All-Star Csp Tweet: No More Travelling For Cea Teams.

[NoOneSpecial]

My CP likely will have to pass on college cheer her freshman year. Between comps, practices, AP tests...and still waiting to see which college she ultimately goes to...it just isn't falling into place

We had a very difficult time scheduling college visits between cheer schedule and my work schedule. She almost was going to go to a Community College. I wasnt fond of her choices because her choices revolved around the desire to continue cheering. I was very addamet that was not the pathway I was willing to pay for. All Star for our family was over her senior year. It was time to refocus our dollars on the future.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

I don't know if this is new, but there is also a trend of kids graduating and deciding to put off college in favor of working and cheering all star for their last eligible years (depending on how many they have or if they can super-senior.)

 

[Cheer Dad]

No I'm playing on her words? I get the feeling that you can't say your the best unless you go to worlds.

So only teams with worlds team can say they are the best.

And I'm questioning do gyms with worlds teams who have crappy lower levels get to say they are the best in the country? I don't think so.


And no pretty sure we compete against sprit of Texas regularly and they don't suck.

They also go to big competitions like us.


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Totally missed this reply and it does raise some questions for me...

Are you saying you only consider SOT to be viable competition within tx for Stars?

Sounds like you devalue a program of they don't attend large competitions so does that reflect only on large programs or are the small gyms that don't or can't travel much included?

Lastly, does a program without a worlds team get to claim to be the best if they are not represented in the top levels of all star cheer?


*My tolerance for stupidity is steadily dwindling**

 

[fullinitup]

Even here in Vegas there are very limited options as far as competitions. It sucks. We need another good one day or two day comp here.

 

[MissCongeniality]

I don't know if this is new, but there is also a trend of kids graduating and deciding to put off college in favor of working and cheering all star for their last eligible years (depending on how many they have or if they can super-senior.)

CP is "cheer age" 16 so can super and super super senior. She is planning on pre med. I have another non CP who is currently a freshman in college. Mamas money tree just isn't blooming like it would need to in order to support 2 in college and all-star cheer. Also it's not a question ....it's been a great run and she has a ring to boot. Financing the education now needs to take a front seat.

 

[King]

A couple 'allstar' friendly things I put into play was:

- We have tryouts the week after Worlds (yes I know this collides with the Summit but you can try out via video too if contact us. We usually have these people make it as alternates of the program and then they can earn a legit spot by the end of summer. we dont hand out more alternates than people who could make the program). This also means we usually get people who go to Tech for school first. They are less likely to fail out so grades are less an issue. It is a ridiculously hard school with probably the best degree you can get of any team that goes to NCA Daytona (except M.I.T.... and my kids freaked out when they saw M.I.T. cheerleaders more than any other school).
- All practices are open. Seriously. Come film our nationals routine. I don't understand secrets. The best team is going to do the best thing they can. It isn't like I am going to watch squad standing fulls and go: Dang it! Why didn't I think of that! This also allows you to watch how practice works and how we work. If you come in and watch a practice and don't think we are a fit I completely understand. We want people who like the culture.
- Have a very friendly website / online social media presence. This means a lot to prospective athletes nowadays.
- Don't have a college clinic. They are rarely productive, just make money for the teams, and in cheerleading what skill can you really learn new that you didn't have access to talent at your allstar gym. I'd rather refer you to an allstar gym to help them make money to learn skills to come in.
- Have a productive tryout over a 'showcase' tryout. I don't understand choosing someone based on skills because they hit it once for tryouts. No other sport (and we are considered a sport at Tech) does it that way. The coach chooses what he wants. I choose what we want. A good mix of attitude and skills. If a freshman walks in with amazing skills why wouldnt we want them on the team? We have 2 days: day 1 we see your tumbling. We have people throw a few passes and do a few standing skills. If you have been around cheerleading enough you know who has a skill and who struggles. Next all the returners are required to stunt with all the new athletes. I don't want a super group that can hit anything I ask. That doesn't show me anything. I want to know if that new freshman that walked in who is an ex level 10 gymnast has a good attitude and is decent at trying new stunts. If you attempt a fullup the correct way, even if it doesn't hit, I know eventually you will get it. Day 2 is actually a showcase to our AA. Everyone has, by our definition, a simple clean tryout. Everyone is expected to get a perfect score day 2. We even put our fight song online to learn if you want. Why make it more difficult for all these people to learn a fight song that never changes and I don't want to spend multiple practices going over anyway.

