OT New Random Thread 4

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

I have coached at my HS for six years now, and I have seen a huge shift. We get so many girls from different groups, and there has been a big shift to true athletes wanting to cheer. It's not about popularity, it's about competition and winning and school spirit and all of the great things that make cheer unique. I get many kids that are great students, come from other sports and just fall in love with cheer.

So true.

Don't get me wrong, I've coached some kids who REALLY enjoyed the Visibility At School aspect of cheering.

I had many cheerleaders on the Homecoming Court and part of Student Council (Those are big deals around this area) as a result of being known from cheer. But that has generally never been their main motivation for cheering.

The Lifetime Movie Stereotype (of cheer being a means to school clout) is significantly less accurate these days (not that it ever really was but kids now are so much different.)

That and I find today's school cheer athletes tend to love cheer but also love another activity, thus requiring some sharing and flexibility. Most of my cheerleaders were involved in at least one other time-consuming endeavor. Ex: Cheer and track was a common combo. I saw a lot of cheer + spring musical or orchestra as well.

 

[CoachTamara]

That and I find today's school cheer athletes tend to love cheer but also love another activity, thus requiring some sharing and flexibility. Most of my cheerleaders were involved in at least one other time-consuming endeavor. Ex: Cheer and track was a common combo. I saw a lot of cheer + spring musical or orchestra as well.

Personally, I hate when coaches complain about sharing their athletes with another sport/activity. They are kids, and although cheer is number one priority for us, most kids want and need a balance. The only time we really make sure practices aren't missed is right before a big competition, and I've learned that our flexibility during "slower" times has allowed other coaches/teachers to be flexible with us when it's the high-stress weeks. Multi-sport athletes are always going to be an asset to my team and I honestly don't want cheer to be the end all be all for any of my kids. That's how they burn out.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Personally, I hate when coaches complain about sharing their athletes with another sport/activity. They are kids, and although cheer is number one priority for us, most kids want and need a balance. The only time we really make sure practices aren't missed is right before a big competition, and I've learned that our flexibility during "slower" times has allowed other coaches/teachers to be flexible with us when it's the high-stress weeks. Multi-sport athletes are always going to be an asset to my team and I honestly don't want cheer to be the end all be all for any of my kids. That's how they burn out.

I wasn't complaining at all! I think it's important for kids to be well-rounded as well (particularly with instruments/performing arts.)

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Yep, we tried out one at a time in front of the whole school in the morning. Then at the end of the day, they announced over the loudspeaker who made it. I was one of a few with the name Kristi. I did not make it, but 2 with my same first name did. At the time it was humiliating and embarrassing.

That sucks so hard. Sometimes I think we as a society coddle kids too much, but then I remember stuff like this — things that are just unnecessary and kind of cruel — and I’m glad for the transition.

 

[CoachTamara]

I wasn't complaining at all! I think it's important for kids to be well-rounded as well (particularly with instruments/performing arts.)

Oh no, not you at all.

I just see it all the time on coaching boards/groups, people whining that one kid will be 10 minutes late to tumbling because of another sport and other coaches chiming in that they need to be committed and to kick them off the team since they aren't 100% all in. Uhhh what. It makes zero sense to me.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Oh no, not you at all.

I just see it all the time on coaching boards/groups, people whining that one kid will be 10 minutes late to tumbling because of another sport and other coaches chiming in that they need to be committed and to kick them off the team since they aren't 100% all in. Uhhh what. It makes zero sense to me.

My biggest thing - COMMUNICATE WITH ME (both when I was coaching and with the student activity I advise.)

I've been fine with: "Hey next week I have orchestra extra rehearsal at 4."
I am even okay with: "Hey we are stuck in traffic coming from my volleyball tournament, I'm going to be about to 10 min late."
I can also handle: "Hey band added a last minute field show rehearsal and it is Saturday so I will miss ____."

