Power Competition!!!

Date: Tue Nov 7 12:10 PM, 2006

RE: Power Competition!!!

Date: Tue Nov 7 12:51 PM, 2006

I agree with you that the Youth Teams in this area are not "typical" youth teams.

However they do follow all of the rules and regulations set forth by their leagues. I have actually helped them rewrite these rules over the past few years. They now can do skills up to a combination of level 4/5 of All-Stars. They have try-outs in April and can add members to their teams until the league championship, these members must be certified by the league to compete.

In regard to switching members post league championship you are correct, most companies can't or won’t police them. I do know that I have team rosters for all of those organizations, and if at anytime a fellow competition company would like those names I would gladly hand them over (not the addresses). Furthermore, if any of those teams were to try and compete at another competition of mine, say the one January 21, 2007 in Fresno they would be forced to use members from the organization that cheered for those football games, and if they have added a member post league championship they would placed into an all-star division.

Email me if there is anything you would like to know.

Cheers

JOHN

Date: Tue Nov 7 12:55 PM, 2006

I have to agree. Call the category "open teams" or something like that, but it's unfair to lump them with "youth teams" who are supposed to be cheering for a youth sport, who happen to compete against other teams who cheer for a youth sport (every Saturday during the season, not once in a while). These youth teams at various levels (Jr. PeeWee, PeeWee, Jr. Midget, and Midget) cheer together as teams, and they compete together as teams. They do not take the best from all four and make a team just to compete with, it defeats the purpose. If you're going to take the best and make an "all star" team, which is what you're doing, have them compete against other all star teams, or give it a separate category. Doesn't that make sense? And isn't the difference between the ones who play by the rules and the ones who are bending the rules quite obvious? Just my take on it.

I also want to thank you, John, for explaining various things that have come up on the board lately, it helps seeing the details and facts.

Date: Tue Nov 7 1:03 PM, 2006

Hi John and everyone else at Power!

A couple years ago, I really didnt like your team because it was the first year that you started consistantly beating my team. So I got frustrated and angry. But now I look at your program and am in awe.
From amazing level five teams to great coaches, your program has it all. I love how you focus so much on every team, even your minis to be the best that they can possibly be. Also I love how you know your strengths and weaknesses. Power has always been known to have picture perfect stunts and a clean routine but not always the most exciting choreography. The fact that as a coach you can realize that and get somebody else to choreograph is something that not many people can do. Overall at competitions you have the whole package, so many amazing teams, very supportive parents, solid routines and lots of earned 1st places. Good luck this year, we all know you will go far.

-Former SBE member

Date: Tue Nov 7 1:07 PM, 2006

You are welcome for the explanations. Like I said Knowledge is POWER :)

In regard to the "open Team" The teams that competed this weekend are the actual teams that do the football games each and every week. I know hard to believe, but we have been doing camps with most of them since Mid-May. Some organizations have had 4 and 5 stunt camps throughout the summer and fall to keep pushing skills. We also have probably 50 or so of those kids from various teams taking tumbling classes at our facility.

Now that the league championship is over most of them are going to be having tryouts or selecting members (the best of) from their squads to have open teams. I have gotten several calls already from parents whose kids did not make those teams that want to further their skills now so they can make the team next season. Granite Bay Jr Grizzlies, Oakmont Jr Vikings, Rocklin Jr Thunder, Folsom Jr Bulldogs, and El Dorado Hills Jr Trojans all will have youth football open teams this year.

The problem lies with competition companies not knowing the market, not keeping pace with the times, and thinking everything is the same as when they did youth football cheer in 1968 LOL. JAMZ, USA, GSSA, and POWER are the only companies with Youth football "open" divisions the rest of the companies just clump everyone together. I would direct your concern to those companies and make them aware of the times!

Cheers, been great chatting with you!

JOHN

PS Could you imagine what I could do if I had all of those talented kids on my teams!!! One can only dream.

Date: Tue Nov 7 1:13 PM, 2006

Another thought on the new youth teams we're seeing who really aren't youth teams ... really what it boils down to is this, it's a less expensive way to do all star competitive cheerleading, and to top it off, you'll most likely dominate and win quite often going against all the old school youth teams (who these competitions are really intended for).

Date: Tue Nov 7 1:18 PM, 2006

Different Name wrote:

I have to agree. Call the category "open teams" or something like that, but it's unfair to lump them with "youth teams" who are supposed to be cheering for a youth sport, who happen to compete against other teams who cheer for a youth sport (every Saturday during the season, not once in a while). These youth teams at various levels (Jr. PeeWee, PeeWee, Jr. Midget, and Midget) cheer together as teams, and they compete together as teams. They do not take the best from all four and make a team just to compete with, it defeats the purpose. If you're going to take the best and make an "all star" team, which is what you're doing, have them compete against other all star teams, or give it a separate category. Doesn't that make sense? And isn't the difference between the ones who play by the rules and the ones who are bending the rules quite obvious? Just my take on it.

