Comments for Spirit Post http://spiritpost.com The Place for Cheerleading & Dance Information Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:42:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Increasing Competition – Part 2 – Ages & Levels by Iván Roldán Leyva http://spiritpost.com/2012/02/increasing-competition-part-2-ages-levels/#comment-1025 Iván Roldán Leyva Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:42:01 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6261#comment-1025 Hi from Chile, this is a very good article that can help a lot to countries like mine where we are trying to develop and keep up with the updates. We are using your experience to don´t reply the same mistakes and growth in a faster way learning from the things that give better results for USA, of course adapting it to our reality. Hi from Chile, this is a very good article that can help a lot to countries like mine where we are trying to develop and keep up with the updates. We are using your experience to don´t reply the same mistakes and growth in a faster way learning from the things that give better results for USA, of course adapting it to our reality.

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Andre http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-1005 Andre Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:29:01 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-1005 Right now we have 3 declared levels. If a good former gymnast walks through the door and is a L4 or L5 cheerleader on the tumbling side, but has no stunt or toss experience, what should their declared level be for the sake of never being allowed to compete more than 1 level up? Right now we have 3 declared levels. If a good former gymnast walks through the door and is a L4 or L5 cheerleader on the tumbling side, but has no stunt or toss experience, what should their declared level be for the sake of never being allowed to compete more than 1 level up?

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Andre http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-1004 Andre Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:23:48 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-1004 "Perhaps crossovers should be allowed at the same level or higher ie: L3 All Girl to L3 Coed." - How does a normal person determine if the kid that's on a L3 and L4 team is a L3 athlete competing up on L4 or a L4 athlete competing down on L3? “Perhaps crossovers should be allowed at the same level or higher ie: L3 All Girl to L3 Coed.” – How does a normal person determine if the kid that’s on a L3 and L4 team is a L3 athlete competing up on L4 or a L4 athlete competing down on L3?

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Andre http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-1003 Andre Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:21:07 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-1003 The door is open to an article about "how to make this work in your own gym" The door is open to an article about “how to make this work in your own gym”

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Chere Hoffman http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-1000 Chere Hoffman Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:09:23 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-1000 In gymnastics, as an example from another sport, once an athlete moves up a skill level, they are there to stay. The exception is if the coach has made an error by moving them up too early and can clearly show this athlete is NOT successful at their new upward level, they can petition the regional chairman to move them back to the level they came from. Yes, gymnastics is an individual sport, whereas cheer is team…but cross overs should be controlled whether they are a "cross up" OR a "cross down". And NEVER should an athlete be allowed to cross over and compete more than one level of their declared level…the one in which they are registered for. In gymnastics, as an example from another sport, once an athlete moves up a skill level, they are there to stay. The exception is if the coach has made an error by moving them up too early and can clearly show this athlete is NOT successful at their new upward level, they can petition the regional chairman to move them back to the level they came from.
Yes, gymnastics is an individual sport, whereas cheer is team…but cross overs should be controlled whether they are a “cross up” OR a “cross down”. And NEVER should an athlete be allowed to cross over and compete more than one level of their declared level…the one in which they are registered for.

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Cheer Dad Florida http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-994 Cheer Dad Florida Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:36:14 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-994 Our large gym uses crossovers very carefully and usually to fill a spot for an injury. Most of our crossovers move up a level and most of them are able to bump their skills up as a result of the crossover experience. Perhaps crossovers should be allowed at the same level or higher ie: L3 All Girl to L3 Coed. That would allow a gym to fill in for injuries without the taint of loading the deck. We saw a lot of gyms promote this kind of behavior in gymnastics, where a girl who is clearly 2 levels above the level they are competing in comes in to take the trophies. Some coaches even promoted it as a way to make their athlete feel like a winner after a blow in their own level. I have to agree with Patrick that if you develop your athletes properly, you will perform better at competition and probably have less of a need to fill in for injured athletes. Our large gym uses crossovers very carefully and usually to fill a spot for an injury. Most of our crossovers move up a level and most of them are able to bump their skills up as a result of the crossover experience. Perhaps crossovers should be allowed at the same level or higher ie: L3 All Girl to L3 Coed. That would allow a gym to fill in for injuries without the taint of loading the deck.
We saw a lot of gyms promote this kind of behavior in gymnastics, where a girl who is clearly 2 levels above the level they are competing in comes in to take the trophies. Some coaches even promoted it as a way to make their athlete feel like a winner after a blow in their own level.
I have to agree with Patrick that if you develop your athletes properly, you will perform better at competition and probably have less of a need to fill in for injured athletes.

