All-Star 3 Major Changes To Address 3 Major Problems

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King

Is all about that bass
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Dec 4, 2009
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So the changes made (good or bad) were to address 3 major problems.

1. Injuries are increasing in allstar cheerleading and cheerleading has issues getting insured. Hence new tumbling rules.

2. Cheerleading numbers have decreased last year drastically. Changing ages and divisions in theory open up the sport and make it a little bit more attractive to bring in new people (in theory).

3. The image portrayed of allstar cheer in the media is negatively impacting the sport (or so it is believed). Hence the image rules.

How should these problems have been addressed?
 
1. Educate coaches and have a true certification program.

2. Change the economy. Numbers are decreasing because people are deciding to put food on the table or pay bills or play cheaper sports.

3.cheer was portrayed in the media badly before allstars existed. These changes make us look bad for completely different reasons and to a completely different group...ourselves
 
I think all of the changes they proposed were too drastic, too sudden, brought about inappropriately, and just done in bad faith. I do not see uniforms (for the most part) being an issue. Nor do I care about glitter, make up, etc. So those rules, while I feel they are dumb, don't bother me as much as the tumbling rule changes. They are specifically targeted at the athletes that have dedicated their youth to cheerleading. And to take it away all at once, or at all, is just nuts. I don't think any of these rules will increase the numbers in cheerleading either. What I think is that the OPPOSITE will happen. You can now do more tumbling in high school except the running doubles. What is the incentive?

How should these problems have been addressed? I don't necessarily see them as problems. Injuries happen. Enrollment fluctuates. Creativity is a good thing. These rules were unnecessary IMO.
 
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I still think high school numbers dwarf anything in allstar. Those rules need to be made to be a level 3/4 hybrid. Why? Make high school safer (where a large part of the athletes are) and if they want to truly do the amazing stuff go to allstar. BAM just made allstar better and most cheerleaders safer.
 
1. Educate coaches and have a true certification program.

2. Change the economy. Numbers are decreasing because people are deciding to put food on the table or pay bills or play cheaper sports.

3.cheer was portrayed in the media badly before allstars existed. These changes make us look bad for completely different reasons and to a completely different group...ourselves

I agree!!! I tried keeping my child in cheer but i got tired of listening to her complain that she was cold and hungry.
 
So why couldn't there be a novice, intermediate, and advanced for high school teams? Make each one a combination of levels.. I've seen some really bad HS teams (like with 4 girls on them) and they can't even come close to a level 3/4. I'm worried for their safety when they're trying a thigh stand. But I've also seen some high school teams that are better than level 4 teams. The former outweighing the latter of course, but the strong teams around here are great teams.

BUT. I can't even get started with coaching for High School. I know a coach right now who is terrible.. but she got preference over other great coaches because she works in the school system. They definitely need training - especially if they don't know what they're doing but want to do it for 'fun' (or the paycheck).
 
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So why couldn't there be a novice, intermediate, and advanced for high school teams? Make each one a combination of levels.. I've seen some really bad HS teams (like with 4 girls on them) and they can't even come close to a level 3/4. I'm worried for their safety when they're trying a thigh stand. But I've also seen some high school teams that are better than level 4 teams. The former outweighing the latter of course, but the strong teams around here are great teams.

BUT. I can't even get started with coaching for High School. I know a coach right now who is terrible.. but she got preference over other great coaches because she works in the school system. They definitely need training - especially if they don't know what they're doing but want to do it for 'fun' (or the paycheck).

High school is too hard to regulate. One set of rules is simpler to follow and easier to enforce.
 
So the changes made (good or bad) were to address 3 major problems.

1. Injuries are increasing in allstar cheerleading and cheerleading has issues getting insured. Hence new tumbling rules.

2. Cheerleading numbers have decreased last year drastically. Changing ages and divisions in theory open up the sport and make it a little bit more attractive to bring in new people (in theory).

3. The image portrayed of allstar cheer in the media is negatively impacting the sport (or so it is believed). Hence the image rules.

How should these problems have been addressed?

1. True coach and gym certification. I still think coaches need to be credentialed to the level they coach. If you are a cheer coach that is coaching level 5 stunting, you should be certified level 5. Everyone needs CPR and at minimum basic first aid training.

2. Numbers decreased? Helllllloooo! Have people really considered the cost of the sport? Why on earth are the registration fees for some competitions well over $100 per kid? Why are uniforms $300???? As a parent, having these conversations with other non-cheer parents, it usually boils down to the money.

