Cheer Pet Peeves?

[dawgshow]

@Just-a-Mom

To anyone in general:

Some may think of the word "fetus" as only referring to size. I see it differently. I am not the only one on here that feels that way. What I cannot wrap my head around is grown adults willingly using a phrase that they know some find offensive.

her.

You can find someone who will be offended by anything that is said. I personally know people who are offended by "beast" when referring to bases and "Amazon" when referring to super tall backs.
To me, and many I would suspect, the term refers to an under developed flyer on a much more developed team. Size is the first indicator but it goes to much more than that. Shoot I see FOSSS ( ) on jr teams and get just as frustrated. I really dislike seeing a disparity between team members and unfortunately size is the easiest to pick up on.


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[Cheer Dad]

Have been in the cheer world for 7-8 yrs now and have never associated the term 'fetus flyer' with anything other than small. Size has nothing to do with ability and vice-versa.


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[Just-a-Mom]

@Just-a-Mom you make some valid points. I did not mean to imply that the flyer position was the most important position. I don't feel that way at all. That was not my intent.

To anyone in general:

Some may think of the word "fetus" as only referring to size. I see it differently. I am not the only one on here that feels that way. What I cannot wrap my head around is grown adults willingly using a phrase that they know some find offensive.

I really didn't mean to say that people were jealous of the flyer positions. I am not assuming that everyone wants their child to be the flyer, or the quarterback, or the pitcher. I am saying that when I hear people who in any way describe the girls in the flyer position as less than adequate then I have to wonder why? Maybe they really are inadequate. Maybe they aren't. So if the athlete is completely adequate to be in that position on a Senior team then why shouldn't they be able to? How are people determining that the younger athlete has no business being on the Senior team? What is the basis for their conclusion? What are the facts that say the younger athlete should not be on that team? Are they at every practice? Do they see how much work the athlete puts in at home on their own time to earn a position?

Strong, skilled, experienced, reliable, knowledgeable, "beast"? All of those would probably be acceptable and I have heard them used on this board often. Notice how all of those are referring to the athlete's ability and not their size? I am positive that if there was a phrase used to describe nothing other than the size of these girls then the majority of those athletes parents would find that offensive, and so would I!!!!

I am totally over myself which is why I have no problems asking these questions of any of us. I don't have to agree on every point to like and respect someone. I certainly don't feel the need to assume that someone is a hater when they can make valid points supported by facts. I do however have to wonder what the real intention is when phrases that are found to be hurtful are used with no regard or respect for the individual they are being used to describe.

Find a term to describe these younger flyers based on their skill (or lack of) which can be supported factually (on an individual basis) that has no connection with their size. Or go ahead and call them "fetus flyers", but don't act offended when I call you on it. Because as long as my daughter is a younger flyer when you say "fetus flyer" you are talking about her.

I should have clarified that the "get over themselves " was not directed to you. I had moved on to my hatred of the word haters. Because sometimes people who use that word are ridiculously over-inflating others' opinions of them!

Side note: i don't even use "fetus flyer" - i just say "teeny" or "itty bitty." I am just always surprised to see how upset people get over it is all. (However - "beast" could be just as offensive and my daughter is frequently referred to as a "beast back spot." She doesn't love it, as she feels it implies that she is big and manly, but i don't think she gets really worked up over it. But she DEFINITELY does not think it's awesome or "perfectly acceptable")

As for how much work a child puts in to their position. .. sorry, but when I'm at a competition, I could not care less how much work is going on at home. I see a small child flying and I see them do the rest of the routine. If they look like a 10 year old and their execution is not as mature as the other members of the team, I'm going to notice. Regardless of what they're doing at home.


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[CheerBank]

You can find someone who will be offended by anything that is said. I personally know people who are offended by "beast" when referring to bases and "Amazon" when referring to super tall backs.
To me, and many I would suspect, the term refers to an under developed flyer on a much more developed team. Size is the first indicator but it goes to much more than that. Shoot I see FOSSS ( ) on jr teams and get just as frustrated. I really dislike seeing a disparity between team members and unfortunately size is the easiest to pick up on.


Fierceboard. The Salem of the 21st century
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It is the first thing you see, that is just the reality of it. Unless I personally know a kid on a team who is a base, I am watching the stunts as they go up and therefore the flyers. And 100% about noticing a FOSSS whether on a senior team, junior or even youth team.

