Saving Seats

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:01 AM, 2006

RE: Saving Seats

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:07 AM, 2006

Isn't it funny how people get so defensive when they are CAUGHT doing something??? Instead of getting defensive Cheer Divas, just talk to your parents and don't do it again. That's the MATURE way to handle it.

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:34 AM, 2006

Saving seats is bad in any instance (unless you are saving a couple of seats for Dad and Grandpa who are on the way). Saving an entire section for parents who cant or wont get to the competition early enough to get their own seats is wrong. Whoever gets to the arena first should pick their seat and if the rest of the group is there GREAT, if not well they will have to worry about themselves when they get there. I also HATE it when cheerleaders are in the middle section, they are there to perform, not be a spectator, also they never sit for an extended period, they are running allover the place...So please coaches...parents...do not let your cheerleaders hog up seats that are meant for spectators.

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:45 AM, 2006

Who got defensive? I don't see a single post from anyone representing themselves as being associated with Divas getting defensive. My only comment was that I didn't see this happen, and really have a hard time imagining it even possible due to how packed the entire auditorium was. Our teams' coaches and all the kids didn't even have anywhere to sit until the last team was on the floor. Until then, they sat in the hallway with a few other teams. There just wasn't any room. If, as someone mentioned, 30 seats were being "saved", how could some people here not be able to find a group of 5 seats together? I'm not saying it didn't happen, I'm just saying based on what the day was actually like, I find it a stretch. There are also a lot of our parents that are brand new to cheer entirely; maybe they didn't know any better and now they do? Who knows. But I don't see any point in being all passive-agressive about it. If you see open seats, take them! If YOU know seats aren't supposed to be "saved", then tell people so outright rather than starting a big deal over something so silly. Or contact the gym owner so they can address parents directly. I'm sure 95% of our parents don't even know this board exists, so posting it here is pretty pointless.

I don't like, though, how you take the "actions" of two or three parents and turn it into the actions of an entire organization. Think of all the crazy cheer parents that each gym probably has. Now imagine if you took their actions and placed them on the heads of everyone else. Just an example, but 2 or 3 people do not represent the mass of an entire team.

I do love the idea of assigned seats for groups though. It'd be nice if everyone started that - hey, team X, your kids are assigned to section 110, and your parents are assigned to 120, etc. Nice idea, maybe someone else will give it a try.

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:50 AM, 2006

But what gym(s) gets the BEST seats? It's definitely an idea worth considering, but it can open a new can of worms!

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:55 AM, 2006

can of worms wrote:

But what gym(s) gets the BEST seats? It's definitely an idea worth considering, but it can open a new can of worms!

Nothing will ever please everyone. Although if performance order goes by registration date seating could too? Just a thought although I do not think there will ever be a perfect solution.

Date: Wed Nov 22 9:55 AM, 2006

Well I don't think the kids really care where they sit. So you put the kids on the sides and the parent sections in the middle. You could either do it by registration date or make it completely random. It's a good idea and it might force companies to better consider the size of the venues they use if they have to stop for a moment to reflect on the numbers of people that might show up!

Date: Wed Nov 22 11:29 AM, 2006

This is another subject, I know, but it really bothers me when kids don't watch the teams in their division they're going against. I know sometimes they can't because they're warming up, but when they can, they should. You need to see what your competition looks like, and understand, if you lose, why you lost. I guess that's just for the serious ones who care about how they do at competitions. I know that some are there to perform, and then go get nachos and don't really care how their team does.

Also, I agree with the post that said not to judge an entire gym by the posts or actions of a few. Gyms really have no control over the actions of the parents and other family members, regardless of how many agreements they have to sign. When someone is being rude to me I never consider what gym they're part of, I consider how that person as an individual was rude.

Date: Wed Nov 22 12:13 PM, 2006

But think about that. When you wear a shirt that says you are from a particular gym, you are REPRESENTING that gym! Just like the kids are when they put that uniform on. They are no longer little Sally Sue.... they are a member of "OC All Stars".

Now, I wasn't there so I can't say what happened. But we tell every single parent in our gym (yes, all 734 parents) that they are representing us when they wear our logo and their child wears that uniform. Bad behavior is never ever an excuse. Should someone break our rules and expectations, we do discuss it. Every single time.

As for watching teams you are up against, well those circumstances differ each and every time. But if you CAN watch, you SHOULD and you should encourage each other at all times!

EVER

OC Mom

Date: Wed Nov 22 12:21 PM, 2006

Looks to me that Odyssey and Fusion are near the size as Power. Odyssey really grew this year it seems. Get all your paents together ann I would be willing to bet it could be the Odyssey sea vs the Power sea of red.

BTW Odyssey has some really funny Dad's. Nice to see the Dad's out there so proud and sporting their colors for their kids

Date: Wed Nov 22 12:48 PM, 2006

pretty close. wrote:

Looks to me that Odyssey and Fusion are near the size as Power. Odyssey really grew this year it seems. Get all your paents together ann I would be willing to bet it could be the Odyssey sea vs the Power sea of red.

BTW Odyssey has some really funny Dad's. Nice to see the Dad's out there so proud and sporting their colors for their kids

We have grew alot!! I guess maybe we don't stand out as much because we don't have those red sticks and the big huge flags!! All we have is our voices!! It's good to know that we're noticed!!
Don't ya just love those Odyssey Dads?!?! They're the greatest!!

Date: Wed Nov 22 1:04 PM, 2006

BTW Odyssey has some really funny Dad's. Nice to see the Dad's out there so proud and sporting their colors for their kids

Don't ya just love those Odyssey Dads?!?! They're the greatest!!

I have to admit, I wish our gym had some of those Dads! I'm sure you guys are very proud of them, as you should be.....they rock!

