- Mar 2, 2014
- 995
- 2,450
Oh, I'm not even sure where to start. (I know there's been a few threads lately concerning not-very-promising programs; I hope no ones sees this as something like that)
-I'm 17 years old, coming up on my senior year of high school. For a while it's been a dream of mine to start a Rec program in the town where I plan to go to college.
-To my knowledge (I researched every rec program in the town on the town website) there is not a cheerleading program, but there is a football program they could cheer for.
-There is an AllStar program in this town (I'm not yet sure how that's pertinent, I just feel like it is).
-I will have coached AllStar level 1 (and to a lesser extent, level 2) for 2 seasons by the time I graduate, and plan to be USASF certified in both levels (already am in level 1; hopefully will be in level 2 very soon if everything goes right).
Things I've considered/I know:
-I don't know yet how hard college will be for me (nor have I even decided fully on a major). I know that will play a huge part in how successful this plan is.
-I'll be going to this college for free (parents are planning to use a little the money they had saved for my college to get me a residence off campus), so it's not like I'll be a broke college kid. I say this to say I'm fortunate enough to not have to worry about making ends meet for myself alongside my cheer program.
-The city has a public gym. I don't know yet if it costs to practice there or anything, but I know that's where we'd practice as it would probably be the cheapest indoor facility. (As I'm writing this I'm realizing there are YMCAs and making a note to find out if there is one where I'll be, and whether or not it'd be a better option.)
-I'd have to apply for a small grant from the city, if for only a mat or two to practice on, and before I did that I'd have to have my business plan and everything together for them to even consider giving me money.
-I'm sure I'd probably have to get some sort of other certification through the city to coach rec, but I really don't know how much of a presence the city would have to have in anything.
-I know that coaching rec would be an entirely different world than coaching AllStar. There will be a billion differences I'm sure. I also know that coaching anything is different from creating a business (I call it a business for lack of a better word; I don't plan to make money doing it.)
-I don't expect kids to walk in competition ready, although it'd be my goal to get them there eventually. The first year (and maybe second too) would be for building skills and cheering sidelines.
-If everything goes as planned, I'll only be in college for 4 years (this also depends on my major, which I need to stinking figure out). Is that enough time to build up a solid program? What if no one cares to take my place after I leave? *shudders*
-I've been lurking around the Rec section on this site for days (not done yet though), and it's been very helpful.
-I know of teams that don't go through pop warner or AYC and don't plan on doing so (not that I'd know how where to begin if I wanted to).
-you can get uniforms fairly cheap, I can make bows (and even cut music together when it's time), and I won't require them to buy shoes or anything like that, at least not the first year. (A uniform and bloomers, at the very least.)
-This is all to happen at least a year into the future, I'm just trying to figure things out early.
-Just to amuse myself, I've thought about everything from fundraising to how my practices will be run, marketing/recruiting to the first cheers I'll teach them. I'm organized and mature for my age (like they all say... but I really am: instead of my usual designer handbag my parents get me every birthday, this year I'm asking for a new Oreck vacuum cleaner. Whoops ) and feel like I can handle responsibility well.
I'm here seeking advice as I know there are some really awesome rec coaches (and just people in general) on the boards. My first idea was to learn as much as I could this year and apply for a job at the AllStar gym in the area next year. But I want to go beyond that. I love cheerleading and don't want to give it up because I'm going to college. I'm not good enough to cheer college, and due to some really crappy circumstances I'm not even doing school cheerleading next year. But I've concluded that just because I'm not great at something doesn't mean I can't like doing it, or that I should give up on it. I'm pretty sure it's been said here that there's a place for everyone in the industry, and I feel like this could be mine. Obviously I have a really long way to go, and a lot to learn. I genuinely want to give girls who can't afford all star a chance to cheer. I want to be a mentor for them and instill the same love I have for the sport in them. Any and all advice is extremely appreciated. Thanks!
ETA: sorry this post is 12 miles long. Just wanted to lay everything out.
