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Lisa Welsh
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By Lisa D. Welsh
www.CHEERMaD.com
Wow.
PROs at Worlds 9 a.m. Sunday: Becky, David and Brianna didn't dare budge for fear of losing their seats which Brianna shared with David.
The Cheerleading Worlds from a CHEERMaD perspective will need several blog posts but for now I can say it was the best demonstration of entertainment, athleticism, showmanship, talent and skill that I’ve ever experienced as an Allstar cheer mom.
The kids ~all our kids~ were spectacular. They came prepared and focused. They smiled, even the nervous ones who have never been to Worlds. They winked, they pumped their fists, they yelled and encouraged one another. They gave as good of a show as Broadway or Hollywood ever dreamed to give.
I hope everyone remembers how great the athletes performed, at least the ones who were able to get into the arenas to see Worlds. And if it was my kid who had made it to the finals and I wasn’t able to watch them, you would have really seen what MaD is all about. But even though my daughters weren’t competing, Becky was insistent that we get up early on Sunday to get to the arena by 7 a.m. and if we hadn’t I wouldn’t have seen it either.
As families return home there will be complaints about transportation, parking, limited viewing and an attitude that the event has outgrown the venue. Like I said, each topic deserves its own post and will get it. But for now, let me say that Disney is very interested in the parents’ perspective.
Disney calls these moms including CHEERMaD (me, center) "social media influencers"
During Worlds weekend, CHEERMaD was a guest of Disney’s “Social Media Moms” conference which included a tour of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and a breakout session with top-level Disney executives. I was asked to invite other “social media influencers” (their term). Of course Fierce Board’s King Harrison, Spirit Post‘s Andre Carter and Kristina Parrish of It’s All About Cheer were among the first I reached out to but King was coaching his Stingray teams, Andre was judging and Kristina was recovering from a very successful Cheer and Dance Expo and they were unable to attend.
Driving around the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in golf carts with Disney tour guides we came upon California Allstars practicing (and the Bullets graciously let me take a picture).
Patrick Cowherd of The Cheerleading Agency, Minerva "Minnie" Van (the ultimate CHEERMaD) and Fernando Molina.
Two others did join me and four other sports moms for this fantastic opportunity : Patrick Cowherd with The Cheerleading Agency who as a former NCA cheerleader and coach has mentored hundreds of cheerleaders and now helps them find the right college from an academic, athletic and financial standpoint (and has the ear of many appreciative parents); and Fernando Molina~ a well-known Fierce Board commentator known as “Shark Dad,” vice-chair of the USASF’s Parent Action Committee and chair of PAC’s communications committee whose daughter Megan cheers for Cheer Extreme Allstars. They were just what Disney was looking for because, like CHEERMaD they have a good pulse (and the voices) of cheer parents.
Fernando "Shark Dad" Molina surveys the capacity crowd on Sunday
For example, Disney learned from Fernando that the HP Field House had reached capacity by 10 a.m. Saturday ~an hour into Senior Medium Coed’s four-and-a-half-hour semi-finals. Within ten minutes “Chuck” from Disney operations had a crew set up a super jumbo-tron in the 10,000 seat Champion Stadium (where the Braves MLB team holds practices) and the rest of the day’s competition was simulcast.
Fernando Molina, Shark Dad
Why didn’t Disney know about the close quarters before Fernando let them in on it? The space is rented out by Disney but controlled by the event producer which in this case was the United States All Star Federation. The point of this blog is, because a cheer parent spoke up, Disney was able to correct it.
F5 Senior Large Girls rocked the house
But Saturday wasn’t the worst of it. Because of Fernando and Disney’s discussion on Saturday, there was something set up on Sunday when many parents were barricaded outside of the finals competitions at the Field House because spectators inside refused to leave between divisions and give up their seats. As the “crowd mentality” started to grow louder, my discomfort started to become more alarming.
World Cup Shooting Stars were amazing!
The arena already full to capacity, there were no preparations made to accommodate parents arriving to watch their children compete in Senior Small All Girl, Senior Large Coed Finals Competitions and Awards; International Open Coed Level 5 and Level 6 Finals Competitions and Awards; and Senior Small Coed and Senior Medium Coed Finals Competitions and Awards Ceremonies.
