Parent Drama - Dictatorship

tracy · Veteran Member

Parent Drama - Dictatorship

MyTake · Senior Member

Coming from the viewpoint of another parent who may have to put up with parents like the ones you describe, here's another question -- why is it okay for gyms to keep allowing parents like this to participate in the program?? Why cant gyms ask parents who behave badly to leave?? Kindly tell them it isnt working out and they need to find another gym. Sadly most gyms, especially small, wont do this because they need the members, and the coaches and other parents end up having to put up with it. Just what I have noticed over the years.

-- Edited by MyTake on Sunday 16th of August 2009 01:07:43 PM

Britney · Member

MyTake wrote:

Coming from the viewpoint of another parent who may have to put up with parents like the ones you describe, here's another question -- why is it okay for gyms to keep allowing parents like this to participate in the program?? Why cant gyms ask parents who behave badly to leave?? Kindly tell them it isnt working out and they need to find another gym. Sadly most gyms, especially small, wont do this because they need the members, and the coaches and other parents end up having to put up with it. Just what I have noticed over the years.

-- Edited by MyTake on Sunday 16th of August 2009 01:07:43 PM

absolutely, because it is allowed, very simple

Yay4cheerDIVA · Senior Member

Parentzilla. ugg.

Fierce Coach · GURU

These parents are sometimes intolerable, but I try to look past the parent and to their child instead. Just a talented cheerleader who wants to participate in cheer, but has a horrid parent! LOL!

vegasdad · Newbie

Coming from a parent who has been watching this for years,sometimes it's hard not to open your mouth.Especially when we all know that certain coaches do have their favorites and place them where another child should be ,alot of these kids do not have the skills needed to be where they are ,it's based on who knows who .I'm not saying the parents are right for venting I"m just saying it goes both ways .

Cocoa · Member

Yes, I agree it does go both ways. The owner's daughter doesn't have to practice all the time with her team,and it applies to her friends on the team. Coaches do play favorites, but aren't they usually the teams that are in last place or first because they are the only ones competing! When you have the right gym and practices are taken seriously and the teams have the right attitude that you are all there to practice hard and compete just as hard then you have happy athletes and parents! You will always have parents who think their child should be in the front. But you do have to let coaches coach and a good coach will put your child where she/he will do her/his best for the team.

tracy · Veteran Member

Often times gyms are open because of a tight knit cluster of friends. The kids are friends because the parents are friends. These families get together and come up with a brilliant idea to open a gym.

It's that type of gym that ends up playing favorites. After all it's their way of justifying in their minds why their kids should get the special perks. Perks like missing practices because they involved in other activities. Its those gyms that you see the same kids attending the team parties. If you see these examples run and run fast. You do not want to place your child in a gym that is run like this.

I would hope that the gym owners' daughters and friends are the example of the gym. Their kids are helping out in the gym and has the best cheerleading and tumbling skills in the gym. that way there is no chance for any parent to say its only because its the owner's daughter or because they know the owner.

Competitive cheerleading is tough. It's even tougher when you have to battle the gym politics.

JillN · Newbie

Yeah Tracy I agree that favorite treatment because of friendships isn't fair. Just the same as having a daughter or son on the team they seem to be in front or the same pictures are the only ones on websites. Shame gym politics go on period

giada · Member

I think parents demand RESPECT AND EQUALITY for their cheerleaders. That really is not too much to ask for is it? A solid gym would not be having these issues unless you have created conflict and drama with your cheerleaders. Cheer owners need to remember the parents pay their bills and keep their gym financially running, so you should take a step back and question what are you doing to create this atmosphere?

gymdad · Member

Our gym has a policy that prohibits parents from attending practice. After spending the last 4 years attending my daughters gymnastic practices, I think that is an allright policy. I got sick and tired of listening to some of the parents complaining about why their little one hasn't moved up or that the coaches don't know what they are doing. I say, why don't you go out and try coaching them if you think you you can do better. I am a patient parent who also trusts the coaching staff. We are new to the world of cheerleading, so far so good!

MyTake · Senior Member

gymdad wrote:

why don't you go out and try coaching them if you think you you can do better

All star gyms are businesses, and coaches and staff need to be professional employees of this business, or families will leave. Its really that simple. Unlike pop warner or high school cheer, you really do have a choice of where to go. Its okay to have expectations, afterall you are a paying customer. I agree there are parents that bring the gym down (bad customers), it is up to the gym to take care of this. To ban parents from practices because of a few bad seeds makes no sense to me.

cheerforlife08 · Veteran Member

i think alot of times(especially now) parents think they can walk all over the coaches because they know the team needs their kid. many smaller gyms have really lost a lot of kids due to the economy and the parents that are left know their kid is needed for numbers. therefore they think they can demand where their child is put in the routine and then threaten to leave if confronted. sad but true...