Date: Wed Nov 22 1:05 PM, 2006

Yes you are noticed and for all the right reasons. Your parents were very nice in sharing seats, I sat in the very first row and was able to see my daughters team beacus and Odyssey Mom was nice enough to offer her daughters chair ( her daughter was still in it too) Our teams were ever going against eachother. I witnessed alot a great behavior form your group. Even the parents who had their little ones playing on the floor, let some of our board little ones play along. Thanks for setting a good example. When so much has been posted about parents fighting it is refreshing to know that most all cheer parents are not like that.

And your Dads - priceless

Date: Wed Nov 22 1:13 PM, 2006

oh your are wrote:

Yes you are noticed and for all the right reasons. Your parents were very nice in sharing seats, I sat in the very first row and was able to see my daughters team beacus and Odyssey Mom was nice enough to offer her daughters chair ( her daughter was still in it too) Our teams were ever going against eachother. I witnessed alot a great behavior form your group. Even the parents who had their little ones playing on the floor, let some of our board little ones play along. Thanks for setting a good example. When so much has been posted about parents fighting it is refreshing to know that most all cheer parents are not like that.

And your Dads - priceless

Thank you very much!! Like it was mentioned before, we are there to 1st watch our children perform but also represent the cheer gym. We would never want to give our gym a bad name.

Date: Wed Nov 22 5:44 PM, 2006

I got there about 2 in the afternoon and went up high to get seats because I saw openings. That is when myself a three other parents went to sit down and a cheer divas mom said These seats are saved and had another lady or two with her saving about 20 seats. So yes this did happen and does happen. Like I said earlier it did get squashed a little when a cheergyms mom sat down anyway.

The whole point to this post was to say we should all rally together and not put up with it anymore. We shouldn't be worried about the confrontation if we do sit down. Remember I am talking about people saving more than just a few seats. Not those people who are just up going to the bathroom.

Date: Wed Nov 22 5:55 PM, 2006

Nor Cal Forever wrote:

The whole point to this post was to say we should all rally together and not put up with it anymore. We shouldn't be worried about the confrontation if we do sit down. Remember I am talking about people saving more than just a few seats. Not those people who are just up going to the bathroom.

I agree. It's far more productive to just say "Sorry, but saving seats isn't allowed," and taking a seat, than being passive aggressive about it and coming here to take out your frustration. No one here is going to fight your battles for you; presumably you're a parent (thus, an adult) and can speak up for yourself. If you shrunk away and just said "oh, okay then..." then you have no right to complain.

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:29 PM, 2006

You know it is pointless to point out all these instances of rude parents.
I also have experienced rudeness from several cheergyms people at GSSA last year. the floor seats were to be for the people watching their team at the time and lo and behold the entire left front row was cheergyms people for the entire comp. I went down to watch several teams my daughters and some of her friends and this 45 year old mom w/ very bad knees was forced to sit on the floor because no one would move.
There are many other instances . I would just say speak up , be polite and firm and smile and just say sorry but saving seats isn't right.
BTW I know for a fact that most cheer parents and fans are really nice people , just like anything it takes only a few bad eggs to ruin it for all.
No team is excempt from rude people.

Date: Wed Nov 22 8:45 PM, 2006

To Nor Cal, you said the whole point of your post was to say we should all rally together, etc..., but it seems to me the whole point of your post was to drag a gym name in, which has nothing to do with the person you had a problem with. Why mention a gym's name? Why not just say this person did this rude thing.

I have seen horrible behavior from parents who were part of very large well respected gyms. Do I think less of the gym? No, that would be ridiculous. Am I going to go home and call the gym the next day to tell them? No, I have better things to do with my time. Just more thoughts on this.

So here's a question .. if you have a bag on a seat you're saving, it's fine for someone to come up and take your bag, put it on the ground, and have a seat? All I can say is the next competition we're at should be interesting!

Date: Wed Nov 22 9:03 PM, 2006

To Nor Cal wrote:

To Nor Cal, you said the whole point of your post was to say we should all rally together, etc..., but it seems to me the whole point of your post was to drag a gym name in, which has nothing to do with the person you had a problem with. Why mention a gym's name? Why not just say this person did this rude thing.

I have seen horrible behavior from parents who were part of very large well respected gyms. Do I think less of the gym? No, that would be ridiculous. Am I going to go home and call the gym the next day to tell them? No, I have better things to do with my time. Just more thoughts on this.

So here's a question .. if you have a bag on a seat you're saving, it's fine for someone to come up and take your bag, put it on the ground, and have a seat? All I can say is the next competition we're at should be interesting!

I do not think that it is right to take something off of the chair and sit down. I've seen that happen so many times . Also I do not think it's right for someone to ignore you after you just told them that the seat was saved and just sit down. That happened to me at a comp. My daughters went to the bathroom, this lady and her husband asked if those seats were taken and I said yes they are they will be right back and then they told me that I wasn't suppose to save seats and sat down anyways. Now I don't think that's right at all.

Date: Wed Nov 22 9:06 PM, 2006

In the spirit of fairness I would say most of my experiences at comps have been nice ones. I love talking to parents of diff teams. I made a nice friend in Las Vegas last year. A team from houston area, can't think of the name off hand something to do w/ the word navy ? I don't know but the parents were so nice and the teams and ours spent time outside waiting and had so much fun.
Also another time I sat w/ Power parents and spoke to one mom about college cheer etc and had such a nice conversation. I think her son was thinking about going to HPU.
I am not originally from cali and have found that I am a chatterbox w/ strangers and they don't seem to mind much.
You can take the girl out of the south but you can't take the south out of the girl .
HAPPY THANKSGIVING YALL