USA Nationals

Date: Wed Feb 15 7:04 AM, 2006

RE: USA Nationals

Date: Wed Feb 15 8:48 AM, 2006

Spirit Athletics is the new name for High Desert Cheer.

Date: Wed Feb 15 9:03 AM, 2006

http://www.southelitecheer.com/

Date: Wed Feb 15 9:29 AM, 2006

Gym Owner wrote:

central cali cheer fan wrote:
If USA doesn't get enough participation to support those bids, they won't be able to stay the same and stay in business.

Incorrect. Since CASH FLUSH Varsity is USA's parent company, USA can continue to run events at a loss, as long as it is in Varsity's "big picture, best interest" to have "its" companies giving out bids.

There's more to running a multi-million dollar company than most outside observers will ever know. Varsity is a $150 million/year corporation. They can drop three $25,000 paid bids for one of the companies if it helps in other areas they need. This is the "new math" a company can operate under when they now own 75% of an industry through mergers and acquisitions.

This post implies that you are an "inside observer"...if so, I stand corrected regarding my belief that USA had to make a "stand alone" profit to support their bids. I am only a "consumer." But in the long run, if Varsity Brands wants to have a strong presence on the West Coast, USA will have to come up with a product that appeals to the customer base, regardless of whether or not they are concerned about profits.

I still say, if the competition is run better elsewhere, go to different companies. Varsity Brands' ownership of "75%" of the industry doesn't stop our choices. In my view, there are at least four large competitive competitions that occur in California and several small ones, not to mention Vegas which is pretty accessible from most of Cali. As an "outside observer", I think the future competitiveness between teams is being hurt by almost too many choices - too many competitions with one or two teams in a division. Who wants a guaranteed win?

Date: Wed Feb 15 11:52 AM, 2006

Danny wrote:

To "Gym Owner", I felt uncomfortable with your post and needed to delete it. It seemed too personal for these boards. I'm sorry if you disagree. I try to leave as many posts up as I can but I don't want the cheergyms.com boards to have any part in hurting individual reputations. I hope you understand.

Feel free to email me at danny@cheergyms.com if you need to.

Danny Kahn
Administrator

The person asked for any insight from Gym Owners on "why" we don't go to USA Nationals. She said she hasn't found anyone that would share their opinions.

Maybe she hasn't been able to find any because we get censored as soon as we try to share our opinion (as on this message board).

All I said was our personal experiences with USA Nationals:
- USA events are run poorly
- USA staff treated us poorly backstage
- Last year the Anaheim Police were called in to prevent a large fight between 2 Gyms parent sections
- The last time we went to USA Nationals (several years ago) a Gym we knew had their Coach compete (in uniform) with them and no one said a thing about it. Even when we brought it to the attention of USA President, nothing was done.

If this info is too personal, sorry. I wasn't aware of what censorship level I had to operate within to not have a post deleted. It's just the info the person was asking for........"personal opinions".

Date: Wed Feb 15 12:12 PM, 2006

central cali cheer fan wrote:

I still say, if the competition is run better elsewhere, go to different companies.

You are 100 PERCENT correct. Everyone should go to the BEST competitions out there, not just the one that will guarantee you (pretty much) a Worlds bid.

The American Showcase the weekend before USA Nationals at the exact same venue (Anaheim Convention Center) is a FAR superior competition to USA Nationals. Better run, better backstage, on-time, more precise "non-subjective" score sheets (if you ever judge for them, you'll see the difference), nicer staff, better quality of teams attending, etc, etc, etc.

So even if you want the "guaranteed Worlds Bid"..........fine, take just your Sr lev-5 team. But don't punish the rest of your teams (& their parents) in your Gym by making them attend a junky event, just so the Seniors can get a bid. Take the rest of your teams to a good event, and let the Seniors go on their own for "pickup" their bid. :)

It's smarter "business" for you Gym to make ALL your kids/parents happy by taking them to better events. Cater TOO much to just your Senior team and that's all you'll have eventually.

OTHER WELL RUN, GOOD EVENTS OUT HERE:
- American Grand (http://www.americanchampionships.com/ac/agmain.asp) Las Vegas (Dec)
- Spirit Sports (www.SpiritSports.com) "Battle By The Bay" San Diego (Feb)
- JAMfest (www.jamfest.com) - Pasadena (Feb) & Long Beach (April)

WISH LIST:
I wish Allstar Challenge (http://www.allstarchallenge.com) would do an event out here.

Date: Wed Feb 15 1:04 PM, 2006

Gym Owner wrote:

All I said was our personal experiences with USA Nationals:
- USA events are run poorly
- USA staff treated us poorly backstage
- Last year the Anaheim Police were called in to prevent a large fight between 2 Gyms parent sections
- The last time we went to USA Nationals (several years ago) a Gym we knew had their Coach compete (in uniform) with them and no one said a thing about it. Even when we brought it to the attention of USA President, nothing was done.

I'd just like to second this opinion. We have had nothing but miserable experiences at USA competitions - between the judging, the warm-up procedures, last-minute changes of rule interpretations (at Nationals!), directors and coaches of teams/programs being allowed to judge their own teams...I could go on for days. And I know a LOT of other California programs that feel the same way - there is a reason why there are so few participants at USA nationals in the past 2-3 years. USA was approached by several California program owners in hopes of clarifying some of the issues and they essentially blew us all off. Any well-run company would be concerned about any hint of impropriety, but USA does not care. I just hope that those that have refused to give USA their business don't get lured in by the hopes of an "easy Worlds bid". I feel like it's a cheap attempt to try and lure back those who left for legitimate reasons - like "Hi, we haven't changed our ways, but come and try to earn a Worlds bid anyway!"

