Competition Problems

Date: Fri Feb 3 1:09 PM, 2006

RE: Competition Problems

Date: Fri Feb 3 2:24 PM, 2006

AMEN Reality Check!!! I'm right there with you on that one!!!!

Date: Fri Feb 3 3:09 PM, 2006

Reality Check and Support -- if you don't want to join in on the constructive criticism of the pet peeves of competition venue's and vendors, DON'T. Again, this is NOT about the sport itself, can't say that much clearer. You have a choice to not read this thread -- but those of us who are contributing are trying to make a difference with things that CAN be changed.

Oh, I completely agree about posting the results, why in the world would that take so long?

Date: Fri Feb 3 3:20 PM, 2006

Funny how Reality Check wants us to not vent about peeves, and how we should be more involved with cheering on our kids and dealing with it... an yet this person took the time to read the vents and posts. If it's such a bad topic, why would you read allllllllll those posts and waste your time??? I think Reality Check really agrees with us but is just trying to make waves. That's ok.

It does take lots of time to post things on a website. I do it for our team. Sometimes I just don't feel like it but I have to anyway. But 2 months? Oh sheesh..... that's just laziness.

Vent all you wish ladies and gents. Even if I don't agree with everything, I will still give you my respect and not knock you for having a point of view. Even if it is negative like Reality Check's......

No one is more involved and supportive of this "sport" than I am. So if I want to vent..... tough tooshie. Freedom of speech is such a wonderful thing!!!

Date: Fri Feb 3 4:00 PM, 2006

Cheer Mom wrote:

Oh, I have another complaint. How long does it really take a competition company to post results on their web sites? WAY TOO LONG!

I happen to be a cheer junkie and like to keep up on how various teams are doing. Do we really have to wait 2+ months before the results can be posted on the competition web site? There are a few out there that post within 24 hours. Take UCA College Nationals. They posted their results within a few hours! Now that's what I call service!

USA, JAMZ, Spirit Sports learn from UCA! POST RESULTS within 24 hours! Please!

Now this a VALID complaint. I completely agree. This is MY issue with cheer companies. Schedules and Results. Now you can PICK any other sport or activity and the information is up at least one month ahead of time and the results are usually up that NIGHT of an event. There is no good reason that results and schedules are up ASAP with the internet. 99% of cheer companies take so long to post their results, schedules, or anything that is crucial to planning until the last minute. That drives me up the WALL. Its just called organization. Along with this , I know that USA,Americas Best and the American Championships have multiple award ceremonies throughout the day so thats good. I think JAMZ makes you wait, but I don't like JAMZ to begin with. They are overpriced, the staff usually is unfriendly, and the judging is VERY inconsistent. Depending on how large the competition is there should be 2-4 award ceremonies a day for the event. Even better have the awards in a seperate room so the competition can continue.

I completley agree that you should always voice suggestions, because there is some validity to them, but I think each suggestion should be good for the WHOLE and not the few. I think the seating and scheduling issue is major. Depending on the company, you can bring your own food. I know at Athletic Championships lets you bring in food or maybe people just put it in their bags. Some of these complaints are at specific competitions and other ones are done at EVERY event.

Date: Fri Feb 3 4:02 PM, 2006

I agree with Reality Check to a point. I know from the gyms I have been to that they lay out an estimated budget and point out that you must pay for seperate admissions costs, traveling, and food. Now you that paper and make your choice at the parent meeting. If you continue and finish the year because of the commitment YOU made, then don't complain. It's one thing to not know any information or have lack of information, but to know going into a situation and still complain about it, I cannot justify.

Date: Fri Feb 3 4:52 PM, 2006

Gee Agreed Again, following your logic, the choice is this: you agree to pay and don't complain about the admission fees, seating, food, etc., or your daughter/son doesn't cheer. What kind of choice is that?? I don't think it's us folks making the suggestions who need the reality check...

Date: Fri Feb 3 6:11 PM, 2006

If I were a competition company, who also competes with others for our business, I would take a look at some of these requests and see which ones I can change. Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference. And parents remember (as you can tell by the posts) which ones were more accomodating than others, and the pro's and con's of each. And I don't know about other gyms, but our gym definitely listens to parent suggestions regarding which competitions we enjoy the most.

For those who are complaining about the complaints, do us a favor and move on to another topic. This topic is for those of us who are trying to make a difference and offer suggestions. The squeaky wheel gets the grease... (or is it oil)? You get the idea. :)

Date: Fri Feb 3 6:26 PM, 2006

In That Case wrote:

Gee Agreed Again, following your logic, the choice is this: you agree to pay and don't complain about the admission fees, seating, food, etc., or your daughter/son doesn't cheer. What kind of choice is that?? I don't think it's us folks making the suggestions who need the reality check...

