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Staffing Up: Continued Cheer Education

June 3rd, 2010 | All Star Cheerleading | admin | Comments Off

Knowledge is the key to the future of cheerleading.

By Lindsey Lelak

CBN Feb/Mar 2010

For many careers today, continuing education is not just a suggestion, it’s a requirement. So it should go without saying that to earn a job in the cheerleading industry, where you’re molding America’s youth, you should also undergo further training, says Debbie Bracewell, executive director of the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE). “You expect your doctor, nurse and high school teacher to continue their education,” says Bracewell, “why wouldn’t the same hold true for people who are working with our young people?” Tegan Reeves, assistant executive director for the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and director of communication and education for the United States All-Star Federation (USASF), agrees that expanding coaches’ knowledge and training is important to the growth of the industry: “Building one’s credentials should not be taken lightly,” she says. “We must take a stand for the quality of our education and certification.”
Opportunities for coaches to continue their cheer education in the form of conferences, credentialing and certification are widely available and provide several benefits. For new coaches, it helps them better understand their job responsibilities. Jim Lord, executive director of AACCA, likens certification classes to a new driver getting his or her license. “It doesn’t say the person is going to be a great driver, but it does make sure at the very minimum that he or she knows what his or her responsibilities are and what that person is getting into,” he says. And for those ex-cheerleaders who are just stepping into the coaching role, Lord warns they still need to take classes and get certified because “there’s an entirely different set of philosophies that are behind a teaching method.”
Dan Kessler, co-owner of JAMfest, agrees, adding that many young coaches are close in age to some of the kids they’re teaching. These coaches may not know or haven’t been taught the best ways to properly instruct and interact with children, including dealing with different personalities, communication skills and leadership potential.
A veteran coach should also continue to be recertified, although some experts, like Bracewell, feel that sometimes pride can get in the way. “A coach will say they’ve had one class and they’re done. That is such a dangerous line of thought,” she says. Especially in the ever-changing world of all-star cheerleading, Bracewell emphasizes the importance of attempting to find out things you don’t already know, verifying that what you do know is still correct (and in accordance with any rules changes) and correcting any bad habits developed along the way.
Lord goes so far as to call anyone who feels that they’ve had enough education a “fool.” He points to a person he considers to be the perfect example of someone who has never stopped learning: Les Stella, the rules coordinator for USASF. “Les sat in on a stunt course that I was teaching a long time ago,” says Lord. “And after I was finished I asked, ‘Why are you in this class?’ He said, ‘I’m always trying to find a different way to say something or a new technique that I didn’t think of.’ That struck me as, ‘Wow, this is someone who’s probably one of the most qualified skill teachers in the country, and he’s still looking for education.’”
A huge plus for continuing education—particularly in this down-turned economy in which people are looking for ways to stand out to employers—is the marketing and networking benefits it can create for both the coach and the gym. “Sometimes coaches don’t understand that having safety training is such a good marketing tool when encouraging cheerleaders and their parents to join their gym,” says Bracewell. Also, by attending these classes, coaches are able to develop a built-in set of resources and pick up new tips from other coaches. “For me, the best benefit of continuing my education is the large network of coaching friends I’ve cultivated,” says Josh Stevens, head coach of Action All-Star Cheer in Thousand Palms, CA. Latresa Webster Phillips, of Western Carolina Elite Cheer and Dance, LLC, in Robbinsville, NC, agrees: “Networking is very helpful to cheer coaches today,” she says. “I will not hesitate to pick up the phone and call a cheer colleague when I have a question.”
Even with these benefits, there are coaches who don’t take advantage of continuing education, perhaps due to time or expense. “New gyms open every day,” says Bracewell, “and safety training isn’t always at the top of the list—getting the business open and bringing kids into the facility is.” One way that Tammy Van Vleet, director of the Golden State Spirit Association, combats the money issue is by incorporating the cost of coaches conference admission into the year’s competition fees, so that at the end of the season when there’s no money left, coaches still are able to attend the conference to educate their staff. She warns that those coaches and owners in the industry who don’t seek continued education may become a liability. “They run the risk of losing customers and opening up their liability,” Van Vleet says. “When you’re hiring coaches, you’re looking at all of the education and experience that they have. I don’t know any owners who don’t want to hire the best possible coaches available, because their staff is going to make or break their business.”
As for non-coaching gym owners, forgoing certification, credentialing or continued education is risky as well. After all, without the proper training and knowledge, they may not be able to differentiate between the good coaching and bad coaching taking place at their facility, including unethical and unsafe behavior.

