All-Star Teams That Go Up Against No One....

Where's the fun in that? Yes you win every time but it's not nearly as exciting to get first out of one (or two) than to get first out of ten teams. I would get so bored with that.

And the problem with cheer being a sport. If you can claim first place and never actually compete against anyone you are not a sport.

Decrease the levels and divisions, stop creating divisions where the competition numbers are so small you can't find competition. Start acting like a sport. If you aren't going head to head with anyone you are only a demonstration and should get Nothing for attending!

I don't think they're "fake wins" mainly because you have to get a certain score to even qualify for first place, second place, third place, etc. But, it can't be fun to just show up to every competition knowing you're not going against anyone else. I mean, that's why they call it competition.

bowsandpros said:

I don't think they're "fake wins" mainly because you have to get a certain score to even qualify for first place, second place, third place, etc. But, it can't be fun to just show up to every competition knowing you're not going against anyone else. I mean, that's why they call it competition.

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Most comps don't require you to beat a score

NJ Coach said:

Most comps don't require you to beat a score

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I'm probably thinking about just a regular Pop Warner competition then... I've never seen an allstar team compete alone in a division, so I was just hoping for the best on that one! Thank you for correcting me

bowsandpros said:

I'm probably thinking about just a regular Pop Warner competition then... I've never seen an allstar team compete alone in a division, so I was just hoping for the best on that one! Thank you for correcting me

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Pop Warner hasn't had that rule for years either

In all of my years of coaching, I only came across one competition company that required you to beat a score to be in 1st place. I cannot remember which one it was but I'm thinking US Spirit? I could be wrong. This was over five years ago so things may have changed if that was the company.

Valvalmom said:

If you have a team that has a lot of stage jitters, I think putting them in front of a crowd when there's no pressure to place can be helpful. But to do it repeatedly just to brag about 1st place, no.
Of course sometimes there are divisions (mini2,youth3) that tend to have less competition. We've been to plenty of competitions where some teams have lots of competitions and others are alone. You can't always help it.
But still, it's a huge pet peeve of mine to see posts of kids in championship jackets proclaiming to be "national champions" just because they went to a "national" competition and were alone in their division.

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Last 2 years my daughter has been on mini 2 and youth 3, respectively - so I can relate to the no competition thing. We've had at least three comps this year with no teams against us, and two more with just one other team.

I think it's a lot more fun for everyone involved to have teams to compete against.

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cheerforceone said:

what do you think about teams that purposely find competitions that no one else in their level is in...... there is a local team around me, and they do this all the time, and people think they are amazing.....it just kills me b ecause no one else competed against them lol

what are your thoughts..... are those considered fake wins? i think they are... but thats just me

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I agree. It's no fun. I come from an area where there is limited local (within 75 miles) competitions and sometimes you just have to sign up for comps where you are the only team in your division/level.
Also, you can try to beat your own last comp score and you can also try to get a Level or Grand championship or speciality awards.

I know of a cheer team that purposely went to competitions where they were the only group in their division.

They would do this to be able to say that they won US Finals for years x, y, and z.

I moved my daughter and love where we are - the best thing about competition is seeing the talent and pushing yourself.

If you cannot control it, so be it but this team actually would withdraw and move to be able to say we won.

direct these teams to ASCheerMan's "I hope you lose" thread. seems like they could use a good read...

I don't think a team should automatically win if there is no competition. They didn't win anything. Sure, let them still go and perform it's fun and a great experience, but they should be there for "show" and not be labeled a "national champion". It just bothers me every time i'm at awards and they announce a team in it's own division a National Champion, while other teams in the gym who may have not won first place but had alot of teams to compete against have to see the easy "win" and watch the kids walk around with their National Champion gear. (if any). To me it's just not right.

I think it also has to do with some divisions just dont have many teams that compete at that level. Last year we had a youth 4 team. Went to 5 comps with no other youth 4 teams. (same thing happened 3 years prior when we had a youth 4 team) So mid-season we moved to Youth Res 5 because there were 3 other teams in our state competing at that level that we could compete against. In our state, there are not many Small senior 5 all girl teams. With the new Medium division a lot of programs moved their Small or Large teams to that division. I think when you get to International level that happens more often too-just because not every gym fields that level team, but most gyms have Level 2,3,4 teams, because that is where the bulk of your athletes are.

This year our gym has a youth 3. Not very common in our state. This whole year they have only competed against one other team once and that was at spirit sport Duel in The Desert. The parents would like the kids to compete more and some are tired of going to comp after comp for a showcase.

I have heard of competitions that if the judges feel you dont deserve first, wether you had competition or not, you will not get first. I think thats a great idea! If you're against your self, drop every stunt and have busts all over the place, do you deserve to win? no. So you shouldn't!