[phs1986]

The reason I put "try-out" in quotation marks is because it wasn't really a try-out. I guess I should have clarified myself to say, "to make it look like it was fair." At SC we don't have alot to choose from at the middle school level, so naturally we always know exactly who we are going to pull up, and if any outsider watched, they would know too. I don't know if you've seen our cheer programs, but we don't have alot in the way of tumbling at any level (but we are trying to change that). The way we do things is fair because we pick the ones with the best ability. It's not fair to the high school team or the middle schoolers to select someone who is less than mediocre. And we usually don't have to pull people up until about a month before KAPOS when high schoolers get hurt or move away, so why waste a whole evening (that we could practice) with a try-out and waste money tracking down and using impartial judges??? We even called two more last night that are coming to practice this evening! The middle schoolers here don't view it as "fair" or "unfair," they see it as an honor to be asked. And just because you disagree with it does not mean it's wrong, and it does not contribute to the stigma cheerleading has. All of those middle schoolers will get their chance, so I don't see why it is "so bad." We don't exactly have a winning tradition, so we do everything we can to start one.

Evidently you misunderstood what I was saying.... ::::: In short ::::

Take a week at school and have girls who are interested go to the office, sign a paper stating that they want to "try-out" for a position that is open on the varsity squad. Take a Saturday (about an hour or so)...... have a couple of people (I would be willing and I used to be a judge--- to do it for free to help the squad out) come out and judge. In the end.... there would be NO DOUBT that you would get the "cream of the crop", and NO one... and I mean not one person would or could be able to say that favoritism was shown to certain girls. Whether you believe it or not, it causes hard feelings between girls and you will have parents "chatting" amongnst themselves. NOT saying you were wrong in doing what you all did. You have to make the program work and if the kids are willing to do this then GREAT!!! Also, it's great that you all are working on the things for future squads. I guess we are willing to agree to a certain extent and then.... willing to agree to disagree?? LOLOL....

Good Luck in competition... Keep up your hard work as well!!!