All-Star Maryland Marlins Merging With Maryland Twisters

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I have a feeling after the parent agreements are signed a lot of kids will be moved around. I don't think this is fair for the kids and their self esteem or confidence. Put them on the right team the first time. I can understand an evaluation later in the season if everyone is clear about the possibility of being moved for losing a skill, but an evaluation just after tryouts or just after parent agreements are turned in?.

That's crazy talk. If you work hard, have skills and bring something to the team, you'll be fine. The only people that have to worry is if you don't work hard or have the skill or don't bring something to the team. And, it's not like every girl on F5 has a full. People don't just get yanked around. From what I can see, the teams meshed well and no one is out of place
 
Hmmm....I obviously need to go back and re -read this thread. I thought it might be going a little to smoothly. I just really hope some one can clear up one thing for me. Are they co-owners or not?
 
Every athlete that tries out has to pay an evaluation fee, period. If you are a returning athlete you had to pay an evaluation fee, albeit it is slightly cheaper than the $65 fee which is for all new athletes. EVERY athlete in the program had to pay the fee so once again it was not a secret and/or hidden fee. I cannot speak about our water fountain'less facility but thankfully there are kind companies out there like Gatorade, Fiji, Deer Park, etc. who have come to our aid and sell these bottles filled with clear liquid at a plethora of locations (gas stations, grocery stores, New Hampshire Ave). Clearly I'm being facetious but we are not trying to "get" anyone in this process. Some kids think Twisters is a great fit and others have chose to go elsewhere. I kind of feel like people are grasping at straws...

plus I can't think of anything nastier than a water fountain at a gym full of kids..... thank you for not having a water fountian
 
Hmmm....I obviously need to go back and re -read this thread. I thought it might be going a little to smoothly. I just really hope some one can clear up one thing for me. Are they co-owners or not?

I have been told they are not co-owners.
This is why I have a problem with the term "merger" and I don't feel that everyone should have had to pay again to tryout/register whatever. It's not the money. It's the principal.

And I think for safety reasons they should have a water fountain incase a kid drinks all of their water and has no money to buy one out of the machine.
 
If Marlins considered it a "closing of business"... we'd have had to pay the tryout fee wherever we went... so what's the big deal? Yes, the term "merger" is being used loosely. But atleast Tara was there to be supportive and offer any of the Marlins interested a new home with the Twisters. I can't believe the pettiness regarding a water fountain?? I know another small gym within 8 miles of both Marlins & Twisters that doesn't have a water fountain and has a machine for it's athletes. I for one have had to give my child money at one point if we are running late or forgot to bring a bottle from home... ugh!


Again, I'm going to stress that shouldn't the most important part of this be the KIDS. I KNOW Terri was heartbroken over this decision but from a business stand point, she did what she had to do. I'm sure it's something she struggled with and probably cried over for weeks. As for Juba, while yes he is a great tumbling coach, I would have not have been happy if my child received some of the texts that I have seen sent to some of the girls from Tsunami. I feel his "vocal, public" opinions are uncalled for. Terri or Tara have not publicly said a negative word on a website that I am aware of. I just wish all the Facebook/Twitter comments would end as my teenage child sees this and her opinion of people have began to change. I told her that things are being said out of emotions and to try not to judge based on that. That's all I can do. It also is a lesson to her on how to behave in these public forums.

I think if everyone realized it was a shock to almost everyone, and that everyone is doing what is best FOR THEIR FAMILY at that moment, and others would just give their best wishes to those going a different route than their own, this would be a much easier event for all.
 
blingiton you are really trying to make this into a conspiracy. the twisters program has been nothing but accommodating to the the athletes that have come with the merger and somehow it is still not good enough.

in regards to the evaluation fee, EVERY athlete (returning or new) is required to pay it at the time of the try out regardless if they decide to cheer or not. while it may seem like a nonsensical fee to you, please consider the overhead costs that twisters incurred by hosting an open house for 4 hours on a day that the gym was not originally open... staff who worked the event have to be paid, the paper work has to be filed, athlete accounts need to be set up, and the costs need to be balanced just for this event.

