I had a question for other coaches and gym owners. When deciding teams does the gym owners and coaches discuss the decision of team placement or does the owner just do it on there own?
Also do most gym owners have a cheer background? Say cheered in college or at least high school? Not just a mom??
okay i'm not a coach but i know the coaches discuss team placements with the owner. the owner definitely does not decide everything on her own, at least not when it comes to team placements. and i would say that most gym owners do have a cheer background. the one at my gym cheered in high school/college (forgot which one .. maybe both?) and i know she was on an allstar team when she was younger. at our tryouts, it was mostly the coaches who were evaluating us and watching us so they were the ones who knew best who would fit on which team
This question hits a nerve with me and i really don't even know why. Well I kinda know why. I have coached cheerleading for many years. I think it's the wording "just a mom" that gets me going more than most.
If your gym owner is just a mom. than she is one savvy person. Many small business come and go, not just in the cheer business but in any business. The owner needs to be smart, organized, resourceful, and intuitive.
There is so much behind the scenes to run a business that it's not even fun. You have to work with the government: federal, state, county, and city levels. GOSH, taxes are such a joy.
The owner needs to keep the clients happy.
Ensure that the employees are properly trained, through certifications, camps, training seminars, etc. usually funded by the business owner. In addition, making sure the paychecks are completed on time, benefits and taxes are paid on time, etc. Accomondate staff's personal schedules, last minute time off requests, support the employees when there is a conflict with a client, etc. the list is really endless.
Now, getting back to the "just a mom" running a gym. If I were a gym owner and were asked the question if i had experience being a cheerleader, I would have to say not really.
Cheerleading today certainly doesn't look like what was going on over 20 years ago. The cheerleaders back then got excited if you could kick your leg up higher than your head. There was no such thing as stunting. And gosh, round offs and cartwheels were so cool.
So, with that background does that qualify me to be a coach today? I really don't think so.
Now, on the flip side, I have seen some tremendous young coaches that have come back to work with today's cheerleaders and have brought a wealth of knowledge to a program. But I have also witnessed coaches that say they have cheered in college/high school and not contribute a bit to the cheer elements in the gym. They sit around and not jump in to offer what they should know having "cheered".
Bottom line, I guess what I am saying. You don't have to have played the sport to be a good coach or a gym owner. You need to be smart. You need to learn the game on and off the floor. And above all you need to be a leader, teacher, and communicator.
I kinda took this subject off focus. The selection of teams are usually done two ways:
1. a one day try out. show the gym what you have as far as tumbling goes and then you are assigned a team level. Honestly, I really do not like this approach. If a cheerleader has a BHS today, she is considered a level 2 cheerleader. However, in the coarse of the season the cheerleader could move through learning back tucks (level 3) or even a layout (level 4). But because the gym assigned her to a level 2 team she is, often times, stuck on the level 2 team the rest of the season.
2. Watch cheerleaders for a few months. I personally like this approach. The coaches get to work with the cheerleaders and learn more about the personalities of the cheerleader. The coaches begin to see chemistry on the floor. The coaches find out maybe a girl doesn't have a tumbling skill needed for say a level 4 team, but she is an amazing base, dancer, jumper, so you may just want to move her up to that level 4 anyway.
Coaches talk. Coaches talk alot. It sounds like you are a coach and your team is going through some placement drills soon. Just my guess? If this is the case I am sure your owner has had many conversations about your wishes and the other coaches wishes. Probably more conversations then should be. =)
I agree with just a mom. Owners have the best interest of the gym because they have the most to loose or gain with how teams are separated. I have actually been witness to coaches fighting over who they want (or don't want) on their team...crazy! I would be shocked if the owners didn't at least consult with their coaches regarding team placement.
I guess the questions to ask are...is this a hands on owner? How much time is this person spending in the gym? Does this owner help out with the coaching and choreography? If you answer yes or in favor of the owner in any of these questions, be happy to have someone like him/her running the gym! A great owner is one that can run a gym and deal with all of the items just a mom listed (and the things that aren't there) plus coach. Where can I sign up? I want to be at that gym!
Also do most gym owners have a cheer background? Say cheered in college or at least high school? Not just a mom??
I have been a little out of the loop because I have been on vacation, but I couldn't not respond to this one.
One of our gym owners does not have a cheer background (at least not one that I know of). I do believe she was a coach or coordinator for a local youth program.
That aside, she brings a great deal of knowledge to the table. She is certainly more than JUST A MOM. She is a knowledgable business woman, active member of the community and has also watched her daughter being coached for years.
I know many great coaches in many different sports (take my son's baseball coach as well) who have never actually played the sport but are fantastic coaches.
You know.. the old saying those who don't play teach.
I totally agree with TrueBlue (and not just because I like the name) and know from experience that our gym owner who may not have the experience always communicates with the coaches and is the glue that holds our gym together from a business perspective.
I absolute agree with just a mom and the realities of a gym owner. I also agree that you do not have to have played the game to teach the game. Some of the best strategies and creative ideas have come from intelligent minds that have never walked in a performers shoes. It's all about how its communicated. It's good to have a fresh look and someone willing to take changes, like thinking outside the box.
Cheerleading today certainly doesn't look like what was going on over 20 years ago. The cheerleaders back then got excited if you could kick your leg up higher than your head. There was no such thing as stunting. And gosh, round offs and cartwheels were so cool.
OMgoodness! This is so funny and so very true!!!! hahahaha! This gets me thinking about the "good ole days". Cheerleading was so different back then. At my high school we had cheerleaders and songsters. The cheerleaders were responsible for all the side link cheer and stuck to just motions. The songsters performed all the dance routines. (The music was provided by the school band. There was no such thing as a boom box, and edited music. Or maybe there was but my school was probably poor.) The band members got a kick out of performing the music in triple time to watch the poor songsters perform their routines faster than they should have. Now, thats some school spirit for you! HAHAHAHA!
Some of the greatest coaches in the world have never played the game they are coaching its all about the understanding what you are doing and being able to get your players "cheerleaders" to buy in to what you are trying to accomplish and those of you who have good people skills are usually the ones who succeed.
