Seven years ago, I was a 15 year old high school sophomore. I was approached by one of my still best friends to "teen" coach a competitive cheerleading team for the youth organization the gathered the surrounding towns to our high school.
Being a cheerleader myself, how could I say no? Family telling me the community service looks good for college only slightly aided in my decision. We were teamed up to coach girls from third to fifth grade. It seemed simple enought.
At the time I thought I would coach one season maybe two, but I was so wrong. I spent the following five season after that coaching. Coaching some of the same girls I got the pleasure of from the beginning for all five of those seasons.
When I hear cheerleading isn't a sport, I'm instantly offended. From the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like anything major. From a coaches prospective, it is major. Picture yourself organizing 20 girls in grades 3-5, in a formation, teaching them moves and motions, spotting there stunts and essientally getting to prefect it. It's not a easy job, but someone had to do it.
As my cheerleaders grew, the routines and stunts got more difficult. The girls got more determined, cheerleading is one of those things that just gets better with age. I saw them laugh, cry, get hurt, win and lose. I saw them make lasting friendships. And I watch them find love in something I found love in.
My friend and myself were accompanied by two head coaches, sometimes three head coaches. They're amazing. Between putting up with all the girls and then us on top of it, they were super heros. As the girls got older, they were always willing to let us push the limits and try something new. And as we got older, they considered us regular coaches rather than teen.
All of my cheerleaders that I started with are now at least high school freshman, it makes me feel so old. I've seen them grow alway from cheerleading into other sports and passions. I've seen them continue there love for cheerleading at both the NCA competitive level and on the high school level. I have some amazing bonds with some amazing girls who changed my life during all five of those cheerleading seasons.
Spending two days a week, totaling 4 hours. And often full days on the weekends. I realized how important they were to me. I realized how much they taugh me, and how much I taught them. From bad days and attitudes to good days and first place trophies, those girls made me absoutely love a sport I already loved in a totally different way.
I wouldn't change those five seasons or trade all those crazy girls for anything.
