My Coaching Philosophy - Spirit Leaders

First and foremost, I want to say that education is key to successful athletes and contributing members of society. I remind my athletes and the coaches that I mentor that we do not attend high school to play sports, we attend high school to gain an education and learn about the world we live in. Those students who are able to juggle academics and athletics will be the best leaders in their community.

I feel strongly that students should take the opportunity to participate in athletics and clubs available to them while they have the chance. We only attend high school for 4 years and the lessons learned, friends made, and experiences we have during that time challenge us and define us as individuals for the rest of our lives. High School athletics put our kids in leadership roles, especially those in the Spirit Positions, i.e. cheer, dance, and mascot.

Cheerleaders and Dancers have always been expected to lead the crowd and keep them screaming and yelling for their team. As time has evolved the expectations of these students have also evolved. Presently they are expected to be ambassadors for their school. They set the example for the student body in athleticism, academics, service, and support. They must uphold themselves in a manner that other members of the student body are not expected to.

I feel that our Spirit Programs, both Cheer, and Dance, should be held to the highest of standards. Coaches should be knowledgeable in their activity and safety should be at the forefront of their minds. Whether a school hosts a program that is sideline based and spends its time supporting other sports or a school carries a highly athletic and competitive squad, their focus should be on their leadership role and safety. Each school has a unique opportunity to develop a program that best fits the needs of their school and community.

No Cheerleader Left Behind

Supporting each other in more than just stunts.

Cheerleaders are responsible for so many things around the school and community.  Many times they have issues happening in their own lives that make things harder on them.  Some kids have a ton of support at home for the activities that they want to participate in and some kids struggle with parents and priorities.  We all want our kids to grow up to be contributing members of society but there is a fine line between to strict and too lenient.  While we cannot control our squad’s home lives, we can try to make their cheer lives positive. 

In our practices we have a very strict ‘leave it at the door policy.’  Regardless of what has happened during the day, we are to come to practice ready to work and give 100%.  As a coach, it is my job to read my team and see what direction practice needs to go.  There are just some days when we need to sit down and have a team bonding chat and some days when we need to plow through our material and go home. 

The biggest thing I expect of my squads is that at the end of the day they are a family.  Families don’t always like each other and don’t always get along, but at the end of the day we have each others back.  We accomplish this by learning about each other.  We learn what makes our teammates happy and sad, we learn to read when they are excited and when they need a hug. 

Here is a wonderful poem written about cheerleaders that does a good job of expressing what cheerleading is like:

Cheerleading is a way of life, shared by a chosen few.

It is working as a unit in everything you do.

Cheerleading is rivalry, the competition makes you strong.

It is sharing secrets and tears, learning to get along.

Cheerleading is that ongoing drive to be the very best.

It is patience, perseverance, and very little rest.

Cheerleading is having poise and charm with every word you say.

It is total dedication twenty-four hours a day.

It is always being ready with encouragement or a smile,

Cheerleading is your chance to express your individual style.

Cheerleading is reaching out to comfort a sister who is sad.

It is defending each other in the good times and the bad.

Cheerleaders are always there whenever someone asks,

They treasure the present moment and let go of the past.

Cheerleading is a talent to be able to shine on cue,

It is hiding the pain and anguish that if only people knew.

Cheerleaders after all, are real people that sometimes get down,

But when they’re in the spotlight, they must never put on a frown.

Cheerleaders are actresses, always ready to go,

That is why it is important for all the world to know;

Not every girl can be a cheerleader, it takes a special kind.

Cheerleaders are full of like and a little bit out of their minds!

-Unknown

CHEERS!

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CW3

How, What, and When of Cheerleading

If you have grown up with cheerleading or cheerleaders, you know the sport can be HIGHLY addicting.  For most girls once they try it they are hooked for life.  There are a few that out grow it quickly, but for those that do not I have listed the Options for cheerleading by age.  Also included is the cost and the time commitment expectation.  It is not a complete or an exact list, but will give you an idea of what you can look forward too.

Youth Cheer

Pop Warner and Recreational Leagues

Ages: 5-16 years

Practice Times: 2-3 times per week plus games or competitions

Time Commitment: 4-5 months (August to November or December)

Cost: approximately $120 for registrations, plus uniforms and travel expenses.

Youth cheerleaders typically are assigned to a youth football team.  They follow the team around to their games and most are offered a local competition toward the end of the season.  The older girls may have an opportunity to cheer at a Regional and/or a National Competition.  The time commitment is a little shorter if you are worried about burnout, but the training and coaching is not always intense.

