All-Star Covid-19 / Varsity Response

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This is how dance competitions are currently being held. There’s one here in Orlando next week that I was asked to work. No audience, virtual awards, and the entire studio competes all their numbers back to back. Then the venue is cleared and cleaned for the next studio to come in and compete.
I don’t see how this would be fair unless they swapped out judging panels all day to keep the same panels judging the same levels because every panel scores slightly differently.

I would prefer virtual comps where either the teams are performing via live video feed from their home gym, OR submits their best single-shot video. The second option would eliminate most non-hit routines so it would be all based on difficulty/technique/execution/choreography. I would be totally fine with the “show us your best” model for this season (or at least for the first part of it).
 
I don’t see how this would be fair unless they swapped out judging panels all day to keep the same panels judging the same levels because every panel scores slightly differently.

I would prefer virtual comps where either the teams are performing via live video feed from their home gym, OR submits their best single-shot video. The second option would eliminate most non-hit routines so it would be all based on difficulty/technique/execution/choreography. I would be totally fine with the “show us your best” model for this season (or at least for the first part of it).
I think I'd prefer a "send us your best" vs a live feed, just because of technical difficulties. That said, I feel like it should have to be a best within the past 24 hours or something, so the same video isn't used all season.
 
I think I'd prefer a "send us your best" vs a live feed, just because of technical difficulties. That said, I feel like it should have to be a best within the past 24 hours or something, so the same video isn't used all season.
Most teams change their routines and continually increase difficulty throughout the season though, I don’t think my kid has ever performed the same exact routine at two comps!
 
Most teams change their routines and continually increase difficulty throughout the season though, I don’t think my kid has ever performed the same exact routine at two comps!
True, but I just could see a time limit being involved. Maybe just to be sure if a team had an off week they didn't just send in an old one.
 
This would be interesting for the gyms that do lots of cross competitors. There's one here where every kid is on 2-3 teams!

Same here... my friends kid is on 2 and with the exception of a select few, I feel like 80% of the gym crosses to something or another... why during covid you are going to cross so many kids and worry about additional contamination is beyond me.
 
I think I'd prefer a "send us your best" vs a live feed, just because of technical difficulties. That said, I feel like it should have to be a best within the past 24 hours or something, so the same video isn't used all season.

I have a friend who works for the big V, and one idea that was floated (not sure whether it'll be accepted or not) was that at midnight the day of a competition they'll essentially give an 'item' that needs to be in the video and give you 24 hours to submit it. For example they say like an apple or something, you start the video zoomed in on the apple, put it on the mat while the kids perform, and then zoom in on it at the end or something. Basically so long as they get the video with the object in that 24 hour time frame, they'll judge it. Teams can still 'perform' multiple times and send in their best of the day, but it prevents teams from essentially hoarding videos from daily practices and just sending in that one random full out that seems to be better than all the rest. Again, not sure if they'll go that route, but it's an option.

Also not sure if allstar and high school are getting treated the same, but all us coaches got an email (at least, high school coaches did) a while back essentially laying out their Plans A-D. Here they are verbatim from the email:

Option A: In-Person with Spectators
  • Spectators allowed with social distancing measures in place
  • Live awards ceremony with limited athletes and/or coaches
Option B: In-Person with Limited Spectators
  • Spectator viewing limited to team performance time only
  • Live awards ceremony with limited athletes and/or coaches, OR virtual awards ceremony
Option C: In-Person with No Spectators and Virtual Awards
  • Spectators not allowed; only athletes and coaches permitted
  • Virtual awards ceremony
Option D: Virtual
  • Routines will be uploaded and judged virtually by Varsity Spirit Certified judges
  • Virtual awards ceremony
 
I would prefer virtual comps where either the teams are performing via live video feed from their home gym, OR submits their best single-shot video. The second option would eliminate most non-hit routines so it would be all based on difficulty/technique/execution/choreography. I would be totally fine with the “show us your best” model for this season (or at least for the first part of it).

It's not realistic, but I'd prefer "live video feed" virtual events over "send us your best" events. Just about anyone can look good or throw a lot of difficulty they don't truly have if they only need to hit it once for a camera. There are many teams that look a lot better (with much more difficulty) on social media than they ever have in "real life" at a comp. The purpose of competition is to throw skills you are capable of on a regular basis and then trying to hit them under pressure at one exact moment. That gets eliminated if you're allowing teams to do several takes and only submitting videos without errors. I'm guessing there might also be some fancy editing software out there that will allow you to seamlessly splice together pieces of a routine without even having to do the whole thing full out. I don't know if such software exists, but something like that would obviously kill any integrity of a virtual competition.

Maybe they could consider the dance competition route. If the show "Dance Moms" is anything like how dance competitions run in real life, their audiences are usually on the empty side (meaning, parents likely leave as soon as their kid performs). Cheerleading comps could try to limit the amount of people in the building to 1) the current team performing, 2) the team on deck, 3) a team warming up, 4) the parents of these 3 teams all very spread apart in the audience. But it might be impossible to work this out logistically (competitions would have to be impeccably organized and would run until 3AM), and they wouldn't be able to charge top dollar for spectator fees (it should be Free if parents only get to see one 2:30 routine).