Feel free to call my cp a beast base. It would be taken as nothing but the highest compliment.

 

[TheDivineCheerYaYaSecret]

@Just-a-Mom I completely agree with you! If the girl can't cut it and can't execute the skills at least as well as the majority of the team then she has absolutely no business being on that team. None at all. I know that happens. I don't like it either. Who knows why it happens. Why do coaches put athletes that may have the skills but not the ability to execute them as well as the rest of the team on the team anyway? It is the coaches that are making these decisions. I'm sure they have their reasons. Maybe that could be discussed in another thread. I also place the responsibility for this happening on the parent. Why would anyone want their child on a team where they are a weak link? I don't understand that either.

 

[quitthedrama]

back to pet peeves. My newest - gofundme accounts for cheer, pageants and camps. I remember when that young boy Royce was ill and that was how I first learned about gofundme and I thought it was a great way to help those in need, so maybe that is why using it for trivial things bugs me. I am sad for what gofundme has become.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

back to pet peeves. My newest - gofundme accounts for cheer, pageants and camps. I remember when that young boy Royce was ill and that was how I first learned about gofundme and I thought it was a great way to help those in need, so maybe that is why using it for trivial things bugs me. I am sad for what gofundme has become.

Spotted today (re-grammed on Instagram from one of my cheerleaders) - A junior-aged kid in FL raising what appears to be $3,000 to travel to/attend one of the CA SuperCAmps.

What sort of conversations do kids have with their parents that make them decide that Gofundme is a viable option?

Is it like:

Kid: Mom, can I go to SuperCAmp in TX?
Mom: We can't afford it.
Kid: Ok, I'll ask the internet!

 

[Cheer Dad]

I think the newly registered unknown ones are most suspicious. Wonder how many gofundme accounts are really scams?


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[Cheerleader of the Castle]

Again not a technical thing. More of thing said then done. I don't like when people refer to younger cheerleaders on senior teams as "fetus" it grosses me out. And it's not cool. I see it on social media all the time and I think it's disrespectful.

I'm sorry but I had to laugh - no disrespect intended I see you're point of view - it's just my flyer's nick name is fetus cause she's the youngest on two open squads (most of us are over the age of 18 as well) and it was a nick name an american coach gave her while we had a workshop with their company a few months ago. She obviously don't mind the nick name and she refers to herself as fetus as well!

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

I am new, a mom w/ a daughter who is looking to get into cheer, but these are my peeves (we have been watching a lot of routines lately):

When flyers are significantly younger than the rest of the squad - I know they need to be small, but when the flyer is in Kindergarten and being thrown around by kids twice her age it just seems like cheating to me.

Tumblers who run way too long before going into their round off. Bent legs in running fulls.

Oversized poofs.

Flyers that don't point their feet in leg extensions and scales.

Flexed feet when rolling on the floor in the dance - almost everyone does this in cheer apparently, but it bugs me.

 

[amy1k]

When people believe they can tell the age of an athlete by looking at them. Also, comments regarding the size of a flyer. Just saying.


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[Cheer Dad]

I am new, a mom w/ a daughter who is looking to get into cheer, but these are my peeves (we have been watching a lot of routines lately):

When flyers are significantly younger than the rest of the squad - I know they need to be small, but when the flyer is in Kindergarten and being thrown around by kids twice her age it just seems like cheating to me.

Tumblers who run way too long before going into their round off. Bent legs in running fulls.

Oversized poofs.

Flyers that don't point their feet in leg extensions and scales.

Flexed feet when rolling on the floor in the dance - almost everyone does this in cheer apparently, but it bugs me.

Welcome. By chance do you come from a gymnastics background?


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[FlexyTumblerMom]

Welcome. By chance do you come from a gymnastics background?


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[MavsEmma12]

When people believe they can tell the age of an athlete by looking at them. Also, comments regarding the size of a flyer. Just saying.


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We had a girl on my team last year who was a freshman but was the size of 6th grader. It goes to show that just because a flyer (or anyone for that matter!) is small, does not mean they are under aged or a "fetus."



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[FlexyTumblerMom]

I hope I did the quote correctly. Yes, what gave it away? - haha. She has a background in both gym and dance so I guess I'm a stickler about technique . Her and I caught the TV broadcast of worlds (and have watched a lot more since) - she has a lot of interest, but I'm trying to find out more (she missed tryouts for a lot of our local gyms so it will probably need to wait for a year, but I think that's okay).