At this point, who isn’t doing the Harlem Shake? From the University of Georgia Men’s Swimming & Diving team to the KSLA News in Shreveport, LA, to even the Peanuts gang, it seems like pretty much everyone is in on the dance video craze—and, of course, cheer gyms are at the forefront of the trend. Here are our favorite all-star gyms that are “shake”-ing things up:

Cheer Mania of Welcome, NC, and their coach, Kevin Hansford:

Ohio Extreme All-Stars of Avon, OH:

Gym Tyme All-Stars of Louisville, KY:

Hawaiian Heat All-Stars of Waipio, HI:

Got a link from your own gym to show off? Share it in the comments and we’ll add the video!

Yesterday’s announcement about GrowCheer.org and the push for an independent USASF sparked a range of reactions throughout the industry. While USASF has declined to comment on the matter, we were able to speak with Varsity’s VP of Public Relations Sheila Noone to learn their company’s stance. “Everything Varsity does is with an eye towards what is best for the young athletes we serve,” says Noone. “No one has more of an interest in growing all disciplines of cheerleading than Varsity, and we feel we have been a strong partner to the USASF and its members.”

Read a sampling of what event producers and gym owners around the industry had to say:

Independent Event Producers (IEP): The Independent Event Producers, IEP, was not consulted, informed or involved in any formation of this proposal. The IEP fully supports a proposal for a fair and transparent governing body. It is our hope that all constituents of the USASF have equal representation. The mission of IEP remains our focus today. Our main objective is to “collectively influence the cheerleading and dance industry, to promote independence and work to ensure our long-term viability in the industry.”

Dave Sewell (Extreme Spirit): Xtreme Spirit has not renewed USASF membership for the 2012-2013 season due to its Varsity control. We feel the current system is in place to maintain control over the Industy’s growth. We will follow the USASF rules, but with exceptions designed to help struggling gyms retain their higher level athletes and also showcase the advanced tumblers out there that are beyond Level 5.

Jody Melton (Cheer Athletics): This is a very interesting proposal that could potentially lead to some needed reforms for our sport. I like the group’s willingness to at least try to work with the USASF/Varsity to iron out some of the issues, rather than starting by creating a competing organization.

The USASF has given us many positive changes for our industry, and it simply would not exist without the leadership of Varsity and its employees, money, guidance and support. They should be applauded for their tremendous work over the last decade. However, it is time to take another look at the USASF structure to ensure that the entire industry is fairly represented. It seems obvious that no single individual, gym, program, company or conglomerate should have significant & permanent influence over our governing body.

There are obvious details that would need to be filled in and some questions to be answered, but on its surface – this looks like a potentially great way to help transition the USASF into an even better & more transparent governing body.

Scott “Crasher” Braasch (Cheer Tyme): I am a staunch supporter and critic of the USASF. I believe our industry has been served well by those in leadership and applaud all their efforts. Our governing body for the sport/industry of All Star Cheer is not just important to our continued growth, safety and structure—it is a must. For this reason, I have always supported the USASF and its mission. I have also been a critic of the USASF and its origins from the cheerleading industry’s largest vendor. As a huge supporter of Varsity brands, I respect and appreciate their financial and intellectual contributions to the origins of the USASF; however, I believe we have come to a point where USASF should truly stand and govern our all star industry independently. This letter shows a divide in our industry that has been developing for years. A governing body that is so closely intertwined with the largest vendor in our industry does not insure that all decisions made on behalf of the governing body are in its best interest, but rather implies that they are in the best interest of the vendor. What other format in our world today has a for-profit entity that governs or is perceived to govern a non-profit entity whose decisions reflect and/or could reflect the profitability of the for-profit entity? This proposal sounds fair and seems to alleviate reasons why so many question the relationship of Varsity Brands to the USASF. I look forward to the outcome of this proposal and sense yet another defining moment in our sport/industry ahead.

Megan and Casey Marlow (Pacific Coast Magic): Awesome concept. Awesome news!!!! Been in this industry for 15 years. So happy to see something truly moving and changing happening!

Chad Mulkey (XPA All-Stars): This is the best news that has been introduced to this industry since its inception. The stronghold has held back a SPORT that has grown tremendously. While Varsity can be thanked for its contributions for the inception, it is clear that this step is crucial as it grows. Excited, excited, excited!

Pam Swope (Storm Elite All-Stars): I totally agree!!! There should be NO company that controls the USASF – no more than the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is! There can’t be a company profiting from the use of a governing body for a sport to grow and thrive. MLB and the NFL are not owned by NIKE – so Varsity should not have control over the governing body of USASF.