Now did I say anywhere in my reply about not making suggestions. No I did not. I simply pointed out that you know what your getting into before you sign the dotted line. I agree with suggestions, but when the same people seem to "complain" consistently it seems they have a problem. Yes competition companies should and will listen to suggestions, but again I think alot of the complaints are geared around individual needs and the needs of the many. Many programs get brand new kids every year and love to experience every aspect of the sport. Getting all those gifts and other things are important to them. Ordering the overpriced pictures are obviously important because at every competition those booths are full and the lines are long. The same with the food lines and apparel areas. If people really didn't like to eat something they wouldn't buy it. Most people have 1 child in the program and most competitions have multiple award ceremonies and you are there for a few hours. Again if you are a "veteran" you know to eat something before you come and you are allowed to leave after your child performs to get something to eat. Only specific competitions make ban cameras. So look at the information given, and plan accordingly. I am not saying deal with whatever comes your way, I am saying be reasonable. Those huge venues are not cheap.

Date: Fri Feb 3 8:51 PM, 2006

Like a really cool thing was at a Fresno comp recently they didn't charge for spectators, that was great! I know that is not always possible but it was a huge nice place and you got it in for free. not like a highschool gym.. anyway that's my input

Date: Sat Feb 4 11:53 AM, 2006

Worst thing I have heard:

"Absolutely NO video taping, if you are caught, the POLICE WILL be called and you WILL BE escorted out of the building and NOT permitted to return the rest of the day"

I felt like I was in a courtroom getting ready to be prosecuted.

Date: Sat Feb 4 12:45 PM, 2006

Wow, hadn't heard that one, but yea, that's ridiculous. I believe the no videotaping rule by these venues is perhaps appropriate for concerts. That I can understand. But there is absolutely no justifiable reason/reasonable excuse for not allowing it at family events, such as cheerleading comps. I heard someone say once it was for security reasons, they don't want folks taping other teams. Huh? Aren't the tapes of all the teams available for sale?? We've already covered this topic extensively, I know, but the only decent reason I've heard that was anti-videotaping had to do with folks blocking the view with their cameras, and I think we've already covered that all it takes is asking that person to step aside (and I'm sure he/she would be happy to do so). Cheer comps that tell you they have no control, it's the rules of the venue aren't kidding anyone -- here's a question perhaps one of those videotaping/picture taking companies can answer if they ever read these boards: do the cheerleading competition companies receive any revenue from the sale of DVD's/pictures? Just wonderin..

Also someone mentioned seeing long lines in front of booths to order pictures. I've never seen lines of folks ordering anything, I've only seen lines of folks to SEE the video and pictures right after a team has performed. I was able to walk right up to the booth at our last comp (which was separated from the screens you use to view the pictures). I made my usual pricing suggestions (to the DVD booth as well). Maybe someday (keeping fingers crossed) someone will listen.

Date: Sat Feb 4 7:10 PM, 2006

While I think the parking charges and food is probably controlled by the venues, I'm pretty sure the videotaping is controlled by the competition company in conjunction with whatever company is doing the official taping. Obviously, they (the taping company) don't want taping in the crowd because they want to sell the dvd's. I know one company (JAMfest) does allow limited videotaping, so it's not the venue.

I don't know what the answer is and I can really see this issue from both sides. I would like to see a taping company come up with something unique in their offering. Like allowing the customer to order any three divisions on the dvd instead of having to take the grouping they put together.

Date: Sat Feb 4 9:04 PM, 2006

More choices would be good, I agree ACEDAD, but they need more options in pricing/packages. And I still don't see both sides -- if they want to offer their quality videos for sale, that's perfectly okay, nobody would have any complaints. But to take away our choice, to literally force us to buy them with threats that we'll be ejected from the building, or points will be taken away from our team, or other lame ridiculous threats is just unacceptable.

Date: Sat Feb 4 9:24 PM, 2006

I completely agree with Money. Here's why... If they had options that were attractive and reasonable, folks would most likely choose THEIR quality photos and DVD's over what us parents come up with (we don't have the nice equipment and we're not right up there in front). If the prices were good and the turnaround was good, we would buy them. However, if you take away the right of parents to videotape/take pictures, and ONLY leave one choice, to buy THEIRS, they can pretty much charge whatever they want and take as long as they want. And us, the parents, are left with nothing if we can't or choose not to pay their outrageous prices. See the problem?

