table of contents tips for leaders tips for team members tips for parents the cheerleading guide to conflict resolution share

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1 conflict resolution

2 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. table of contents tips for leaders... 3 tips for team members... 8 tips for parents

3 tips for leaders In cheerleading, cheer is often given all the glory, but coaches and captains know how important it is that the leader part isn t overlooked. Being in a leadership position for a squad isn t about popularity. It s about responsibility, dedication and passion. Anybody that is or has been in a leadership role on a cheerleading squad knows that the job requires much more than just running practices. A team is like a family, and like every family, someone sits in the head seat at the table.

4 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. keys to success The key to being a great leader is to know what your responsibilities are and to perform them to the best of your ability. The way that you lead will teach your squad or teammates something about the world. You are not only teaching them cheer and dance moves, you are teaching them life skills and defining all the action words above: efficiency, attitude, respect, communication, knowledge, organization, accountability and energy. Set a great example for your squad, and they will give you back loyalty, hard work and dedication. 8 tips for leading a cheer squad by example: 1. Efficiency. Make practices as effective and efficient as possible by showing up early to make sure all equipment and music is ready to go when practice is supposed to start. 2. Attitude. Practice patience and negotiation and stay away from pride and tempers. Cheer squad leaders could benefit from some introductory training into psychology. 3. Respect. Give it to get it. Being bossy, rude or demanding is not going to motivate anyone to do what you say, or inspire them to want to make you proud. Think about what words you use, and how you say them. 4. Communication. The key to successful communication is to recognize that it is about evolving. How you want to say things isn t as important as them hearing what they need to, so adjust your strategy and learn at every opportunity. 5. Knowledge. Know the ins and outs of each game and understand your school or organization s handbook. Study and adjust for the rules of competitions and have a working knowledge of basic first aid and CPR procedures. 6. Organization. All team leaders need to work together using the same organizational system. It is great if everyone is organized on their own, but using multiple systems to organize the same or similar information will only lead to confusion. get respect Being a leader isn t about being a bully, it s about being the type of person that people can and do look up to. 7. Accountability. A leader needs to be accountable for their actions, but they also need to give their squad the tools to be accountable for their own actions. Clearly communicating the goals and requirements for being a part of the squad. 8. Energy. Keep your energy high and positive. Instead of a demerit system, focus on rewarding the good work that your squad members complete. This positive reinforcement will motivate the team. 4

5 conflict resolution What should you do when your team goes from yelling on the sidelines to yelling at each other? Conflict can be completely manageable. Keep your team attitude healthy with these tips: Get ahead of the game. Use organization and initiative to prevent confusion among the squad and their parents. After try outs, hold a mandatory meeting with the squad and their parents where the coach and captain can give some background on their experience and training philosophy. If they understand and relate to the coach and captain, they will be less likely to jump to conclusions about them. Also take the opportunity at the meeting to clearly explain expectations, disciplinary actions, and the year s schedule of events. Hand out a form with the squad rules for each team member and parent to sign. Communication is key to reconciliation. A cheerleading squad s coach and captain should always lead by example. Keeping the lines of communication open will make it easier to recognize and manage conflict. When the season starts, the team should be told how the coach and captain expect conflicts to be handled. It should also be made clear to parents when and how they may contact the coach if they need to discuss anything. Who s the boss? What is the difference between the captain handling a conflict, and the coach handling a conflict? A good rule to follow is to let the captain handle small conflicts between teammates, and to get the coach involved when the conflict is with a parent or if sensitive issues are involved. simple math solid relationships = solid performances shaky relationships = shaky performances Approach with optimism. As frustrating as conflict can be, a good leader knows that approaching a resolution with a negative attitude isn t going to accomplish much. The coach or captain should concentrate on solving the conflict, and should only get as much information as they need to do so. Personal and past issues between team members must be put aside and everyone should remember to focus on solving the problem so that the goals of the team can be met. 5

6 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. Mediation vs. Legislation. A good leader needs to decide when to be hands on and when to be hands off. When managing a conflict, remember to be open-minded so that you can try to let the conflict solve itself naturally. By managing a conflict resolution meeting, you can get a genuine solution that will prevent the same problem from happening again. If you push for, demand or declare a certain outcome without addressing any issues, it is likely that you ll have the same problem later down the road. Learn when to mediate vs. when to legislate. Let s NOT give em something to talk about. The only people that should be involved in the conflict resolution are the people that are directly involved in the conflict. If the coach and captain are talking about the conflict and the people involved to other team members, they will set an example that gossiping is tolerated. If you find that your team continues to have conflicts, try revisiting some respect and trust building exercises to reinforce the feeling of team. 6

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8 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. tips for team members While cheer coaches and captains keep things going behind the scenes, the team members are the face of a cheerleading squad. You are determined and dedicated with a spirited heart, attitude and smile, right? That is great, but there are a few other things you need to consider to be an asset to your team, instead of their weakest link. Here are some tips on how cheer squad members and can make sure they are supporting the team, showing good sportsmanship and contributing to conflict resolution. 8

