Athlete. That term seems to be used more often now than when I was a kid. “Back then”, we just played soccer or baseball, and were rarely, if ever referred to as athletes. Kids seem to be starting sports earlier which gives them more time to learn and advance in a given sport. This isn’t a bad thing, but it is likely an adjustment for many parents. Kids today spend more time practicing, performing, training, etc, and all of these activities can alter the dynamics of a family.
Our daughter is driven. I mean DRIVEN. And this was not me at her age. So parenting this mentally and physically motivated individual has been challenging and a ton of fun.
We’ve made mistakes, and have maybe even done a few things right over the years. Raising a child athlete is a rewarding journey filled with unique challenges and a myriad of unforgettable moments. Hopefully there will be something in the words below that offers insights on what to expect when nurturing young athletes.
While our focus is on the sport of all star cheerleading, the same information applies to pretty much all athletes in any sport.
DISCIPLINE & DEDICATION
Child athletes thrive on discipline and dedication. This is typical of most older athletes, but you can see this early in their journey as well. This is a great attribute, and you should instill values of hard work, commitment, and perseverance in your children. The world of sports is demanding and there are more days of blood, sweat and tears, than of wins and accomplishments. However, those wins are what makes the rest of it all worth it.
Through cheer, kids learn invaluable life lessons that extend far beyond the mat. Use these opportunities to teach them about resilience, leadership, teamwork, and the power of perseverance. The discipline that kids get with this sport, is similar to what I gained as a middle and high school kid playing football. I still reflect favorably on my parents and coaches during those fruitful years, and your kid should be able to do the same.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time...there is never enough. Balancing school, training, competitions, and family time can be demanding for our kids. I often forget that our daughter is still just a kid and doesn't have the life experience that will help them tackle this. Help them prioritize tasks, manage their schedules effectively, and find a healthy balance between their academic and athletic pursuits.
We share a family calendar that is color coded based on the "who" and "what" of the event. I recommend making the calendar as available as possible, so there is high visibility for everyone.
PHYSICAL & MENTAL STRENGTH
If you haven't heard this before, all star cheer is a sport. Anyone that argues with that is ignorant to the amount of training and conditioning that goes into a routine. Our daughter is a flyer, so as you can imagine, she is not the biggest kid out there. I would also say that she is one of the strongest kids in her class, and I did say "kid" and not girl. Her abilities come directly from what she does in the cheer gym. She also supplements her cheer training with strength training, which I would recommend for anyone. It's important for these kids to have a good amount of physical strength as it will reduce their chances of injury and also make them better cheerleaders. Think about all the mechanics that go into running tumbling, standing tumbling, basing, flying, pyramids, etc. Each full out or routine is like one massive giant set, combining endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
Cheer requires not only physical strength but also mental resilience. Prepare your kids to face challenges, setbacks, and victories with grace and determination. Athletes won't typically move up a level each year, and learning a new skill takes time. It can take a year or longer to learn one running tumbling pass. Unlike other sports that are purely based on age, all star cheer works around age and skill. Some kids will move on to higher level teams faster than others, and friends will often be on different teams. This can be discouraging for some, so encourage them to develop a growth mindset and understand that progress and failure are equal stepping stones to success.
TEAMWORK & SPORTSMANSHIP
Cheer is a team sport, period. Athletes are placed on teams based on how they compliment and add value to the overall team. Each athlete needs to know where their team is coming from and moving to while on the mat. Flyers can't fly without bases. Bases can't base without flyers. Main bases or back spots need side bases, and tumbling and dance is a group effort to make it successful.
This may be the right time to briefly discuss confidence and arrogance. Confidence is rooted in self-worth and not dependent on external validation. It can be the difference between hitting zero and having a few deductions. Confidence becomes arrogance when perspective is lost and an individual loses humility. Confident athletes see themselves and their abilities as significant while arrogant athletes see themselves and their abilities as superior. Arrogance can internally disrupt a team, and become the source of poor performance.
It's important that our kids understand the importance of collaboration, supporting their teammates, and displaying respect for opponents, coaches, and officials.
INJURY MANAGEMENT
I started down this road in the section above on physical strength. If your kid participates in all star cheer long enough, they are highly likely to have injuries that could disrupt their day, week, month, or even season. Sports come with inherent risks of injuries. It's as simple as that. However, there are things your athlete can do to help mitigate potential injuries. Strength training cannot be overstated. If you think this is not for girls, then you are misinformed. It is honestly the closest thing to a fountain of youth that I can think of, and under the right supervision, can be useful for pretty much anyone at any age. Stretching is also important, as flexibility can be a savior with the various body positions these kids get into.
Diet and nutrition is obviously important, but you won't hear me saying that any kid needs to go on some rigid regimen of bone broth and goji berries. I think they just need to eat an adequate amount of protein to keep their muscles happy, and the rest will probably fall into place.
Be prepared to handle setbacks due to injuries with patience and know what to do to help them get back on a path of healing. Encourage your kids to prioritize their health and well-being above all else. I am betting that most of us wished we had done a little better job when we were younger.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
As discussed above, all star cheer can be a rollercoaster of emotions. The thrill of learning a new skill, having a friend move to a higher level team, the hours of effort for 2.5 minutes, and the feeling of bringing home hardware at a world championship event - what a ride! Don't be the dad that is constantly riding your kid about what they are doing wrong, ESPECIALLY if not present during the rest of the season. Be their pillar of emotional support, offering encouragement, understanding, and unconditional love during these hills and valleys. You're their dad, and should be a source of strength and love regardless of what they are going through.
GOAL SETTING
All star cheer is very different, which you likely know by now. In football, a player typically has one or two primary jobs. Catch this ball and run, or block that guy, etc. In cheer, these athletes are asked to pretty much do everything. I've seen athletes base, fly, stunt, tumble, pyramid, dance, etc, all in one routine. Imagine asking the quarterback to take the snap, throw the ball to themself, block that defensive end, and then run through the endzone. It's because of this, that it takes years to develop various skills in cheer.
We can't expect an athlete to go from a back handspring to a standing full in one season. Set goals with your kid, but ensure they are realistic and achievable. Pick a skill that is at the next level, and have them work on that until they can do it consistently.
My dad always said to never ask for a raise. He would say, "If you make $10 and want to make $11, then work like you're making $11. And one day, you will be." This has worked for me my entire life, and I think it applies here as well. If your athlete wants to be on a level 3 team, then have them work like they are. One day, it will all come together and their determination will make it reality.
LOCK IN SOME MEMORIES
This is my favorite, which is why it's last. There are only so many time we will be able to watch our kids walk onto that mat before they hang up their uniform forever. Take a moment and be constantly present. Learn the sport and you will learn to love the sport that your kid enjoys so much. Enjoy every car ride to the gym, every weekend trip, and especially every moment that you see a face light up with excitement over something accomplished. For many of us, this is the sport that our kids have chosen. We have a choice to be a part of it or not.
You can't get this time back.
