Definition Of "small Gym"

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THEJOEL

Cheer Parent
Nov 23, 2012
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Not sure where to post this but this seems like the right place.
If a gym has more than one location is it considered a "small gym" still.
The way I am reading this you are only allowed to have one location regardless of the number of athletes.


SMALL GYM COMPETITIONS

Event producers may at their discretion offer separate competitions designated for “Small Gyms” only. Any USASF/IASF division may
be offered at “Small Gyms” only events. A “Small Gym” is defined as having one physical address for its location and has 75 or less
athletes registered in its competitive cheer program as of 11/1/13. A gym must be declared as a “Small Gym” for the season by the
11/1/13 deadline. Exhibition teams, all star “prep” athletes, crossover athletes, special needs teams and dance teams do not count
toward the 75 or less athletes.



http://usasfrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/USASF-Age-Grid-13-14-Rev-10-15-13.pdf
 
I thought I remembered seeing somewhere that it was for less than 150 athletes. Did this change?
 
I honestly ran across this when I was looking at age grids. Never noticed it before I always thought small gym was just less than 75 athletes regardless of location.
Just curious.
I've had to answer this question IDK how many other times about what's the difference between small gym and everyone else. Just wanted to know if the definition changed.
 
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Many "satellite" gyms have different tax id numbers for their locations. This keeps them a separate entity and allows them to be considered a small gym. I'm not saying this is the only reason why a gym would have a different tax id#, but I think this is a flaw in the rules, and I hope it is something that will be reviewed in the next rules cycle.
 
Can also be up to the EP's discretion when programs are registering.

I think the 150 number was tossed around as a cut off for Worlds D1 & D2 split.


Cheer Dad = broke dad
 
We ran into this last weekend. United Cheer (the gym) has 4 locations yet had two of their locations compete at ACA small gym nationals (Lubbock and Arlington gyms). The only way we can figure they got away with it is the tax id's are different.
 
If a location is a small gym(75 or less) then it can't share athletes with the other locations. You have to declare by some deadline if you want your locations to be one large location that can share athletes or if you want locations to be separate and small and not share athletes
 
People always find ways around the rules!
The majority of people follow them and hopefully blow the whistle on the ones who do not. Unfortunately many of the "rules" we see in cheer have loopholes in them, so technically people are not breaking them.
 
Many "satellite" gyms have different tax id numbers for their locations. This keeps them a separate entity and allows them to be considered a small gym. I'm not saying this is the only reason why a gym would have a different tax id#, but I think this is a flaw in the rules, and I hope it is something that will be reviewed in the next rules cycle.
I'm wondering if his is what happened with one program this weekend at Jamfest Super Nationals. Same program, two locations, both competed separately in the small gym divisions. The main reason I know this is that they had two teams in the small gym small jr 2 division. This would explain how this is possible.


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Keep in mind the rule states "at their discretion"

It an EPs choice whether or not and how to implement this rule and it's not cheating.
 
I'm so hit and miss with the small gym division. Sometimes i sit and think they do deserve a fair chance, but at the same time large gyms are good because they have the skill not because they have 800+ athletes at 6 different locations. If a small gym has the skills regardless of how many kids they have at the gym, they should win/score high. Does that make sense? This is no attack on small gyms whatsoever, i'm just stating my opinion on the division.


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I feel small gyms have talent and skills, but the ages of athletes with these skills may vary greatly. For example large gyms can make a senior 4 where most athletes are at the top of the age group: all twenty girls are between 16-18. Then they have their youth 4 team that gives the younger athletes a place to shine. Most true small gyms can field just one level 4 team. So, they may have two 17 year olds and seventeen 10-11 year olds on their level 4 team. It is difficult to max the ages out on levels with true small gyms. So, the small/large gym category levels the playing field.
 
I feel small gyms have talent and skills, but the ages of athletes with these skills may vary greatly. For example large gyms can make a senior 4 where most athletes are at the top of the age group: all twenty girls are between 16-18. Then they have their youth 4 team that gives the younger athletes a place to shine. Most true small gyms can field just one level 4 team. So, they may have two 17 year olds and seventeen 10-11 year olds on their level 4 team. It is difficult to max the ages out on levels with true small gyms. So, the small/large gym category levels the playing field.

Thats a point i guess i didn't think of.
I guess also a lot of small gyms have to go up or down a level just to field a team. Just makes me wonder, however how many small gyms are capable of competing in large gym events but choose to stay small to play it safe.



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