TarponChaser said:

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While not addressed to me, I do get it and know that these competitive cheer teams are more like coordinated gymnastics can you tell me why when they introduce middle school/junior high and high school cheerleaders there are approximately 237,000 "all American" cheerleaders?

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I actually do have a slight answer to that. 1 there are 2 million cheerleaders going to camps so in the grand scheme it is elite to be all American. How ever there is plenty of equity awards for all American as well. In terms of announcements at a football game for instance many of those girls claim any all American not just current. The ones to truly pay attention to are those who are 2-3 time all American. If your now a senior and still say all American because you achieved that as a sophomore it's not quite the same

You left off the bad aspect of some straight rotten nasty "mean girls" some of those girls have been so spoiled their whole lives they know nothing but talking down to others.

I've found there's usually 1-3 per team

If you want to humble your kid, as well as force them to grow a spine and thicker skin in addition to give them perspective on their own behavior at their own sporting competitions, have them get certified as soccer referees or baseball umpires when they turn 15 for their first part time jobs.

My oldest became a youth rec soccer ref when he was 15. Never been cussed out so often and so badly by both parents and players, had to be confident and project confidence with his decisions and how he saw things, and also never yelled at refs again in his own high school matches going forward after that summer.