Andre J. Carter

Rumors: Juniors & Worlds

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Andre
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We’ve heard plenty of rumors about Juniors being at Worlds in 2010 and figured we’d share some of what we’ve heard:

  • USASF has announced the divisions for Worlds 2010 and it includes Junior divisions. This is the only official announcement concerning Juniors at Worlds.
  • Rumor: USASF is reconsidering keeping Juniors at Worlds and has a conference call scheduled for today (June 10th) to make a decision. Supposedly many Americans don’t want to keep Juniors at Worlds, but the International representatives are in favor of it. USASF’s Matt McDonough sent ACEDAD word that there is no truth to the rumor that Juniors at Worlds is being reconsidered, but hopefully the USASF will make another announcement soon to put an end to the rumors.
  • Rumor: Some major American event producers have decided not to offer Junior teams bids to Worlds 2010. If American event producers or gyms want to stop having Juniors at Worlds this is a creative solution. It works with the USASF’s announcement that Juniors will be at Worlds and Matt McDonough’s denial of Juniors at Worlds being reconsidered, but also virtually eliminates Juniors from Worlds.

Comments

5 responses to “Rumors: Juniors & Worlds”

  1. Liz Gigante Ulrich Avatar
    Liz Gigante Ulrich

    People need to remember that for the USA, Senior Divisions are 12 to 14. This is a bit redundant for American gyms that ALREADY have Juniors competing at Worlds.

    The International Divisions bottom age is 14. Hence, by eliminating the Junior Division, the other countries around the world will not develop at the same rate as America as all of our younger, talented athletes must wait until they’re 14 or 15 to finally attend the world championships and see this caliber of cheerleading.

    So, let us remember that American gyms are IN FAVOR of allowing 12 to 14 year olds at Worlds. Hence, they ARE in favor of the Junior Aged athletes being at Worlds.

    Let’s see how American Gyms would feel if their bottom age was changed to 14!!

    Keep this all in perspective

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  2. CCXII Avatar
    CCXII

    The fact that the USASF allows athletes 12-14 years old to compete in the Senior divisions at Worlds is not enough information to conclude American gyms are in favor of having 12-14 year olds at Worlds.

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  3. Liz Gigante Ulrich Avatar
    Liz Gigante Ulrich

    Of the 250 plus American Teams at Worlds in May 2009, I don’t know of one in the milk house that did not protest the ability to put the “Junior Aged Athletes” on their Team. I’ve never heard one American friend competing in the Milk House say, “Ahhh man… why can’t our bottom age be 14?”

    Since THEY CAN go to Worlds and compete 14 and older simply by entering the “International Division”, I can safely conclude that their choice to NOT go into International may simply have to do with the fact that they select their athletes, and build their teams according to the options provided by the USASF Age Grids and hence, accept this Age Grid without protest. In fact, the only protest that is known to me regarding this debate is the one that changed the bottom age to 10 and then from 10 to 11 and now FINALLY, this upcoming year, 12!! We can also conclude, therefore, that this discussion has been debated amongst the USASF, Member Gyms and Event Producers which resulted in these significant changes!

    In my opinion, that’s enough proof to indicate that there is support of 12 to 14 year olds being at Worlds by a good majority the most prestigious and capable Gyms in America.

    In fact, by eliminating the Junior Bids at Qualifying Events and changing the format for attending Worlds for Juniors may only result in a slight decrease of 12 to 14 year olds attending the 2010 Worlds. I predict that this upcoming season, we will see an increase of 12 to 14 year olds on American Senior Teams because the talent will not have to be divided amongst two redundant age groups. Gyms will have some seriously beefed-up Senior 12 to 18 year old Teams.

    Can’t wait to see the amazing ridiculousness — I’m sure it will result in some of the best cheerleading at Worlds To date :)

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  4. CCXII Avatar
    CCXII

    Did you hear any team say they are in favor of having 12-14 year olds on their “Senior” teams? We can’t make conclusions based on what wasn’t said, which is all I’m trying to point out. Are there some American teams in favor of having them? Probably, just as there are probably some not in favor of having them. We haven’t given or been given enough information to make a strong conclusion either way.

    Senior divisions are stronger than the International divisions making them the divisions to be in if you want to find out if you are the best. Senior divisions also offered more paid bids, making it easier to go in one of these division. Teams using 12-14 year olds in these division is not indicative of if they would vote in favor of them being allowed to be in these divisions. Some gyms use them simply because they have to to field a competitive team, some because they can, and others because they don’t want the kid to leave the gym if they don’t. Those in the “need to” group are probably in favor of having 12-14 year, but we can’t make a conclusion for the other 2 groups.

    I’ll use Super Seniors as an example. James Speed of GymTyme and University of Louisville has said he is not in favor of Super Seniors being allowed to compete, but since they are allowed to, he’s going to use it to his advantage. Being the coach of U of L, he has landed many talent freshmen who are still Senior eligible that have competed for GymTyme and contributed to winning a few World titles. Did he use these kids because the USASF said he could, yes. Is he in favor of being able to use these kids, no.

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  5. ACEDAD Avatar
    ACEDAD

    Ms. Ulrich, I have attended some (but by no means all) of the meetings where the increase in the minimum age for the Senior divisions was discussed. Keep in mind that just because it is currently at 12, that doesn’t mean there weren’t people that wanted it raised to 14. There were, just not enough to make it happen.

    The argument from smaller gyms is that they have to keep some amount of overlap in order to accommodate the athletes that are in the gym for that particular year. An “older” junior athlete at 13 might leave the gym if an appropriate junior team is not available and the minimum age for seniors is 14.

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