Parents Clothespin Trend

[SupportingHerDreams]

What do you all think of this trend that seems to be coming over to the Competitive Gymnastics world from the Competitive Cheer world?

My daughter got her first pin this past weekend at a meet and we loved it. It seems like a fun way to build comradere and just have fun supporting others.

 

[JBS]

No idea what it is or how it works... haven't even seen one yet.

Tell us about it?

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

No idea what it is or how it works... haven't even seen one yet.

Tell us about it?

Here is an Instagram post:

Basically your gymnasts decorate wooden clothespins, usually using encouraging phrases (the one my daughter got simply said: “stick it!”), then they quietly clip the clothespins to a competitors backpack without the competitor seeing. So it turns out to be a little anonymous encouragement.

 

[MaggieMena]

What do you all think of this trend that seems to be coming over to the Competitive Gymnastics world from the Competitive Cheer world?

My daughter got her first pin this past weekend at a meet and we loved it. It seems like a fun way to build comradere and just have fun supporting others.

Congrats!

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

I guess the Instagram post didn't show up. Sorry.

Here's a blog explaining the activity at cheer comps:

What’s the deal with Pinning at Cheer Competitions? - The Cheer Mom Blog

What's with the pinning at cheer competitions? Learn what it is, why it’s popular, and how to display your pins. Get all the how-to's on The Cheer Mom Blog.

thecheermomblog.com

 

[JBS]

I don’t want to be a buzzkill… but I don’t see myself pushing our team to do this. You never know though… I’m a guy coach… so I get overruled quite a bit.

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

I don’t want to be a buzzkill… but I don’t see myself pushing our team to do this. You never know though… I’m a guy coach… so I get overruled quite a bit.

I totally get it, honestly my daughter's coach will probably feel the same way. That's why I asked in here... I was cureious to hear other oppinions and thoughts.

Is there something that you don't like about it? Or just not your thing?

 

[NutterButter]

This is similar to girl scout friendship trading pins or baseball team trading pins (although there are usually organized times for trading these pins instead of randomly being pinned).

 

[txgymfan]

My hesitation is that I would not want anyone getting close enough to an athlete or any child and being covert, even for a good reason. If someone is close enough to clip on a pin without someone knowing then they are close enough to steal or put something in a water bottle. I know it’s innocent and fun but I don’t like the sneaky aspect to it for any age.

 

[JBS]

Is there something that you don't like about it? Or just not your thing?

Not really... I think it's just not my thing. I don't think I would have a problem if they wanted to do it... I just wouldn't be the one bringing it up as something I wanted to do. I'm more of a "let's go to the go-kart track and then get chicken wings as a team".

We do other things... like stickers... we are a super sticker team. They earn stickers sometimes during workout and they put them on their water bottles. We also have them bring stickers home for wherever they travel too... we stick those all over the spotting deck and bar uprights.

 

[Coach Kate]

My hesitation is that I would not want anyone getting close enough to an athlete or any child and being covert, even for a good reason. If someone I’d close enough to clip on a pin without someone knowing then they are close enough to steal or put something in a water bottle. I know it’s innocent and fun but I don’t like the sneaky aspect to it for any age.

This is a fair point.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

I kinda wish we would come up with own thing vs stealing something from cheerleading. That being said I haven’t seen it at any meets this season.

 

[AnotherGymDad]

Not really... I think it's just not my thing. I don't think I would have a problem if they wanted to do it... I just wouldn't be the one bringing it up as something I wanted to do. I'm more of a "let's go to the go-kart track and then get chicken wings as a team".

This. The peg thing started organically and then spread mostly by itself, as soon as the grown-ups start saying "WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS" it becomes a very different kettle of fish.

 

[Peejflow]

It’s interesting that this question came up now. My daughter and a former teammate wanted to do this, all on their own. The next week my daughter’s coach suggested it and gave the team pins. My daughter is artistic and she loved making a handful of pins. I think it’s a nice way to encourage teams you don’t know and make new friends. Also will keep her out of her own head if she’s focused on having a little fun. The backpacks are all on the floor during competition so won’t have to enter personal space necessarily.

Now I’m going to have to execute some creative way she’ll have to display pins.

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

It’s interesting that this question came up now. My daughter and a former teammate wanted to do this, all on their own. The next week my daughter’s coach suggested it and gave the team pins. My daughter is artistic and she loved making a handful of pins. I think it’s a nice way to encourage teams you don’t know and make new friends. Also will keep her out of her own head if she’s focused on having a little fun. The backpacks are all on the floor during competition so won’t have to enter personal space necessarily.

Now I’m going to have to execute some creative way she’ll have to display pins.

Yes!! Giving my daughter a distraction from the anxiety of meets is definitly something I think could be fun.