The Cheer Coach

When you have a group of spirited cheerleaders it is easy to lose control. Fortunately, in most cases, the cheerleaders want to do well and be respected for their hard work. Therefore, if you have a strong discipline system in place from the beginning it will help keep everyone focused and avoid constant redirection. I want each cheerleader to love what they are doing and that includes enjoying their time at practice. However, if you're constantly redirecting a cheerleader due to behavior and lack of focus, it becomes a distraction to the entire team. It's unfair to everyone to not have a discipline policy in place. Over the years I've tried many different disciplinary actions, but I've found one system to be rock solid (with a little modification for each team's individual needs.) It's called the "three strikes and you're out" system. Original, right? Maybe not, but it works. Here's the idea... Strike One: Drop and give me 10! Okay, ...

This is a simple list of what you will need to survive cheerleading tryouts. It's not easy to put yourself out there during tryouts, but being prepared will help. If you’re looking for more details or other helpful hints, read our post titled Cheerleading Tryout Tips. Or, if you're a coach looking for a checklist of your own, be sure to read our coach's survival checklist for tryouts. This article may contain affiliate links. Basically, if you click a link (especially if you purchase the item from Amazon after clicking the link), I may receive a small commission. Have no fear, I only recommend products that I have or would purchase myself. I appreciate any support, thank you! School requirements If you have paperwork or other school/team requirements, be sure to bring them with you to tryouts. Appearance Your overall look should be very clean and simple. Each school has different requirements for clothing so it is very important that you know your coach’s expectations ...

So, you're considering being cheerleading coach? It's an exciting opportunity when you get a chance to mentor cheerleaders, but have you considered all of the factors that go into coaching cheerleading? Maybe you've never coached before, so you're not fully aware of what factors to consider. It is so important for cheerleaders to have coaches and mentors, but you must first be real with yourself and ask yourself a few questions and be completely honest with your answers . Based on my experience, here's a set of questions that will help walk you through your decision.   Warning: No sugar-coating here, per usual I'm going to be real. 1. Do I love kids? (Specifically, the age group that you will coach.) This question may seem like a no-brainer, but it's an important one to ask. If you've never spent an extended amount of time with other people's children, consider putting in some volunteer or charity hours with that age group before you decide to...

Two simple phrases can easily explain why I love to coach cheerleading... I love working with youth! I love cheerleading! It's really that simple if you look at it broadly. A lot of people would agree that spending your spare time with a bunch of loud, energetic, and sometimes difficult to control cheerleaders would not be relaxing... not me! I leave most practices feeling energized and relaxed. I love sharing my passion for cheerleading with others and teaching them to improve upon their current skills. A great bonus is the energy that the cheerleaders bring to practices, games, and competitions. Finally, there is nothing better than seeing the pride and accomplishment on the faces of your cheerleaders when they perform! It is the absolute best! When cheerleaders spend so much time working towards a goal, nothing is better than seeing them succeed! Keep shinin' and keep smilin', Sisters! Are you a coach? If so, comment below and share what you love about...

As a former cheerleader, I have a love for cheerleading and enjoy teaching it to the younger generation. I first started coaching in the fall of 2013 and each year I learn a little more about cheerleading and even more about coaching. I believe to be successful you have to put your heart and soul into what you love and never stop learning. I don't claim to know everything about cheerleading, but I do love to share what I have learned. Over the years I've discovered that the most important things about coaching have nothing to do with arm motions and sharp voices. They have everything to do with respect, responsibility, teamwork, and sportsmanship. I spend a lot of time teaching cheerleaders to respect themselves and others. Trust me, they get tired of my Aretha Franklin impression! Seriously though, I do expect a lot out of my cheerleaders, but it is only because I know what each of them are capable of and I want to see them reach their full potential. I've seen amazing gro...

Hello cheer fans! I'm so excited to be able to talk about the sport that I love. My name is Tara Gordon and I'm "The Cheer Coach". I'm a previous cheerleader myself, I've been coaching since 2013, and I LOVE what I do! Cheerleading is one of the most rewarding sports. It requires consistent work, dedication, spirit, and lots of muscle. Therefore it is so fulfilling to be a coach and watch your athletes improve so much over time. Cheerleading is also one of the most underestimated sports. However, if you're reading this article, you already know all of these things or you are about to find out. Years of coaching has taught me many things, even some things I never expected to learn! Ha! I know some of you know what I mean! I've definitely learned a lot, but I continue to learn more each year. This website is a place where I will continue to gather all of the information that I learn so you can benefit from my experiences, both good and bad. Tha...