by Stephanie Ogar
“I don’t feel good.” “I’m sore.” “I don’t want to be here today.” “I hate this.” Quotes I hear every day. Practice after practice.
“Everyone get up and stretch.” No one moves.. “EVERYONE GET UP AND STRETCH.” Some people stretch, others don’t. “Okay do what you want.”
Trying to start practice is even a problem. People always come up with excuses why they can’t help roll out the cheer mats, or why they can’t do the warmups today. We do the warmups every day before the coach gets there. I feel like they come up with excuses because they think I am going to treat them like a friend and let them do what they want. Should I? I shouldn’t. Do I? It depends on the day. I shouldn’t though.
I have had people who just “don’t feel like it today” or “are too tired” so they don’t give 100% during practice. On a cheering team it is not like all the other sports. We have nobody to replace others with if they are not giving 100%. Each person has a unique part to the routine, and if they do not give 100% every time, the routine doesn’t work.
Team bonding is another story. We love to get together as a team, but there seems to always be someone who can’t come. Reasons vary, but the one that bugs me the most is when they skip to hang out with their boyfriends. It’s my job as captain to tell them that’s not fair to skip for boyfriend time, but a friend would accept the fact that they are with their boyfriend. I can’t force them to come, so I have to accept the fact that they are going to do what they want.
Being a leader and a friend at the same time has been a challenge for me, and I know that other leaders will experience this at some point if they have not yet. As a leader, stepping in and arguing with your best friends is one of the most difficult challenges. I overcome this challenge by usually letting it go. Next year, as a senior, I plan to take control and not let people get away with things like this anymore.