Unfortunately, there were many parents who were not inside the Field House or Jostens Center to hear the announcements about the jumbo-tron set up. Many, many CHEERMaDs were Certifiably something else and who can blame them.
This while, event Producers and other industry leaders sat in the cushioned seats of the “VIP Seating” that one usher told me cost $100 each to attain. I said to him, “That’s nothing compared to the $5,000 these parents have already paid this season to get these kids here.”
Cheer Extreme Allstars Senior Elite were the first and last team of the day to perform and receive their First Place award at the packed Field House
Sunday’s spectators were those who got up and waited in line at 5:30 a.m. (according to Disney officials) to get a seat for the finals. These were die-hard fans, athletes from teams and countries eliminated in the preliminaries and semi-finals and they resented being told to leave. One audience member said to me “If they wanted to watch their kid they should have arrived earlier.” I said “the parents probably had a lot of other things to do, like get their athlete awake, fed, hair beautifully curled and make-up applied.”
The final resolution on Sunday came when finalists were escorted by security to Champion Stadium and fans and family were directed to follow them for awards.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a solution, and that it happened at all was because Disney wanted to hear from the parents (about which they loved the concept of CHEERMaD’s acronym MaD for Mothers/Moms and Dads and said might start using it themselves).
Packed House
As a CHEERMaDs it was refreshing to “be heard” and have our opinions respected by Disney. As a member of PAC’s communications committee, of which Fernando chairs, I have seen him in action before; his experience as an Air Force pilot serving him well to make quick, in-the-spot, important decisions. To “support the sport with our time and our money” like Fernando, most of us have careers that the cheer industry could benefit from instead of being ignored, as many feel.
This weekend, promoted as the most important in the World of Allstars, I was so proud as a parent that a Certifiable CHEERMaD was able prevent a terrible situation from becoming very serious and even dangerous and that today we are all able to talk about the talent of our kids and not the disaster that it could have been.
By Lisa D. Welsh
www.CHEERMaD.com
Wow.
PROs at Worlds 9 a.m. Sunday: Becky, David and Brianna didn't dare budge for fear of losing their seats which Brianna shared with David.
The Cheerleading Worlds from a CHEERMaD perspective will need several blog posts but for now I can say it was the best demonstration of entertainment, athleticism, showmanship, talent and skill that I’ve ever experienced as an Allstar cheer mom.
The kids ~all our kids~ were spectacular. They came prepared and focused. They smiled, even the nervous ones who have never been to Worlds. They winked, they pumped their fists, they yelled and encouraged one another. They gave as good of a show as Broadway or Hollywood ever dreamed to give.
I hope everyone remembers how great the athletes performed, at least the ones who were able to get into the arenas to see Worlds. And if it was my kid who had made it to the finals and I wasn’t able to watch them, you would have really seen what MaD is all about. But even though my daughters weren’t competing, Becky was insistent that we get up early on Sunday to get to the arena by 7 a.m. and if we hadn’t I wouldn’t have seen it either.
As families return home there will be complaints about transportation, parking, limited viewing and an attitude that the event has outgrown the venue. Like I said, each topic deserves its own post and will get it. But for now, let me say that Disney is very interested in the parents’ perspective.
Disney calls these moms including CHEERMaD (me, center) "social media influencers"
During Worlds weekend, CHEERMaD was a guest of Disney’s “Social Media Moms” conference which included a tour of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and a breakout session with top-level Disney executives. I was asked to invite other “social media influencers” (their term). Of course Fierce Board’s King Harrison, Spirit Post‘s Andre Carter and Kristina Parrish of It’s All About Cheer were among the first I reached out to but King was coaching his Stingray teams, Andre was judging and Kristina was recovering from a very successful Cheer and Dance Expo and they were unable to attend.
Driving around the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in golf carts with Disney tour guides we came upon California Allstars practicing (and the Bullets graciously let me take a picture).
