OPINION
BY MADISON MCFARLAN, Sophomore
BLYTHEWOOD- All-Star cheer is a competitive sport that is becoming popular each year. When most people think of cheer they think of high school football games and pompoms. All star cheer is completely different.
All star cheer is a mixture between acrobatic gymnastics and tumbling. Due to all of the stunting and flipping it is dangerous to wear ill-fitted clothing. Cheer uniforms have been controversial for many years now.
Ever since all star cheer was founded in 2003, until this year, cropped uniforms have been allowed. The dress code policy issued by US All Star Federation (USASF) used to state that crop top uniforms were allowed but Cheerleaders must be covered if they are not warming up or performing.
This year they have banned crop top uniforms for Tiny to Junior level cheerleaders. Many cheerleaders have complained about it on social media.
It has been rumored that the whole reason USASF has banned the uniform is because of the over-sexualizing of cheerleading in general. All star cheerleaders have been trying to break away from the typical stereotype that you see in movies.
To be in an all star competition the person must be 6 to 18. To be able to wear cropped tops you must be on a senior team. To be on a senior team the person typically has to be 10 - 18 but some conditions like birth month may allow to compete earlier or later.
According to a poll on Twitter 53 percent of the 15 people who participated voted “yes they’re cute”. User @onlycheerprobs asked “do you think all teams should wear half tops, even the younger kids?¨
Many cheer blogs and social media accounts have different opinions on who can wear half top uniforms or if they can even wear them at all. The majority shows that most people vote junior and senior level teams should have the option to wear half top uniforms.
The standard age grid that USASF enforces shows how age levels are categorized. Tinys are ages 6 and younger, Minis are 8 and younger, Youth is 11 and younger, Junior is 14 and younger, Senior is 10 - 12 years, a person may be younger with conditions such as the difficulty level.
What does not make sense is how a person can be 14 on a Junior level but can’t wear cropped tops when there is a 10 year old who can on a Senior team.
According to USASF Rules and Glossary for cheer “No risqué, sexually provocative or lingerie looking or inspired uniform or garments allowed. All uniform pieces should adequately cover an athlete and must be secured to eliminate any possible wardrobe malfunction. Appropriate undergarments must be worn.”
They also state “Uniform tops may not include an exposed midriff (crop top) except when worn by athletes competing in Senior divisions. Uniform tops must be secured by straps or material over at least one shoulder or around the neck (tube tops are not allowed). “
Those these rules state midriff can not be exposed cheer uniform designers like Varsity, Rebel Athletics, and GK Elite Cheer have all found a loophole. They have designed uniforms that look like crop tops that have flesh colored mesh to cover the midriff.
If even the look of cropped tops are allowed how come cropped tops are banned in the first place?
I see how the very young kids are not allowed to have midriff showing because some may see it as inappropriate for their age, but if a person is over the age of ten and your parents or guardians allow it I don’t see the big deal.
My father is very strict about the way I dress, and he was completely okay with the cropped uniform and skirt I had to wear. He understood that it could become a safety issue if I get caught on one of my teammates.
The more fabric there is the more chances a person has to be caught on someone's uniform. USASF has plenty of safety rules but they do not state why the rule was issued.
“Judges reserve the right to assess warnings and/or deductions when a team’s choreography, uniform, make up, bows etc. do not meet the standards of ‘appropriate’ as described in this policy,” the rule states.
USASF allows points to be deducted due to appearances. If everyone is not uniform then they can deduct points. If they believe uniforms are inappropriate they can deduct points.
Out of all the competitions I have been to wearing a crop top, my cheer gym has never been deducted due to our uniforms.
Uniforms should really be up to the gym owner and what the gym allows. They have the final say in anything else that happens so why not the uniforms.
