When it comes to cheerleading, there is just something about seeing people literally flying through the air, bending their body in extreme ways, and throwing themselves backwards repeatedly all while either shouting, going to the beat of the music, or both.
After years of cheering, countless bows and shirts, too many dirty shoes, random cheers, and parts of routines engraved into my brain, I finally came full circle and started coaching cheer.
I always knew I wanted to coach cheer and also be a judge. For me, cheerleading was much more than a sport, it was an outlet for me. It was something I could actually succeed in and it required perfection and precision and constantly drilling things to get it right. It was something that shaped me as a person and made my school years memorable.
Every single game day, every single round on the mat, I gave it my all.
As much as I wish I could take the mat one more time, I’m beyond happy every time I get the opportunity to see my teams take the mat and be able to cheer them on.
The last weekend of January I finished off my first full season as a cheer coach. I started coaching for Champion Force Athletics in May, but it was right before the team’s states and nationals. Sadly, I wasn’t super involved and was more so trying to learn the environment and atmosphere, as I came from a school cheer background and not an all star background.
This past season, however, I got to be there from the beginning and watch these kids grow as cheerleaders. I got to support them, motivate each member, help create their routines, and offer constructive criticism to help them improve.
I am incredibly proud of all the teams and everyone on them, especially my level twos who hit the best routine of the season and placed in a large and difficult division while also hitting zero (deductions)! It isn’t easy to put yourself out there and go full out for 2:30 which is both way too long and not long enough at the exact same time, especially at such a young age. Then for the older girls, doing skills that even some high school teams aren’t doing.
I truly love the art and the sport that cheerleading is. Having cheer back in my life has been a relief. I can’t wait to keep working with these teams and watching them level up and hopefully one day I’ll be able to go back to my roots and coach school cheer or be a cheer judge.