Parent team...question

Date: Tue Jul 18 1:54 PM, 2006

RE: Parent team...question

Date: Tue Jul 18 9:24 PM, 2006

You are all wrong cause the parents can do what they wish. And if you don't like it, go in the other room. They aren't reliving their youth. So does this mean that once you birth a child, you can't play football, baseball, basketball, soccer, raquetball, tennis, or anything else cause kids play it???

Get over yourselves. The parent teams got the biggest audience, the biggest applause and the biggest excitement. You are ALL in the minority!

Date: Tue Jul 18 10:34 PM, 2006

Parents can play football, basketball, baseball, whatever, but at their kids' games?? I guarantee if you ask anyone in that audience who would they prefer to watch, kids cheer or parents, it won't be parents. I think we're just hoping what started as a cute idea doesn't turn into a regular feature. It's not what we came there for.

Date: Tue Jul 18 10:40 PM, 2006

We all know what we came there for. But someone having a good time by just participating isn't hurting you, your child or anyone else. Quit being so incredibly selfish. Shame, shame, shame.

Date: Wed Jul 19 9:44 AM, 2006

I don't think anyone is talking about not allowing parents to participate for fun if they want. But if you look at the original post, we're now talking about a gym looking specifically for competitions that have parent team divisions. This bothers me because 1) gyms should not choose competitions based on something that has nothing to do with the kids, and 2) I'd rather see the judges concentrate on what they're supposed to be concentrating on, not judging parents. Have showcases at your own gyms; the parents applauding the most are from your own gym anyway. Leave the competition part of competitive cheerleading for the kids, and do your thing for fun (since you claim that's your main incentive).

Last season we attended a competition that happened to have a parent division. We thought about quickly putting together a parent team just for that competition, but the interest wasn't there. That's a little different than having a parent team at the start of your season, and then trying to find places where you can compete.

Date: Wed Jul 19 11:51 AM, 2006

I'm so excited for our parents to do what we do. There has been too many times where my parents just didn't understand what i go through. This is great for them to understand that we actually work our butts off. Sorry your parent teams didn't have too much interest but we have a lot of interest. All of us are excited to see out parents out there.

Date: Wed Jul 19 12:34 PM, 2006

there's a difference between being out there for the fun of it, and being out there to win. I think parents teams are fun, but adding a whole new division is crazy! The parent teams who are fun to watch are the ones who got into because their kids wanted them to do it, or to get to know the other parents better, and are just performing for the fun of it. Parents that go out on the floor all serious, throwing hard stunts, which make them look like they've been practicing all season are not fun to watch. Parents had their chance to cheer when they were kids, now its our turn to cheer competitively. Its cute, but maybe at the end of a competition while scores are being finished, not in their own division, just my opinion.

Date: Wed Jul 19 3:11 PM, 2006

The poster asked who had a division for parent teams, not to compete. You have to have a division in order to be up there. It doesn't have to be a scoring division. it can be exibition only. No parent team wants to compete anyway. It's hard enough for us to get up there and do it in the first place. We don't want to be told we weren't good enough on top of that. But for posters to say we are being selfish is just dumb. That's total ignorace talking there.

Date: Wed Jul 19 3:35 PM, 2006

When parent teams are up there, they are competing. That's the way it was at JamFest. There was a winning team (judges, etc...). Yes, it was for fun, nobody is saying that they all take it seriously. But it was not exhibition only, it was a competition. Maybe there was one you went to where they just went up and did their thing and sat down? But not the one I saw.

The post was looking for competitions that had parent divisions. I guess if you're going to have parents forming teams at the start of seasons, they need to have somewhere to perform. But now it becomes more than just about the kids, and some of us think that's taking it too far (it's our own opinion, and we're free to voice it).

Date: Wed Jul 19 4:09 PM, 2006

oh yeah, I remember the parent teams competing at Jamfest. There was a team of moms that had their bangs to the side, just like the girls. It was hilarious. They were my favorite, but I remember the one I wanted to win didn't because some parent team had a young mom who still had her backhandspring, and they were doing stunts, even though they were really easy ones. It was entertaining when they weren't trying to be good. It was the first time I had seen parents perform, so I enjoyed it. Would I want to see it every year. nah. But I guess I can just get a coke or something if competitions start having it as a regular thing.

