OT Frustrated

[CheerElderJenn]

Desperately need advice.

Hello, been a cheerleader most of my life. My local high school (Almater) has been trying to recruit me to come coach for years. This year I broke down and applied and became the High school Head Winter cheer coach. Was super excited, and thought this was going to be an awesome season.

This season has had........well more good days then bad. I have for the most part enjoyed my time with the girls and loving their energy for wanting to learn new cheers and be apart of the new program I'm trying to implement. Issues with assistant coaches that have been working with the fall Cheerleaders and been in the program awhile. They do a lot of things for the program and I felt that this was going to be a great partnership amd valued assest to teach me things also.
Well half the time I felt I was the assistant coach and left out of many things and the last to know about the goings on of, off court things to be done. They have also said they were going to change all the improvements to cheers and bring back the old long cheers from the ancient times I cheered in high school. LOL

Weather was a big factor for us with trying to teach them as much as possible.

I have some questions about how others coaches deal with some of these issues and others.
I have had these girls always complain about this or that move or dance. But when asked to help change or give us an idea it's static air and attitude. "We don't take their advice or listen to their opinions, and also don't acknowledge them before making decisions." Like they're the coaches.
I have never heard of athletes questioning their coaches about anything. I'm pretty sure any other sports the kids aren't questioning their coaches on what they are doing or teaching or how they do it.
I have had some down right tantrums over the most ridiculous stuff and to go to the AD for these minor issues. To the point that these kids, make me not want to go to practice and questioning whether I want to continue for next year.
I am trying to make a program here, and why I was hired. My mother was a cheerleader and coach, I grew up watching her coach, heck she was my coach in high school. I went to many cheer camps, was invited for the Macy's Thanksgiving cheer parade many times, Went to college cheered, attended college cheer camps. Was asked if I wanted to apply to NCA/UCA after college.
I'm feeling disconnected and not getting any backup from anyone, other then one of our board members.

 

[catlady]

I'm not a coach, but I do have some suggestions:

*Put your expectations and consequences in writing.
*Email them to your AD and ask if you have their support, as they're written.
*If not, ask them to edit/revise where needed.
*Email those expectations and consequences to parents and athletes, letting them know you partnered with the AD, and cc the AD in that email.
*The first expectation should be for parents and athletes to respond, in writing, they have read and understand all of your expectations and the consequences if not followed.
*Follow through.

Back in the dark ages, schools didn't have the resources or money for choreographers, and the cheer and pom "coaches" were just paid to supervise. The cheerleaders and pom squad had to come up with enough 8 counts to throw together a 2-3 minute routine. They made up several cheers, as well. Me, personally, would let them know practice has a tight schedule, but I would encourage them to be creative at home, and I'd give them a few minutes before and after practice to share. Just letting them throw together some of their 8 counts for a sideline dance when music is played at games, could help create some ownership. Just food for thought.

 

[CheerElderJenn]

I'm not a coach, but I do have some suggestions:

*Put your expectations and consequences in writing.
*Email them to your AD and ask if you have their support, as they're written.
*If not, ask them to edit/revise where needed.
*Email those expectations and consequences to parents and athletes, letting them know you partnered with the AD, and cc the AD in that email.
*The first expectation should be for parents and athletes to respond, in writing, they have read and understand all of your expectations and the consequences if not followed.
*Follow through.

Back in the dark ages, schools didn't have the resources or money for choreographers, and the cheer and pom "coaches" were just paid to supervise. The cheerleaders and pom squad had to come up with enough 8 counts to throw together a 2-3 minute routine. They made up several cheers, as well. Me, personally, would let them know practice has a tight schedule, but I would encourage them to be creative at home, and I'd give them a few minutes before and after practice to share. Just letting them throw together some of their 8 counts for a sideline dance when music is played at games, could help create some ownership. Just food for thought.

Thank you, I actually did all that when I first accepted the position. I hand him a 4 page addendum to there school cheer hand book. All kids and parents signed. Doesn't mean they actually read anything, because we have followed our expectations and enforced, these are the reactions we get from the kids and parents. We're wrong the kids right.
Example: We have tournaments this weekend and we have been practicing their dance with a stunt. They wanted to add a stunt that they haven't practiced, we haven't practiced much stunting at all this season. They have practiced an extention only a couple days, (we leave today for tournaments) the rest of the team isn't comfortable with them doing it, I'm not either. Last night I scrapped that and shorted the dance to just before the last stunt. They pouted and didn't seem to want to take no as the answer. They rolled their eyes, pouted and walked out. (We were at the end of practice) I told them we aren't doing it and if we make state tournament we might be able to practice it, as we'll have more time. They didn't like that answer either. This trio also mentioned wanting to do a while nother dance if we made state. I said nit to my knowledge you all are barley getting this one down. I guess I'll have to type it all up for a letter with my expectations and post it on the school's Facebook page. Make their parents and community aware of behaviors that cheer coaches experience that other coaches don't.


Thank you, it's a generational thing and community thing that I'll need to over come. Have to change the mind set of all to get results. My AD does support me and wants the changes. Says I'm doing all the right things, it's just getting through the buillcrap that is frustrating.