CheerProfessional has learned that seven industry companies (Cheer Zone, GK Elite, GTM Sportswear, Motionwear, Nfinity, Rebel Athletic and Team Cheer) have united in an effort to facilitate the USASF’s independence from Varsity Brands. Their plan includes assuming the USASF’s loan from Varsity, revising the Board of Directors and moving the USASF office and employees to a neutral location. Read their full proposal and react in the comments section:

GrowCheer.ORG 

Proposal to the United States All Star Federation

GrowCheer.ORG is a group of unrelated industry companies with a singular purpose – to grow the sport of cheerleading.

As such, we believe that the first (and most important) step in fostering future growth in our sport is a FREE and INDEPENDENT United States All Star Federation (“USASF”).

How are we going to accomplish this?

Central to our plan is to replace the current loan(s) that the USASF has with Varsity Spirit Corporation and/or affiliated companies (“Varsity”).

It is understood that the reason Varsity controls a majority of the seats on the USASF board and why Varsity owns the trademark of the USASF is to secure repayment of these loans.   We firmly believe that in order to have a unified industry, no single organization should be unduly influenced by and/or controlled by another.

We propose to assume the loan with essentially the same financial terms that Varsity has given to the USASF.  We are prepared to do this immediately after the 2013 USASF Worlds competition.

Other key provisions relating to our plan are as follows:

1)   Require an immediate external audit of the USASF financials by an independent accounting firm that we mutually agree on.  We will bear the cost of this audit.

1. This firm would determine the amount that remains outstanding to Varsity.
2. The firm would examine the relationship between the USASF and the IASF and confirm that all monies paid to the USASF by American gyms would be used for the support of American programming, not international programming.
3. The firm would examine the relationship between the USASF and the host site to make sure only the USASF received benefit from the relationship.

2)   All USASF property held in lien as security for outstanding loans with Varsity, including but not exclusively intellectual property (i.e., trademarks), would be released to the USASF.

3)   Immediate rewriting of the Articles of Incorporation, By Laws, and Operating Agreement to abolish all permanent Board of Directors seats and create a provision for an organized election to be conducted as soon as practical.  The new Board of Directors would be composed of equal representation among all segments of our industry – gym owners/coaches, event producers and industry vendors.

4)   Future production of USASF World competitions would be granted to a qualified event producer after an open bidding process administered by the Board of Directors.

5)   The office and employees of the USASF would be moved to a neutral location in Memphis.  If necessary, we would subsidize payment for the office space until it could be supported by the cash flow of the USASF.

6)   After the first year, or as soon as practical, the Board of Directors would interview and select a professional management company to assume the day-to-day operations of the USASF.

7)   The USASF would be reorganized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is recognized by the IRS as such.

We believe very much in this industry and recognize Varsity for its past foresight and support, but we have come to a point where we can no longer afford to see our governing body indebted to and controlled by a profit motivated company with a clear conflict of interest.  In a time when so many are calling for the industry to break apart into separate factions, we feel that the best solution is to step in and provide a practical way for there to be just one, FREE and INDEPENDENT governing body.  And we believe that we have proposed a workable solution to this matter.

Your acceptance of the above terms is expected by March 1, 2013 to GrowCheer@gmail.com so that we can make provisions for a seamless transition.

Respectfully,

Cheer Zone ™

GK Elite Sportswear, L.P.

GTM Sportswear, Inc.

Motionwear, LLC

Nfinity Athletic LLC

Rebel Athletic ™

Team Cheer™

United States All-Star Federation, USASF, ISAF, USASF Worlds, Varsity are all Registered trademarks of the Varsity Spirit Corporation, Memphis, TN.

Business experts and Gym Kix owners Carrie Harris and Stephanie Beveridge

Last month we provided a list for new business owners to follow in order to start up a new business successfully. We elaborated on the first step: picking a business name and registering it with your county (DBA – Doing Business As); this month, we will delve into checklist item number two: deciding on the legal forms of business ownership.

