After 3 seasons and two children, I feel that it is necessary to highlight some serious challenges…read morewithin the ACA program. Since the beginning of this season, my daughter has come home crying on several of occasions complaining about treatment and constant criticism over her performance, by one of the coaches. Initially, I did not take this seriously and chalked it up to her being tired and hormonal, since she is at an age where that is a reality. Her complaints stemmed from being constantly called out for minor things to being humiliated by being told in front of the team that "this or that sucked" about her performance. A recent event, in which this coach was approached by my wife, for a picture of a bid event envelope, at the most recent competition, led to my wife's realization that there may have been truth and tension between the coach and my daughter. The coach flat out refused to show the envelope and allow the picture to be taken, by saying that those were just the scores, because there wasn't any bid. Later we learned from another coach and a picture of another child with the envelope in question that the coach was not truthful. However minor this incident was, it reinforced that a problem was evident. My daughter returned to practice after the competition, she called my wife from practice hysterical because she was being ridiculed and critiqued inappropriately ("Your jumps suck!"). This has been confirmed by other children on the team and their parents. The coaches are immature and not trained to understand how to motivate, coach, and mentor the different age groups. So much so, that when my wife reached out the coach and mentioned her less than honest approach, it resulted in a termination letter. It is for the best, no child deserves to be spoken to and bullied in that way. There was even an earlier incident that took place when she was hit by two coaches with a belt. My son also in the program at the time stopped it. We addressed this with the gym and it was chalked down to being in fun. While the explanation made sense at the time, I question its honesty now.
Two years in a row multiple teams have received Summit (National level competition) bids and we have traveled to Orlando. Unfortunately, at that level we quickly realize how non-competitive the program really is. At this competition, like the others, if the team ends early enough, that's it. Regardless of placement, there is not a plan for the next day. This is the time for the entire staff to go out and "party". Day 2 of the competitions, you have hung over coaches that can't wait until the day is over. The Summit happens in the May timeframe. This unfortunately competes with other gym priorities like try-outs for the next season and drumming up business for the next season. The practice schedule doesn't become more intense. The results have been pretty consistently inadequate.
Unfortunately, the Augusta area doesn't have too many options for cheer programs. We selected this program due to convenience and proximity. There is another program in the area that seems to have a more adult staff. I am a military member, currently deployed overseas, and will wait until we move to a different duty station to select a program. I will definitely read reviews and hopefully can steer clear of any more of these experiences.
Reviews are meant to educate prospective customers with both the good and the bad in order to make an informed decision. If you notice, the Facebook site for ACA does not have a reviews section. Upon receiving a negative review, they omitted that feature.