Date: Wed Feb 15 2:28 PM, 2006

i would like to 3RD this statement. a lot of things go wrong with USA staff and company. it's hard to agree to most things that go on at their competitions, including everything these past 2 posts said.

what do they say about worlds? that they can "vend out the bids," and any team who wants one can come and get it. true. but what does that say about the teams who go and USA?? it says the teams who go to worlds through USA 1. didnt have to give as much efforts as if going to another company with less bids and probably dont even have to stick a freggin routine cuz theres like no teams going, and 2. is moving worlds in the direction of being just another nationals company. it's like what happened a couple years ago. it used to be that u had to work to get to a nationals. these days, you really dont. my high school went to a nationals last year, and they suck... believe me. neway... it's kind of like worlds is becoming just another national... through USA, probably any team who wants to go to worlds can! i wonder how many teams will be going after the 70% of teams from USA qualifies... cough cough* QUALIFIES... is that really what they'll have to do?

maybe im crazy... but idk.......

Date: Wed Feb 15 2:49 PM, 2006

I am a 4th in that opinion.....

it's very sad but true.

Date: Wed Feb 15 3:10 PM, 2006

Maybe she hasn't been able to find any because we get censored as soon as we try to share our opinion (as on this message board).

Anytime I see personal attacks on these boards I will detete. You need to contact the person directly not complain about them anonymously on these boards.

And so you know.....the cheergyms.com Message Boards are provided by a private company and are optional. If you don't like how they are monitored, feel free to delete the address from your favorites list and discontinue you hourly visits.

Danny Kahn

Date: Wed Feb 15 3:18 PM, 2006

Well said Danny. If someone has a complaint and feels that strongly against USA, then notify them on their email not Cheergyms message board, geez..... Then you will KNOW they get it!!!

Thanks Danny!!

Date: Wed Feb 15 4:42 PM, 2006

"it's kind of like worlds is becoming just another national."

Anyone who has been to Worlds will tell you this is far from the case so far...this year may be different with all the bids - but I still think the cream will rise to the top and the best of the best will want to be there.

Date: Wed Feb 15 6:23 PM, 2006

Danny wrote:

Anytime I see personal attacks on these boards I will detete. You need to contact the person directly not complain about them anonymously on these boards.

Danny Kahn

Aren't message boards supposed to be an "open forum" for discussing ideas? If not, what are they supposed to be for? Are they only for posting comments that the Message Board admin agrees with?

If someone asks "why" gyms don't go to USA, and we tell them our experiences, how is this a "personal attack that needs to be addressed directly"?

I didn't say "John Doe is a jerk". I said we've had bad experiences with a company. One of the problems with USA is that they "blow off" people that bring complaints directly to them.

Date: Wed Feb 15 6:26 PM, 2006

feel free to delete the address from your favorites list and discontinue you hourly visits.

Danny Kahn

Now THAT feels like a comment meant to be a personal attack. :(

Date: Wed Feb 15 6:50 PM, 2006

Gym Owner wrote:

Aren't message boards supposed to be an "open forum" for discussing ideas? If not, what are they supposed to be for? Are they only for posting comments that the Message Board admin agrees with?

No, this message board is owned by a private company. They get to choose what to keep up, it is their perogative as owners of the site.

I think we are extremely fortunate that cheergyms.com gives all of us in the cheerleading community a place to air some grievances, but I do not blame them at all for deleting some posts. After all, they do run a business and I imagine there are some bridges they prefer not to burn. They keep up posts that they believe can be constructive without being overly critical, but it is their call to make as owners of the site.

Nelson

Date: Wed Feb 15 6:50 PM, 2006

gym owner, could you please let us know what gym you own? My child will not be walking into yours!
Show some Class and respect to Cheergyms.com

Date: Wed Feb 15 6:56 PM, 2006

parent wrote:

gym owner, could you please let us know what gym you own? My child will not be walking into yours!
Show some Class and respect to Cheergyms.com

Someone asked a question. I gave them our answer.

Please copy & paste the comment you are referring to that shows no class. I have re-read all my comments, and I am thoroughly confused what I said that was soooo wrong.

Date: Wed Feb 15 7:18 PM, 2006

what i meant was it looks like worlds is going in the direction of a national. it's not only a couple teams going nejmore... if you look at the original schedule for this upcoming USA comp, you can tell not all of the teams who will probably get the bid... all 70%... are the best of the best.
it looks like worlds is turning into a national. thats all im saying.

Date: Wed Feb 15 8:19 PM, 2006

I dont think worlds will ever be a like a national. I mean I am not going to lie, i have only been to like 2 nationals in my life, and never been to worlds, but from what i can understand is worlds will consist of the top teams in the nation/world. The American Grand, NCA nationals, Cheersport, etc. will all be great nationals to attend, but how often will they hold a competition with ALL of the top teams in cheer. they can come close but they will never have every team worth televising and putting on ESPN in the same roof at the same time. Even if worlds gets so big it is a week long competition, by the end of the competition in finals, you will always have the top teams deserving to be named WORLD CHAMPION. so in my opinion i dont think worlds will ever be related to a national.

Alex
Motions Coed

Date: Wed Feb 15 9:29 PM, 2006

Cheergyms.com is the only outlet we have to use as a message board/forum, but at least we do have that. Unfortunately, it means we don't always get to say what we want, and we have to put up with some posts getting away with personal attacks but not others. I feel for you, gym owner, I also saw nothing wrong with your posts. But what can you do. Until there is another forum available where folks can truly speak their mind, this is what we have.

On a positive note, for me, I have read enough useful information and helpful suggestions to make reading and posting on this board a worthwhile experience, so for that I am grateful.