3. I have no problem with the image changes. Allstar has become traditional cheerleading's skanky cousin. Sorry. Many, many, many parents do not want their 8 year olds parading around in crop tops and hot pants. Many don't want their 12 year olds doing it either. We shared our meeting room with 2 of our sister gyms this weekend, and let me tell you, there were three senior girls from another team in there getting ready. They came in, shucked their shirts off, and spent 45 minutes getting ready in nude bras. Really?! There were dads in their with their kids. It was unnecessary. It made *me* uncomfortable, and not much manages to do that.

Many people suffer from NIMBY syndrome. All about rules changes, as long as it doesn't effect you.
 
Does everyone thing a good certification program can just happen overnight? NO.

THE USASF KNOWS THAT QUALIFIED COACHES ARE THE PROBLEM, not the skill. You need to stop something dead in its tracks if injury rates are above the norm. They clearly have data that shows these skills are more "risky" then others. If you say they aren't, then you don't know the definition of risk. Now that these skills have been made illegal, the USASF can focus on developing a structured qualification process rather and not have to worry about the injuries that are happening.
 
I'm also really surprised there isn't something like "extreme sport insurance" available. I know you can get it for skydiving and hanggliding, but why not for cheerleading? And what does gymnastics have as insurance carriers? The sports are pretty similar (enough).. maybe cheer needs to get with the gymnastics people and figure out how they've done it. And if you have EPs on the board of directors that make rules, they're going to be in favor of things that put them in a better place financially. Less skills to worry about, less chance for injury, less chance at getting sued or cheaper insurance? (hypothetically). That's a lot of bias right there.

Cheerleading is a luxury. Luxury items get cut in times of economic despair.. so less $ = less cheerleaders. The price of cheer should not be exorbitant, however. There is no reason for gym fees or competition rentals for companies to increase more than the cost of inflation even though some companies take it upon themselves to gouge their participants.

I'm all for the cropped top rule.. but make don't make it laughable. If you can have a little girl on a senior team in a crop but her older (less skilled) sister is on a junior team and can't wear one.. doesn't that defeat the purpose a little? I know a couple girls that would apply to right now. Skirts that cover someone's butt should have been a given.. it's pretty sad they have to actually state it in the rules. Rhinestones, meh. I got one in my eye one time and it almost made me blind, so I could care less if girls use them. I have to agree with MomOf2 and her assessment here!
 
I just want to respond to the last question from Kingston...."How should these problems have been addressed?"
With transparency, out in the open, with USASF members voting. It is my biggest concern right at this moment. How this was done. I just honestly am so depressed and unsure about what I want to do with my gym at this moment. We are only in our fourth year. I spent a lot of time, money and energy trying to get up to speed with the sport and now, I don't feel like this is a valid governing body. It feels willy-nilly to me. I might understand the tumbling issues. I have no idea what they were going for with some of the appearance issues. Clearly someone does not like the female-type performances displayed by some male cheerleaders and that bothers me since it is discriminatory. What else are we going to regulate? These are someone's personal preferences. These are not things necessarily to better the sport.
 
If someone at the USASF said that insurance companies won't insure programs with level 5 teams, do you think people would have voted out those skills?
 
One area where I have cred. As an previous all star gym owner and present owner of a fitness/wellness facility, getting insurance for all star cheer is virtually impossible and so ridiculously high that premiums will force tuition to triple in the near future at a minimum, and what is that going to do to participation? Same with pools with diving boards and a whole list of "high risk" activities. We love to sue, we pay the price. Not educated on the other stuff, but this point is valid.
 
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One area where I have cred. As an previous all star gym owner and present owner of a fitness/wellness facility, getting insurance for all star cheer is virtually impossible and so ridiculously high that premiums will force tuition to triple in the near future at a minimum, and what is that going to do to participation? Same with pools with diving boards and a whole list of "high risk" activities. We love to sue, we pay the price. Not educated on the other stuff, but this point is valid.

I think insurance is the impetus to start thinking about all these changes. I am not sure we are there yet where insurance will balk, but the fact we only have 2 companies willing to insure is frightening.
 
So the changes made (good or bad) were to address 3 major problems.

1. Injuries are increasing in allstar cheerleading and cheerleading has issues getting insured. Hence new tumbling rules.

2. Cheerleading numbers have decreased last year drastically. Changing ages and divisions in theory open up the sport and make it a little bit more attractive to bring in new people (in theory).

3. The image portrayed of allstar cheer in the media is negatively impacting the sport (or so it is believed). Hence the image rules.

How should these problems have been addressed?

one reason cheerleading has decreased from last years is gym closing. . . one an two some people can afford all star cheerleading anymore compared to high school cheerleading
 
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