It's official. All Worlds participants in 2007 must be 12 years or older. That's sad because there were a lot of 11 and unders on the floor this year. I really don't understand the point of the rule and why it has to change.
I'm glad the age has been limited to 12 and older. Now we know we won't be seeing 60 lb. 5th graders in boy-girl partner stunts on large coed teams or be seeing junior teams at worlds.
Dont get me wrong, hats off to Georgia Small Coed and Cheer Athletics Small Seniors for being able to hang with the big show, but If we wanted younger kids at worlds, we would have Junior divisions to compete in.
Besides, some kids are not old enough to mentally handle something as big as the world championship of cheerleading. Correct me if I'm wrong, but why do you think an athlete has to turn 18 the year of the olympics in order to compete?
E-mail received from USASF regarding rumors of rule changes: ===========================================
-----Original Message----- From: Les Stella [mailto:LStella@usasf.net] Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 6:48 AM To: Shawn Herrera Subject: Re: "After-the-fact" rule changes for 2006-07
Shawn, There is always a buzz, gossip or rumors about things we are not doing. Thank you for coming straight to the source for the facts. The USASF has had no discussions on changing the ages for this year what so ever. The only little thing I have heard that has been mentioned is allowing 17 year olds to cheer on open teams but even that has not been discussed in any meeting.
We are fully aware of the tidal wave of problems across the country that would occur if we made any major changes in age divisions.
Thanks again for not continuing the rumor mill but seeking the facts.
Les Stella USASF 6745 Lenox Center Court Suite 300 Memphis, TN 38115 (800)829-6237ext.5941
well according to that message which happens to be from USASf that there are no rule changing going on. I believe that this is just a rumor that someone started who didn't want to have junior aged people at worlds.
Are you aware of her birthday? Perhaps she turned 16 the year of, becasue that is what I meant origionally in my previous post.
Bryan wrote: ..... an athlete has to turn 18 the year of the olympics in order to compete.....
but I've already corrected myself- I meant to say 16. Also, I'm unaware of who Tara Lipinski is and what sport shes in and where shes from, but I'm 100% sure that (at least) gymnasts must turn 16 the year of the olympics. Lots of level and skill planning takes place in a gym and if you're hoping to get to the olympics, your coach plans everything out for you.
Tara was (is?) an ice skater. I think they run young like gymnists. Were other sports, like field sports such as soccer, probably tend to have members that are older. Your right - training, maturity, and a coach tell you when your ready. as well as national comps.
The rules were changed after tara lipinski won. You do have to be 16 to compete in the ''olympic 's now. I would love if the owners or coaches or monitor of these message boards would find out for sure about these rules and maybe post it. End the rumor and speculation. I also heard something about no cross competing. Is that true. I sent an email to the usasf and asked . they also need to post the rules on there website since they are the goverening body for the sport.
Yeah - that whole thing about NOT being able to cross compete... hopefully its just a bad rumour. I would feel really bad for one of our athletes to have to choose which team they wanted to compete on, if both their teams make worlds. All that hard work - on to not be able to be on ALL your the teams that got the bid! seriour bummer.
well if you look at the message from usasf, it clearly states that no rules are being changed except maybe the open team age so i think we are worrying over nothing
So who knows about the age rule..some people are 'in the know' and might have an idea that it is being talked about....cheerforce has alot of kids that are young so it is good that they went straight to les about it. We shall see what happens!