Can I please whine? I'm in need of Pee Wee cheerleading coach advice/support

[southern_redhead]

This is DD 8's first year cheering. Our coach is on her way out, she asked me to take over next year. Long story short, I see a lot of work to be done. These are good girls BUT they aren't used to minding.......anyone. The biggest issue I have is them building without asking or without an adult watching. They will just throw up an extension and scream, "Hey, look at this!" Um, no. I was a high school cheerleader and OUR coaches would have choked us if we did that. So that is our first discussion next year. Well, maybe second. First will have to be "When my mouth is open, yours is shut!" That was another problem, it takes them 5 minutes to get organized to do a cheer or stunt because they are turned around, talking, daydreaming or whatever. Also, we have 16 girls (and these are coveted spots, MANY MANY girls sign up) but only 8 to 12 show up for any game or practice. VERY hard to learn cheers, stunts, or a routine ... although moms are complaining that we don't have a dance yet Out of the 16 I am losing 7, possibly 8 girls. That gives me the chance to drum up some good girls/parents who will listen and be involved and build up a pretty good group (oh I hope, please!)

Anyway, my whine is actually about our game TONIGHT. Our coach sent me a text about 2 hours before game time and said she had a family emergency and couldn't make it. She asked me to step in. No problem. Except....it was awful. First I had 13 girls show up and was trying to keep them rounded up (they are like ping pong balls) and on task. Add to that trying to keep up with the game and tell them which cheers to do - I was hanging on by the skin of my teeth. All the while glancing at the scoreboard ("It is stopped AGAIN?") and watching the minutes dwindle by. Did I mention the girls only know 5 or 6 cheers? Yeah. 16 minutes of 6 cheers wears on you. So, anyway, the clock hits 00:00 and the Qtr box says 2. Mr. Announcer says "And that's the end of the first half..." so I dismiss my girls with the warning to be back when halftime had 3 min left on the clock. The other teams girls were leaving, too. I went to check on our mom working the fundraiser booth. 5 minutes or so go by and one of my girls comes up and says "They are saying it's not halftime!" WHAT?! Sure enough, it was the end of the FIRST QUARTER?? according to the scoreboard now and the other team has trouped back onto the field. So....I pull my girls onto a side field because we only have a few minutes left in the quarter. I told them we were going to use those minutes to practice a cheer and a stunt. When that was done it was halftime (again LOL) and the other team was out milling around so I turned my girls loose. Okay, our halftime is always 20 minutes and they have a "B" game with the little guys during that time. Not tonight apparently because 5 to 7 minutes later we are BACK on the field. And now the scoreboard says FOURTH quarter. What the **** happened to the THIRD? The other coach and I were wondering what was going on. But we cheer away (all 5 of them, over and over....for another 8 minutes.) They asked to do the stunt. I said okay ... it took them THREE minutes to get into groups and start to build. At this point we had a kid closing in on a touch down. That never happens, I yelled for them to come down and turn around to cheer. We did a short chant and they said "Now can we build?" Um, NO! If you'd done it right the first time you'd have been in your elevators and dismounted in a reasonable time and you would have seen this kid make a touchdown. *Sigh* I look at the clock. It has reset to 8 and now says FIFTH qtr. Had we been tied I'd have guessed overtime but they were beating us by nearly 20 pts. AUGH! At this point the other coach and I threw in the towel and let them do a group cheer to waste time.

I am so disgusted by A) How disorganized my team is and B) How disorganized the game was that I feel like resigning before I ever take it over I don't really know where to start. My biggest things are we need at least a dozen simple cheers, we need everyone to attend practice and games (I know things happen but some people don't make half of either) and I need them to snap to when I say do this cheer or do that stunt, not run around like chickens with their heads cut off. How would you approach this next year? With the new girls I think it will be easier because they won't be used to "come when you want, do what you want" but one reason it got this way is because our coach got tired of having parents crawl her when she reprimanded their kid. Unfortunately, some of these kids will be mine next year. I wish my first night hadn't been such a trial by fire, I'm trying not to beat myself up. I wasn't prepared, I haven't worked with them, it was just a bad night.......still, ugh!

 

[kelleyrn2000]

I can somewhat feel your pain...not a coach, but have filled in for the coach on occasion. I don't have alot of advice, other than we had the girls run laps for not getting their act together. If they didn't show up to practice, they didn't get to cheer in that week's game.