All Star Cheerleading

Cheer and Gymnastics Gyms

Ages 3-18 years (and older)

Practice Times: 2-3 times per week plus Saturday competitions and other events.  No Games.

Time Commitment: approximately 10 months. Tryouts start in May, competitions start in September and run through April.

Cost: Varies by Gym.  Registration Fee, Monthly Class Fees, Uniform Fee, Travel and Competition Fees.

All Star cheerleading is not like traditional cheerleading.  It basically runs year around.  There are no games to cheer at, but the teams practice 2-3 times a week and focus on jumps, tumbling, stunting and routine work.  They perform and local events and travel to 1-2 day competitions on weekends.  The coaching and training is intense and the commitment is big to include practices, performances and fundraisers.

High School Cheer

Games, Competitions, School Functions, and Community Involvement

Ages: 13-18 years - Freshman to Senior Year of High School.

Practice Times: 4-5 times per week plus games, competitions and events

Time Commitment: 8-9 months (Tryouts in May. Practice and games from July to February)

Cost: Varies by school but can be from  $350 to $1000 for uniforms, spirit packs, and competitions.

High school cheer is the most traditional type of cheer.  Sideline cheerleaders perform  at games and assemblies.  Many cheer squads are also attending competitions and events throughout the year.  The commitment is big.  Lots of time spent at the school.  There is also a grade requirement and you may be asked to take outside classes for tumbling and dance.

College Cheer

Games, Competitions, School Functions, and Community Involvement

Ages: 18+ years - Freshman to Senior Year of College.

Practice Times: 3-4 times per week plus games, competitions and events

Time Commitment: Year around.  Tryouts are usually in April or May and Events, games and competitions run all year.

Cost: Varies by school but can be from  $0 to $500 for uniforms, travel, and competitions.

Collegiate cheer is a very large commitment with many benefits.  Some schools offer scholarships to cheerleaders and access to gyms, trainers, tutoring, etc.  While busy, collegiate cheerleaders learn valuable time management skills and get to travel.  Making the team is very competitive and the requirements often include elite stunts and tumbling skills.  Typically it is easier to make the team as a guy, but the work-load is the same.

Professional Cheerleading

Professional Sports Teams (Games and Community Events)

Ages: 18+ years

Practice Times: 2-3 times per week plus games and community events

Time Commitment: Year around.  Tryouts are usually in April or May and Events, games and competitions run all year.

Cost: Usually you are paid to be on these teams.  The pay is minimal, $50-100 per game.

Pro Cheer is one of the most elite squads you can join.  The tryouts are incredibly competitive and can last a few weeks.  Pro Cheerleaders are typically more dance related and less like traditional cheerleaders.  They must have a dance background or have taken dance classes.  The opportunities for Pro Cheerleaders are endless!  Many companies support our military and travel all over the world to entertain.  There are a lot of community performances and the coveted cheerleader calendar.

If you are interested in any of these cheerleading options, you should be able to do an online search to see what is available in your area.  Check around and make sure that you are working with a good organization. 

Good Luck!

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CW3

These questions are brought to you by the letter Q

When I sat down with the alphabet and brainstormed topics for the A to Z challenge Q proved to be more complicated that anticipated.  I decided to put it out to my Facebook friends to ask questions pertaining to coaching cheerleading.   Have decided to answer the following questions  today since these are not skill based or going to be addressed in a later blog.   Thanks SO MUCH to my great friends that submitted questions.

How does a cheerleader cope if they are uncomfortable with the coaching style?

Communication is going to be the basis for my answers on all of the questions.  Talk it out, take the time to listen to each other.  If you are a coach, listen to your athletes.  If you are the athlete, listen to the coaches side of the story.  They may just be on a different page of the master plan than you are.

Coaches come in many shapes and sized.  Big personalities, Yelling, Stomping, Quiet Aggressivenes, My way or no way… these are all traits of coaches that we may not like.  Not every coach has these qualities, but many of the good ones do.   Many times we get students that struggle with our coaching style.  Sometimes personalities just don’t fit.  My suggestion to a cheerleader that is having an issue with the coaches is this. 

Ask yourself why you are uncomfortable.  Is it because you don’t feel you have the skills to perform what is being asked of you?  Do you not like the standards being imposed on the team?  Your way of coping depends on what your are having an issue with.

