All-Stars Rant...Skimpy Uniforms, Inappropriate Dances, and Front Spots

[Stunt Double 4U]

I go more along the line of thinking they're the same sport with a completely different focus and set-up.  Kind of like the NFL and Arena football--same basic skills, totally different rules, venue and standards.  I've  been coaching all star for 2 years, and I'm pretty sure this will be my last for MANY reasons.  If I do ever go back after my year off (long story), I'm certain I want to go back to school cheer--much more wholesome and it has a purpose.  I've had more stress trying to coach the same routine for an entire year then I ever had when I coached high school and things changed every single day.

[ACEDAD]

The reason I think that its ok is because allstar's isn't just about the cheerleading. It's a full on, almost theatrical performance. All star girls have to be performers. The uniform is like a costume. This is what makes allstar competitions so interesting to watch and do, its not about leading the crowd like traditional cheerleading, but rather having the audience and judges enjoy the routine. When I competed with a large coed team our coach would tell us that our division is when the "show" comes in, its what some people came to see. Many people would stay to watch us just to see what we would do. These days the allstar world and traditional cheerleading worlds are so different you really can't compare them with one another.

Cheerleading is about cheer leading.  Leading cheers.  It should all be the same.  I understand that in different competitions and different companies you do different things, but it shouldn't be different.  If people just want to show their bodies and do provocative dances, then call it something else.  Make it a different sport.  I have known parents that wouldn't let their daughters cheer because they only saw the image of what the all stars put out there and they didn't want their daughters looking/acting like that.  Everyone should represent the sport the same.  Cheerleaders already have enough trouble trying to break these stereotypes as it is. 

Sorry, can't help you with calling it something different, but all star cheerleading is definitely different than school cheerleading.  ALL school cheerleaders are there to support the school and various athletic programs.  A much smaller percentage of those athletes compete against other cheerleaders.

The only reason that all star cheerleading (or competitive cheerleading or whatever else you would like to call it) exists is to compete.  So, for them it is NOT about leading cheers.

If you haven't noticed there are lots of different all star gyms out there, not all of them portraying the image that you and the parents you mention seem to think applies to all.

[Megan0504]

I agree that not all gyms wear showy uniforms and do inappropiate dances, and I love watching squads who don't.  But for the most part they do, and I'm not saying that all teams should be penalized.  I'm not saying they should be penalized at all.

I wasn't trying to demean all star cheerleaders.  I think they are superb athletes and deserve a lot of respect.  I'm just saying that some of the choices that the oweners and choreographers make should be considered more than just, "hey, that uniform is sure to get their attention" or "these moves show how hot we really are"  That isn't what its all about.  Competitions are all about showing your athleticism and your skills, while doing them safely and technically correct.

I understand that all star programs don't do sideline chants and stuff like that, but they do have their little chants that they yell and have their fans yell.  They want the crowd to cheer for them.  I agree with a lot that was said and I really was not trying to put any all star programs down.  Sorry if it came out that way. 

[coachamie]

The only reason that all star cheerleading (or competitive cheerleading or whatever else you would like to call it) exists is to compete.  So, for them it is NOT about leading cheers.

If you haven't noticed there are lots of different all star gyms out there, not all of them portraying the image that you and the parents you mention seem to think applies to all.

Thanks! I think that might have summed it up better then how I tried to explain it!

[candcrew]

I think Acedad hit it exactly . . . All Stars is more about performing and it's focus is NOT side-line/crowd oriented.  As a parent, it is imperative that one researches the gyms available in your area and look for one that embodies your own personal belief system.  In some areas that is easier than others . . . where we're at there are few gyms with all-stars and I just don't like the "image" or message that is portrayed/conveyed in their philosophy and appearance/uniforms.  I'm not saying they aren't good programs, *I* just don't personally like the "bump and grind" and exposure of skin that several seem to embrace.  I've chosen to NOT put my 4 daughters in studio/all-star cheer programs because *I* don't like the body image and sportsmanship messages that those in our area sends.  Could it help their technical cheer skill developement?  Absolutely but it's not a trade-off I'm willing to make.  There is one gym that I really like but unfortunately driving 75 miles one way to the gym isn't doable with our schedules.

BTW--I do coach non-competitive sideline cheerleading at the HS level (and possibly JH level also next year) and the 1st thing I do at my parent meetings is to point out the differences between all-star vs. sideline cheerleading.  I go even further to point out the differences between competitive + sideline squads vs. straight sideline and most seem okay with it.  All 3 levels of cheering have their own characteristics and they're going to "draw" different people to them.

