Latest news with #Seely
14 hours ago
- Sport
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally," Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base," Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to." Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___
Fox Sports
18 hours ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Associated Press Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally," Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base," Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to." Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___ AP sports: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally,' Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base,' Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to.' Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___ AP sports: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally,' Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base,' Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to.' Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The First Amendment's 5 freedoms to be focus of Arizona Republic reporter's work
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights, written at the dawn of our republic to guard against government overreach. Two famous presidents put them into perspective in letters to each other. "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth," Thomas Jefferson said in 1787, in correspondence with James Madison. "Among the advocates for the Constitution, there are some who wish for further guards to public liberty and individual rights," Madison wrote back in 1788. First Amendment issues are in the national spotlight now, and The Arizona Republic and are going to shine a spotlight on all five of its freedoms, each of which protects the individual. Taylor Seely, who has covered Phoenix and several other local cities with skill and passion in her almost eight years with The Republic, is now our First Amendment reporter. She will work to highlight and explain issues related to the First Amendment and examine the impact on Arizonans and their daily lives, countering disinformation with facts, and producing compelling journalism on what can seem like abstract concepts. She'll reach out to the community, too, helping to foster First Amendment conversations. "First Amendment rights affect your daily life, whether you realize it or not. It's my job to show you how. Ultimately, I want to help people be more attuned and sensitive to their rights — to make them more aware of what the First Amendment guarantees to everyone in this country and when those rights are being infringed," Seely said. She joins four other First Amendment reporters in the USA TODAY Network, at The Indianapolis Star, The Tallahassee Democrat, The Tennessean in Nashville and USA TODAY. These positions are made possible by support from the Freedom Forum's Local Press Initiative and Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit that works to increase the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism. The First Amendment protects freedom of religious belief, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom to petition the government to set right what you consider its wrongs. The founders' concerns sound very modern almost 240 years later. They wanted to ensure checks and balances on the power of each branch of government. Madison worried about the tyranny of the majority and how to protect the rights of those with different views. "I need people to be my eyes and ears on the ground. I need you to keep me up to date with what you're noticing and questioning," Seely said. "What's keeping you up at night? Email, call or text me, and help me defend the public's right to know. I'll be sure to sound the alarm if your freedoms are being threatened." Look for Seely's work on First Amendment issues beginning June 2 on in the print Arizona Republic and on our social platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Threads. You, too, can play a vital role in supporting local journalism that you and your community can trust. News alerts in your inbox: Don't miss the important news of the day. Sign up for azcentral newsletter alerts to be in the know. Over the course of a year, The Republic staff covers the big news events in depth but also reports on compelling topics rarely covered by other journalists. We provide essential information for our readers to live their best lives, with information on dining and entertainment, travel and sports. Please consider signing up for an subscription. If you have a subscription, please consider renewing it. Kathy Tulumello is the news director of The Arizona Republic. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Republic reporter Taylor Seely to focus on First Amendment