If you go into a cheer program, or any team sport for that matter.  You are subject to the coach and his style.  Coaches are always going to do what is best for the team as a whole.  If they need you to perform in a position that you are not used to then the expectation is that you will step up and do it.  Coaches are not going to place an athlete into a position that they cannot fill. 

If you feel like the coach is just not working well with you then you need to sit down and talk to the coach.  A good coach will take the time to listen to your concerns.  They want you to succed and do the best you can for you and for the team.  You were chosen because you fit into a bigger picture.  Talking to the coach may allow you to see what that bigger picture is. 

How do you cope when athletes refuse to follow safety guidelines and put themselves and their teammates in danger?

Safety should always be the first priority.   Start your season with a discussion about safety and how to keep eachother safe.  Review the rules, demonstrate why those rules are in place and have an emergency plan.  The more the team understands the risk, the safer then generally are.

This being said, there are always those individuals that want to diregard the rules.  As a coach yo need to have a discipline policy in place to deal with those people.  Have a strict “No flyer on the floor” rule.  Make sure that they understand that if they choose to break a rule they have to sit out.  It doesn’t matter the rule, they are all in place for a reason.

If a cheerleader shows up with glitter on their face or body they have the option of washing it off or sitting out.   Glitter seems like a small thing, but if you throw a person in the air and glitter flakes of and gets in your eyes you may not be able to catch your flyer.  If  a cheerleader has glitter on and it flakes off onto the gym floor it can become slippeey.  You don’t want someone to slip and fall and get injured.

The same goes for hair and jewelry.  The rules are there to protect the cheerleaders from getting hurt.  Hair gets caught and jewelry gets ripped out and scratches… all easy to prevent.

Most of the safety violations come from stunting.  A good coach is not going to allow a team to perform stunts that are illegal.  Not at practice or at games.  The stunts have been made illegal for a reason.  If you perform it and someone gets hurt, the coach can be sued.   There are so many variations and outlets for creativity in the stunting portion, there shouldn’t be a need to try and show off with illegal stunts.   This answer leads me into the last question.

As a coach, how do you politely approach a fellow coach about rule/safety violations or illegal stunts without seeming snotty?

Many times when you witness another team performing an illegal stunt or a safety violation the coach simply is not aware of the rule.  Many new coaches just get put into place with VERY little training.  The athletic director for their program should take the time to get them a rule book and put them in contact with another coach or a cheer coach association that can help them get started.  The doesn’t happen very often in schools because cheer is passed over so often by the admin.

As a coach that has addressed the issue of safety violations too many times to count with other coaches here is how I deal with it.

I take out my rule book (which I ALWAYS have on me) and find the actual violation.  I then go over to the coach and ask them for a second of their time.  Ask them if they were aware of what the team did was a violation.  Many times they have no idea.  Our state association has a reporting policy for vilations and repeat offenders start receiving fines of $500 per violation.  I usually let them know that I just don’t want to see them in trouble and they might want to check out their rule book.  If they don’t have a rule book I tell them where to find on and who to contact with any more questions.

Fo course there are some coaches that I know are well aware of the rules and what is legal and what is not.  If I have a good rapport with that coach I will go chat with them about it (rule book in hand).  Many times the coaches don’t teach the kids the trick and don’t realize they are doing it. 

There are always situations where I am in a school where I don’t have a good rapport with the coach.  If I feel that the discussion will get heated I send them an email after the game.  I do feel like I should talk to them about it, but during a game or face to face isnt always the best answer.  When I send them an email, I typically CC our state director on it so that they can be aware of the situation. 

Do I feel it is important to address the issue of safety voilations.  In our current society of people and parents that don’t understand the system but are quick to lawyer up, I would hate to see all the cheerleaders and coaches punished by the poor choices of one.  The consequence could be the elimination of stunting in our programs and possibly even the program it self.  I have seem both extremes happen this year alone with individual schools this year.  I don’t want that to go state wide.

I will address the following questions in upcoming blogs. 

• How do you quickly teach a basket toss?
• How does a parent help their child work on jumps at home?
• How do you run a successful tryout?
• How do you pick girls when you might have a girl who you have conflicts with or personalities clash. Especially with a parent, do you put her on the team again?

I hope that the answers to these questions satisfy your need for the letter Q!  It has been great to see the support from my friends in submitting the questions. 

CHEERS!
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 CW3