I also want to thank you, John, for explaining various things that have come up on the board lately, it helps seeing the details and facts.

I agree, they maybe following the "rules" but it is a total disadvantage because 90% of youth/pop warner have to cheer for games and are supposed to limit practices. In addition they usually cannot practice at cheer facilities for insurance purposes. Not all youth teams have the same accessiblity so I feel it should be an even playing ground. There should be an open cheer division because these are NOT youth/pop warner teams by any means.

Date: Tue Nov 7 1:24 PM, 2006

I think California is out of control with the amount of competitiveness with its youth/rec/and sidline teams. If these teams keep focusing on competitions, administrations will pull those programs because its not beneffiting the teams they represent. It's great they go and win Jamz/USA nationals, but the sole purpose of those teams are to support the programs. It has already happened in other states, but you go to games/events and the cheerleaders just don't do their job. If you want to solely compete thenjoin a all star team.

Date: Tue Nov 7 2:09 PM, 2006

I would also like to thank John from POWER for taking the time to address the different views and questions on this board, we know you don't have to or need to. Your views and information are valued as you have been in this business for a long time and have a very successful program because of it. Hopefully you understand that we as parents have thoughts and opinions also and sometimes lend a different perspective to things. Thank you for addressing the reasons for some of the decisions made this weekend as it does lend your perspective and reasoning. I do understand and agree with the majority of it as far as keeping costs down for people etc.

The reason why I am interested in the backdrop and lighting (and yes I am serious) is because I like to have pictures from the comps we go to and the way I remember what comps the pictures are from is by the backdrop saying where we are (I am one of those that takes the pictures and then takes forever to get them to the album!). I know cheergyms had a banner made up that just says "Spirit Spectacular" that can be used over again each year at their comp. Nothing fancy, but gives you something to reference in pictures. I know this is trivial, but it is a parent thing, not a kid or gym owner thing. Unfortunately on Sunday the lighting was just not bright enough to take pictures anyway (which I know is the venue and was not on purpose). Just trying to give a viewpoint as something to consider in the future, that's all.

As for the youth programs, I know in our area, the majority of the teams are not in the same league as allstars. My daughter started in youth football and after a couple years of it and seeing the complete inconsistency in the enforcement of the rules and constantly competing against a couple teams that everyone knew didn't follow the rules yet won everything all the time, I decided to make a change. It was easier to go to an allstar program where everyone was on the same page so to speak then try to fight the youth programs. They are better now then they were before, but there is still a lot of work to be done to level the playing field in the youth football cheer programs. Glad to hear you are involved in your area's program as maybe you can make the difference!

Date: Tue Nov 7 3:13 PM, 2006

Well said Cheer mom!!!

Thanks John for listening and addressing concerns!

Date: Tue Nov 7 3:20 PM, 2006

i liked the warm up schedule. giving room for standing tumbling first really helped get people warmed up before the running tumbling which made running tumbling not as hectic for each of us.

Date: Tue Nov 7 4:21 PM, 2006

first off, it was a well run competion and i thank power for it. yes it may have been a bummer that not as many teams were in each categorie as hoped for, however it was not a huge competition. if anything it was a first cometition to the season to get teams prepared for future competiotions.

second reguarding the youth teams, i very much so think that the girls from places like folsom, el derado, and granite bay could be strong competitors in the all star categories. They are all just as good if not better than the majority of the all star teams that attended.

Date: Tue Nov 7 4:28 PM, 2006

Another thought on the new youth teams we're seeing who really aren't youth teams ... really what it boils down to is this, it's a less expensive way to do all star competitive cheerleading, and to top it off, you'll most likely dominate and win quite often going against all the old school youth teams (who these competitions are really intended for).

This above comment is rediculous. The girls that compete against eachother are all the same age and are given the same oppertunities. They are all infact YOUTH teams that are given all the same practice time restrictions and same voenteer coaches. The reason for some being so much higher up in competition level is becasue of the dedication of the team and the level of skill each instructor has. in no way is it an easy, cheap way of all star cheer. thats terrible to say that. as far as the "old school youth teams" they are this way because of there lack of knoledge of the constantly progressing cheer world. If they are not up to par with the more competitive teams like rocklin gb el derado and folsom, they have an intermediate categorie they can always enter. But basically i disagree with this persons comment.

And thanks again John, awesome competition.