Date: Wed Jul 19 6:17 PM, 2006

I think they might have judged it by applause, I'm trying to remember. I know they had a winner, I just can't remember how it was determined. It was entertaining (maybe because it was new). Those parents were so brave!!! It could catch on and become more popular as more teams are added, or it could phase out and get old really fast. Only time will tell!

Date: Wed Jul 19 9:11 PM, 2006

Well, hate to tell ya this but we WEREN'T being judged. We didn't get a placement, we didn't get a trophy, all we got were hats. Both teams got them. It was exhibition only. Just like all the other competitions. No judges. Maybe the judges were still at their posts counting stuff, but we didn't get judged. I know cause I was there and on the team. Thanks for the kind words though. We only practice 6 times before that. And yes, a mom had a backhandspring. We all about DIED when she did it! Most of us couldn't do a forward roll!!!!

Date: Wed Jul 19 10:41 PM, 2006

To OC Parent Team Mom, I don't remember OC being at JamFest in San Francisco. Were you guys there? I remember watching the parent teams and I remember them picking a winner, as was stated. There were three teams competing I believe. Not sure what competition you're talking about.

Date: Wed Jul 19 11:59 PM, 2006

OC parent team was at Jamfest in Long Beach when Cheergyms.com teams were there at the end of the season. I think it was in March.

Date: Thu Jul 20 8:56 AM, 2006

We were in So Cal with Cheergyms. I guess when I heard JamFest, that's what I thought of. They didn't place the parent teams.

Date: Thu Jul 20 8:59 AM, 2006

And to let everyone know, because in another post this came up, Cheergyms supported us throughout the competition. And we aren't even from Nor Cal! Thanks to Cheergyms for being so kind, supportive, polite and fun! It's ALWAYS wonderful having your organization at competitions!!!!!

Date: Thu Jul 20 5:21 PM, 2006

My daughter wanted me to do the team, and loved watching it. After we performed on stage, we had many people from other teams including the kids come up and give us "High Fives" with great big smiles..........I did it for my daughter, but I also found out how much fun it was....plus I got a great work out! The routine is only 2 1/2 minutes. IF you don't want to watch, then don't! No one is holding a gun to your head.......after watching the kids teams compete hour after hour, it was a nice and fun distraction to watch the parent teams. They were hilarious! It wasn't serious competition. When the parent teams were warming up back stage, we were cheering on the other parent teams. So, what are you going to complain about next?? The special needs teams? They don't compete either, but they are heart warming to watch.....Geez..back off please. It's about time the parent gets to do something fun.......and we are NOT living thru our kids!!

Date: Thu Jul 20 5:36 PM, 2006

No, the special needs teams don't compete either. But there is one major difference between the two. The special needs teams... they're KIDS! These competitions, they are for the kids. If parents want to put on a little show during intermission for humor, as you said, those who don't want to watch can leave the room (hopefully there is some place for them to go while they do their little show). But a regular feature, or adding a division... well, now it's not so funny.

Date: Thu Jul 20 9:12 PM, 2006

Well get used to it cause it's growing and you are in the serious minority. Hope you have somewhere to go during then cause it's not going away. Hey, did you know that women are allowed to vote now?

Date: Fri Jul 21 10:24 AM, 2006

You are being ridiculous by comparing not wanting to see "adults cheering" to "kids with special needs cheering," or by saying because we don't want to see it, you are comparing it to "discrimination/only girls can cheer," and "women voting." You few parents need to take a step back and realize that you are taking cheering (as adults) WAY to serious. Maybe you could join an activity that is more age appropriate; the theater, a gym, something with people your own age and ability.

Most of us agree that seeing the parents on stage once in a while for fun or humor (yes, we are laughing at you), is ok. It is funny at our gyms end of year party, summer picnic, etc. but come on... who are you to assume because we don't want to see parent teams competing at competitions, that we would "complain about watching CHILDREN (key word) with special needs" doing something great. You are right about one thing, I can (and will) get up to do my shopping, visit, eat, etc., if competitions decide to add parent teams as a division.

Can't wait to see the Special Teams Division...we won't miss it! Good luck Jodi!!!