Another big concern is will certain states require you to quarantine when traveling from another state. Most teams schedule out-of-state competitions and have very few places to compete against anyone in their actual state. If there are major quarantine rules in place, it would be a disaster for a sport like this that is heavily travel-based. Basically, right now we can only take things 1 day at a time because we have no idea what the situation is going to be 6 months from now.
 
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It's not realistic, but I'd prefer "live video feed" virtual events over "send us your best" events. Just about anyone can look good or throw a lot of difficulty they don't truly have if they only need to hit it once for a camera. There are many teams that look a lot better (with much more difficulty) on social media than they ever have in "real life" at a comp. The purpose of competition is to throw skills you are capable of on a regular basis and then trying to hit them under pressure at one exact moment. That gets eliminated if you're allowing teams to do several takes and only submitting videos without errors. I'm guessing there might also be some fancy editing software out there that will allow you to seamlessly splice together pieces of a routine without even having to do the whole thing full out. I don't know if such software exists, but something like that would obviously kill any integrity of a virtual competition.

Maybe they could consider the dance competition route. If the show "Dance Moms" is anything like how dance competitions run in real life, their audiences are usually on the empty side (meaning, parents likely leave as soon as their kid performs). Cheerleading comps could try to limit the amount of people in the building to 1) the current team performing, 2) the team on deck, 3) a team warming up, 4) the parents of these 3 teams all very spread apart in the audience. But it might be impossible to work this out logistically (competitions would have to be impeccably organized and would run until 3AM), and they wouldn't be able to charge top dollar for spectator fees (it should be Free if parents only get to see one 2:30 routine).

Another big concern is will certain states require you to quarantine when traveling from another state. Most teams schedule out-of-state competitions and have very few places to compete against anyone in their actual state. If there are major quarantine rules in place, it would be a disaster for a sport like this that is heavily travel-based. Basically, right now we can only take things 1 day at a time because we have no idea what the situation is going to be 6 months from now.

I think I agree on live video being better than show us your best. That could be dangerous. “Ok guys, take #20, we have to finally get a HIT filmed!” Exhausted kids get hurt...
 
I have a friend who works for the big V, and one idea that was floated (not sure whether it'll be accepted or not) was that at midnight the day of a competition they'll essentially give an 'item' that needs to be in the video and give you 24 hours to submit it. For example they say like an apple or something, you start the video zoomed in on the apple, put it on the mat while the kids perform, and then zoom in on it at the end or something. Basically so long as they get the video with the object in that 24 hour time frame, they'll judge it. Teams can still 'perform' multiple times and send in their best of the day, but it prevents teams from essentially hoarding videos from daily practices and just sending in that one random full out that seems to be better than all the rest. Again, not sure if they'll go that route, but it's an option.

Also not sure if allstar and high school are getting treated the same, but all us coaches got an email (at least, high school coaches did) a while back essentially laying out their Plans A-D. Here they are verbatim from the email:

Option A: In-Person with Spectators
  • Spectators allowed with social distancing measures in place
  • Live awards ceremony with limited athletes and/or coaches
Option B: In-Person with Limited Spectators
  • Spectator viewing limited to team performance time only
  • Live awards ceremony with limited athletes and/or coaches, OR virtual awards ceremony
Option C: In-Person with No Spectators and Virtual Awards
  • Spectators not allowed; only athletes and coaches permitted
  • Virtual awards ceremony
Option D: Virtual
  • Routines will be uploaded and judged virtually by Varsity Spirit Certified judges
  • Virtual awards ceremony
no and no, the best of the day???? That defeats the whole purpose of a "virtual" comp............I would rather not have my daughter do it at all....
 
Live feed > send best take.

I mean, I'm over 30 and out of cheer for a long time but if you give me a WHOLE afternoon to throw a RO BHS tuck, take best video, and send it in, I got you. And it's going to be Simone Biles perfect.

If I have to do it on a live Zoom 8/1 at 5pm EST one and done no do overs, that is a different story.

Your PARENT TEAM can hit full up to stretch if they have an entire weekend to film, unlimited do overs, and their best take gets sent in.
 
Also, one and done would be easier for people to watch. That way, you could tune in to watch all the Senior Coed 6 or whatever. And kids could get applause, etc via Zoom. I've done live piano recitals on Zoom, and it really does help make it more real to be able to have an audience and get some feedback right then.
 
They need to be live feed, one and done. There should probably be someone recording a backup of the performance separate from the live feed in case of technical issues that they can send in immediately for judging purposes. Maybe there is a "proof of live" sign that needs to be included or some other timestamp capability to discourage shenanigans. (Maybe an additional minor deduction for the tech glitch if it was on the gym/teams end?)
 
I wonder in an all virtual reality the role of FloCheer. Once a video is submitted, who owns the content, has rights to distribute it and how can it best be distributed? It could be very engaging or ho-hum depending on how everything is organized, produced, etc.
lets not give flocheer any ideas. I can easily see them taking great advantage of this whole thing, and turning it into a crap show.
ill always be a fan of free content, especially if the gyms are the one having to do the recording and live feed, why should flocheer get to step in and control that?!??
if the gyms are the ones doing the recording, flocheer shouldnt be able to claim copyright.
 
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