All-Star Gyms Winning Money At Comps

Cheermom4lyfe said:

Scholarships are very helpful, especially awarded to a longtime athlete who's contributed to the success of the gym.


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While I am not opposed to scholarships for long term athletes, I would have an issue with this if my cp's younger aged team won money and the money was not put back into the gym for long term improvements.

cheermomforever said:

For any comp when a coach blocks off rooms, most hotels do throw a free one in.

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I know. The stay to play is different because it forces parents to participate. If the gym arranges a block and I choose to use it, fine. But I have my own points and my own free rooms to get. Our gym has never made us stay somewhere and I wouldn't do it even if they told me to - especially since when you book through Connections the room costs more than if you book the same room yourself. That's what I don't like - making me pay more than normal market price so the coaches can get free rooms (rooms which I've already paid for the coaches to have with my "coaches fees").

It is possible to get blocks of rooms at a discount rather than a markup - I've done it plenty of times. You price the room BEFORE you arrange the block and then bargain for a better price. Stay to play is the opposite - they markup from the regular price and then make it mandatory.

Stay to play is one of the biggest scams in youth sports.

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Just-a-Mom said:

I know. The stay to play is different because it forces parents to participate. If the gym arranges a block and I choose to use it, fine. But I have my own points and my own free rooms to get. Our gym has never made us stay somewhere and I wouldn't do it even if they told me to - especially since when you book through Connections the room costs more than if you book the same room yourself. That's what I don't like - making me pay more than normal market price so the coaches can get free rooms (rooms which I've already paid for the coaches to have with my "coaches fees").

It is possible to get blocks of rooms at a discount rather than a markup - I've done it plenty of times. You price the room BEFORE you arrange the block and then bargain for a better price. Stay to play is the opposite - they markup from the regular price and then make it mandatory.

Stay to play is one of the biggest scams in youth sports.

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the Stay to Play by the competition companies does not provide free rooms for coaches, it actually costs us money, because not only are we having to pay for rooms, our customers are having to pay that rate for the rooms.

Before this, we were able to negotiate on our own, and work out deals for discounted rooms and a couple of free rooms depending on the size of our group, which could then reduce their Travel costs

Stay to Play is something that I believe the majority of Gym Owners are against.

CGAcheer said:

the Stay to Play by the competition companies does not provide free rooms for coaches, it actually costs us money, because not only are we having to pay for rooms, our customers are having to pay that rate for the rooms.

Before this, we were able to negotiate on our own, and work out deals for discounted rooms and a couple of free rooms depending on the size of our group, which could then reduce their Travel costs

Stay to Play is something that I believe the majority of Gym Owners are against.

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My post wasn't really meant to sound like gym owners liked it or wanted it (although I see now that it did seem like that). I don't know if they like it or not - but the fact that they are all still signing up for these comps would say that they don't care either way. My post was about EP's more than anyone.

Now, my question: if gym owners are against it and parents don't like it...why would your gym participate in it? Just refuse. Send an email saying "We aren't doing any comps that have a Stay to Play policy. Please keep us in mind if you get rid of this policy. Until then we won't be attending." If, as you say, the "majority" of gym owners are against it, then this should be a very easily solved problem. EP's can't have an event if no one registers - so I'm going to have to disagree that the majority of gym owners are against it - if they are, then put your money where your mouth is and don't go. (general you, not you personally @CGAcheer - plenty of gym owners have said they don't like this, so I'm referring to all of them)

But they certainly do give free rooms to coaches and owners - it says so right on their website, so if you're not getting them you need to ask why.

ETA: Oh, hilarious. I tried to post the link where it said that (on the AllStar Challenge website) -which was shared in the parent forum, and suddenly the link just gives an error. Apparently that info wasn't actually for parents to have access to. But trust me - it was there and we all saw it. So at least some Stay to Play programs are rewarding free coaches rooms.

I might have dreamed this, but I think I was told once that our gym splits the cash awards with the coaches of that team. Now we've never won a $20,000 purse that I'm aware of, but splitting a couple thousand dollar purse is a nice performance bonus. I've always thought it was a fair use of that money. Like I said I could be wrong, but I support it if I'm not.


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When my team won a few thousand dollars this past season (I don't remember the exact amount), they ordered our team sweatshirts and bows for NCA Dallas. There was probably extra money left over, and I don't know what they did with that


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Just-a-Mom said:

I know. The stay to play is different because it forces parents to participate. If the gym arranges a block and I choose to use it, fine. But I have my own points and my own free rooms to get. Our gym has never made us stay somewhere and I wouldn't do it even if they told me to - especially since when you book through Connections the room costs more than if you book the same room yourself. That's what I don't like - making me pay more than normal market price so the coaches can get free rooms (rooms which I've already paid for the coaches to have with my "coaches fees").

It is possible to get blocks of rooms at a discount rather than a markup - I've done it plenty of times. You price the room BEFORE you arrange the block and then bargain for a better price. Stay to play is the opposite - they markup from the regular price and then make it mandatory.