Date: Tue Nov 7 4:58 PM, 2006

Disagree entirely to "response to". We've had to drive to a number of lower income areas when our daughter cheered for youth football, and it was nice that all the youth cheerleaders, at one time, were on the same playing field (no pun intended). Now, you can't tell me that the youth cheer teams of today who have the money to practice at gyms and take private tumbling lessons don't have an advantage. Youth cheer teams of today are right in-between youth and all-stars. Go against other youth teams, they'll dominate. Go against all-stars, they won't (not to say they won't win or hold their own, but they won't dominate over the less fortunate youth teams which is exactly what we see happening today). Same age, same opportunites, give me a break. Most of the youth teams do not have a pool of talent to choose their youth all stars from. Look around outside of your own little world and you'll see how unfair it has become.

Date: Tue Nov 7 5:06 PM, 2006

not quite wrote:

Disagree entirely to "response to". We've had to drive to a number of lower income areas when our daughter cheered for youth football, and it was nice that all the youth cheerleaders, at one time, were on the same playing field (no pun intended). Now, you can't tell me that the youth cheer teams of today who have the money to practice at gyms and take private tumbling lessons don't have an advantage. Youth cheer teams of today are right in-between youth and all-stars. Go against other youth teams, they'll dominate. Go against all-stars, they won't (not to say they won't win or hold their own, but they won't dominate over the less fortunate youth teams which is exactly what we see happening today). Same age, same opportunites, give me a break. Most of the youth teams do not have a pool of talent to choose their youth all stars from. Look around outside of your own little world and you'll see how unfair it has become.

It's true.....the Youth football teams in the Contra Costa area are no where near the level of Granite Bay and Folsom. Plus....they're still caught up in camps by second rate companies, untrained coaches, and competitions on HARD WOOD FLOORS! It's nuts!

Date: Tue Nov 7 5:13 PM, 2006

im sorry that you disagree with my point of view. i dont know if you know much about youth cheer but i have been around it for eight years now. and not just one, but multiple different organizations. and yes some teams spent tons of money going to all star camps, however some teams did not, and if you were to look both sides did well at the competition. Some got their camps simply from there high schools.

And this is what youth cheer has come to in the today. its not like girlls drive two and three hours to get to there gyms, it is a community activity and most defintatly not run as an all star team is.

Date: Tue Nov 7 10:17 PM, 2006

Some may applaud the efforts by gym owners to change the rules for youth to allow 4/5 level skills, but those skills don't come naturally. It takes training, camps, etc... I wonder if those pushing to up the levels offer their services and use of their gym for free? I'm guessing not. Do you see how it has now become a sport where you have to invest a good sum of money to keep up with the levels that gym owners themselves are helping to determine? They offer the services, and can now push for the need. I know I will be blasted for this, but having been with youth for years, I really feel for all the youth teams that are not and will not be fortunate enough to spend the money it will take to raise their skill levels to the point where they can compete in a sport that is supposed to be all about cheering and representing your community. Please try to put yourself in their place, maybe you'll see where I'm coming from.

Date: Thu Nov 9 1:18 PM, 2006

Nice to see you guys again at the competition! All of your teams were amazing as usual!!! Good Luck the rest of the season hope to see you guys soon!

Love~~The Royal All Stars

Date: Thu Nov 9 1:44 PM, 2006

Hmm wrote:

Some may applaud the efforts by gym owners to change the rules for youth to allow 4/5 level skills, but those skills don't come naturally. It takes training, camps, etc... I wonder if those pushing to up the levels offer their services and use of their gym for free? I'm guessing not. Do you see how it has now become a sport where you have to invest a good sum of money to keep up with the levels that gym owners themselves are helping to determine? They offer the services, and can now push for the need. I know I will be blasted for this, but having been with youth for years, I really feel for all the youth teams that are not and will not be fortunate enough to spend the money it will take to raise their skill levels to the point where they can compete in a sport that is supposed to be all about cheering and representing your community. Please try to put yourself in their place, maybe you'll see where I'm coming from.

Pushing those Youth/Pop Warner teams to that level makes it harder for all the teams in the division,because it becomes necessary to go to gyms to train or get clinics, especially for the tumbling. All Stars are set up that way, so people know what they are getting into, but to have YOUTH teams do it I think is a bad decision.

Date: Thu Nov 9 3:47 PM, 2006

I also agree. We were with Pop Warner for years. It was a nice way to start off. An inexpensive introduction to cheer. It was a fun social thing for my daughter to do, with no pressure. She cheered every Saturday, got to go to a couple competitions, and the icing on the cake was always the trip to Vegas where she had the chance to compete on a stage with others who did the same thing every Saturday.

We left Pop Warner when she decided she wanted more. She was ready to move up and strictly do competitive cheerleading. We had the time and the money, and that's what we did, she's been in all stars now for a few years.

If the trend we're seeing continues for youth cheer, there will be little difference between all stars and youth, except that you will be leaving many youth teams behind who were perfectly happy with the way it used to be. If you have the money and the time and want more, join all stars. It's nice we have the two to choose from. Don't try to turn one into the other.