All-Star No Longer Excited For Anything But First Place

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Dec 15, 2009
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I was a recreation, all star, middle school and high school cheerleader from 1993-2002, then spent several years coaching in later high school and college. Now I am "retired" from cheerleading and spend my days working a regular job and being a wife and mother (to a child who is too young for cheer right now.) However, I am still an avid fan of all types of cheerleading.

Something I have noticed over the past decade that really saddens me is the decline in excitement during awards sessions. I grew up in the Memphis area so obviously I competed at UCA's high school and all star national competitions. I vividly remember how excited we would be just to make it to finals. Coming in the top 10 was an amazing feat and would have as jumping and down and screaming in delight! It was the same way when I was coaching all star teams. I just don't feel like this happens anymore.

Now obviously, divisions are not nearly as large as they used to be, so I am sure that is part of the reason. The splitting of divisions has contributed significantly to that. But I will see teams come in the top five of very stacked divisions, competing against top-level teams, at very competitive nationals (NCA, UCA, Cheersport, etc.) and they just seem extremely disappointed. Oftentimes they don't even stand up and clap. The cheerleaders all sit on the ground and one representative runs up to get the trophy in a very lackluster manner. The parents/fans don't seem excited for them either. The worst is when nobody even gets up to get the trophy/medals, and a staff member has to run them over. It's like teams have become embarrassed to get anything less than first place.

Why? Coaches, do you encourage your teams to get excited for doing well and placing high even when it's not first? Or is the trend now that everyone feels like they were robbed or should have done better, and that any place other than first isn't worth anything?
 
As a coach, I tell my girls you have to be proud of how you feel when you finish the routine, placing 1st is a bonus, but it is not why we do this. We can not help what others do, but we can help our own routine.

I also have noticed the same. I know the divisions are smaller, but to be honest, the lack of sportsmanship at awards, especially in All-Star is just terrible.
 
Short answer. I am sure others will expound.
1. Only one representative is allowed to get up and go get the award from any team we are on.
2. Sit down and keep quiet so you are not disrespectful so the next team may hear their placement.
Celebrating your placement is being unthoughtful of others who didn't place as well.

No? Because that's what's the girls have quickly learned and stick to.
 
For me, and my CP, and our gym philosophy, frankly, is "It's about the HIT, not the placement." Hit your routines, do your best and where you rank is just details.

I didn't always feel this way. I'm very competitive, perfectionist, want to win, etc. But I've found over the last two years is that this philosophy is very liberating.

Now, what that tends to do, is transfer my excitement to the time that they hit the routine rather than at awards. As long as they hit, I'm excited and stoked. Placement just doesn't matter as much....unless you win, which is then, the cherry on top.
 
I myself am guilty of only like truly being jump up and down excited when my team gets first place, but if we lose and still had a great performance I make sure to stand up to show my support for my team. I pride myself on good sportsmanship, always clapping throughout the routines of competition and wishing them good luck. People will come up to me and thank me for my good sportsmanship. As a senior, I think it is important to teach the younger kids good sportsmanship as well. I encourage them to clap for their competition and to only celebrate when their name is actually called for first place (if they have won).

At the State Championship this year my high school team came in second place. We had placed second two years ago and 3rd last year. Two years ago as a sophomore I bawled when we got second place. Last year when we got 3rd I was a complete wreck. So this year, as a senior and a captain, I made sure that I would turn myself around and set a good example for my team. When called in second place I forced myself not to cry even while my team mates were sobbing around me, when we were called up individually to get our medals. I didn't let myself cry until I got on the bus. I thanked all the people who came to watch me and congratulated the winning team. At least five people came up to me and told me how proud they were of my excellent sportsmanship including my coach. I was the only senior of 5 to hold it together. Honestly, it made me feel better about myself than any first place win could have done.
 
My high school went to NCA Nationals for the first time this past January. There were 6 teams in our division. Being from California, we knew people were doubting us and we knew we wouldn't be able to match up to the cheer teams from Texas. We were still SO excited for the opportunity. Our goal was top 4. Not a very high goal but we would feel accomplished. After day 1, we were in 4th. We made some changes the next morning before our second performance. At the awards ceremony when they announced 4th place we started bawling our eyes out because we knew we had gotten top 3 and honestly that felt so amazing. We ended up getting 3rd and when we stepped off the floor we couldn't contain our excitement. Everyone loved how enthusiastic we were about 3rd place...everyone it seemed except the first and second place teams who were glaring at us wondering how we could be so happy. It's plain and simple. We went out and hit both days against some amazing teams and finished 3rd at NCA. Whether we finished first or not we did our best and getting top 3 was just the cherry on top.
I would love to see more all star teams get excited when they realize they got 3rd or 2nd against some worlds medalling teams.
 
I have noticed that it appears that when kids are excited about anything but 1st place they are looked at with pity and are treated as though they could not get that 1st place. I noticed at the last competition that we went to that a gym whose name I will not speak came in second and I am not sure if it was a parent or a coach was berating these kids for a second place finish meanwhile my baby girl's team came in second in their division and I was so happy and proud of them because I thought they would be last but hey I know nothing about scoring.
 
I have noticed that it appears that when kids are excited about anything but 1st place they are looked at with pity and are treated as though they could not get that 1st place. I noticed at the last competition that we went to that a gym whose name I will not speak came in second and I am not sure if it was a parent or a coach was berating these kids for a second place finish meanwhile my baby girl's team came in second in their division and I was so happy and proud of them because I thought they would be last but hey I know nothing about scoring.

That is terrible.
 
I have noticed that it appears that when kids are excited about anything but 1st place they are looked at with pity and are treated as though they could not get that 1st place. .

This was the terrible part, sorry! :)


You should be happy w/ the second place!! Most of the scores are so close anymore that it is really great!
 
This was the terrible part, sorry! :)


You should be happy w/ the second place!! Most of the scores are so close anymore that it is really great!

This. When placements are separated by tenths and hundredths of points it's sad not to be excited about the placement no matter what. Getting smoked isn't fun either so I never expect kids that come in last or very low to be jumping up and down excited. It's natural to be disappointed and have those bad feelings. As long as good sportsmanship is displayed I think it's ok to not be excited.

A variety of reactions are fine for a variety of teams all with different circumstances and goals. As long as no one is being intentionally rude or tacky towards others I try to let everyone have their own moments without judgement.


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My answer? Nowadays there's more divisions, so less teams per division. Obviously a teams who gets 2nd or 3rd out of 3 won't be too happy about that


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Yep, and this I understand. It's when the divisions are stacked, like in the example I gave in my OP, that it baffles me.
 
My Y1 got dead last at our last competition. Prior to this we had recieved 1st or 2nd with very close scores so they were obviously disappointed BUT when their place was announced they all stood up and cheered, as they were expected to. Then they sat and watched and clapped for the other teams. They had a bad day on the floor but I was very proud of their maturity! Some of the other teams didn't even stand up and were obviously sulking when they placed low. I get being disappointed but I would not have been happy if my girls behaved that way.
 
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