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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Working With Parents

Parents want what is best for their kids.  It is that simple.  They don’t want surprises and they need to know they’re safe.  Some parents didn’t have the opportunities that their kids are getting now.  Some had more opportunities than their kids are getting.  Some parents don’t value extracurricular activities and some know the importance of the WHOLE high school experience.  You will have some of all of these types of parents on your team.  Some want to be involved and some just want to drop off and pick up.  Whatever the case and whatever the attitude, as a coach, we have to figure out how to deal with them all.  They are not all going to be happy all the time, but if they feel informed and somewhat involved, they will be content.

Make sure the parents all know and understand what your philosophy is as a coach and what the expectations of them and their children are.  They need to know that you care about their child and how to contact you if they need to talk about their child.

Some coaches prefer their cheer parents to have little to no involvement with the teams.  No coaching, no helping out directly with the team whatsoever.  This can be good for drama issues.  You don’t have to hear the phrase “She only gets to do that because her mom is the coach!”  You don’t have the worry of coach/parent/athlete distractions.  This also means that unless you have an amazing staff of outside assistant coaches you are all on you own!

If you are not sure if you want parent involvement, start small.  Allow parents to help but in ways that don’t directly involve coaching.  Give tasks and small jobs, not coaching responsibilities.  This will allow them to be involved without the issues of coaching.  Once you start building great parent support, you can add jobs and duties to your willing parents.

Parent Boosters

This can be set up in a way that the parents take on all the fundraising and travel.  They would choose a president, set up a board and have a mission and goals.  Much like that of the school boosters.  This works best in a large team setting.  Teams that spend money on traveling to competitions and work on competitions use boosters often.  It takes much of the pressure off the coach to organize and keep track of the fundraising and travel for competitions.  Smaller teams may not need an entire booster club.

The rest of the jobs can be used in the booster setting or just choose a few for the parents to participate with.  Make sure that all final decisions are cleared by the coach before given to the team. 

Communication Chair

This person would be in charge of contacting all cheerleaders and parents, informing them of schedules, changes, and other need-to-know information.  They can call, text or email the information. Choose someone that can convey information without gossiping.

Transportation Chair

If you are in a district that doesn’t provide transportation or your group is required to find its own way to games and competitions you can have a parent that could be in charge of making the arrangements for travel.  They would be responsible for contacting the parents that will car-pool and discussing the details.  They could also be in charge of renting vans and finding drivers, if that is something your team does. 

Fundraising Chair

This person would be in charge if taking the budget and organizing enough fundraisers to pay for uniforms, travel fees, competition fees, etc.  They would be in charge of researching ideas, setting up fundraisers, locations, distributing information to the teams, and collecting money.  This person should have a good understanding of the team dynamic and what will benefit the team the most.  Choose a trustworthy person with a good grasp of accounting or has a background in accounting.

Party Chair

This person would coordinate all squad-bonding activities for the season.  Ideas would include slumber parties, holiday parties, pre-game meals, tailgate parties, and the end of year banquet.  You could also have them organize any bowling, skating, or team outings.

Snack Parent

This parent would be in charge of providing the team with nutritious snacks during the games and competitions.  They can set up the water station or bring bottled water for the team.

Publicity Chair

This parent would write and distribute press releases about the squad to the local media.  They would call upon the local media to do stories about the cheerleaders.  They would also be in charge of finding community events where the team can perform and or volunteer their time.

Competition Chair

This person gets information about all the competitions, completes the needed paperwork and keeps a copy of the music needed for routine.  They would also communication to parents about the competitions, entry fees and spectator fees.  He or she would distribute lists of the items the cheerleaders need to bring to all competitions.

Scrapbook Chair

They would collect photos from the cheerleaders during the year, memorabilia from each event ad makes a scrapbook for the end-of-the-year party.  They can make color copies for the cheerleaders as a gift or for the parents to purchase.

Videographer

The parent tapes all events and puts together a video of the last party of the year.

Photographer

The photographer takes pictures of events, practices, games, fundraisers, etc throughout the year and coordinates with the Scrapbook Chair.

Parent coordination takes some trial and error to find a groove that works for you.  Make sure your are choosing parents that buy into the philosophy and will not infringe on your coaching and what is best for the team.

Cheers!

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Leadership

LEAD*ER*SHIP

NOUN

1. the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group
2. ability to lead
3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction

In the words of Dr. Jamie Williams, former San Francisco 49er tight end, “Leadership is like gravity - you know it’s there, you know it exists, but how do you define it?” And how you define yourself, especially in the role as a leader, is not something to take lightly.
Some stereotypes don’t change much.  Cheerleaders have always been expected to lead the crowd and keep them screaming and yelling for their team.  As time evolves the expectations of cheerleaders have also evolved.   Now cheerleaders are expected to be the 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 most members of the student body do not. 

Why?

Why are the cheerleaders held to this higher standard?  Why do we hear headlines about cheer moms injuring each other and students?  Why do we hear about the cheerleaders going to a party and being cited for alcohol?  Why do we not hear about Joe Anybody that was caught drinking or in a fight? 

Fair? 

Maybe, or maybe not.  If you take on the title of leader in any form, the expectations are that you will lead.  Take the title of Student Body President for example.  This position lends that the president will lead the students and be an advocate for their best interests.  Or the Leadership class; being in the class means that you are one of the many students who are leading the masses during an assembly.  As the expectations of cheerleaders have evolved, so should the students that fill the position. 

Choosing your cheerleaders no longer means picking the girl that can do the best splits or jump the highest.  When I am choosing my team, they are judged on their skills on and off the field.  Teacher recommendations are sent out to for all candidates requesting teachers state whether or not they would be a good representative of the school.  I check grades and any candidate that does not carry a “C” or better is not allowed to tryout out.   The attendance to the pre-tryout practices is kept and their ability to follow directions in a timely manner is followed.  Requests are sent to the Discipline office regarding problems outside of the classroom.  During the practices the assistant coaches wander through and make notes on attitude and appearance.  These things are all taken into consideration.  Sloppy, unmotivated students that cannot follow directions are probably not going to be chosen.  Do we always get it right? No.  There are always going to be those kids that slip through the cracks.  But over the years you learn how to deal with the issues as them come up.

Cheerleaders are an icon.  They are looked at by the students, administration, parents, younger children, and the community.  They are the first ones seen at sporting events and usually involved in many of the projects and events around the school.  When the crowd doesn’t know what is happening in the game, they look to the cheerleaders.  

If you want to take on the title of cheerleader, be prepared to wear the hats that go along with it.  Know how to budget your time, be well groomed and in good athletic condition.  It should be a privilege to represent your school and who has all the pieces should get the opportunity to lead.

CHEERS!

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