A handout and email system to parents that clearly stated all the rules, is very important. Most of the moms in our area were pretty understanding of all the rules. Our organization was really unorganized due to it being the first year, so hopefully next year will be better. As for the games, never heard of a 5th quarter...what the heck??

 

[wdwmom0f3]

WOW! I can't get over them building at age 8. My DD is a 7th grade middle school cheerleader and they are just now doing that. If you really don't want to coach, ask someone else to do it or get someone to help you with it. Do you have to do this? Is it through the parks & rec or who does your DD cheer for?

If you decide to do this, I would get through this season, and come up with a game plan for next year. Have a parent meeting and tell them how it is going to be. They can decide if they want their kids in there or not. Most parents like structure for their kids. I can tell you that our cheerleaders walk a fine line, and I am glad that our coach is tough on them.

As far as not knowing many cheers, see if a few middle school or HS cheerleaders could come and help the girls learn a few new cheers. They love doing this anyway, and the kids would have fun too working with older cheerleaders.

Good luck!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I can somewhat feel your pain...not a coach, but have filled in for the coach on occasion. I don't have alot of advice, other than we had the girls run laps for not getting their act together. If they didn't show up to practice, they didn't get to cheer in that week's game.

A handout and email system to parents that clearly stated all the rules, is very important. Most of the moms in our area were pretty understanding of all the rules. Our organization was really unorganized due to it being the first year, so hopefully next year will be better. As for the games, never heard of a 5th quarter...what the heck??

I totally agree with this too.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Cheer parent here (year 2 with an 8 year old) and I WISH our coaches would try to be more organized....that being said, 1st day of practice needs to be a "this is how things are going to be" day. Be honest, I know Ms. So-so ran things a certain way but she has turned the reins over to me and this is what I expect....Up front you need to set the pace - you expect x, y, z and stick to it. Come up with a 3 strike system - strike 1 = a lap, strike 2 = ?, strike 3 = sitting the sideline at the next game.

Attendance is mandatory, not optional. Miss 2 practices in a week and you will sit the sidelines, don't show up at the game your supposed to sit out, you sit the next game. If you are injured you are expected to still come to practices and games to observe and learn so that you know what is going on when you are able to return to practice.

Your lips are shut if mine are open - 1st times a warning then you get a lap.
I've found with other teams (the football boys) that the punishment of more exercise makes them remarkably well behaved. The "fear" of running extra laps, doing extra push ups, etc. is enough to curtail most bad behavior.

It sounds like you have time between now and next year to research cheers, learn the rules of the league (what stunts are allowed/not allowed), etc. so you've got some reading & research to do over the next 6-9 months. Show up with photo copies of cheers - tell the girls they are responsible for learning the words - if you can 1-2-3-4 the beat on paper even better but at least give them the words to work on in their own time.

Learn that email is your best friend. Try to get a couple high school (or even college) cheerleaders to help out - assistant coach for you. Great role models for the girls and someone with some hands on experience.

And the #1 piece of advice - always talk to the parents and keep an open line of communication. This is the #1 flaw I've seen in the last couple years....coaches need to realize that at this level of play that it is the parents that are doing the major work - making sure the child is where they are supposed to be on time, a positive attitude & ready.

Good luck!

 

[CruisinEars]

ITA with everything It's a Happy Day said. My dd has started her first year of cheer at age 9. They have over 40 girls on the team and have 3 coaches along with jr coaches who are in high school.

In their first month of practice they learned 25 cheers, they now know close to 50 plus a couple of dances. They have just started minor stunting. They had to learn the basic cheers first. If they mess around, talk or disobey they run laps. We also had the rules/code of conduct given to us when we signed them up as well as the first week of practice we had a parents meeting with the expectations. The coaches run the team like a family and even have 2 team moms.

I have been quite impressed with the organization and how they treat the girls. They all do great and love cheer. We, the parents, also get weekly emails with the next game schedule and any changes to practice. Our girls practice 3 times a week for 2 hours and they need to be on time or run laps. They are allowed to miss if they have major homework or family obligations as school and family come before cheer but they have to text or email coach ahead of time.

So, line out expectations to both the girls and the parents, keep open lines of communication and get help in the form of other coaches, jr coaches or team moms. You can't do it alone.

Good luck with this challenge.

