"I would love to see good sportsmanship all around. I know, I know...I'm probably dreaming, but it would be so nice to cut down ont he drama and remember what it's all really supposed to be about!"
I think they said it all
Oh yeah and better more creative stunts. When you see level 3 teams hitting full ups that should be a sign that its time for the level 5 teams to find something new! lol
and
More people hitting routines. I dont think ive been to a competition all season where the majority of teams in each division hit everything
"I would love to see good sportsmanship all around. I know, I know...I'm probably dreaming, but it would be so nice to cut down ont he drama and remember what it's all really supposed to be about!"
I think they said it all
Oh yeah and better more creative stunts. When you see level 3 teams hitting full ups that should be a sign that its time for the level 5 teams to find something new! lol
and
More people hitting routines. I dont think ive been to a competition all season where the majority of teams in each division hit everything
I agree with the consistency statement, I have seen many routines this year that have difficulty and not cleanliness, I know some score sheets give higher points if you even attempt the harder skill but I love a clean routine!
I am interested in how many families are opting out of all-star cheer this year because of the economy? Hopefully everyone will brave it out, take advantage of fundraising opportunities, etc., and stay in the sport!
I did not see any of the rubish between the Level-5 teams in Long Beach. We saw and experienced great sportsmanship in Long Beach. But what did we hear about of course the Level-5 teams and all the drama that comes with it. For next season I would like all the Level teams to recieve as much interest as the Level-5 teams. The lower level teams work just as hard as the L5, however they do not recieve the recognition they deserve. Just read the CLOSED thread on Long Beach. There were more teams competing besides the L5. Did anyone ask the standings of the other Levels? Not really, I think someone asked about the L3. All athletes started on lower levels and worked their way up.
-- Edited by CHERZ2U on Thursday 9th of April 2009 06:54:36 AM
I did not see any of the rubish between the Level-5 teams in Long Beach. We saw and experienced great sportsmanship in Long Beach. But what did we hear about of course the Level-5 teams and all the drama that comes with it. For next season I would like all the Level teams to recieve as much interest as the Level-5 teams. The lower level teams work just as hard as the L5, however they do not recieve the recognition they deserve. Just read the CLOSED thread on Long Beach. There were more teams competing besides the L5. Did anyone ask the standings of the other Levels? Not really, I think someone asked about the L3. All athletes started on lower levels and worked their way up.
-- Edited by CHERZ2U on Thursday 9th of April 2009 06:54:36 AM
CHERZ2U - I think that the main reason that the Level 5 teams get the most attention is simply because you are talking about the best teams period that exist anywhere in the WORLD.
Penn State just won the NIT Mens Basketball Championship and they are great team but no matter what they won't ever get the same kind of talk surrounding them that the Cavaliers will as we creep towards the NBA finals. Make sense? Because the Cavs are arguably the best basketball team on the planet right now. The Penn State team is arguably not even the 100th best on the planet.
Saying that we should discuss Junior Level 3 teams the same way as we do Senior Level 5 team is just like saying Basketball fans should revere Penn State the same way they do the Cavs or the Lakers.
I think it's just human nature to not inquire about things that you're not interested in. No one's at fault.
Danny cheergyms.com
__________________
Danny Kahn Cheergyms.com
"If you're injured don't play. If you play don't tell me you're injured." ~ Don Shula
Danny is correct Another example is the clippers and the lakers even though they are based out of the same area and play at the same stadium the clippers will not get as much talk. Also you have to look at the difficulty a level 5 team is doing some crazy skills that don't even come close to comparing to a level 3 team even a level 4 team. It is what it is, when you go to a competition most people would rather watch a senior level 5 team then a youth or junior 3 team unless their daughter is on it. Because this sport is growing every year and expectations are very high and there is the cheerleading worlds which is like wimbeldon for tennis players and it's only level 5 there going to get the talk.
But everyone has to start off someone and when your kid becomes a level 5 it will be more understandable and you will appreciate the amount of support they get
"I would love to see good sportsmanship all around. I know, I know...I'm probably dreaming, but it would be so nice to cut down ont he drama and remember what it's all really supposed to be about!"
I think they said it all
Oh yeah and better more creative stunts. When you see level 3 teams hitting full ups that should be a sign that its time for the level 5 teams to find something new! lol
and
More people hitting routines. I dont think ive been to a competition all season where the majority of teams in each division hit everything
I agree with the consistency statement, I have seen many routines this year that have difficulty and not cleanliness, I know some score sheets give higher points if you even attempt the harder skill but I love a clean routine!