I am less okay with: *parent and student knew about this extra rehearsal for 3 months and just told me the day before Big Event*
We have a big problem if it's: "Hey I am sick." (Then is spotted at a bonfire.)

But my tolerance for sharing kids had to grow as kids started being more and more committed to other things.

 

[Thinkpositivethoughts]

I just saw where a former classmate, teammate(school cheer, allstar cheer, and track) has been dismissed from her university for posting some very racist and homophobic videos on tik tok and into her Instagram account. Considering she was the one who gave me my first experience with racism I was not surprised. I was however surprised it took this many years for her true colors to shine through. I do however hope she somehow learns a lesson from this incident. But seeing as she is blaming the videos/photos on her accounts being hacked, even when it was her in the videos and you could tell plain as day that she was the one who recorded the videos.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I

I just saw where a former classmate, teammate(school cheer, allstar cheer, and track) has been dismissed from her university for posting some very racist and homophobic videos on tik tok and into her Instagram account. Considering she was the one who gave me my first experience with racism I was not surprised. I was however surprised it took this many years for her true colors to shine through. I do however hope she somehow learns a lesson from this incident. But seeing as she is blaming the videos/photos on her accounts being hacked, even when it was her in the videos and you could tell plain as day that she was the one who recorded the videos.

Has this one gone viral or not yet?

 

[Keep_Believing]

These teachers are talented and passionate. Love it!

Rapper says teachers' viral back to school rap was 'better than the original' | GMA

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I was rewatching old eps of Cheer Perfection and wow... that show is giving me secondhand anxiety. I think I enjoyed it more when it was on TV a few years ago because I wasn’t as knee-deep in cheer as I am now. But I actually flinched a little bit when a mom called another mom to let her know some kid they didn’t like made the team. And then the first mom, who didn’t even have a kid on the team, justified it by saying, “I’m just telling you because I’m mad for you.” Ew.

 

[Cheer0825]

Not having a cheer season sucks BUT at least we don’t have to listen to a coach justify their team dancing to a cheer remix of WAP...

 

[Thinkpositivethoughts]

I


Has this one gone viral or not yet?

Not as viral as some videos on tiktok or social media in general have gone. It went viral among Trump 2020 supporters who agreed with and did duets with A lot of the videos Saying how we need more people with her views and beliefs. But it did happen to go viral enough for her university to see it and dismiss her. If her parents are still the same as they were when we were younger, they are full speed ahead on hiring a lawyer to sue her university for violating her freedom of speech.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Not as viral as some videos on tiktok or social media in general have gone. It went viral among Trump 2020 supporters who agreed with and did duets with A lot of the videos Saying how we need more people with her views and beliefs. But it did happen to go viral enough for her university to see it and dismiss her. If her parents are still the same as they were when we were younger, they are full speed ahead on hiring a lawyer to sue her university for violating her freedom of speech.

Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be that stupid. Like honestly. A majority of the world tells you you’re wrong to be racist, history tells you you’re wrong to be racist, but then you’re just... still gonna be racist? K.

Not to mention freedom is speech only says the government can’t censor you. Private businesses/organisations can censor whoever they want. Including tiktok a******s.

 

[Thinkpositivethoughts]

Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be that stupid. Like honestly. A majority of the world tells you you’re wrong to be racist, history tells you you’re wrong to be racist, but then you’re just... still gonna be racist? K.

Not to mention freedom is speech only says the government can’t censor you. Private businesses/organisations can censor whoever they want. Including tiktok a******s.

I often wonder such things myself. Her and her parents are those type of people who threaten lawsuits and suing when they don’t get what they want, their way, and so on and so forth. I have so many stories I could tell about this girl. I don’t know if these stories are more embarrassing or funny though. Plus people should realize if you are going to post anything remotely racist on social media someone is going to either screenshot, screen record, or save the video...and will make sure it gets to who it needs to and make sure that the incident is addressed.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Totally cute theme idea: if your school mascot is some kind of bird and your colors are red and blue, try a Harley Quinn/Birds of Prey theme.