HONESTLY....is it about the winning or the experience. Most people will say the experience but what if you never won, would you be happy? Please be honest. I know I did it for both but when we didn't win, I was very unhappy with myself and my team.
Yeah same here, I've experienced being on a sucky team and having "fun" at practice, and being on an awesome winning team that actually works hard at practice. Trust me, winning is more fun, because to me, winning is fun and THAT'S what makes the experience. You'll remember winning nationals, but you WON'T remember playing dodgeball at practice in the years to come.
I'm not sure that its necessarily a clear cut difference of winning vs. experience. Like "wondering" said, winning definitely helps make the whole experience that much greater. However, I don't think its just the winning that makes it that experience, its the ACCOMLISHMENT.
I'm sure that we've all been to competitions where we won against little to no competition and weren't exactly thrilled...and that win did NOT make the "experience" of the season...whereas a much bigger competition in which we placed 2nd or 3rd in a large division (or against teams of high caliber) and also had our best performances of the season, THATS what makes the experience! The accomplishment (which usually comes along with winning) is what makes the experience.
I agree with the last post about how sometimes winning against no competition is not as fulfulling as coming in 2nd or 3rd against tough teams. You know, I have a solution for that. If every competition posted the actual scores on their website (some do, some don't) you and everyone else will see how you stacked up against everyone else. If you were alone in your division, but had a high score, you know you would have done well even with competition. If you end up with a low score, well, you were lucky you didn't have anyone to go against. It's a way to reward those who have the unfortunate luck to have no competition that day. And those who were lucky to have won, they know they have to work harder and what they need to work on, because they won't be so lucky next time (why give bad teams false hope, you know)?
Some of our happiest moments were when we did our best performance, but had the unfortunate luck of having extremely tough competition. One time we went against a very tough team. When the scores were posted, we lost by a really small fraction of a point! So even though we came in 2nd, it was one of the best moments ever.
I think winning is by far the best. I have been on teams that don't win and am at a gym that wins alot so I ahve done both. Winning is better. Practice is as fun as you make it.
someone wrote: I'm not sure that its necessarily a clear cut difference of winning vs. experience. Like "wondering" said, winning definitely helps make the whole experience that much greater. However, I don't think its just the winning that makes it that experience, its the ACCOMLISHMENT.
I'm sure that we've all been to competitions where we won against little to no competition and weren't exactly thrilled...and that win did NOT make the "experience" of the season...whereas a much bigger competition in which we placed 2nd or 3rd in a large division (or against teams of high caliber) and also had our best performances of the season, THATS what makes the experience! The accomplishment (which usually comes along with winning) is what makes the experience.
But you are basically saying winning. Because getting second or third place is a great thing. Any team who hates getting second or third must be taught the wrong thing. THATS WINNING, PLACING 1-3. So, you're answer is winning
We (Motions) knew we wouldn't win at worlds, but the experience.. was AMAZING.
Here back home, what do I have to experience? Back here, nothing is that special to me about competitions. I go to competitions wanting to win, and that's fun for me. Granted, I dont win everytime I compete, but that is my single most aspired goal. Why compete if you dont want to win?
I want my team to be the best... I want my team to be better than everybody else at everything about cheerleading.
It's who I am... and I'm competitive. You can shun me all you want, but nothing can change my mind about this and nothing has for the past 3 years.
It's a way to reward those who have the unfortunate luck to have no competition that day. And those who were lucky to have won, they know they have to work harder and what they need to work on, because they won't be so lucky next time (why give bad teams false hope, you know)?