[lilbitofgenius]

I actually might be the only one on this board that doesn't find the allstar's outfits out of control.

Being pretty fresh out of the allstar world (stopped 2 yrs ago) I was one of the girls that grew up with the skimpy uniform, big bow on top of my head, and big flashy make-up. I don't find much wrong with it, but it has its place. Don't get me wrong I cheered for a college and high school squads as well, and we did clean fresh makeup and normal hair, so I think depending on what kind of squad you have, should be the look you use.

The reason I think that its ok is because allstar's isn't just about the cheerleading. It's a full on, almost theatrical performance. All star girls have to be performers. The uniform is like a costume. This is what makes allstar competitions so interesting to watch and do, its not about leading the crowd like traditional cheerleading, but rather having the audience and judges enjoy the routine. When I competed with a large coed team our coach would tell us that our division is when the "show" comes in, its what some people came to see. Many people would stay to watch us just to see what we would do. These days the allstar world and traditional cheerleading worlds are so different you really can't compare them with one another.

I can see why people wouldn't want their youth squads wearing mid-driffs, but if you let them walk around in bikinis then what's the real difference?

I agree in part that all stars is different than school cheer. School cheerleaders main objective is to support their sports teams and all stars focus solely on competition, but my question is..... How does wearing midriffs, lots of make-up and having suggestive dance moves or music help with the "theatrical performance"? or the performance at all? It doesn't. Elite level skills can be performed in sweat suits just as well as in sports bras and boy shorts.

Something else I think that should be considered is that these competitions are open to the public and IMO it only encourages sex offenders to attend competitions when they know they can expect to see thousands of half naked little girls who fill thier routines with suggestive movements.

[ucaCHEERalum]

Elite level skills can be performed in sweat suits just as well as in sports bras and boy shorts.

They CAN be performed in sweat suits - but shouldn't. 

Uniforms don't necessarily have to be midriff, but form-fitting is a must, just as a safety protocol. 

[gccheer1]

Maybe it's just me, but I watched the NASCC on television this weekend and was apalled at how short some of the skirts are on those kids.  All star squads or not -- these are still kids under the age of 18.  Some of them were so disgusting, even I was shocked.  There needs to be some sort of penalty for indecent uniforms!

[coachamie]

I saw that show and I agree some of the skirts didn't even cover half of the girls bottoms. I have nothing against all star uniforms but some teams were extreme.

[FalconCheer08]

I'm writing this as I watch NCA All-Star nationals on tv... A lot of these stunts that use a front spot and have a lot of transitions look like they're going to injure the front spot because they come so close to getting kicked in the face!! Of the past 6 teams I've watched there have been 2 uniforms that I thought were appropriate/attractive at all! the rest of them had those hideous cut outs on the shoulders that make it distracting to look at their arm motions and there's so many arms going up all over the place and the uniforms are so busy that it's hard to see if they're doing anything correctly. It also looks like the girls tops are going to fall off at any second because of the 1 inch strap that's holding their top up. I'm sorry but WHAT'S WITH THE SINGING ALONG WITH THE SONGS? I know I have to stop my girls from singing as they cheer but it's very distracting, I'd rather see you have a nice smile and enjoying what you're doing instead of showing me that you know the lyrics to all the songs in your mix.

Some of these stunts are going up with no backspot... is that safe?

[jandotcom]

I'm sorry but WHAT'S WITH THE SINGING ALONG WITH THE SONGS? I know I have to stop my girls from singing as they cheer but it's very distracting, I'd rather see you have a nice smile and enjoying what you're doing instead of showing me that you know the lyrics to all the songs in your mix.

I coach rec league, but my daughter is on an all-star team.  Her coaches told them to sing along with the songs - that the judges look for it - that it's the latest trend.

I don't know true that is...but I'm with you.  I'd rather they just smile.

[coachamie]

I coach rec league, but my daughter is on an all-star team.  Her coaches told them to sing along with the songs - that the judges look for it - that it's the latest trend.

I don't know true that is...but I'm with you.  I'd rather they just smile.

I think her coaches made that up!

[FalconCheer08]

I coach rec league, but my daughter is on an all-star team.  Her coaches told them to sing along with the songs - that the judges look for it - that it's the latest trend.

I don't know true that is...but I'm with you.  I'd rather they just smile.