Now a lot of these differences to us are a necessity to help us be more productive. Schools with an overflowing of talent don't have to care if their methods are efficient or really work because the sheer amount of talent allows them to work how they want. Like Tennessee having tryouts over Worlds. Pretty much she is saying they don't care to attract a high level of talent at Worlds because they believe they are above it. And then look at Tennesse's placement at UCA since Worlds has started to become popular. It is highly related.

 

[NoOneSpecial]

CP is "cheer age" 16 so can super and super super senior. She is planning on pre med. I have another non CP who is currently a freshman in college. Mamas money tree just isn't blooming like it would need to in order to support 2 in college and all-star cheer. Also it's not a question ....it's been a great run and she has a ring to boot. Financing the education now needs to take a front seat.

That was my point with my CP. Next year I will have all 3 of my children in college. Unfortunately I learned the hard way. My oldest son defered going to college in order to continue hockey. Hockey is just as expensive if not more then cheerleading and gobbled up dollars I had set aside for his college and my college schedule is all screwed up. I would of had 2 in at the same time for the next 6 years but now I will have all 3 next year. Lesson learned and a HECK no to my CP about continuing her all star cheer career beyond high school. She now continues it kinda through Acro & Tunbling which is a nice offset/blend.

 

[GreatWhite92]

Now a lot of these differences to us are a necessity to help us be more productive. Schools with an overflowing of talent don't have to care if their methods are efficient or really work because the sheer amount of talent allows them to work how they want. Like Tennessee having tryouts over Worlds. Pretty much she is saying they don't care to attract a high level of talent at Worlds because they believe they are above it. And then look at Tennesse's placement at UCA since Worlds has started to become popular. It is highly related.

I wasn't going to say it because I live here and have friends on the team but yeah......you might get a few die hard vol fans who grew up in Knoxville dreaming of being a UT Cheerleader to miss worlds for that team but you won't get too many others to sacrifice it beyond that.


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[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

A couple 'allstar' friendly things I put into play was:

- We have tryouts the week after Worlds (yes I know this collides with the Summit but you can try out via video too if contact us. We usually have these people make it as alternates of the program and then they can earn a legit spot by the end of summer. we dont hand out more alternates than people who could make the program). This also means we usually get people who go to Tech for school first. They are less likely to fail out so grades are less an issue. It is a ridiculously hard school with probably the best degree you can get of any team that goes to NCA Daytona (except M.I.T.... and my kids freaked out when they saw M.I.T. cheerleaders more than any other school).
- All practices are open. Seriously. Come film our nationals routine. I don't understand secrets. The best team is going to do the best thing they can. It isn't like I am going to watch squad standing fulls and go: Dang it! Why didn't I think of that! This also allows you to watch how practice works and how we work. If you come in and watch a practice and don't think we are a fit I completely understand. We want people who like the culture.
- Have a very friendly website / online social media presence. This means a lot to prospective athletes nowadays.
- Don't have a college clinic. They are rarely productive, just make money for the teams, and in cheerleading what skill can you really learn new that you didn't have access to talent at your allstar gym. I'd rather refer you to an allstar gym to help them make money to learn skills to come in.
- Have a productive tryout over a 'showcase' tryout. I don't understand choosing someone based on skills because they hit it once for tryouts. No other sport (and we are considered a sport at Tech) does it that way. The coach chooses what he wants. I choose what we want. A good mix of attitude and skills. If a freshman walks in with amazing skills why wouldnt we want them on the team? We have 2 days: day 1 we see your tumbling. We have people throw a few passes and do a few standing skills. If you have been around cheerleading enough you know who has a skill and who struggles. Next all the returners are required to stunt with all the new athletes. I don't want a super group that can hit anything I ask. That doesn't show me anything. I want to know if that new freshman that walked in who is an ex level 10 gymnast has a good attitude and is decent at trying new stunts. If you attempt a fullup the correct way, even if it doesn't hit, I know eventually you will get it. Day 2 is actually a showcase to our AA. Everyone has, by our definition, a simple clean tryout. Everyone is expected to get a perfect score day 2. We even put our fight song online to learn if you want. Why make it more difficult for all these people to learn a fight song that never changes and I don't want to spend multiple practices going over anyway.

