As you all know, I've been assistant coaching JV cheerleading since July. I absolutely love it. Cheerleading is my passion. Seriously. Although I only cheered for 4 years (2 years middle school, 2 years varsity) I became quite good. AMAZINGGGGGG motions, pretty jumps, and I was a kick ass back. Im proud to say, after 4 long years of not cheering...I STILL GOT IT. Heres where this happy nostalgic story ends.
I love my JV girls. But they are EXTREMELY lazy. So lazy it annoys me. Like...we had Hell Week a few weeks ago (basically extreme boot camp) and they finished the week out amazing. Jumps were so much better, motions were....alright, they had begun doing elite stunts, they had perfect pushups (they do them every time the football team scores), and were making progress with their tumbling . I was so proud of them. 3 weeks later and they look like the bottom of my shoe. All of the hard work they (and the coaches) put in isn't apparent anymore.
What pisses me off is that they have the potential to be phenomenal. They are one of the most advanced JV teams I've ever seen. Id be perfectly fine with them looking like shit if I wasn't aware of their potential....but I am, so Im not. Im the nice coach. I try to give constructive criticism in a nice way because I know how sensitive teen girls can be. But those days are over.
I've learned that with this particular group of girls you HAVE to be a drill sergeant. I have to be cruel to be kind.
Good for you! There's nothing wrong with being tough. You sound very passionate and I'm pretty sure they know you want them to win as much as they do. Lazy won't get them (or anyone, in general) anywhere. They'll be thanking you when they win :D
ReplyDeleteGood luck with these girlies! <3
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ReplyDeleteI agree with azu
ReplyDelete@azu thank you! im really trying!
ReplyDeleteYou have to act like the lady on "Dance Moms." She is a little bit crazy but those girls work super hard. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou do what you have to do and they will thank you later :) It's hard coaching and finding a balance between being a mentor and a friend but sometimes you need to lay down the law more often than you'd like if the group calls for it.
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Do whatever it take to get them motivated! We used to call my cheer coach Mrs. Hyde because she was SO nice but if we werent getting things like she thought we should she snapped! Aww I miss cheering :) Good luck with your squad!
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