capable of hanging with the best of the best. we've beat some of the best and lost to the best. it is what it is. but saying that large gyms should compete at certain events is dumb. then small gyms shouldn't be at large events only locals and large gyms should only be allowed at big events. it just wouldn't make any sense the gym smalls gym parents shouldn't have any of their kids in cheer if their going to act like that in my opinion. im sure if they we're from a large gym im sure they would feel differently.

like i said before my gym is small and i wont stop taking my kids to large events just because their a small gym. if i want to be the best then at some point im going to have to compete against the best. meaning if we come out on top and win or lose and be at the bottom its the only way to succeed. IMO!

but like someone else did mention i can see the frustration with other gym owners/parents/athletes.. they just see the biggesr picture about being on a large named gym even though their on a lower level just saying their from a large gym gives them a little more "confidence" or something along those lines. even though they had a stronger bond at the smaller gym!

 

[newcheerdad]

Our program director has always said that we can't be "too big" to compete locally, even though we're a gym that normally competes regionally/nationally. If anything, we have a harder time getting the all-star teams up for the smaller competitions, and we've had our share of instances where we didn't bring it and got beat.

As to whether other gym resent us showing up to these events, I haven't heard it. If anything, the sheer number of teams that we bring (a dozen or more in some cases) certainly helps the bottom line of these local competitions.

 

[cheermommaRN]

Gyms shouldn't be limited to certain comps because of their size. It sounds like someone was bitter because they lost and had to come up with an excuse to make themselves feel better. I overheard a parent from another gym complain this past weekend that cp's team only won because of the name on their uni. Actually I think it was because our team was cleaner but whatever.
I truely believe that small gyms have their place in the industry. Not all athletes like big gyms or "big name" gyms and some athletes aren't cut out for them. I won't lie...Spirit is tough...really tough. I compare it to going to WOGA for gymnastics. Some kids don't like that high pressure atmosphere and thrive in a more relaxed environment. That is the joy of having options, there is something for everyone.

 

[Mamarazzi]

cheermommaRN , I think that last statement should be on a tee. There is room for large and small gyms. The whole marketing thing - I get it, but winning at a comp doesn't give the full picture of what it's like to actually be a part of a program. There was a lot about the above-referenced comp that apparently didn't sit well with another gym, but my hope is that those athletes and parents remember that their gym is where they feel comfortable and you win some, you lose some.