Stay to play is one of the biggest scams in youth sports.

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I understand completely what you r saying, our coach usually block off rooms, but not mandatory to use them. My hubby work for 2 hotels and bro in law 1. I get Great deals for rooms and usually do not stay with the team blocks. I filled out the cheersport exception form and got "permission" to stay at a blocked hotel for half the price they arranged. It is crazy to say you have to stay where we blocked or your team cannot compete! They should of posted the day after last years comp instead of 5 months later. This is the first time we have dealt with the stay and play rule and it is a pain in the butt.



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Just-a-Mom said:

My post wasn't really meant to sound like gym owners liked it or wanted it (although I see now that it did seem like that). I don't know if they like it or not - but the fact that they are all still signing up for these comps would say that they don't care either way. My post was about EP's more than anyone.

Now, my question: if gym owners are against it and parents don't like it...why would your gym participate in it? Just refuse. Send an email saying "We aren't doing any comps that have a Stay to Play policy. Please keep us in mind if you get rid of this policy. Until then we won't be attending." If, as you say, the "majority" of gym owners are against it, then this should be a very easily solved problem. EP's can't have an event if no one registers - so I'm going to have to disagree that the majority of gym owners are against it - if they are, then put your money where your mouth is and don't go. (general you, not you personally @CGAcheer - plenty of gym owners have said they don't like this, so I'm referring to all of them)

But they certainly do give free rooms to coaches and owners - it says so right on their website, so if you're not getting them you need to ask why.

ETA: Oh, hilarious. I tried to post the link where it said that (on the AllStar Challenge website) -which was shared in the parent forum, and suddenly the link just gives an error. Apparently that info wasn't actually for parents to have access to. But trust me - it was there and we all saw it. So at least some Stay to Play programs are rewarding free coaches rooms.

Click to expand...

There are varying levels of being "against" something. We could save all kinds of money by not going to the stay to play events because they are generally the most expensive events to begin with, but they are also the biggest, most prestigious events in the country. You pay a premium for a premium competition and they can get away with it because they are nearing full capacity.

You could only do locals and 1 days and avoid hotels all together. Just comes down to what is more important, and what works for the gym and its customer base.

And I do recall there being a company that did like one free room per gym, but it was the exception and not the rule.

But to add to the thread topic, if it was split amongst the athletes, it could potentially lead to future NCAA eligibility issues if STUNT or NCATA are successful.

We were the money winners at American Grand Nationals Orlando, and that is where we were awarded our Summit bid as well. The money went to the coaches fees, room and board for the Summit. I thought that was fair. Our bid was almost paid, we had to wait all day/night to see the other scores and I guess we got knocked down to at large so it all worked out with the money prize. If we had won the paid bid I am sure it would have gone to something about the Summit or the gym....

So sounds like most ppl have no problem with money going to gym instead of dividing up among kids. Maybe a new rod floor, or tumble track. Even toilet tissue (inside joke). But what if gym owner pockets the doe? Buys new furniture for the house, goes on a nice trip to Bora Bora. Any issues there?

Shy lurker said:

So sounds like most ppl have no problem with money going to gym instead of dividing up among kids. Maybe a new rod floor, or tumble track. Even toilet tissue (inside joke). But what if gym owner pockets the doe? Buys new furniture for the house, goes on a nice trip to Bora Bora. Any issues there?

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That would leave a bad taste in my mouth, but ultimately it is the owner's business that won the money so s/he can do what they want.

Our prize money went to knocking out a wall and expanding gym with another spring floor and more. But I'd be fine if the coaches got to go to Bora Bora or have new furniture to keep CP cheering for a coach that is raising such fine athletes and in a great professional environment. The coaches are adults and pretty much coaching is their only job for most of them where CP cheers. They have to have little windfalls somewhere. I'm a much happier employee when I get a little extra $$ for work I was doing anyway. I firmly believe that the owner would always reinvest the money back into the gym, though. Our choreography is done in-house, the routine and the execution are all work product of the coach. The kids may have learned their tumbling somewhere else, but I don't think there isn't a one who hasn't had to learn to execute it the coach's way. I couldn't do their job and I would love to. No way could I "see" a routine in my mind and get the kids to bring it to life in such a way that there would even be a possibility of prize money. I would hope they would use part to offset a big travel expense and would hope they would keep some as a well-deserved bonus.

Shy lurker said:

So sounds like most ppl have no problem with money going to gym instead of dividing up among kids. Maybe a new rod floor, or tumble track. Even toilet tissue (inside joke). But what if gym owner pockets the doe? Buys new furniture for the house, goes on a nice trip to Bora Bora. Any issues there?

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Agree with @dawgshow here. It's definitely not the politically correct thing to do if you want to maintain happy customers (at least not being that blatant about it) but the bottom line is its their money. They can do what they want with it and even if they invest it back in the gym I have no issues with bonuses for coaching staff. That's how you keep the good coaches and that benefits my kid in the long run.

But I'm sure blatent instagram posting from Bora Bora would set the drama mamas into a feeding frenzy.


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