All-Star Only Seniors Can Expose Midriff???

SassyRachael said:

It's not the USASF's place to say what the athletes can & can't wear, that's the place of the parents & the coaches.

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Since you brought the thread back up, I'll ask you: Why not? Every other sport and child's activity (and actually most adult activities) have guidelines and rules about what can be worn. My kids have rules about what they can wear to school (including college classes), dance competition, work, volleyball games, chorus concerts, etc. I have rules about what I can wear to the grocery store, class, work, the gym I work out at, restaurants I eat in. Other sports have rules about what can be worn during their competitions and games (gymnastics has very strict rules, even the NFL has rules about what players can wear to games).

So why on earth is it "not the USASF's place to say"? They're not saying what you can and can't wear to practice or at home or anywhere else. Just what you can wear to their events and their competitions. I still fail to see how this isn't their place. They're the governing body for allstar cheer. By definition that means they're the "rule making" body.

(I see what you're saying about not teaching young girls to be ashamed of their bodies. I totally disagree with you, but I at least understand what you're saying. As a mom I think it's important to teach girls what's appropriate and what isn't. I'm not teaching my girls to be ashamed of their bodies - but I hopefully am teaching them that different things are appropriate at different times and places. My job is to teach them about their bodies and being proud of themselves and what is appropriate. USASF's job is to make rules about cheerleading.)

Decorum and modesty are not shameful qualities to have. No one is teaching anyone to be ashamed of their body, they're teaching appropriateness and classiness.
I like both crops and full tops. Our senior team will have crop tops this year. The rest will wear a full top. Both uniforms are tasteful and appropriate.


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lovecheering said:

Just saw that USASF, starting next season, will only allow seniors to have exposed midriff tops! True? And thoughts.

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It has been a standing rule at our gym since day one. Only our senior teams do the bare midriff. As a parent, I am cool with the policy.

IMO, I think anyone should be aloud to wear full tops, if they want to and the gym, athlete, and parents find it acceptable. However, the half too should be more on the modest side, and able to cover up the more developed, older girls while still being cute.


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SassyRachael said:

I think this rule is incredibly dumb. It's the athletes stomach.....people really need to stop over sexualizing female body parts....like their legs, arms, shoulders, stomachs, etc. It's a stomach, that's where food goes to be digested, that's where their umbilical cord was attached to when they were in the womb. There's nothing inappropriate about it. I think it should be the decision of the coaches of the teams not the USASF.
We shouldn't teach young girls to be ashamed of their bodies by covering them up & making even their tummies taboo.
It's not the USASF's place to say what the athletes can & can't wear, that's the place of the parents & the coaches.
At my gym we have full tops as that reflects the value of our coaches & parents but I don't think there is anything wrong with having half tops, they're super cute & I've never personally, seen a distastefully revealing uniform (though I've certainly seen distasteful lol).

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I am sorry but the USASF is the governing body for All Star Cheer it is exactly their place to say what atheltes can and can not wear that is the definition of a governing body and they do not have to be a democracy - as consumers gyms and athletes and parents can make the choice to participate as member of this organization. The gym has a choice to be a part of that governing agency and register the athletes if they wish to attend sanctioned events and go to Worlds or they can choose to attend events not sanctioned and forgo Worlds - but if you want to play you play by the rules set forth.
There is nothing wrong with most crop tops unfortunately there were several gyms that continued to push that barrier and they were also the ones that also were starting to use music and moves that were in no way supporting this as an athletic sport. Some say that it punishes others who were providing tasteful midriffs - that may or may not be the case. The clearest and least obtrusive measure was what USASF did and had a right to do.

Just-a-Mom said:

Since you brought the thread back up, I'll ask you: Why not? Every other sport and child's activity (and actually most adult activities) have guidelines and rules about what can be worn. My kids have rules about what they can wear to school (including college classes), dance competition, work, volleyball games, chorus concerts, etc. I have rules about what I can wear to the grocery store, class, work, the gym I work out at, restaurants I eat in. Other sports have rules about what can be worn during their competitions and games (gymnastics has very strict rules, even the NFL has rules about what players can wear to games).

