All-Star Open Team Expectations

[King]

Was just reading something in another thread and thought I would pose this those on open teams.

Most gyms are not that interested in having an open team because it is difficult to have and does not create any income.

So, my question for open people, would you ever consider paying tuition for a team along with other costs if that was the only way an open team can exist?

 

[CIAgiraffe]

In our gym we have an open all girl 6 team that is a worlds team...so no I wouldn't care about paying. I'm sure though if you didn't have to pay a lot more people would be more willing to do it. Plus if they give a whole team free something someone else could complain that so and so deserves something free too.

 

[NEliteSteven]

No desire to ever coach an open team after being a part of one. Ours has kind of fell along the wayside. Everyone wants to be coached and be treated like an athlete, until they're actually being coached. Everyone already thinks they know everything.

And I'd be shocked if you could find 24 college+ athletes that would be willing to pay full tuition+travel.

 

[dizzzigrl]

My daughter is on and Ioc5 team and we currently pay tuition and all fees ( but she is still in High School)

 

[XtremeWpg]

Our open teams are our program. We're in the literal infancy of developing our program, and maybe we're going backwards starting with Open and then heading down the age grid, but we're content with it. We also do not operate as for profit yet. Which is a whole other issue we're working on.

So yes, at least here, it's possible to find athletes willing to pay tuition and travel expenses for Open teams.

No, I would never charge younger teams more tuition so that the 18+ crowd can have their cake and eat it too. Cheerleading is a privilege, not a right.

 

[Diamond]

I would never pay tuition to be on an open team. Open teams usually only compete at a few comps and practice very little. I don't think that's worth paying gym tuition, no matter how small the payments may be.

 

[yojaehs]

I think there is a difference in an "open" team that just does a few exhibition comps and does it for "fun" and and IO (C)5/6 team looking to compete at Worlds. My opinion, if you want to train to compete at Worlds you should have to pay the same (at least similar) fees as all other teams. I'm not a particular huge fan of IOC teams (the way the US for the most part handles them). I feel once an athlete ages out (18). Athletes should focus on cheering in college. I feel once college cheer is done an Open team for fun and staying in shape is the best way to go. Honestly, in the US there are MAYBE 5 legit teams for these divisions. JMO


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

 

[King]

I think there is a difference in an "open" team that just does a few exhibition comps and does it for "fun" and and IO (C)5/6 team looking to compete at Worlds. My opinion, if you want to train to compete at Worlds you should have to pay the same (at least similar) fees as all other teams. I'm not a particular huge fan of IOC teams (the way the US for the most part handles them). I feel once an athlete ages out (18). Athletes should focus on cheering in college. I feel once college cheer is done an Open team for fun and staying in shape is the best way to go. Honestly, in the US there are MAYBE 5 legit teams for these divisions. JMO


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

That means a total of around 10-15 legit teams for all open divisions. Thats about as many legit teams in college as well.

 

[CoachTamara]

Was just reading something in another thread and thought I would pose this those on open teams.

Most gyms are not that interested in having an open team because it is difficult to have and does not create any income.

So, my question for open people, would you ever consider paying tuition for a team along with other costs if that was the only way an open team can exist?

I would pay. It's a business, and someone has to be the one coaching it. Like it or not, there are expenses associated with cheerleading. If you don't like it, don't do it. If you want to continue, cough it up. You don't join a softball league that travels, plays in tournaments, and wears uniforms for free do you?

 

[yojaehs]

That means a total of around 10-15 legit teams for all open divisions. Thats about as many legit teams in college as well.

That should be focusing on College. Hey, some gyms can pull it off, more power to them. What I'm not a fan of is a kid not focusing on college to cheer io5. Happens every year.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

 

[embersglow]

I can't even understand why people expect they shouldn't pay, in the UK we have open levels 1 through 6, and over 18s are allowed to compete as seniors and every member pays their tuition, comp fees, travel and uniform etc. I got a job so I could afford cheerleading, I've never known even the teams going for Worlds bids to have that kind of attitude

 

[DaniV]

We had an open team for two years back in '08 and '09 but it fell apart after that. We have tried to pull together a Washington or a "NW" team almost every year since then but it has never gotten enough serious interest. Everyone claims they want to be on it but then come down to it, don't have the time... or the gym that wants to run it, never follows through (mostly due to lack of participation).

I would loveee for one to get started and have enough serious athletes on it but I don't forsee that happening anytime soon.

 

[XtremeWpg]

That should be focusing on College. Hey, some gyms can pull it off, more power to them. What I'm not a fan of is a kid not focusing on college to cheer io5. Happens every year.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

But what about those athletes that don't attend college? On my team of 24, there's only about 8 of them in post secondary education at all. I'm a bit confused about how Open athletes are supposed to focus on their college teams or college, isn't that making an assumption that the majority of people go on to college/university?

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

Our Open team has always been pretty popular. Actually, it was the first team from this part of the state to go to Worlds. I have never given much thought to whether or not they pay tuition. My guess is they don't, or at best a minimal amount as a lot of them are college students. They do buy uniforms and pay comp fees though. They are definitely of the type that are out for Worlds bids.

 

[ashscott41]

But what about those athletes that don't attend college? On my team of 24, there's only about 8 of them in post secondary education at all. I'm a bit confused about how Open athletes are supposed to focus on their college teams or college, isn't that making an assumption that the majority of people go on to college/university?

It might be different in Canada, but in the US it is now expected that the vast majority of kids go to college immediately following high school. I graduated from a standard public school (it was good, but by no means great) with roughly 300 in my class and I can only think of one person who didn't attend a college of some sort the fall after graduation. I think it is probably even more so expected of most competitive cheerleaders because they are typically from a middle to upper-middle class upbringing and above average students. A bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma here


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android