 

[SandrA9810]

Having an older cheerleader might help with the girls looking up to her, and wanting to learn more. And it might help them receive volunteer hours that many high schools require for graduating.

If there's that many girls wanting to sign up for the program, I don't think it should be too hard to find 16 girls who are willing to put forth the time and effort to be part of it. I'd keep close tabs on who's on the team now, and who acts like they want to be on the team. No one says you have to choose the same girls next year, they need to earn it.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Get some of this year's chaos and talking out of turn on video. Show the video before the start of next season to parents and students and let them know that this behavior will not be tolerated. Sit the offending girls out. Show them what they should be doing (instead of running around) when not cheering. Give them a three strikes and your out for the next game warning(or how ever many strikes you want). Let them know that others are waiting in the wings to be on this team and if they are asked to sit out of X many games due to bad behavior, they will lose their spot and someone else will get a turn to behave better. Only X number of practices are allowed to be missed during the season or the half season. Keep careful records. Notes must be brought in from home when practice is missed, let them know what an excused absence is and what is not excusable. Let them know to use their absences wisely. You must spell everything out.

Get this all in writing and have the parents and girls sign a contract (one that covers everything so your butt is covered when you kick their child off the team)

 

[padams]

Youth football coaches sometimes agree to play a 5th quarter so the bench kids can play.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know nothing about cheering but I would make the girls audition for spots. EVERYONE auditions again, period, no exceptions. If you cannot do that, I would not be the coach.

Then I would have a demerit list and a wait list. If you get so many demerits you are kicked out. I would tell kids that they are on probation until they can prove they want to be there. Basically you need a contract and need to be more strict.

You need to pick a team of girls that want to be there not pick based on popularity and looks.

Have a cutting process like they do on Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Obviously modify for the age group but in that way you will be able to know who wants to be there and who does not.

 

[Mkrop]

Cheer parent here (year 2 with an 8 year old) and I WISH our coaches would try to be more organized....that being said, 1st day of practice needs to be a "this is how things are going to be" day. Be honest, I know Ms. So-so ran things a certain way but she has turned the reins over to me and this is what I expect....Up front you need to set the pace - you expect x, y, z and stick to it. Come up with a 3 strike system - strike 1 = a lap, strike 2 = ?, strike 3 = sitting the sideline at the next game.

Attendance is mandatory, not optional. Miss 2 practices in a week and you will sit the sidelines, don't show up at the game your supposed to sit out, you sit the next game. If you are injured you are expected to still come to practices and games to observe and learn so that you know what is going on when you are able to return to practice.

Your lips are shut if mine are open - 1st times a warning then you get a lap.
I've found with other teams (the football boys) that the punishment of more exercise makes them remarkably well behaved. The "fear" of running extra laps, doing extra push ups, etc. is enough to curtail most bad behavior.

It sounds like you have time between now and next year to research cheers, learn the rules of the league (what stunts are allowed/not allowed), etc. so you've got some reading & research to do over the next 6-9 months. Show up with photo copies of cheers - tell the girls they are responsible for learning the words - if you can 1-2-3-4 the beat on paper even better but at least give them the words to work on in their own time.

Learn that email is your best friend. Try to get a couple high school (or even college) cheerleaders to help out - assistant coach for you. Great role models for the girls and someone with some hands on experience.

And the #1 piece of advice - always talk to the parents and keep an open line of communication. This is the #1 flaw I've seen in the last couple years....coaches need to realize that at this level of play that it is the parents that are doing the major work - making sure the child is where they are supposed to be on time, a positive attitude & ready.

Good luck!

I agree with all of this. Set out the expectations from Day 1, have a parent's meeting to explain.


Also remember they are 8, not the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, I think you were very hard on yourself and maybe the girls at this game. You were a sub and yes the girls should be minding you but if they were disorgranized prior to this it is hard to get it all together at the snap of a finger.

If a cheer is missed, it really is not going to be noticed, dont let the crowd know, just keep pressing forward.

This was a good eyeopener for you to know if you really want to do this and if you do then what changes can you make when you are head coach to make things run smoothly.

 

[southern_redhead]

WOW! I can't get over them building at age 8. If you really don't want to coach, ask someone else to do it or get someone to help you with it. Do you have to do this? Is it through the parks & rec or who does your DD cheer for?


