As a coach do I have favorites, Yes I do ! My favorite athletes are the ones that come in to the gym and work as hard as they can every practice. I have heard of athletes claiming that so and so has favorites, but if you really look at what is being considered favorite, you might just see that it is an acknowledgment of extremely hard work.
Agree, but not what I'm referring to. I'm talking of specific favoritism for one or two girls that is noticed by everyone and is causing alot of hard feelings. I understand having favorites a coach is only human. But what ever happened to the saying there is no 'I' in TEAM. How do you address it when you can't say anthing to the coach cause your afraid too.
there will always be favorites, and always be people who are "always" in the front. but the fact is a team is a TEAM and we all know the routine wont work if even one person is missing
I think that you should deal with favoritism, since thats the topic, by making yourself stand out. There is always going to be someone thats better than you, whether on your team or another, and the favorites are the ones that stand out. Not always because of skill, but work ethic, determination to get the team better as well as themselves, and to impress the coach. You always want to impress the coach. So if your in the so called "back" (which is the lamest thing I have ever heard) maybe your just not impressing anyone. If your boring to watch, wouldnt you want to work harder to be in the front?(which sometimes isnt all that great) I bet the people in the "front" are the hard workers, will never say NO to a coach, will throw a skill without hesitating and most likely the ones the coaches like. I think you are going to experience favoritism your WHOLE life, so deal with it. If you want to be recognized, you better have the skills to show for it!! I like what the post before says....."step up your game!!" its true...no one wants to see a boring person with mediocre skills in the front, and amazing skills in the back!! Thats what cheerleading is!!! If you dont like it....start bird watching!! Im sure theres no favoritism by a coach there!!!
I'm reading alot of these posts and getting offended by the tone of alot of the responses I read. The blanket response to "step it up' is just too convenient and not a very good answer. Also to say the poster should take up bird watching because you probally won't have to deal with favoritism there is really is a very cold remark. The truth is that you will run into favoritism all you life, be it in cheerleading, school, etc. Wish I knew the easy answer to give you. My best advise is to not let it get in the way of you being the best you can be. I really do believe that if you work hard and strive to be the best you can be you will be rewarded.
How does one read a person's "tone" just from text? Is there a special button on my keyboard that I can press that can verbally speak all the text I'm reading, and speak it in the same tone that the author is trying to convey?
It's easy to get a tone from typed text. And it's ALWAYS negative. I think that person was just trying to read the negative in the responses and not get the message out of them. But then again, I think this is the same person who is worried about all the negativity in the gym and wants to confront everyone. Sounds to me that the only negativity here is the one pointing it out. I didn't get any negative tone from anyone...
I understand how a coach can have favorites on the team.
For example: Katrina Zee (Motions Maroon Coed) (this is not bad i love you katrina!) is always in the front for the dance. Is this because the coaches "favor" her? no! its because she is a GREAT dancer and DESERVES to be in the front.
I don't see favoritism on the team that I am on. I think that the people who try as hard as they can, do get more attention then the lazy ones, but the people deserve getting reccodnized if they are hard workers. Kinda like Jensen said, if a person is in the front a lot, it is probably because they work hard, and they are good. But, you would be able to tell the difference between favoritism, and the person just being good! Thats my 2 cents!
So, I think when favoritism is "wrong" would be when you have a group of folks who are always in the front even though you have others who are working just as hard who have proven they also deserve the chance to showcase their skills. I'm sure a good coach would recognize that and mix it up, giving the others the same confidence, right?
We never have the same folks out in front, our team gives everyone who has proven they also deserve to be there a chance. And nothing wrong with being in the back of course, but it sure is nice when you get the chance to be a bit more visible and show them what you got! :)
By this statement I have to ask...Is this about your child not being up front? and yet I also have to point out the real BIG picture that is being missed, Isn't this a TEAM performance? My experience is, they are ALL out on that floor ""showcasing" their talents.... AS A TEAM! c'mon people, this is the very thing that breeds negativity. I could certainly go on forever but honestly point blank, You still don't get it, so your kid isn't the quarterback or the pitcher, or the anchor of a relay team...YOUR KID IS INVOLVED IN COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING..It adds new dimesions to Team competition, If you wish to have your cheerleader "a chance to showcase their talent" individually then by all means encourage him or her to compete in the individual competitions that are available at most major events, then you have the best of both worlds! Best of luck to you all, Former Cheer Mom
Uh, former cheer mom, I think it is YOU who don't get what the conversation was about. Everyone knows we're all a team, everyone knows that everyone contributes towards that final score. But everyone also knows that sometimes the same folks are more visible than others -- sometimes it's justified, sometimes it's not. So the point was, why not give everyone a chance to be just as visible throughout the routine, mix it up a bit. I'll guarantee you it gives them more confidence when they get a chance to lead in the front, even if it's just for a few seconds, and those who are working just as hard deserve that.
No no,..... not everyone on here is referring to being "up front", believe me. Favoritsm is also seen by treatment from coaches such as, a stunt group having trouble and all but "one" is yelled at, continually! Or it could be where there is NO talking allowed as a rule during practice, and say a group is caught talking and all of the members are singled out by name, EXCEPT for that same person...... that's the kind of favoritsm that is NOT right, no matter how you look at it....... And it DOES happen, trust me.
Got it, thanks for clearing that up Nope. You're right, if that is what's going on, and folks are being treated unfairly, it's wrong. Sorry I misunderstood. Hopefully those affected can rise above it and even become stronger individuals because of it.
Take it from someone who has experienced a team with "favorites" and first hand delt with the situation. After a few years with the same coach and primarily the same group of girls with countless encounters of wrongful treatment of myself and others, I had finally stomached quite enough. The "elite few" were allowed to be late for practice, show up intoxicated (not just alcohol) for practices or even competitions. A blind eye was always turned as apparently their money meant more to the program that I belonged to, then mine or the other girls who indeed worked far harder and far more consistantly than the "Elite Few" You see we all signed the very same contract, however it truly meant something different for the "elite few" as it was quite apparent that the "law breaking" clauses did not pertain to them. After making several attempts to do the right thing by reporting their actions, as it was truly a reflection on all of us, I was disregarded as being litterally a b-word and not a team player....hmmm what kind of team was I on? So I pondered what to do, and got my Brave On! I confronted (peacefully but seriously) my team namely the "elite few" and my coach, especially for allowing this behavior to carry on. Of course their was the denial on all counts until the rest of the team began to one by one step up behind me, and addressed their feelings of the same nature. At last it was finally recognized as a Problem! Did it solve everything? Not at all, but it did unite the rest of us as a team. As for the "Elite Few" they really never suffered any consequences for their actions prior to that day but from that point on for the rest of the season they did learn what it was like to work hard with absolutely no respect. My point for telling you my story is, don't be afraid to be heard if you are harboring any ill feelings. Cuz when all your hard work seems to be for something that is no longer any fun, then why bother right? Hang in there and be strong! One of the "NOT" so favorites
To nope.... Yes I have seen that at our gym too where there is that same type of favoritsm. And you are right, no matter how you look at it is in not good. I hope coaches from all over read this and maybe they will think twice before they treat one person better by giving them special treatment. Hopefully they will see how it makes the others feel when everyone else gets in trouble for things, except for the "special" one. thanks