What u want to hear · Member

Now that I took my daughter out for this year I can voice my opinion. The cheer world is unlike any other. If you are new to it stay off the message boards or you will end up in the hospital with a heart attack when you read all the negative posts about your child's team. First of all everyone is a crazy cheer parent....My daughter did it for four years and I never met a person who was not running their mouth if it were about other kids or their kid was not moving up quick enough. Unfortunately cheerleading is so political and it is not about the kids it is about who has the better gym and coaches...everyone is out to make someone else look bad. People on these message boards will post all types of things and then say "it is JMO" that is Just My Opinion, in case you did not know. Everyone has an opinion but just ignore them....my daughter has been on some great teams and won I don't know how many State and National Championships but after a $7,000 season last year and all I have is a bunch of medals and sweatshirts....I am over it. The worst part is dealing with the gossiping in the competitions when you are standing in line or whatever the case may be. I am happy to have a break from competitive cheer it is kinda refreshing. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS AND I HOPE BAKERSFIELD KICKS BUTT THIS SEASON...

Cocoa · Member

I think this happens in every sport. I have been to my nephew's little league games and left shaking my head with the way parents acted. Same in basketgball, football and so on. I don't think cheer is any better or worse. Although when you have the owner of the gym and coaches talking crap about other gyms in front of their cheerleaders that sets the tone for that gym.

U Just Dont Know · Newbie

What u want to hear wrote:

Now that I took my daughter out for this year I can voice my opinion. The cheer world is unlike any other. If you are new to it stay off the message boards or you will end up in the hospital with a heart attack when you read all the negative posts about your child's team. First of all everyone is a crazy cheer parent....My daughter did it for four years and I never met a person who was not running their mouth if it were about other kids or their kid was not moving up quick enough. Unfortunately cheerleading is so political and it is not about the kids it is about who has the better gym and coaches...everyone is out to make someone else look bad. People on these message boards will post all types of things and then say "it is JMO" that is Just My Opinion, in case you did not know. Everyone has an opinion but just ignore them....my daughter has been on some great teams and won I don't know how many State and National Championships but after a $7,000 season last year and all I have is a bunch of medals and sweatshirts....I am over it. The worst part is dealing with the gossiping in the competitions when you are standing in line or whatever the case may be. I am happy to have a break from competitive cheer it is kinda refreshing. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS AND I HOPE BAKERSFIELD KICKS BUTT THIS SEASON...

WOW!!! Telling people to stay off the boards or they'll end up in the hospital with a heart attack after reading all the negative post about their child's team but then you say "everyone is a crazy cheer parent" and on another thread (Why don't people Pay?) you have a negative post about a gym you never step foot in and people you don't know...... maybe you do need a break. Anyways after thousand of dollars, a bunch of medals and sweatshirts, and all the gossip both you and your daughter will always have the memories and that is priceless. By the way thanks for the LUCK.

What u want to hear · Member

U Just Dont Know- What is your problem that you are following me all over this website commenting on everything I say? I do know you have issues. I do not need to step foot in a gym that has parents like you in it to know how negative it is. One thing you do not know is I am friends with many people at your gym and I hear the same complaint over and over...how the parents complain all the time because their kid is not a flyer or they are not in front. You do not know me and now I might come and visit your gym just so I can meet you. You should probably take a break from the boards if you take me seriously .....some people are just so easily worked up...take a breather.

U Just Dont Know · Newbie

What u want to hear wrote:

U Just Dont Know- What is your problem that you are following me all over this website commenting on everything I say? I do know you have issues. I do not need to step foot in a gym that has parents like you in it to know how negative it is. One thing you do not know is I am friends with many people at your gym and I hear the same complaint over and over...how the parents complain all the time because their kid is not a flyer or they are not in front. You do not know me and now I might come and visit your gym just so I can meet you. You should probably take a break from the boards if you take me seriously .....some people are just so easily worked up...take a breather.

The question is What is your problem? Lets go back to all your post, so now who's the negative one? Remember your on a CHEER MESSAGE BOARD and all I'm doing is replying to your NEGATIVE POST and maybe you shouldn't post if you don't want anyone replying to them. By the way if your so happy to be taking a break from cheer I don't understand why your still on a CHEER MESSAGE BOARD. Then you talk about how cheer is nothing but gossip but though you take it all in so obviously you gossip yourself and I probably do know you since we were at the same gym before (XE) it closed its doors. As far as visiting the gym I go to, you should its amazing it might even take your breath away.

What u want to hear · Member

Really get over yourself....My other daughter cheers so when you think you know what you are talking about, think again. In my very first post "why people don't pay"-does that sound like someone will go on there and speak positive? I was just responding to the subject but sounds like Bakersfield is bitter and why would you need to defend your gym if it is so great it might take a persons breath away...really. JUST FOR ALL OF YOU IN BAKERSFIELD THAT THINK I AM BEING SO NEGATIVE I WILL NOT POST ANYMORE SINCE IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE ON HERE AND THAT WAY YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.

excheermom · Newbie

I really dont think you have another daughter otherwise you would have stated that just like you stated in your first sentence "now that I took my daughter out for this year I can voice my opinion". In regards to you responding to "why people don't pay" you should have just responded to the subject and not put in your negative comments about another gym you never been to and ofcourse someone who does go there is going to defend their gym. Theres no bitter in Bakersfield but there might be some bitter in you.