Date: Mon Feb 6 12:28 PM, 2006

WOW! What interesting posts. I just wanted to say I AGREE with everything the original post said. We have been doing this for three years now with three kids in it --so we are there from morning to NIGHT! I know how she feels. This is how we cope. We drop off the kids and go and explore the town--then we make sure to get back an hour before our child perfoms and then leave again. This makes it so seating is not much of a problem because people are coming and going--there is no NEED to save seats. We also make sure to come back for the other teams in our gym because we love to see them--not because we HAVE to. This also saves our ears--my husband now wears earplugs to all the competitions. We really make a family day of it and we are thankful cheergyms lets us be free with our time. Yes, our kids have to stay but they LOVE it and are much younger to be able to handle the noise for 10 hours. Once THEY start complaining about the competitions then we are DONE with this sport. Most places where there are competitions have wonderful healthly resturants nearby and sometimes some nice shopping as well--we also have done the park thing. SO, give yourself a break and if you have younger ones let them get out too---your kids are in the hands of the coaches no need to make yourself suffer--you are not in a prison and are free to go and come back. For competitions without in and out parking privileges we just take walks and have a picnic by the car. Try this ---I am sure you will enjoy the competitions much more because sadly I do not see any changes coming real soon.

Date: Mon Feb 6 3:18 PM, 2006

Thanks Cheer Mom Of Three.... your suggestion is a great one. Unfortunatly, most cheer gyms don't keep your kids for you. We are responsible for them until they go to warms ups, compete and then awards. But we have to keep them and can't let them be. Taking them away from the competition would be ok for the most part but they want to be with their friends. I guess it's up to each parent do decide if they can leave their child there. But leaving for a while is a wonderful suggestion.

Yesterday at Spirit Sports, the competition was ON TIME. Can you believe it??? Well, all of you other companies.... here's your rival. Spirit Sports ran a competition on time all the way up to awards where there was a hold up. But not bad at all!!!

The bad part about it was.... parents tried to get them to turn down the music and the announcer told us "too bad". That wasn't very nice of them. We wanted to watch, but between them shining lights right in our eyes evertime a team came to the stage and the blaring music, I thought my head would explode. I took Advil, Tylenol and my headache meds just to combat it. I wonder if they noticed all the parents covering their ears and blocking the lights with their programs. I bet they didn't.

But they did notice the parents videotaping and at one point, the announcer came INTO the seating and talked to a parent OVER THE P A AND IN FRONT OF EVERYONE and told her to stop. Did she stop??? Nope!!! She kept on taping and ignored him. That was pretty bad. She just made her gym look bad is all.

The food was way overpriced (3.00 for one muffin and 5.00 for a hotdog) but there is alot to choose from in San Diego. So we had choices. I tell ya, Starbucks makes a killing at these things!!!

For the most part, I love to sit and watch all of the teams. But after this weekend, and before Atlanta, I am buying ear plugs. I think I might sell them too!!! 20 dollars a pair!!!! hehehehehehehehehehehe

Date: Mon Feb 6 7:19 PM, 2006

Cheer Mom of Three: wow! That's awful nice of the gym to be a babysitter. I don't think many gyms would have the manpower or want the liability to do that.

Regarding the volume, if it bothers people, I think the earplugs is going to be the way to go. With my daughter's team, they ask for the volume to be all the way up because with the crowd yelling, they have trouble hearing the music.

Date: Mon Feb 6 9:31 PM, 2006

As much as I trust our coach there is no way that she can possibly babysit all the girls. My daughter just turned thriteen and I don't care I'm sticking around to keep an eye on her to make sure she is safe. If I need a break I step outside for a few minutes. I may not be with her every minute but it makes her feel secure knowing I'm there. So if I have to sit through loud music and end up with sore cheeks so be it. Thats what being a parent is all about. I might add a rather broke tired parent but what the heck she's worth it.

Date: Mon Feb 6 9:44 PM, 2006

Yeah, I feel the same way. I'm sticking around in case she needs me (for money, support, to share the experience of watching the other performances, and whatever else). These venues are large and crowded. I could easily see her getting distracted, taking off to buy something while the coach is frantically rounding up the team to get ready to warm up. I believe the coaches want and expect us to be there to help. This is her day, not mine. If I want to go off and eat, shop, have a picnic, whatever, I'll do it when it's "my day".

So sorry for disagreeing with you, cheer mom of three, but I hope most parents DON'T take off and come back just in time for their performance. The coaches have enough to do -- keeping track and watching over your kids should not be one of them.