Pro Con - Athlete Database/ID cards

and the RFID wouldnt have your cheer info on it, just a temporary code that links to your info on the DB. Kinda like a hotel room card. it only works when its been programmed to work.

I posted this idea on the other thread before I saw this one. My grocery store uses my fingerprint to access my checking account. I just scan my finger and pay. Nothing to keep up with at all. What if all team members had to scan their fingerprints while going into warmups and the fingerprint had to match the master list of who is competing on that team? This would take up almost no extra time.

What would it take to get a fingerprint or other sort of biometric scanning process in place instead of ID cards or RFIDs? It would (hopefully) eliminate the concern of someone losing it, but I think collecting the information would present challenges including privacy concerns.

I think fingerprints are more invasive than RFID tags psychologically (though not in practicality). As well finger print scanning isnt as fast or accurate as RFID. You can walk 1000 people a minute over an RFID scanner without mistakes but one person can only be checking themselves at a finger print scanner at a time.

Also, the more I think about this RFID thing the smarter it is. Ive gone through a bunch of different scenarios of where to place the scanners and check in points and there are so many ways to skin this cat with the right technology. Just need the USASF to buy into it

Kingston said:

I think fingerprints are more invasive than RFID tags psychologically (though not in practicality). As well finger print scanning isnt as fast or accurate as RFID. You can walk 1000 people a minute over an RFID scanner without mistakes but one person can only be checking themselves at a finger print scanner at a time.

Also, the more I think about this RFID thing the smarter it is. Ive gone through a bunch of different scenarios of where to place the scanners and check in points and there are so many ways to skin this cat with the right technology. Just need the USASF to buy into it

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I compeletely agree, and if you need someone to help you out, just give me a shout :hello:
I'm guessing the biometric fingerprint scanner would be more expensive than using RFID tags (though I have a fingerprint scanner on my laptop for security so maybe not). Though, using fingerprints would take so much more time to check in.. each girl would have to make sure they scan properly and fully to even register the print. It could take some people a few swipes to get a readable print to compare to or to search the database with. The tag idea is a solid one - highly secure, cheap, and easy enough to put in place. And if you are worried about losing a tag, the tag is going to be worthless without the proper software to use to scan it. It would be akin to losing a hotel room swipe card - no really important personal information, just a way to access the database. This idea has me so excited!

I missed this thread in the beginning...

Having to verify information with birth certificates and SSN is done every season for club soccer. You are required to fill out a form, provide a copy of your child's birth certificate, and a photo...then send it in to your state's club soccer rep. They verify all info and send out a card to the team. Team Managers keep the cards and the ref verifies the card againt the player at every game. No card means the player does not go on the field or even sit on the sideline. There are rules in place for kids filling in for others on a team that require another form shown at the game and the card from their previous team. It's all pretty exact, expected, and serious.

The point I make is that other sports have this kind of verification and cheer parents need to get past the USASF having this information. I don't think the vehicle matters (id cards/shoe tags) just that we do it.

FYI This soccer carding system led into some pretty serious rules about recruiting. Once a player has been carded another club can be seriously fined if there is ANY type of recruitment involved during the season. I really like this idea and think it could be useful for cheer.

I too really like the idea. I know when my daughter was competing gymnastics with USGA each year she was issued a card with her level she would be competing at and birthday. This eliminated her competeing at a lower level unless she had a severe injury and USAG approved changing Levels. Using level information may cut down on teams deliberately competeing at lower levels at big comps, too many level crossovers, ilegal age placements on lower teams, etc

I also believe there has to be accountability for the event producers and gyms. A system of consequences for mis-information and rule bending.
Also, if information was sent directly from gyms it would cut down on gym switching/recruiting as CharlotteASmom stated.

Although I can't provide much information or knowledge in regards to the subject (talking tech stuff waaayyy out of my league), I'm very much in agreement with some type of verification. The RFID shoe tag seems to be a favorable option and people (King) have provided the basis of an idea for set-up/usage. Give comp companies who want to try it out some type of compensation so they can work out the kinks.

I competed USAG and we too had to register every year with them. Have my card still at my house somewhere. Solidifies the legitimacy aspect we all seem to be craving..

I think having people talk about other sports and what they do to register and track their athletes helps strengthen the argument of child registration and tracking at gyms. Our cheer culture has developed quite different than other sports so it has quite a few quirks. But besides the athletic part itself what we do is not drastically different than any other child sport. I think once the USASF, Event Producers, and Gym Owners realize that we can start moving forward to better organize what we do.

Kingston said:

I think fingerprints are more invasive than RFID tags psychologically (though not in practicality). As well finger print scanning isnt as fast or accurate as RFID. You can walk 1000 people a minute over an RFID scanner without mistakes but one person can only be checking themselves at a finger print scanner at a time.

Also, the more I think about this RFID thing the smarter it is. Ive gone through a bunch of different scenarios of where to place the scanners and check in points and there are so many ways to skin this cat with the right technology. Just need the USASF to buy into it

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The RFID could be placed at the entrance to the warm up area as the first check in point. The next could be in the "tunnel" or "on deck" area, where there is much more time to get everyone scanned! Sounds like an awesome idea, wish i had some technical background to get involved with this!

I still have questions about how we are going to get the information for the cards or RFIDs. If the gyms/coaches do it we don't resolve any of the problems we have now and the USASF doesn't have the manpower to do it.

You are saying you think the gyms and coaches are going to fake all information from the beginning?

Kingston said:

You are saying you think the gyms and coaches are going to fake all information from the beginning?

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The ones that are cheating now will continue to if given the opportunity.

Andre said:

Kingston said:

You are saying you think the gyms and coaches are going to fake all information from the beginning?

Click to expand...

The ones that are cheating now will continue to if given the opportunity.

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Saying you have a certain aged athlete and sending in a birth certificate proving so are two different things. I still expect some gyms will try to fake a birth certificate but it should stop a lot of it.