As I was watching Nationals, the announcers kept saying "look at how much fun they're having, you can tell they're really enjoying what they're doing" when they were showing a team that was showing actual enthusiasm and smiling as if they were enjoying themselves (because they were) and they didn't say anything for the teams that doubled as choirs.

And I'd agree with coachamie - I think they made that up too!! I coach all-star and I've never told my girls to do that (and I'd like to say that I keep up with the "latest trends" it's only been 6 years since I myself was on the all-star mat) My biggest problem with it, and this is how I explain it to both my all-stars and my Varsity, is that if you're thinking about the words you're lipping and you're not thinking about the counts you're going to screw up. I don't care that you know the routine so well you don't need to count, you do, you need to think about the pace that you're going and make sure you're concentrating on what you're doing.

[ucaCHEERalum]

Cheerleading takes enough flack...we don't need people referring to us as a show choir.  Ya got that coaches? 

Someone asked in another thread (maybe it was this one) "what happened to cheerleading?"

Again, my answer is...Allstars.

[FalconCheer08]

First off - sarcasm is hard to convey through text
Second - I don't think all-star cheer has done anything extremely negative to the cheerleading world, in fact I think it's enhanced it. The TRAINING is what it takes now to get onto a college squad and I'm thankful for all my time spent with my all-star squad as well as my high school squad. However the image I'm not thankful for.

When girls are told to "sing along with the songs," convinced that the less uniform they're wearing the more attractive they'll be to the audience, and taught to dance like girls in music videos - we're making a mockery of ourselves. Someone needs to point that out to people so we can change how we're perceived by outsiders. The reason cheerleading isn't taken seriously is because it's seen as a simple vanity exercise where the "skinny air heads who aren't good at anything else dress in skimpy clothes and jump around to get peoples attention" as one of my friends in high school once told me. Obviously, I wouldn't have devoted the majority of my life the cheerleading if this were my opinion.

I'm not saying All-star cheer is bad at all, but I am saying that it's not perfect, there are things that I wish would change and the only way to change that is to talk about it. For the time being, I've chosen to talk about how I would rather see a nice smile and enthusiasm then a girl lip-syncing the words to "Low." While watching NCA All-Star Nationals on tv this afternoon, all I could focus on was the flyers face or their tops almost falling off, not the great stunting that the rest of her body was doing.

We can stop the references to a choir by not being one. That's what I tell my girls - you're an athlete not the entertainment, we have music for a reason.

[Kong]

I don't think all-star cheer has done anything extremely negative to the cheerleading world, in fact I think it's enhanced it. The TRAINING is what it takes now to get onto a college squad and I'm thankful for all my time spent with my all-star squad as well as my high school squad. However the image I'm not thankful for.

I'm not going to argue with your first point (about all-stars doing anything extremely negative to the cheerleading world) because it's a generalization, and I'm not going to argue with your last statement about not being thankful for the image of all-stars (because I very much see those points as well); however, I do not believe that all-stars has only enhanced "the cheerleading world."  I've seen way too many instances of people associated with all-stars trying to separate themselves from high school cheerleaders by basically saying what your friend said...that cheerleaders are "skinny air heads who aren't good at anything else dress in skimpy clothes and jump around to get peoples attention" and go further to say that "sideline cheerleading is not athletic." 

There is no doubt that all-stars focuses on tumbling, jumping, and stunting skills; however, when it comes down to it, the jumping and tumbling skills are not as stressed on the collegiate level (there is a lot of focus on double fulls...a skill that is not legal on the collegiate level) and all-stars does not train the athletes for what has to be done on the sidelines at a football or basketball game.  All stars focuses on competitions while, on the college level, most teams compete fewer than a handful of times (in fact, most teams do not compete at all or compete only one time).  High school cheerleading focuses on tumbling, jumping and stunting skills used in college as well as skills that are necessary for the sidelines.  High school cheerleading also focuses on community service...something that translates well into college cheerleading.

Kong

[ucaCHEERalum]

K-O-N-G

My man!!!  Well said!

[CoachKC]

High school cheerleading also focuses on community service...something that translates well into college cheerleading.

One of the key differences between school and all-star teams -- the focus is on the school and the community, not on the team themselves.

Thanks, Kong, for reminding me of WHY me and my team exist: to support our school, our athletes, and our community.

[coachamie]

High school cheerleading also focuses on community service...something that translates well into college cheerleading.

I agree with what your saying Kong, but there are some all star gyms that do community service. I know they're few and far between, but I wanted to stick up for those that do!

[gccheer1]

Just adding my 2 cents about the singing during routines.
I hate it - -what's up with that anyway?