Well, I have to agree with you as well. If level 3 teams are doing full ups, then level 5 teams should be raising the bar. I would love to see rewinds into stunts for level 5, if permitted (like they do w/lev 6 no hands having to be held). I have seen a lot of teams that have completely stepped it up this season, this is so refreshing (jmo) to watch a team step out side of the box. Personally, I'm over seeing strait up rides for stunts on 4's and 5's. I would also like to see (of rules were to permit) level 2's do more than a strait up ride in tosses. I think that they should be able to do toe touch/pike/pretty lady baskets. Also, level 1's should be able to do strait up rides (they are not permitted to throw baskets as of now correct?)
I'm looking forward to what next year will bring to the table.... anyone else??
I would like to see this as well. But I would also like to see people stop making assumptions about other programs. To be blunt in reading all of these message boards, a lot of what is passed off as bad sportsmanship is really just prejudice towards your own program. Then it hits the message boards and is blown out of proportion.
When any one program, has an issue with another program (real or imagined) everything that is said or done goes right through the filter of their prejudice. it becomes what did they really mean when they said Good Luck. or they did not mean it so why say it. It becomes celebrating your first place finish is taunting or making fun of the teams you beat instead of being happy that you won. Being upset that you lost (not who you lost to but that you lost) becomes being a poor sport for not celebrating with the winners. Every word and action is examined and hyper criticized. Even if you say nothing at all it then becomes you are not friendly, are stuck up, or think you are better than everyone else.
Watching the NCAA Basketball Championships this year (as in the past) you see many times when the reality of a loss sets in many different reactions out of these college age kids. Crying, anger, despondency. They believed they could win, were told they could win, had fans pushing them to win and probably believed in their heart that they would win. But now that it is set in actuality that they won't via the scoreboard and the time left, all of their emotions come rushing over them. Winners jump up and down, hug, dance, throw the ball up in the air, go hug parents or coaches. Unless it is something like punching someone, running out on the court at the wrong time, guttural profane outburst, generally no one faults these kids for being kids.
In cheerleading we don't usually have that buffer of time for it to gradually sink in. In a split second when scores are announced we know. The spotlight is shining directly on them. We expect much younger athletes who do not have a multi million dollar payday in their future as a cheerleader, to correctly process this with the skill set we expect of those above 30. This is zero excuse mind you to poor outbursts, but should def be something we train everybody in all of our gyms on. Maybe a mandatory class by USASF??????
To those parents and coaches it is pretty simple. Keep it to yourself. Teach your children about what is right and wrong and hold them to it if they break the rules you have established. it is your job to parent them, not the coach. Coaches and athletes remember that there is a girl or boy somewhere that wants to wear your uniform next year. Don't give them a legitimate reason to not do so.
I absolultly disagree that level 5 teams the the best teams out there. Some are outstanding but most are glorified level4 teams. I have seen level 4 teams that only lack fulls in tumbling be equal to any level 5 team. Hey, hears an idea lets create another catagory 5.4. Why not we have 4.2. Iam not trying to insult level5 teams some are truly amazing and are the best of the best (in their level) but there are a lot of programs that dont have a level 5 that doesn't mean that they arent the best level 4,3,2, or even 1. Some of the best over all routines this year were not in level 5 but were in level 3 and 4. Don't create these seperate catagories and then say they aren't equal. These other catagories make up the bulk of most comps that level 5 get their paid bids from. If IALC survives then we will need to create paid bids to this comp also.
Old School Cheer Coach.. Thank you for your responce. I appreciated Danny's responce however was put off by his reply. Just because you are a L5 doesn't make you the best.... I have seen alot of L5 teams go out there and fall apart. Not to take away from the L5 teams. From all the bad mouthing that comes along with some of these L5 teams. I think some programs need to take a good look and humble themselves and there athletes. Everyone starts somewhere.
-- Edited by CHERZ2U on Wednesday 15th of April 2009 12:16:55 PM
Old School Cheer Coach.. Thank you for your responce. I appreciated Danny's responce however was put off by his reply. Just because you are a L5 doesn't make you the best.... I have seen alot of L5 teams go out there and fall apart. Not to take away from the L5 teams. From all the bad mouthing that comes along with some of these L5 teams. I think some programs need to take a good look and humble themselves and there athletes. Everyone starts somewhere.
-- Edited by CHERZ2U on Wednesday 15th of April 2009 12:16:55 PM
I didn't mean to imply or say L5's are the best. I just meant they are simply the most interested in. You can't force the masses to care about anything they naturally don't care about. Make sense?
__________________
Danny Kahn Cheergyms.com
"If you're injured don't play. If you play don't tell me you're injured." ~ Don Shula
Did anyone ask the standings of the other Levels? Not really, I think someone asked about the L3. All athletes started on lower levels and worked their way up. 