The Big 3

Here is a look at three national continuing education programs:

American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA)

www.aacca.org
The AACCA certification program was created to develop stronger, safer athletes through safer, smarter coaching. It is a risk-management program, designed to inform the cheerleading coach about his or her safety, medical and legal responsibilities, as well as proper skill progressions, emergency planning and performer readiness. It’s currently one of the courses qualified to fulfill the NCAA coaching requirement, and 13 states across the U.S. require it in order for a coach’s athletes to participate in partner stunting. To be certified, you must take part in a three-hour review, which is followed by a two-hour open book test, either at a testing facility or online.  For a list of state directors and course schedules by state, visit aacca.org.

U.S. All-Star Federation (USASF)

www.usasf.net
The USASF provides the latest and best-known practices in safety, education and ethics, which are included in the USASF sanctioning and certification standards. Coaches and gym owners are able to take part in two types of USASF continuing education: credentialing and gym certification.
Credentialing evaluates coaches in three core subjects: tumbling, stunts and tosses in all-star Levels 1 to 5. Coaches are tested through a written exam, a hands-on test and practical field experience. Credentialing certificates are good for three years.
Gym certification is a more intricate process and ensures that gyms are in full accordance with the proper standard of care. For a gym to be certified, all of its coaches must be credentialed and have their CPR training, the gym director must have his or her AACCA certification, first aid coverage must be available at the facility at all times and the gym must do background checks for all staff. Gym certification is free to USASF members.
In addition, the USASF will credential athletes and certify safety judges for sanctioned events. It’s also developing a program called “Professional Membership,” which will certify experience in different cheerleading roles, such as “Choreographer” or “Gym Owner.” It will have a public database of industry professionals and their credentials. For a list of state directors and instructors (plus their contact information), visit here.

National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE)

www.spiritsafety.com
The NCSSE believes in education, not just certification. “Continuing education in the coaching field increases the knowledge and skill base of a coach; it helps the coach formulate coaching strategies to teach cheerleaders new skills and safer techniques,” says executive director Debbie Bracewell. The comprehensive program offers four three- to four-hour core classes titled: Principles & Ethics, Cheer Fundamentals, Stunts & Tumbling I and Stunts & Tumbling II, which cover such topics as the role of a coach, program management and proper progressions. You can find a list of state directors and courses in your region at spiritsafety.com.

Where else to get certified:

In addition to AACCA, NCSSE and USASF, the following coaches conferences offer training and certification:

Speak Up: Becoming Active in the National All-Star Cheerleading Coaches Congress (NACCC)

Before competition companies all followed the same set of USASF rules, Elaine Pascale and Joelle Antico of World Cup All Stars (Freehold, NJ), Victor and Kristen Rosario of Top Gun All Stars (Miami, FL) and Jamie Parrish, Georgia All Stars (Roswell, GA) originally developed the NACCC in 2003 with one vision: to be the voice of the coaches. “We found ourselves with pyramids that were legal at one event, and illegal the next weekend at a different event,” explains Parrish. “We felt that by constantly changing the choreography, it wasn’t really safe for kids.”
The NACCC, which is now under the USASF umbrella, approached event production companies and requested that one set of universal rules be established for the industry. The group was not only successful in developing these rules, it also created a standard glossary. The NACCC now has representatives in every state, and in addition to regional NACCC meetings, the organization holds a national meeting every two years in Atlanta, in which coaches are able to vote on important issues that face cheerleaders and their gyms. This year, from June 1 to 3 in Doral, FL, the NACCC will also hold a coaches retreat to discuss hot topics for the congress’ next meeting in January 2011. “The industry is changing so rapidly—organizing coaches and their concerns is more important than ever, so that’s what we’re pushing to do,” says Pascale.
E-mail Elaine Pascale at wcupelaine@aol.com for more information about the retreat.

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