A major decision you will need to make as a new business owner is how you want your company structured. This decision should not be made lightly, as it will have long-term implications. When trying to decide, please take into account the following:

·     The size and scope of business you hope to attain

·     The level of control you wish to have

·     The level of structure you are willing to deal with

·     The business’s vulnerability to lawsuits

·     Tax implications of the different ownership structures

·     Expected profit (or loss) of the business

·     Whether or not you need to re-invest earnings into the business

·     Your need for access to cash out of the business for yourself

There are four basic legal forms of ownership for small businesses:

·      Sole Proprietorship

·      Partnership

·      Corporation

·      Limited Liability Company

The legal form of your business should be handled by a professional. If you are the sole owner, then an attorney can assist you with deciding what works best for your interests and future goals. If you are partnering with others, we highly recommend that each of the partners consult with an attorney separately first to discuss his/her options. Keep in mind that business partners, especially if they are not related to you, can become a serious liability. There have been numerous gyms that have been decimated by partner disagreements, divorces, and poor planning. It is reasonable to assume each partner will want to ensure that his/her interests are protected in the event that the partnership dissolves.

In our case, our gym started as a partnership between just us (Stephanie and Carrie). As the business grew, we added our mother as another partner. Because we are family, and new to the business world, we never consulted an attorney about our partnership agreement. When our gym grew even more and we took classes and attended business conventions, we realized that a change would be needed. We consulted with our attorney and he recommended that we switch to an LLC (Limited Liability Company)to limit the liability incurred by us as individuals. Talking to a lawyer will also help you find the best option for your business.

–Stephanie Beveridge and Carrie Harris

The right makeup can help a team stand out in a good way.

In the world of competitive cheer, dance and even pageants, the parents and kids are required to put on “stage makeup” and put on a uniform or costume that gives them an edge in the judge’s eyes. The gym owners and/or coaches are always looking for the next best thing in regards to makeup and uniforms that make the team look their very best. I watch “Toddlers and Tiaras” on TV and laugh at the crazy moms and the lengths they go through to make their daughter (sometimes son) perfect in the eyes of the judges. Hair extensions, facials, fake teeth (flippers), fake nails, tans, eyebrows waxed, and then on the day of the pageant, they spend hours making their little girls look older and all dolled up. We have all seen the pictures, we all know the stories, and usually we laugh and think it’s all crazy. However, to me, the world of cheer is becoming the same.

The right makeup can help a team stand out in a good way. It’s one thing to see the older girls with their hair all done perfect, all the bright red lipstick and glitter makeup in midriff-baring uniforms with the tan, but when did it change to having the same for the Tiny and Mini teams? When we first joined a competitive gym, our owner believed in doing “Dallas Curls” with natural-looking eye makeup and clear lip gloss and I loved it. When we moved, our 7-year-old’s new team required bright red lipstick. I affectionately called “Tijuana lips.” When we moved again, I was so looking forward to getting rid of the lipstick but soon found out that our new (and current) gym used the same lipstick color—and now we were going to add glitter eye shadow to the mix. Now my daughter was on a team with older girls and I get that she has to blend in and look the part. I do follow our gym’s policy and put all the makeup required on her and it looks great!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell you that for the past six months, my 10-year-old has been getting her eyebrows waxed, not because I force her to do it but because she doesn’t like the whole uni-brow look. On competition day, our almost 3-year-old asks for makeup; I let her have a little mascara, some glitter and maybe some lippy. It is cute, I agree. But where do you draw the line? I don’t want my kids growing up too fast.

I love that our gym has our Tiny team wearing full length tops that keep them covered; after all, they are little girls who need to be covered. There is no reason to send them out and about trying to look like they are 16 and not 5. With the new rule about cheerleaders being required to put on a shirt or jacket over their crop top uniform when not performing, I thought we were moving in the right direction. Yeah, but that is not really happening or being enforced. At every competition we have been at, I am seeing the majority of the kids still walking around with just their uniform on and not covering up.

I understand the concept of having all the teams look the same, but we have to take a stand somewhere. Where do we draw the line? I will admit, the little girls all dolled up look cute, but it’s not cute when their butts are hanging out of their shorts because they are too short. I have heard that the reasoning behind the bright red lipstick is to “allow the judges to notice their facials”—okay, I get that. What is the reasoning behind the 4-6 year olds wearing crop top uniforms and/or shorts with their body parts exposed and the fake hair pieces? Have we gone too far in pushing our children to grow up too fast?

It’s a hard line to draw. I know my younger daughter wants to be exactly like her older sister. She even wears a sports bra and spanks to tumbling and is so happy when they match. Where do you draw the line? Or do you? Is it okay to allow young kids to dress like teenagers in the spirit of competition, under the assumption that it’s just for the stage? Do you have your child cover up when they aren’t performing? Do you allow the use of hairpieces, spray tans, etc. because you feel it gives your team or child an edge? How far is too far? In our world that is always pushing our children to be the best, will there ever be a line drawn in the sand that we shouldn’t cross?

This post was written by Kristen Roeder and originally appeared on our partner website Cheer Parents Central.