So why on earth is it "not the USASF's place to say"? They're not saying what you can and can't wear to practice or at home or anywhere else. Just what you can wear to their events and their competitions. I still fail to see how this isn't their place. They're the governing body for allstar cheer. By definition that means they're the "rule making" body.

(I see what you're saying about not teaching young girls to be ashamed of their bodies. I totally disagree with you, but I at least understand what you're saying. As a mom I think it's important to teach girls what's appropriate and what isn't. I'm not teaching my girls to be ashamed of their bodies - but I hopefully am teaching them that different things are appropriate at different times and places. My job is to teach them about their bodies and being proud of themselves and what is appropriate. USASF's job is to make rules about cheerleading.)

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I understand that they are the rule making body for the sport but I think they should be more concerned with the athletics not the cosmetics. I personally don't think it is any ones place to tell anyone ever what they can & cannot wear anywhere. But that's just me.

SassyRachael said:

I understand that they are the rule making body for the sport but I think they should be more concerned with the athletics not the cosmetics. I personally don't think it is any ones place to tell anyone ever what they can & cannot wear anywhere. But that's just me.

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I somewhat agree with you. I think the standard croptop uniform is alright for all ages. However, there is a point to where uniforms get so revealing that its distracting and uncomfortable for the athletes performing..and maybe even people watching. I think that's why they have that standard...they have to draw the line somewhere. Plus, full top can be really cute too!

Good thing this is my last year being a junior!

Kissmynfinities said:

Good thing this is my last year being a junior!

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My cp ages out of juniors the season the rule goes into effect. She is quite happy about that.

I personally don't care one way or another which way it goes but I don't agree with the reasoning behind the rule. "Gyms out there are letting kids dress negatively".

My gym does not. If a parent chooses to pay to a gym and that gym dresses what others may think inappropriate then they have the right to relocate. Uniforms are getting skimpier and skimpier but that's the gyms right and the gyms responsibility to sell it to their clients. No, I don't agree with USASF implementing this rule. Yes, I will follow it.


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hiimsabrina said:

I somewhat agree with you. I think the standard croptop uniform is alright for all ages. However, there is a point to where uniforms get so revealing that its distracting and uncomfortable for the athletes performing..and maybe even people watching. I think that's why they have that standard...they have to draw the line somewhere. Plus, full top can be really cute too!

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I think there are a ton of super cute full tops & I know that personally I feel more comfortable in them but I also know girls who feel more comfortable in a crop top. I've never seen a crop top that I thought was too revealing (but I'm sure it's happened) I just wish they could make a rule like they have for the length of skirts & such, like a certain amount of inches of fabric or something like that instead of just taking them away from non-senior teams.

I don't see why so many people are against it..
You could perform your routine in shorts and a tshirt, and if you do it well, people will enjoy it. It's not about the uniform.
Sure, half tops are cute but it gets to a point where a 6 year old walking around half naked is kind of alarming.

If my gym does it, fine. If not, thats fine too.

You started cheerleading for the sport, not the uniform. (Hopefully)

SassyRachael said:

I think there are a ton of super cute full tops & I know that personally I feel more comfortable in them but I also know girls who feel more comfortable in a crop top. I've never seen a crop top that I thought was too revealing (but I'm sure it's happened) I just wish they could make a rule like they have for the length of skirts & such, like a certain amount of inches of fabric or something like that instead of just taking them away from non-senior teams.

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For crops top uniform, its generally not too much the top thats revealing, but sometimes the shorts are way too small..and so so much more is exposed than would be with that top and a higher skirt

So what will happen to teams who "didn't get the memo" and compete next year in Jr 4 wearing crops? Because you know its going to happen!

uptown_outlaw said:

So what will happen to teams who "didn't get the memo" and compete next year in Jr 4 wearing crops? Because you know its going to happen!

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Well considering we still have two seasons before the rule applies, next year nothing will happen. But I don't think anyone would try that and if they did they'd have to deal with the consequences - whatever they may be. Hopefully we don't have to find out


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