Cheerleaders, Cheer Coaches, And Gym Owners.................

Date: Fri Feb 22 1:27 AM, 2008

RE: Cheerleaders, Cheer Coaches, And Gym Owners.................

Date: Sat Feb 23 2:57 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

THAT WAS SO FUNNY!!! I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT CRAZY GYM SHE ATTENDS THAT LETS OUT ALL THAT INFO, I WANTA KNOW I NEVER WANT TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES SOMETIMES. LAST TIME I CHECKED SEEMED LIKE WE WERE HEADED TOWARD A RECESSION.
the sad thing is at our gym one of the owners has enough nerve to discusss with other families and even the kids about people that havent paid. very sad but true. recently a girl was kicked off and the onwer announced you wont be seing her anymore as well as told my daughter the reason why at a practice.
so yes that is how people know and then you have those parents who pride themself on not paying and let it slip they havent paid

There a few gym owner who i hope and pray are reading this. Note to self: It is NOT OK to discuss, publicize or intentionally discuss in a loud tone in fron of anyone the delinquent status of any person's account. And it is further downright UNSAT to discuss any family's business with any minor at the gym, including their own family's business.

Got it?!?!?! Good!

Date: Sat Feb 23 4:44 PM, 2008

Here is the problem cheer gyms (not to be mistaken with cheergyms.com). Someone wants to start their own cheer gym, they love the sport and are excited, but at the same time, have no clue how to run a business professionally. I took over a cheer program as a director. A program that had talent, but struggled. I had a history of managing people and companies. I was passionate about building a strong program that the parents and cheerleaders would be proud of. Months before the season started I worked long hours coming up with a budget for the program, competition schedule for the program, program booklet with all the policies and costs laid out etc etc. Hired an amazing head coach. I developed a program that the parents and cheerleaders were proud of. We placed first a couple of times locally and placed third that year at nationals. Low and behold another gym moved into the area a flashier gym that won more titles. Lost alot of kids to that gym even a coach. Our program pretty much ended up dissolving. What I find funny and sad at the same time is you can work really hard to provide a fair great program, but the lure of more or better titles is truly what drive alot of athletes and parents. To this day, I run into parents who say how much they loved our program and say their daughter misses it too.

I guess the point of my post is it is soooo rare to find a gym that has the best of both worlds, great coaching and success as well as great ethics and business practices. It is possible though. As parents it is our responsbility to do the research, visit the gym, talk to the director and coach, talk to the parents and athletes. Go the informational meetings, ASK QUESTIONS! Any reputable gym will have all the information you need ready and available for you to make a great decision.

Date: Tue Mar 4 8:42 AM, 2008

Haven't been on this message board in a while.
Why would you not want to say where you will be opening up a gym. I could understand if it was early in the season or mid season, but with tryouts starting soon, and people looking to switch gyms it just makes sense (to me anyway) to let us know where this new gym will be in case we are interested.

flipkidjudge · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Here is the problem cheer gyms (not to be mistaken with cheergyms.com). Someone wants to start their own cheer gym, they love the sport and are excited, but at the same time, have no clue how to run a business professionally. I took over a cheer program as a director. A program that had talent, but struggled. I had a history of managing people and companies. I was passionate about building a strong program that the parents and cheerleaders would be proud of. Months before the season started I worked long hours coming up with a budget for the program, competition schedule for the program, program booklet with all the policies and costs laid out etc etc. Hired an amazing head coach. I developed a program that the parents and cheerleaders were proud of. We placed first a couple of times locally and placed third that year at nationals. Low and behold another gym moved into the area a flashier gym that won more titles. Lost alot of kids to that gym even a coach. Our program pretty much ended up dissolving. What I find funny and sad at the same time is you can work really hard to provide a fair great program, but the lure of more or better titles is truly what drive alot of athletes and parents. To this day, I run into parents who say how much they loved our program and say their daughter misses it too.

I guess the point of my post is it is soooo rare to find a gym that has the best of both worlds, great coaching and success as well as great ethics and business practices. It is possible though. As parents it is our responsbility to do the research, visit the gym, talk to the director and coach, talk to the parents and athletes. Go the informational meetings, ASK QUESTIONS! Any reputable gym will have all the information you need ready and available for you to make a great decision.

Your post is so true on so many levels. The want it all and I want it now mentality is so pervasive in our sport. Many parents do not realize the difference between programs that are gathering, building, establishing, rebuilding or maintaining. Those things don't show up in the win/loss columm. But they are intmitaely connected to every one that walks through the doors.

flipkidjudge · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

THAT WAS SO FUNNY!!! I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT CRAZY GYM SHE ATTENDS THAT LETS OUT ALL THAT INFO, I WANTA KNOW I NEVER WANT TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES SOMETIMES. LAST TIME I CHECKED SEEMED LIKE WE WERE HEADED TOWARD A RECESSION.
the sad thing is at our gym one of the owners has enough nerve to discusss with other families and even the kids about people that havent paid. very sad but true. recently a girl was kicked off and the onwer announced you wont be seing her anymore as well as told my daughter the reason why at a practice.
so yes that is how people know and then you have those parents who pride themself on not paying and let it slip they havent paid

There a few gym owner who i hope and pray are reading this. Note to self: It is NOT OK to discuss, publicize or intentionally discuss in a loud tone in fron of anyone the delinquent status of any person's account. And it is further downright UNSAT to discuss any family's business with any minor at the gym, including their own family's business.

Got it?!?!?! Good!

Wow!!! This is one of those times I could actually pm the person rather than respond publicaly.

Under no circumstances is it ever appropiate to share the status of anyone's account in the gym. That should be strictly confidential between those in that part of the business loop. No one else needs to know.

Any parent who "brags" or let it "slip" how little they have paid needs to be summarily dismissed from the program. it is obvious they are manipulating an owner's kindness towards them or their child(ren) in an unhealthy way. Most ever gym owner I know would try to sacrifice something to keep children in the program because they are in it for the right reasons. To take advantage of that only hardens their hearts and makes it harder for those that will come after you.

Parents who are dismissed (no matter the reason) or who leave voluntarily owing money should clear that up as soon as possible. Make a payment plan, do something. It engenders very hard feelings to leave gym A owing x amount of dollars but then go to gym B and pay them y dollars when what you could be paying to settle your bill with gym A. I don't necessarily think it always has to be paid in full before your child can go cheer some where else, but it should not go deliquent either.
Owners if you front money for comps, fees, privates, etc. as many of us have done, and you get burned...all you can do is change your policies.