As far as not knowing many cheers, see if a few middle school or HS cheerleaders could come and help the girls learn a few new cheers. They love doing this anyway, and the kids would have fun too working with older cheerleaders.

Good luck!

We do very minor stunting. BUT I feel that is a privilege and I've kind of decided to tell them "You can listen, do what is asked and look good OR you can keep on the way you've been and we'll do cheer after cheer and not build or dance or anything."

No, I don't have to. But I want to. This team has been let to run down and someone needs to reign it in. I know what I'm doing I just need to get the girls to listen and the parents on board to want them to do it. It isn't parks and recreation, we are parent funded.

Having an older cheerleader might help with the girls looking up to her, and wanting to learn more. And it might help them receive volunteer hours that many high schools require for graduating.

If there's that many girls wanting to sign up for the program, I don't think it should be too hard to find 16 girls who are willing to put forth the time and effort to be part of it. I'd keep close tabs on who's on the team now, and who acts like they want to be on the team. No one says you have to choose the same girls next year, they need to earn it.

I have a friend who coaches HS cheer and I may ask three or four of her girls to come do smaller work groups with the girls. They do a 2 day camp for us but our girls learned nothing this year because none of them LISTENED. Very frustrating. I do have to keep the same girls unless I can prove they need to be removed. When you are accepted it is until 6th grade. Honestly, these girls have potential, they are just (some of them) divas.

Youth football coaches sometimes agree to play a 5th quarter so the bench kids can play.

I know nothing about cheering but I would make the girls audition for spots. EVERYONE auditions again, period, no exceptions. If you cannot do that, I would not be the coach.

Then I would have a demerit list and a wait list. If you get so many demerits you are kicked out. I would tell kids that they are on probation until they can prove they want to be there. Basically you need a contract and need to be more strict.

You need to pick a team of girls that want to be there not pick based on popularity and looks.

Have a cutting process like they do on Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Obviously modify for the age group but in that way you will be able to know who wants to be there and who does not.

As above, I can't audition. It is a wait list and we round robin off the list for the four teams until we are full. The only way you pick one girl over another is if she has a brother playing or a sister already cheering then she automatically gets one of the spots. I don't have a problem with that but why invest the money to put your girl on the field and take up a spot if you and or she isn't really into it, KWIM?


Oh, we didn't ACTUALLY have a fifth quarter. It was fourth but for some reason whoever was running the scoreboard had run it ahead and couldn't figure out you had to keep running it forward until you come back around (you can't go back to fourth you have to run it through and all the way through 1,2,3 until you come back to 4) It was just frustrating and confusing to think we were a quarter ahead, especially since they stop the clock if a player so much as sneezes on the field. Much over use of time outs, IMO.

I needed to edit to add: I said "let to run down" and that sounded like I was blaming our coach. I'm not, she tries. But the parents around here (schools ,sports, etc..) tend to have the "my child WILL NOT be told no" attitude. That needs to stop. Our league president will back you on this, many coaches just don't want the hassle. I'm willing to take the hassle if it is a big issue. Too many little girls wait from third to sixth grades hoping for a spot and if you can't do what you need to you need to free up your spot for someone who will. I also consider this a prep for girls who will try out for Jr High and they should be learning the basics and learning them right. Otherwise, they are hurting themselves in the long run.

 

[X and G's mom]

Former 10 year cheer coach here. I've coached Junior High and High School. All competitive at the state and national level.

If you do plan on taking over the position, please take some classes on cheer coaching. Each state usually has rule interpretation, and judge certification. The National levels usually run classes on coaching in the form of conferences. If you go through these you will learn a lot of information, and some come with insurance, just in case.

I always had rules that were told to the team members before they tried out. The first unexcused absence was a missed competition. The 2nd was removal from the team. We always gave a schedule for the next year out in April. Family vacations were unexcused absences (because we had the schedule out almost a year in advance). Illness and death in the family were excused. I stood by my rules and had a much better time with it because of it. The parents were mostly supportive (there were a few instances, but that's life)

Safety was always our drill. Unless they could do something 10 out of 10 times, we didn't move up to harder stunts or do the stunts at games. Safety #1

It's VERY different being a coach vs. being a cheerleader. I actually preferred the coaching It was the most rewarding 10 years of my life. I'm actually in talks with the high school about starting up a cheer team (we only have dance team)

If you have any questions, PM me.