CheerMama wrote:

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Since it seems this is brought up because of Cheer Odyssey and California Spirits Senior 3 Open teams heres some questions.

1. How many girls on the team make it a Open team, in other words how many girls under 10 are on this team?
 
In the case of Cal Spirits Senior 3 team, assuming they have really strong Level 2 skills, why not put them on the Youth 2 team and let them really show off the strong Level 2 skills and work great combo passes. In the case of Cheer Odyssey assuming these girls on the Senior 3 Open have tucks, why not bump them up to Junior 4 and have them work layouts. The transition from a tuck to a layout is not to difficult.  Just some questions I am sure people are thinking.

I just don't like the whole open division thing. It is really going to split up the divisions and provide for less competition in some divisions. Just my 2 cents!

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But what if in the case you describe above... the youngster has level 3 and 4 skills that nobody else in the youth group level 2 has? What if he or she is a "value add" in skills to the higher level team?   

I think the reason for the new age rules is to keep teams from bringing on little tiny 7 year old flyers who they throw high and then hide in back for the rest of the routine. So what if they have an under 10 who has no other place for his/her skills and is an asset as a tumbler, base etc. on the older squad but just doesnt meet the new age requirement?  Some have said put them on a Junior Team but sometimes smaller gyms dont have enough girls to field teams in every category. CheerMama... Do you think this child should leave rather than be the reason a team competes Open? Is Open really that bad?

Senior Open is 18 "and under"...so technically, you could have a 3 year old on a senior team if you really thought that would benefit you.

I think the reason they did it that way is that there are a lot of REALLY small gyms that wouldn't be able to field a team at all...say they have one really small team, with kids aged 8-16. Those small gyms threw a fit and ta-da, we have Senior Open.

Diva Coach Melissa wrote:

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Senior Open is 18 "and under"...so technically, you could have a 3 year old on a senior team if you really thought that would benefit you.

I think the reason they did it that way is that there are a lot of REALLY small gyms that wouldn't be able to field a team at all...say they have one really small team, with kids aged 8-16. Those small gyms threw a fit and ta-da, we have Senior Open.

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wow i was at some point feeling bad for this diva coach when she was being attacked on another thread about her veiws.... I thought people were being just rude to her, but now i can see and read in her comments on the board that she throws in little zingers in her responses and she is slyly attacking others!!!

The whole idea behind rules etc for fielding teams is to allow both the small and large gyms to be competitive.  In order for rules to change and benefit every gym as much as possible, you have to ask and keep asking. That is how change comes about. TO SAY THEY THREW A FIT IS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR PERIOD!

now before you jump on me, i am not a coach, gym owner or even at a gym with an open team, but I am a parent who recently defended you when you were being attacked.  Be nice diva coach it goes a long way

I dont feel that she was being rude by saying that they threw a fit.  More than likely she was not talking specifics.  That is what we were told about why the added Senior Open.  We were told that small gyms were having to turn away customers because they could not have more than 20 kids on open so USASF opened the division to 36.  Many smaller gyms complained.  Granted saying they threw a fit and complained are two different things.  Yet they still recieved the same outcome.  The Senior Open divsion.

I like the Diva Coach.  I think she is honest about her opinion.

ok you like diva coach that is great this doesnt have to do with liking her or not. this is the same woman on another post that was being attacked severely when people were "saying things differently" tha went on the defense because she thought people were being rude and saying nasty things to or about her gym and teams.  how can you expect people to give you the same respect and respect your teams and decsions when you are acting the same way.  to state your opionion is perfectly fine, but dont complain when others throw zingers in about your teams. treat others the way you want to be treated.

and diva coach is honest and that is cool... the others on this board were stating their honest opinion about her team and legends
what is the difference

change comes about from asking, whining, complaining, being persisitent and as the diva coach so delicately put it throwing fits
to each their own and its all good theres lots of love in the cheer world to go around

play nice

I felt like that was a very angry post and I am not involved in the prior conversation.  Sorry to have started trouble.