for team placements, the coaches are trying their hardest to keep all of the marlins athletes together but it cannot be done at the expense of the veteran twisters who have been a part of the program prior to the merge. it is no secret that the talent pool at twisters exceeds nearly any place within 3 hours of the gym (you could argue that, but athletes don't travel across state lines for mediocrity), therefore what may qualify for a worlds team at one gym may not be the same at twisters. the program prides itself on having level appropriate teams for all levels/ages and that is a standard that will not be lowered. our athletes know that every spot must be earned, which is why we have athletes in the gym 7 days a week trying to improve their chances for making a desired team.

as always, if you people are unhappy with twisters they can seek refuge at one of the numerous programs in maryland. i hate to sound blunt, but at the end of the day 60 kids will not change the direction of a 500+ athlete program.
 
well as mentioned earlier, all athletes new, old, or otherwise have to pay an evaluation fee. at the end of the day this is a business and we have to be fair to all of our customers, both new and old. if the evaluation fee was a determining factor in someone going elsewhere they certainly have the right to do so.

I understand that they have the right to do whatever they want. But please understand from the Marlin parent perspective that are going over to Twisters that we did not ask for this. We have already paid a Try-Out Fee & for the mandatory Marlins skills camp. Most of us already had a warm up, uniform, bag, & spirit wear. For the average family switching over cost us an additional $700-800 for those items plus the additonal cost between Marlins and Twisters. To me the try-out fee was not a suprise when it was announced. I just felt that considering the fact that this was a "merge" it would have been a nice gesture for the Twisters organization to not charge it at all or at least make it reasonable. But I like most of the other families felt that I had no choice and paid it.
 
I'm sure Terri let them know as soon as she could. Personally, I wouldn't announce anything until a deal was pretty much 100%, even to coaches.

And this is where the business side of things gets so tricky. In cases I have seen, the deal is contigent on certain factors - # of kids coming, certain key coaches coming, equipment, space, etc. If you let people know too far ahead of your plans you potentially torpedo your hopes of completing the deal. Stuff like this does not stay quiet once known.

Now if you are a coach at the gym that is about to be merged, bought out, taken over etc. you would want to know as soon as possible so you can plan what to do next. You would almost want this from your boss so you don't feel like you were sold out as well. You may know you are not a fit with the new merge, or may want to run your own thing and keep the kids together that you have worked with - even if the owner wants out. You may feel you have other options. Yet this does not always line up with the owners need to keep things quiet until the deal is done because at the end of the day $$$ lie in the ability to pull the deal off as agreed upon. Very tricky stuff.

No matter what someone will always feel slighted. Someone will always feel misinformed or ill informed. It takes a little while for loyalties (whether right or wrong) to subside and be replaced by new relationships. I have nothing but respect for both gyms and know how difficult going through these changes can be for athletes, parents and coaches. While fans may often say how awesome it will be because now this gym gets all of that gyms talent to add to their own, the participants don't always share that emotion right away. Give them time and it will all settle down.
 
blingiton you are really trying to make this into a conspiracy. the twisters program has been nothing but accommodating to the the athletes that have come with the merger and somehow it is still not good enough.

in regards to the evaluation fee, EVERY athlete (returning or new) is required to pay it at the time of the try out regardless if they decide to cheer or not. while it may seem like a nonsensical fee to you, please consider the overhead costs that twisters incurred by hosting an open house for 4 hours on a day that the gym was not originally open... staff who worked the event have to be paid, the paper work has to be filed, athlete accounts need to be set up, and the costs need to be balanced just for this event.

for team placements, the coaches are trying their hardest to keep all of the marlins athletes together but it cannot be done at the expense of the veteran twisters who have been a part of the program prior to the merge. it is no secret that the talent pool at twisters exceeds nearly any place within 3 hours of the gym (you could argue that, but athletes don't travel across state lines for mediocrity), therefore what may qualify for a worlds team at one gym may not be the same at twisters. the program prides itself on having level appropriate teams for all levels/ages and that is a standard that will not be lowered. our athletes know that every spot must be earned, which is why we have athletes in the gym 7 days a week trying to improve their chances for making a desired team.

as always, if you people are unhappy with twisters they can seek refuge at one of the numerous programs in maryland. i hate to sound blunt, but at the end of the day 60 kids will not change the direction of a 500+ athlete program.

