All-Star Evolution?

two2cheer4 said:

But I thought the OP was arguing that they thought it was somehow unfair that Sr. Elite practiced in a gym (therefore making it less of a risk to make changes to the routine). They were not upset that they actually made changes.

I'm saying, for all we know, at least some of the other LAG teams could have practiced in a gym, they just chose not to make the amount of changes CEA did.

Click to expand...

The only people I've heard complain about it are bitter Betty's having a pacifier and tissue fest that they're favorite team didn't win. In all honesty.

David said:

It's not an unfair advantage. I don't see how it is an unfair advantage and nothing you have stated would lead my to believe it is an unfair advantage. If a team does something within the USASF guidelines that any other team could have done, I don't see how that is unfair.

Click to expand...

Being within guidelines =/= fair. If two people agree to a race, they both have the opportunity to go buy whatever car they want. If one can afford a Ferrari, but the other can only afford a Kia, how is that not an advantage?

AndrewSky said:

The only people I've heard complain about it are bitter Betty's having a pacifier and tissue fest that they're favorite team didn't win. In all honesty.

Click to expand...

Meh, by that logic, I could say the only people supporting it here are all CEA fans who wanted them to win. Somebody mentioned some Cali teams did this as well, which I was unaware of. So insert Cali instead of CEA, or any other teams confirmed to have practiced in a gym.

CharlotteASMom said:

I personally love that they went to a gym and wish all teams would do that. It's much safer than them throwing those type skills on a field, hotel lobby, or some other unsafe surface.

Yes, hell might have frozen over again.

Haha, @mamabear got there before me!

Click to expand...

Totally agree. I've never been to worlds with my kids but I've always been under the impression the whole football field practice thing is more just a show off exhibition and doesn't really do anything for the team other than show off new practice gear and add to the overall coolness and festive atmosphere. I mean watching the videos and pics I can't imagine they're getting a lot of "quality" practice that way. If you have to make serious changes you're not going to do it on a mis-sized grass field with hundreds of people and distractions walking around.

Am I the only one who thinks that? Don't get me wrong I think the grass practice thing is cool to watch teams and adds to the overall awesome atmosphere, but I wouldn't qualify it as "practice."

@12stepcheermom- I totally agree. I said something similar earlier in the thread. I envision it as part of the experience, but not how to win.

The Sixth said:

Based on the comments so far I'm still pretty much in the middle. On the one hand I keep seeing "genius" thrown around, but conversely, everybody says this is common.

Everybody is so focused on the rules. Of course it doesn't break any rules. My point was if it was an unfair advantage? There was a time crossovers were allowed as well.... Either way, I rest my case.

So with that said......


Actually, now what I'd like to see is a team in LAG come out with NO day 1 performance. Watch what the other teams do, and then decide what changes they make to their base routine.

If that worked, THAT is what I'd call risky and brilliant. But I can't imagine many people would be fans of it.

Click to expand...

Often times I agree with you. In this case it looks like no matter how many times the majority of people tell you they don't think there is anything unusual in what was done, you seem to be focused this gym possibly took a "privileged" approach. How many more examples do you need?

12stepCheermom said:

Am I the only one who thinks that? Don't get me wrong I think the grass practice thing is cool to watch teams and adds to the overall awesome atmosphere, but I wouldn't qualify it as "practice."

Click to expand...

mamabear said:

@12stepcheermom- I totally agree. I said something similar earlier in the thread. I envision it as part of the experience, but not how to win.

Click to expand...

You do what you have to do. I have seen teams take the football field and other practice areas very seriously.

In 2010 when SSX went from 9th Day 1 to 2d Day 2 (by only 2.7 points) they practiced that night in the parking lot by themselves for 4 hours starting at around 11pm.

I was concerned as team dad, but they were focused and wanted it bad.

I get where the OP is coming from, I really do. Even though practicing the day/night before finals at a local gym may not be that unusual, I don't think it is really as common as some folks state. There isn't enough gyms in the state of Florida to allow every team that attended Worlds one last practice before finals.

To me, making the appropriate changes just makes sense.. if you're not willing to make changes, judges might as well not even give comments since you only have one more performance of the year, and you won't change it, therefore their corrections are useless. (does that make sense?)

regarding CSP, she really is a genius. the fact that she accurately calculated almost EXACTLY how much the changes would increase their score (i believe she was off by a mere 3) says enough to me, not even to mention the faith she had in the team and they in her.

Nobody said "senior elite you can practice in this gym for 4 hours. Shooting stars you get this patch of grass for 5 minutes. And panthers you must practice in this hotel lobby for 2.3333333333 hours. May the odds be ever in your favor." No. Everyone had equal opportunity to improve their scoresheet on day 2. They all received score sheets and judges comments. Cea had a serious plan going into worlds, and were going to practice at that gym after day 1 whether they didn't change anything or changed their entire routine. Other teams chose not to do this, and may have practiced elsewhere for a different amount of time, which is fine and fair as well.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!

AndrewSky said:

The only people I've heard complain about it are bitter Betty's having a pacifier and tissue fest that they're favorite team didn't win. In all honesty.

Click to expand...

You are my new hero. That is all.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!

First of all I owned until this year a small gym and had access to local gyms in various big venue sites. Now to the CEA thing, they were hands down the best team and I have seen them all. All the teams were good however Day 2 CEA was the pinnacle. Just like Large Coed Top Gun blew it away! Their tumbling and jumps were absolutely perfect. 101.3 on tumbling. Game over. Make changes we judges ask for em, fix em. Don't change, don't cry.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!

For lord's sakes...what coach wouldn't want to take the criticism that the judges give them to push their athletes to do better the next day?
CSP is very smart in planning ahead to take her kids to a gym instead of practicing at their hotel, because we all know how distracted those kids would get with people coming up to them, and stopping to watch..etc etc etc. Point blank, she obviously wanted to prepare for the worst and have a facility available where the kids could stay focused and get what they needed to get done, done. Once again, CSP is crowned brilliant.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!

canz said:

You are my new hero. That is all.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!

Click to expand...

He is pretty awesome...

Even non teal army are okay with this. WHY IS THIS STILL BEING DISCUSSED?

This thread is a bit ridiculous no? I don't know any coach at any levek that wouldn't make changes between day 1 and day 2. And whi cares where you do it.

Stars changed their dance from day 1 to day 2 last year. Did that give them an unfair advantage.... no. People change things all the time. Some are highly public because of the name and level and some go unnoticed because no one watched the team on day 1.

If you saw a score that was unusually low And You knew that you could safely make changes, then make them!

The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android || Upgrade Your Account!