Patrick Cowherd of The Cheerleading Agency, Minerva "Minnie" Van (the ultimate CHEERMaD) and Fernando Molina.
Two others did join me and four other sports moms for this fantastic opportunity : Patrick Cowherd with The Cheerleading Agency who as a former NCA cheerleader and coach has mentored hundreds of cheerleaders and now helps them find the right college from an academic, athletic and financial standpoint (and has the ear of many appreciative parents); and Fernando Molina~ a well-known Fierce Board commentator known as “Shark Dad,” vice-chair of the USASF’s Parent Action Committee and chair of PAC’s communications committee whose daughter Megan cheers for Cheer Extreme Allstars. They were just what Disney was looking for because, like CHEERMaD they have a good pulse (and the voices) of cheer parents.
Fernando "Shark Dad" Molina surveys the capacity crowd on Sunday
For example, Disney learned from Fernando that the HP Field House had reached capacity by 10 a.m. Saturday ~an hour into Senior Medium Coed’s four-and-a-half-hour semi-finals. Within ten minutes “Chuck” from Disney operations had a crew set up a super jumbo-tron in the 10,000 seat Champion Stadium (where the Braves MLB team holds practices) and the rest of the day’s competition was simulcast.
Fernando Molina, Shark Dad
Why didn’t Disney know about the close quarters before Fernando let them in on it? The space is rented out by Disney but controlled by the event producer which in this case was the United States All Star Federation. The point of this blog is, because a cheer parent spoke up, Disney was able to correct it.
F5 Senior Large Girls rocked the house
But Saturday wasn’t the worst of it. Because of Fernando and Disney’s discussion on Saturday, there was something set up on Sunday when many parents were barricaded outside of the finals competitions at the Field House because spectators inside refused to leave between divisions and give up their seats. As the “crowd mentality” started to grow louder, my discomfort started to become more alarming.
World Cup Shooting Stars were amazing!
The arena already full to capacity, there were no preparations made to accommodate parents arriving to watch their children compete in Senior Small All Girl, Senior Large Coed Finals Competitions and Awards; International Open Coed Level 5 and Level 6 Finals Competitions and Awards; and Senior Small Coed and Senior Medium Coed Finals Competitions and Awards Ceremonies.
Unfortunately, there were many parents who were not inside the Field House or Jostens Center to hear the announcements about the jumbo-tron set up. Many, many CHEERMaDs were Certifiably something else and who can blame them.
This while, event Producers and other industry leaders sat in the cushioned seats of the “VIP Seating” that one usher told me cost $100 each to attain. I said to him, “That’s nothing compared to the $5,000 these parents have already paid this season to get these kids here.”
Cheer Extreme Allstars Senior Elite were the first and last team of the day to perform and receive their First Place award at the packed Field House
Sunday’s spectators were those who got up and waited in line at 5:30 a.m. (according to Disney officials) to get a seat for the finals. These were die-hard fans, athletes from teams and countries eliminated in the preliminaries and semi-finals and they resented being told to leave. One audience member said to me “If they wanted to watch their kid they should have arrived earlier.” I said “the parents probably had a lot of other things to do, like get their athlete awake, fed, hair beautifully curled and make-up applied.”
The final resolution on Sunday came when finalists were escorted by security to Champion Stadium and fans and family were directed to follow them for awards.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a solution, and that it happened at all was because Disney wanted to hear from the parents (about which they loved the concept of CHEERMaD’s acronym MaD for Mothers/Moms and Dads and said might start using it themselves).
Packed House
As a CHEERMaDs it was refreshing to “be heard” and have our opinions respected by Disney. As a member of PAC’s communications committee, of which Fernando chairs, I have seen him in action before; his experience as an Air Force pilot serving him well to make quick, in-the-spot, important decisions. To “support the sport with our time and our money” like Fernando, most of us have careers that the cheer industry could benefit from instead of being ignored, as many feel.
This weekend, promoted as the most important in the World of Allstars, I was so proud as a parent that a Certifiable CHEERMaD was able prevent a terrible situation from becoming very serious and even dangerous and that today we are all able to talk about the talent of our kids and not the disaster that it could have been.