I am not trying to make this into a conspiracy. I was voicing my opinion on the "merger".
 
I understand that they have the right to do whatever they want. But please understand from the Marlin parent perspective that are going over to Twisters that we did not ask for this. We have already paid a Try-Out Fee & for the mandatory Marlins skills camp. Most of us already had a warm up, uniform, bag, & spirit wear. For the average family switching over cost us an additional $700-800 for those items plus the additonal cost between Marlins and Twisters. To me the try-out fee was not a suprise when it was announced. I just felt that considering the fact that this was a "merge" it would have been a nice gesture for the Twisters organization to not charge it at all or at least make it reasonable. But I like most of the other families felt that I had no choice and paid it.

that seems to be an issue that needed to be handled on the marlins end, but the parents seem to be aligning that with twisters responsibility. please understand that no parties in this situation asked for ANY of this. terri could have merged with any program (nitros included), but she sought out a program that she felt most comfortable with turning her athletes and reputation over to. the addition of athletes in such a quick span has been overwhelming on the twisters front as well. if we all consider how this is a compromise on all sides, perhaps the complaining will die down.
 
If Marlins considered it a "closing of business"... we'd have had to pay the tryout fee wherever we went... so what's the big deal? Yes, the term "merger" is being used loosely. But atleast Tara was there to be supportive and offer any of the Marlins interested a new home with the Twisters. I can't believe the pettiness regarding a water fountain?? I know another small gym within 8 miles of both Marlins & Twisters that doesn't have a water fountain and has a machine for it's athletes. I for one have had to give my child money at one point if we are running late or forgot to bring a bottle from home... ugh!


I think the biggest reason that I have a problem with the term "merger" being used is because I had become quite fond of it after its use in the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy and now it just doesn't mean the same. :p
Sorry had to add that. Back to your regular scheduled programming.
 
I understand that they have the right to do whatever they want. But please understand from the Marlin parent perspective that are going over to Twisters that we did not ask for this. We have already paid a Try-Out Fee & for the mandatory Marlins skills camp. Most of us already had a warm up, uniform, bag, & spirit wear. For the average family switching over cost us an additional $700-800 for those items plus the additonal cost between Marlins and Twisters. To me the try-out fee was not a suprise when it was announced. I just felt that considering the fact that this was a "merge" it would have been a nice gesture for the Twisters organization to not charge it at all or at least make it reasonable. But I like most of the other families felt that I had no choice and paid it.
All uniform money was returned and no orders had been done yet for the warmups, bags and practice wear.
 
I can only guess at what the Marlins families felt like when they heard the news. They probably felt blindsided by the abrupt announcement and felt adrift. As a pretty neutral party, the best thing everyone involved can do at this point is to accept that this is a done deal and move on.

The good news is is there are other options out there and it's still early! Many other gyms are probably still looking for athletes. Please don't feel that you have to stay at a gym that you aren't happy with just because you were with the Marlins.
 
I truly feel bad for the Marlins cheerleaders and families. It's bad enough when you hear the rumblings about an upcoming merge or acquisition but when you are blindsided it must turn your world upside down. I'm sure most of the Marlins initially chose to be part of their program rather than Twisters for their own reasons, and now to have that taken away is tough no matter how amazing of a program we know that Twisters is. I wish them all the best and hope everyone finds a happy home whether it be with Twisters or another gym.
On the flip side, I also feel bad for the Twisters. Things are probably quite unsettled for them as well although it seems that anyone who earned their spot on whatever level team will not lose it at this point because of the merge.
Finally, as for the coach that is bad mouthing the situation - I get that you are upset but if you ever truly cared for any of these kids at all please stfu for now and let them get settled without making things more difficult for everyone.
 
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