Eliminate Closed Practices

I’ve got a really unpopular opinion in cheerleading…and I’ve had it for years. I’ve told many of our clients my feelings over the years, but now I’m going to share them with you.

Do not close your practices.

Ever.

I’ve had a lot of owners give me the, “yeah, but…” when I say this. I’ve had people in our free NG Cheer & Gymnastics Gym Owners group tell me all the reasons why I’m wrong, but I’m here to tell you – open those practices.

The parents cause so many problems…

Those are the same parents who are going to cause problems whether you have closed practices or open practices. Fix the culture in your gym. When they can see what’s happening (and even better if they can hear what you’re saying), they can form their own opinions on a situation.

The parents try to coach from the lobby…

Have a conversation. Share your practice plan. Let them know why it’s important that athletes are focused. Teach parents why you’re the expert. (I’ve got news…I have a hard time sitting and letting other people coach my kids, but if you can prove you know more than me, I always let you do your job.) If I don’t trust you know what you’re doing, or I’ve got a better way, I have a hard time staying quiet.

My lobby isn’t big enough…

Yes it is. We have a couple gyms in the Academy who have a lobby that’s smaller than my living room. Give parents access to watch if they want to. Allow them to crowd one another in the lobby and work like crazy to grow your profits so you can get a bigger building. If you don’t have a lobby at all or one that can’t view the floor, fix it! My lobby is huge, but we run out of seating during peak times. I have seating around the edges of my cheer floor. It’s not ideal. I don’t love it, but it’s more important that parents have access to their kids than that I get my bubble of comfort.

My coaches get so nervous…

Train them better. There is nothing that should ever be said to an athlete away from their parents that you wouldn’t say in front of their parents. Our parents know my flaws as a coach. Somewhere around 33, I stopped being a good spotter and now my eyes close when things are coming at me. I’m extremely honest about that and always call over more spotters during new stunts. Our parents have never given me trouble about my “new” natural instinct. Instead, they have said they’re grateful I know my limits and they tease me about it now. It’s funny. We build culture through “being real”. If your coaches are nervous about their skills, there are so many training resources available, and you should invest into staff training.

My parents don’t stay for practices…

That’s OK. I’m not saying you need to require mom and dad for three hours twice per week. I’m just saying you need to allow parents to watch and make their child accessible to them at all times.

I’m going to put out a guide to minimizing risk in your facility when it comes to abuse in the next few days. This is not just a suggestion. This is a requirement. You must do your due diligence and keep kids safe.

If that means you’re less comfortable, and you have more problems to deal with – that’s OK. You’re an adult (one with a system of support in this group) and you’ll be OK. Who won’t be OK? A child who is abused (mentally, physically, emotionally or any other way) in your gym.

The USASF isn’t in the doors of my gym to protect my athletes, but I am.

Abuse happens in many forms and in many places. Create a culture of transparency with parents, staff and athletes.