9 be a good sport 1 2 Be willing to try and learn new things. The only way to improve is to identify and accept your weaknesses, then work to improve your technique and skill. When your coach or captain gives you direction, think of it as constructive criticism, not as a personal attack. Criticism is necessary for improvement. Learn how to accept it and how to use it to better yourself without getting hurt or defensive. You have to respect your coach and captain, and resist gossiping about them to other team members. 3 Be respectful of your coach and teammates time. Show up when you are supposed to and be prepared to practice or compete by having all your equipment and cheerleading gear. Don t make excuses for being late - just don t be late. 4 Help your teammates. Even if there is a coach, assistant coach, captain and co-captain, there might not be enough time for them to individually help everyone on the team. They might not notice that someone is struggling, or someone might be too embarrassed to admit they are having trouble. Check in with your teammates, especially the newest and younger ones. Never make fun of them for not having a skill. Instead, help them learn that skill. 5 Don t forget about your academics! You not only need your education for your future, but you likely have to maintain a minimum GPA to be able to participate in an athletic program. Don t let your teammates down by getting benched for the big game because of grades. some limits An athlete has to work hard not only physically, but also mentally. Work hard and ask for help when things are difficult. 9

10 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. conflict resolution Squad members can work on managing team conflicts to keep their cheerleading community positive using these tips: Chain Of Command Each team will have their own policies that should help you determine who to go to if you have a conflict. You will need to make the decision on whether to involve the captain, coach or both. As a general rule, small conflicts between members that can be worked out with just a little discussion don t need to involve the coach. It is also a good idea to make sure that at least one of your team s leaders is aware of any situation that is causing conflict. Cheering Doesn t Take Place On A Stage Don t be fooled by the glitter makeup and exaggerated expressions cheerleading practices, sideline performances and competition mats are no place for drama. Every team should practice open communication, which means speaking up about a problem instead of letting it build up until you get so emotional that you snap. Using insults or sarcasm when communicating about a conflict sends the message that you are not committed to finding a resolution. TEAM Is The Only Side The team is the only side that anyone should be on. The team should never be split between other people s opinions. It is nice to understand where other people are coming from, but choosing sides is unnecessary and distracts from resolution. If you have a conflict, talk to the people involved directly instead of trying to recruit people to agree with you. If you find a team member trying to put you in the middle of a conflict, explain to her that you will not get involved. no egos Recognizing, addressing and putting conflicts to rest is important for a team that relies on respect and trust during routines and stunts. 10

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12 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. tips for parents The involvement of parents at games and competitions is vital to the success of a cheerleading squad. Your child s team is motivated and inspired by your enthusiasm. With all the recent dance and beauty pageant reality shows putting a negative light on parent involvement, it s easy to think that overbearing parents are the norm. But we know that is not true! Support and encouragement from parents is a major factor in the success of a cheer squad. If you are not sure when support and encouragement might be turning into something more like interference, keep yourself in check with these simple tips, and enjoy the season! 12

13 be a good sport Learn how to recognize behavior that is positive, and negative not only in yourself but also in your child and take steps to acknowledge both in a healthy way. Here are some tips for being a team player: 1 Cheerleading is a team sport, and team unity is essential. Focus on, and teach your child to focus on, the team s goals and needs along with their individual goals. super support Sometimes, parents even become so well known at events that people wonder why they don t have their own cheerleading team uniform! Let the coach be in charge at practice, games and competitions. Support the coach s decisions so that their voice becomes the instruction voice, and yours becomes a supportive one. Interfering with a coach can cause tension, and you definitely want the coach to be an ally! At competitions, cheer for every team and every child, not just your own. Speak up against any parent who breaks this crucial rule by asking them to behave respectfully. You can go the extra mile for your team by learning some of the chants or cheers and participating in the stands during their performance. Get involved by volunteering for the team. You ll show your child how much you support and encourage them, and you ll also be a big help to the team! Attend the games and performances when you can, and offer to help set up equipment and music at practices if you have the time (but remember to leave the coaching to the coach during practice!). Never gossip about other parents or team members. You can cause a bad situation not only for yourself, but also for your child. Instead, have fun by socializing with the other parents and making friends! Organize weekly or monthly newsletters, s or meetings for the parents, with the cheer coach and captain, so everyone can keep up on paperwork and other deadlines and requirements. 13

14 2012 cheerleadingblog.com. All rights reserved. conflict resolution Conflicts on a cheerleading squad aren t uncommon, but you can help your child deal with the situation in a way that will make or break their spot on the team: Keep It Simple Parents might feel the pull of their defensive nature when it comes to their cheerleader having a conflict, but that can actually cause more problems. It is easier for conflicts to get solved when only the people directly involved work through a solution. Parents should get involved if conflicts have escalated into bullying, abuse or other sensitive issues. Otherwise, they should support their cheerleader and trust that they will make the right decisions. No Drama Mama It is important that parents practice drama-free communication as well. As always, a parent is a role model for their child. If a cheerleader s parents let their emotion control their conflict management, they will make it harder for their child to avoid drama on their team. Step Back Parents may have a hard time with this one, but they need to stop themselves from choosing sides as well. A parent can still support and be there for their cheerleader without taking sides. Listen to their problem and help them come to a solution that considers the best outcome for the team. no i Every person involved in a conflict needs to be responsible for their role in the issue, and for their role in resolution including YOUR child. You can disagree with someone fiercely, but still find a way to compromise with them for the good of the team. 14

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