Why don't Motions, Nor Cal and Divas just get along and combine to form one huge SUPER gym? You know how much they could do? All those great coaches, not to mention the best cheerleaders in the bay area. Or would this be too hard because each coach would want to do things their own way. Is this a good idea, or bad? Do you think the battle of Nelson and Roy wanting to be the top coach in the area help or hinder? Just thoughts....
Good topic. Eventhough it may turn ugly with responses that people give. When all is said and done kids that attend Motion, Cheer Divas and NCE all do so for different reasons. It maybe be the cost of the program, the uniforms, where there friends are. It is also a difference in coaching style.
Not to say that a merger of this nature could not work as other gyms have done it before. You just need to think of the differences of each program and what the program goal is. I know that for me it would be difficult to conceid some of my thoughts and ideas to allow another 'Type A' coach to be a partner of mine.....especially if they are coming from a program that we compete closely with.
I do believe that there has been a drop in the majority of gym's numbers this season. I am not sure if it is due to big graduating classes, other interest or cost of allstar cheer but it is apparent that numbers are down. I dont think that should make people rush to merge their programs together. I think it should push owners and coaches to get the word out about their programs.
Yes! This is an interesting topic. This topic could probably be opened to more than just these three teams. I'm sure there are cheer gyms clustered all over that could actually do the same thing.
You are right! I know that the style of the gym is a huge factor. Of course, money and uniform might come into play as well, but that wouldn't be my main factor when choosing a gym.
I haven't heard of many gyms closing their doors yet. As a matter of fact, there is rumored of a new gym that is going to be entering the scene where i live. What gyms are not in business any longer?
I was not saying that gym's are closing. I was just stating that lack of numbers might be the reason why people are thinking of merging. I for one dont agree with that. For me the only way to successfully merge is if the goals of the students and coaches are the same.
While i was watching worlds on espn2 the other day i heard the news man say that georgia allstars and the sting rays are merging this upcoming season. Even though those are not Californian teams i thought that this was the most interesting news! If its true that gym will definetly be a force to reckon with at the 2008 Worlds Championship.
yupp georgia allstars and stingrays merged i've heard about this for awhile thats why everyone was so sad .. no more purple .. ga yeahh i agree they'll be amazinggg. i loveee stingrays :] theyre always so clean and sharp theres also some other new mergers
I can think of other areas where the gyms could merge and have awesome talent, it's a great question. I would love it if our gym merged with others in the area. On the other hand, it's fun to compete against those gyms too. The more teams to compete against, the better. I think most of us hate to go to competitions where you're only going against a couple/few other teams. I would agree for putting together level 5 teams for Worlds, there is definitely strength in numbers.
As Nicole said, kids attend different gyms for different reasons. We lose very few kids to the other gyms in our area. Before last season, we lost a handful, but only three of those remain. If they are happy where they are, then more power to them. The kids that come to us from other gyms do so almost ALWAYS after trying one of the other two and stay because they find a fit with us. I'm sure the same is true for NCE and Motions - there are many kids that try out at all three gyms and choose whichever they feel is the best fit for them.
Costs are certainly a factor. Style on the floor, coaches personalities, number and length of practices per week are other factors.
As far as coaching goes, I don't feel like we have any reason to merge with anyone. We have several new coaches, they are all excellent and a couple have phenomenal backgrounds and experience. We are very happy to have them, and they are an advantage to us over other gyms. IMO, we would gain nothing positive coaching-wise from a merger. That will probably offend someone but we are halfway through the summer and I am confident that I am right, and that's truly how I feel about it. I don't intend it to sound nasty - it's just an angle of our program that I feel is a strength right now. I would put our current coaching staff head-to-head against any other in the area any day.
We also obviously have our own distinct style. This either brings the kids in or drives them elsewhere. We like it, and don't really worry about it one way or the other. It is unique and we have no desire to take on the style of some other program.
I do agree that program numbers appear to be down everywhere. I think the economy is a factor; the job market is not so hot, and there are a number of other economical factors that just put things like cheer at the bottom of the totem pole for many families. We are in a very good position compared with other gyms in this sort of economy because we do not have a oppressive fixed overhead to worry about. While many gyms must push and push to get enough kids to pay their bills each month, we don't have the same sort of issues. So while numbers are indeed down everywhere, I think it actually affects us very little.
And lastly, like most programs, we do things our way because we WANT to do them the way we do them. It would be pretty boring if there were just one big gym in this area and no one had a choice for where to go!