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by Patrick Fogarty http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-991 Patrick Fogarty Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:18:30 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-991 First off, I want to say that I agree the crossover issue needs to be considered further and this falls on the coaches and representatives of the All Star Spirit Industry. The USASF governs our industry but the members set the agenda and recommend the changes to rules. Last rule change sparked a large debate on crossovers, or rather the "controlling" of crossovers, but a decision could not be made and for very valid reasons. As a coach, I see the usefulness of crossovers and I've yet to find someone who successfully argues that crossovers should be abolished from our industry completely. Unfortunately, as with anything in life, there will be those who take advantage and misuse crossovers. I see some possibility in the attempt to control crossovers but ultimately I believe we need to take another route. From a business point of view, crossovers cost you money as explained above. From a competitive point of view, the main argument and negative aspect of crossovers is the idea of "sandbagging". It's clearly a valid argument that a seasoned level 5 athlete is able to wipe the floor in level 2 or 3 - and this is unfair. Currently legal, but nonetheless unfair. As long as crossovers are legal, and they likely will be, this is going to happen. I believe this can be combatted by making better and smarter choice on our own teams and controlling the things you can control, athlete skill progression and team level decision. As a choreographer, I travel around the world working with teams of every level. I often come across gyms who are trying to place their team(s) in a higher level then they should be. Five running tucks shouldn't warrant level 3 and so forth. Too many coaches make the competition mat a place where athletes are developing their skills. I feel development should happen in the gym and mastery should happen on the floor. If you set your teams' level according to where the large majority of athletes are in mastery of the appropriate skills, then you will be equipped to compete teams who participate in "sandbagging". A well executed running tuck is a well executed running tuck. I can go into more detail on this process and how to make this work in your own gym, but this is supposed to be a comment to an article, not an article. First off, I want to say that I agree the crossover issue needs to be considered further and this falls on the coaches and representatives of the All Star Spirit Industry. The USASF governs our industry but the members set the agenda and recommend the changes to rules. Last rule change sparked a large debate on crossovers, or rather the “controlling” of crossovers, but a decision could not be made and for very valid reasons. As a coach, I see the usefulness of crossovers and I’ve yet to find someone who successfully argues that crossovers should be abolished from our industry completely. Unfortunately, as with anything in life, there will be those who take advantage and misuse crossovers. I see some possibility in the attempt to control crossovers but ultimately I believe we need to take another route.

From a business point of view, crossovers cost you money as explained above. From a competitive point of view, the main argument and negative aspect of crossovers is the idea of “sandbagging”. It’s clearly a valid argument that a seasoned level 5 athlete is able to wipe the floor in level 2 or 3 – and this is unfair. Currently legal, but nonetheless unfair. As long as crossovers are legal, and they likely will be, this is going to happen. I believe this can be combatted by making better and smarter choice on our own teams and controlling the things you can control, athlete skill progression and team level decision.

As a choreographer, I travel around the world working with teams of every level. I often come across gyms who are trying to place their team(s) in a higher level then they should be. Five running tucks shouldn’t warrant level 3 and so forth. Too many coaches make the competition mat a place where athletes are developing their skills. I feel development should happen in the gym and mastery should happen on the floor. If you set your teams’ level according to where the large majority of athletes are in mastery of the appropriate skills, then you will be equipped to compete teams who participate in “sandbagging”. A well executed running tuck is a well executed running tuck. I can go into more detail on this process and how to make this work in your own gym, but this is supposed to be a comment to an article, not an article.

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by ChristianCheerCoach http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-980 ChristianCheerCoach Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:18:16 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-980 Is it me or is crossovers legal cheating?? I witnessed a couple of girls compete at level 3 and then compete level 1??? Of course the team won, but what does that teach them?? Needless to say my girls (level 1) kept their heads up but what explanation can I give them as a coach?? How do I explain that to them? I don't understand how crossover is even allowed. SMH Is it me or is crossovers legal cheating?? I witnessed a couple of girls compete at level 3 and then compete level 1??? Of course the team won, but what does that teach them??

Needless to say my girls (level 1) kept their heads up but what explanation can I give them as a coach?? How do I explain that to them?

I don’t understand how crossover is even allowed. SMH

]]> Comment on Crossovers Cross a Line or Two by CheerMomVA http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/crossovers-cross-a-line-or-two/#comment-976 CheerMomVA Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:28:33 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6401#comment-976 I completely agree with the writer!!! During the 2010 competition season, I literally saw many of the same cheerleaders on 4 different teams from a Newport News gym (and I don't mean Fame). They were true level 5 cheerleaders competing on Sr 3, 4 and Coed 3. At the time, the majority of our level 3 members were "true" level 3 (recent acquisitions of tucks for many members), with a couple of 2's stretching their skills. Win or lose, the playing field is absolutely not level in this scenario. When discussing this with our own gym owner and a representative from Coastal, they quickly defended the practice with the rationale that if our level 3 team gave their very best and worked to max out the score sheets, competitions against this gym were fair. Very best or not, they never stood a chance against seasonsed level 5 cheerleaders temporarily dumbing down their skills to a level 3. After all, they didn't begin at level 5. Those skills are progressed, sometimes over many years. By the time you're throwing a full, a BHS comes pretty easy. I completely agree with the writer!!! During the 2010 competition season, I literally saw many of the same cheerleaders on 4 different teams from a Newport News gym (and I don’t mean Fame). They were true level 5 cheerleaders competing on Sr 3, 4 and Coed 3. At the time, the majority of our level 3 members were “true” level 3 (recent acquisitions of tucks for many members), with a couple of 2′s stretching their skills. Win or lose, the playing field is absolutely not level in this scenario. When discussing this with our own gym owner and a representative from Coastal, they quickly defended the practice with the rationale that if our level 3 team gave their very best and worked to max out the score sheets, competitions against this gym were fair. Very best or not, they never stood a chance against seasonsed level 5 cheerleaders temporarily dumbing down their skills to a level 3. After all, they didn’t begin at level 5. Those skills are progressed, sometimes over many years. By the time you’re throwing a full, a BHS comes pretty easy.

]]> Comment on Varsity to Live Stream Division 1A of College Championships by Andre http://spiritpost.com/2012/01/varsity-to-live-stream-division-1a-of-college-championships/#comment-934 Andre Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:39:28 +0000 http://post.spiritcompany.com/?p=6327#comment-934 It will not. The fine print says desktop/laptop only and specifically says no to iOS devices. It will not. The fine print says desktop/laptop only and specifically says no to iOS devices.

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