The Coaching Trials

Ok so we have all felt exasperated at our childrens coaches from time to time, and sometimes our concerns are founded. But if you don’t trust your childs coach, how will they? I have felt disappointed in the past when I was told my daughter wasn’t ready for something, and as a parent I felt that she was. I am not ashamed to say that I was wrong. When she was ready she was awarded the opportunity, and in the intervening months had learnt so much that she was able to cope with the pressures her new spot afforded her.

I hate not being in control, so relinquishing it to someone else when she leaves my car and walks into a building is tough for me! I am lucky, really, really lucky. I have found coaches for my little cheerleader who have never stopped supporting her, believing in her, calling her out when she isn’t putting in enough effort, and giving her amazing opportunities for her to challenge herself with.

One coach in particular has an affinity with my daughter that I have never seen before, and if I’m honest I am a little envious of their closeness and how they can understand each other by just looking at the others face. Its like they have internal intercoms, I can ask one what the other is thinking and they will be on the money every time!

She is impossibly naïve and I have spent many times howling laughing while trying to explains the difference between countries and continents to her in my kitchen while using various household items to demonstrate! (I have found that expensive handbags and makeup seem to work the best) or how the strength of an alcoholic beverage doesn’t change if you pour some of it out, just the amount that’s in the bottle………(yes these are genuine debates and I didn’t make them up for comedic value)…..

But I digress, a coach who is in their job for the right reason will always make your child a better person, and not just in a “now I can flick tuck” kind of way. They will teach them to push when they think there’s nothing left to give, believe when they don’t think they can, get back up after a fall and try again, kindness to others when things go wrong, and be part of a team!

Cheerleading teaches children so much more than just what to do on the mat, and a real coach teaches these lessons.