Now a lot of these differences to us are a necessity to help us be more productive. Schools with an overflowing of talent don't have to care if their methods are efficient or really work because the sheer amount of talent allows them to work how they want. Like Tennessee having tryouts over Worlds. Pretty much she is saying they don't care to attract a high level of talent at Worlds because they believe they are above it. And then look at Tennesse's placement at UCA since Worlds has started to become popular. It is highly related.

You had a lot of folks at "friendly website."

Seriously. If a kid has to spend 30 minutes looking for a coaches' EMAIL and a LIST of tryout requirements, they're not trying out.

I think back to doing tee ball research for my own kid. If I had to look more than 10 minutes for the practice schedule/location and cost list, I was moving on to the next.

 

[quitthedrama]

You had a lot of folks at "friendly website."

Seriously. If a kid has to spend 30 minutes looking for a coaches' EMAIL and a LIST of tryout requirements, they're not trying out.

I think back to doing tee ball research for my own kid. If I had to look more than 10 minutes for the practice schedule/location and cost list, I was moving on to the next.

Or how about when the kid emails the coach to introduce themselves and ask a few questions and gets no response... (this happened with 2 out of 3 colleges) I guess some teams have so many kids to choose from they don't need to bother with common courtesy. It has been a process that is beyond frustrating.

 

[King]

We aren't too terrible at cheerleading either.

Instagram

 

[MyNameIsConnorC]

Exactly!
And there is only 2 Worlds bid comp$in California too (crazy isn't it?). And for those teams in Northern Cal...that's a plane flight or very long drive away. (Now that gssa moved)

In addition to GSSA and Duel in the Desert, there's USA in Anaheim with 2 FP and 4 AL, and Aloha Sacramento with 1 PP and 1 Al.
I do agree with you on the Northern Cal situation. There are plenty of worlds teams up there who have no option but to travel 6,7,8+ hours (driving) to even chase a bid.

 

[MissCongeniality]

In addition to GSSA and Duel in the Desert, there's USA in Anaheim with 2 FP and 4 AL, and Aloha Sacramento with 1 PP and 1 Al.
I do agree with you on the Northern Cal situation. There are plenty of worlds teams up there who have no option but to travel 6,7,8+ hours (driving) to even chase a bid.

I always forget about usa

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Or how about when the kid emails the coach to introduce themselves and ask a few questions and gets no response... (this happened with 2 out of 3 colleges) I guess some teams have so many kids to choose from they don't need to bother with common courtesy. It has been a process that is beyond frustrating.

That is unprofessional.

I get that if you coach at University of NCA Champs Every Year, you will likely get an influx of emails asking the SAME questions.

They still deserve a response, even if it's just a form email saying "Thank you for your interest in ________, please find the answers to your questions in XYZ attachment.

 

[nicolee]

I don't know if this is new, but there is also a trend of kids graduating and deciding to put off college in favor of working and cheering all star for their last eligible years (depending on how many they have or if they can super-senior.)

Back in Australia (where I'm originally from), there's a HUGE gap year culture, and at most schools it's pretty normal to take a year off before college. Most travel, but some work for a year and play sports/do other activities while they're still eligible for a school-aged team. Some put college off indefinitely and return a few years later with no trouble.

I think it's a fantastic idea to take some time off. ..The problem is that taking time off of college is so much more difficult here in the US, not just because of university policies which aren't often friendly to gap yearers, but also because we pay full fees, so cheering as a super senior could eat through college money. In Aus, the government pays for half our tuition costs...