I want to open by saying that i don't want to start any arguments but... at the begining of this season i was put on this SR. team. and just by the second practice i had realized that i was one of three gilrs that were older than the rest. that is not the problem but it is that these younger girls are far less mature than i. not to mention i feel like i an on a jr. or a mini. level team. they just talk all during practice, throught every stunt and complain before and after the conditioning. i feel mich like the team mom telling them to stop talking and to listen and to push themselves.i don't understant why so much responsibility is being put on just one on just one person. it would be fine, if i was the team mom to a smaller number of girls but almost my entire team is made up of these what at times seems like 7 yrs. olsds i love cheering and i don't want to quit but at the moment i feel that i have no other choice if i want to get out of the very NON- productive enviroment. after just only a few practices our coach has already told us that s/he was getting "fustrated of stunting with us" because we get next to nothing done. which really makes me feel bad because stunting is my favorite part of this sport that i love so much. if there is anything anoy can say to help me .. i would like that very much . thank you .. - i just want to find an answer thanks again . confused sr.
Man can I relate that!. I was significantly older than some of the others on my team. When I graduated I was 23 and we had 18 year olds on our team. My college team sounded like the team you were just describing. Isn't it frustrating when you see the bigger picture than the younger ones on your team? Isn't it annoying when they are talking and laughing when you want to keep working hard? I remember I use to get so frustrated at how they acted. The things that people talk about and think about change as you get older. However, I will share with you something about my experience. When I look back I realize how lucky I was to be put in that situation. I got to be a leader on that team and share my love and knowledge of cheerleading. At the same time I had so many of them looking up to me and asking me for advice inside and outside of cheerleading. It being five years later they are all out of college and have graduated. We recently had a reunion and I had many of those old teammates come up to me and tell me how I helped change their view of college, life and of cheerleading. That is something no one will ever take away.
I hope that you realize that you have the opportunity to do so much more than just CHEER- you get to teach people. You get to help them mature and see the bigger picture. I hope and pray you realize the importance you will have in their lives. Stay positive, stay strong and help make your team the best team it can. I promise it will get better.
Best of luck! (FYI- we got 3rd at UCA college nationals that year)
There is no doubt that being an older member on a team with younger girls can be frustrating! I was in the same situation before and never understood it until becoming a coach. I agree with jeff! Being the older one, you have the chance to help mold the younger girls into amazing cheerleaders and PEOPLE! You will see that they will look up to you as a role model all year and take your words like gold. so chose you words and actions wisely...they will always be watching you. Take this chance to set the tone at practice. push yourself hard, listen to the coaches and take practice seriously and i am sure that the younger girls will follow your lead before you know it!