ETA again: "I am not just some teen trying to start a team." I hope.
The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android
-I'm 17 years old, coming up on my senior year of high school. For a while it's been a dream of mine to start a Rec program in the town where I plan to go to college.
-To my knowledge (I researched every rec program in the town on the town website) there is not a cheerleading program, but there is a football program they could cheer for.
-There is an AllStar program in this town (I'm not yet sure how that's pertinent, I just feel like it is).
-I will have coached AllStar level 1 (and to a lesser extent, level 2) for 2 seasons by the time I graduate, and plan to be USASF certified in both levels (already am in level 1; hopefully will be in level 2 very soon if everything goes right).
Things I've considered/I know:
-I don't know yet how hard college will be for me (nor have I even decided fully on a major). I know that will play a huge part in how successful this plan is.
-I'll be going to this college for free (parents are planning to use a little the money they had saved for my college to get me a residence off campus), so it's not like I'll be a broke college kid. I say this to say I'm fortunate enough to not have to worry about making ends meet for myself alongside my cheer program.
-The city has a public gym. I don't know yet if it costs to practice there or anything, but I know that's where we'd practice as it would probably be the cheapest indoor facility. (As I'm writing this I'm realizing there are YMCAs and making a note to find out if there is one where I'll be, and whether or not it'd be a better option.)
-I'd have to apply for a small grant from the city, if for only a mat or two to practice on, and before I did that I'd have to have my business plan and everything together for them to even consider giving me money.
-I'm sure I'd probably have to get some sort of other certification through the city to coach rec, but I really don't know how much of a presence the city would have to have in anything.
-I know that coaching rec would be an entirely different world than coaching AllStar. There will be a billion differences I'm sure. I also know that coaching anything is different from creating a business (I call it a business for lack of a better word; I don't plan to make money doing it.)
-I don't expect kids to walk in competition ready, although it'd be my goal to get them there eventually. The first year (and maybe second too) would be for building skills and cheering sidelines.
-If everything goes as planned, I'll only be in college for 4 years (this also depends on my major, which I need to stinking figure out). Is that enough time to build up a solid program? What if no one cares to take my place after I leave? *shudders*
-I've been lurking around the Rec section on this site for days (not done yet though), and it's been very helpful.
-I know of teams that don't go through pop warner or AYC and don't plan on doing so (not that I'd know how where to begin if I wanted to).
-you can get uniforms fairly cheap, I can make bows (and even cut music together when it's time), and I won't require them to buy shoes or anything like that, at least not the first year. (A uniform and bloomers, at the very least.)
-This is all to happen at least a year into the future, I'm just trying to figure things out early.
-Just to amuse myself, I've thought about everything from fundraising to how my practices will be run, marketing/recruiting to the first cheers I'll teach them. I'm organized and mature for my age (like they all say... but I really am: instead of my usual designer handbag my parents get me every birthday, this year I'm asking for a new Oreck vacuum cleaner. Whoops ) and feel like I can handle responsibility well.
I'm here seeking advice as I know there are some really awesome rec coaches (and just people in general) on the boards. My first idea was to learn as much as I could this year and apply for a job at the AllStar gym in the area next year. But I want to go beyond that. I love cheerleading and don't want to give it up because I'm going to college. I'm not good enough to cheer college, and due to some really crappy circumstances I'm not even doing school cheerleading next year. But I've concluded that just because I'm not great at something doesn't mean I can't like doing it, or that I should give up on it. I'm pretty sure it's been said here that there's a place for everyone in the industry, and I feel like this could be mine. Obviously I have a really long way to go, and a lot to learn. I genuinely want to give girls who can't afford all star a chance to cheer. I want to be a mentor for them and instill the same love I have for the sport in them. Any and all advice is extremely appreciated. Thanks!
ETA: sorry this post is 12 miles long. Just wanted to lay everything out.
ETA again: "I am not just some teen trying to start a team." I hope.
The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android
Last edited: