It takes all types to make up a team, but you’ll need a game plan to handle the standouts.
By Brian Payne
CBN Dec/Jan 2009
To complement our previous articles on dealing with Problem Parents and Coaching Personalities, this article identifies 11 athlete personality types typically found on a cheerleading team that just may be the cause of some of those gray hairs you swear weren’t there last season. Based on surveys of coaches at major events, here’s a breakdown of these characters in your program, as well as suggestions on how to work with each.
The Diva
This is the cheerleader whose presence you feel instantly when she walks into the gym. The Diva isn’t afraid to share, steal or dominate the spotlight, and will shove others out of the way at the end of the routine to take a center stage bow, regardless of the quality of execution of her skills. The Diva can easily pass blame on to others in the stunt group for a falter, and has an attitude and confidence that at times can still make her an asset.
How to Deal: Initiate a team-wide community-service project that involves working with disabled or special populations in order to redirect energy into someone with a greater need than her own and who will never know the center stage spotlight.
The Ringleader
In a cross-section of the population at any age group, there are those who lead, and those who follow; those who dominate, and those who will be dominated. The Ringleader gets her power from intimidating and bossing others around, enabling her to control the dynamics of the group. The herd mentality is converted to the gang type mentality under the direction of this strong-willed person. The “in” crowd members who want to be popular, get invited to the parties and be in on the inside jokes will follow the Ringleader.
How To Deal: Use the strength of this natural-born leader for the greater good while stressing moral responsibility, ethics and sportsmanship. See the opportunity to groom this future assistant coach and use this individual to get more results out of others.
The Deadweight
This member of the squad makes coaches scratch their heads and wonder, “Why are you here?” The Deadweight could be the one who is always late to practice, needs an additional copy of everything, cheats on her laps and strength work, always has an excuse or ailment (but heals miraculously when it’s time to get on trampoline). The deadweight has been moved from position to position, unable to catch on or learn the technique or exert the effort, finally becoming the extra back spot or the spirit fingers in the back corner of the formation.
How to Deal: What’s the catalyst for this one? A results tally board, gold star progress chart, special treat for “most improved” (when you’re on the bottom, the only way is up!). She may not do it for herself, but she might for others, so try inserting her into a big sister program where she can help out younger squad members.
The Wallflower
There’s hope for the Wallflower, if experience provides motivation. The Wallflower is new to the program, may not have many friends on the squad and sits back quietly, watching and observing, trying to understand the group dynamics. The Wallflower can easily become a pawn of the Ringleader, and will probably be shunned by the Diva and dragged down by the Deadweight. The Wallflower will need to develop skills quickly to become a contributing team member.
How to Deal: Similar to speed dating, ask this individual to do a partner task with a different teammate each week, have relay race warm-ups and frequently switch groups, create stunt group timing drills with interchangeable parts so that everybody gets to work with everybody.
The Princess
As indicated by her royal title, emphasis on appearance, designer clothes, private schools, personal trainers and private tumbling lessons are the hot topics of conversation. The Princess has her mother to serve as clothier, chauffeur, financial manager and sometimes unofficial assistant coach. The Princess quietly and politely acknowledges the presence of the peasants on the squad, but secretly aspires to become a Diva.
How to Deal: As per the Diva solution, some humbling experiences in the service of your special needs team will hopefully bring a greater appreciation (unless she sends the nanny or Mommy’s personal assistant to do it for her).
The Tough Cookie
This cheerleader has issues, and isn’t afraid to make them public knowledge. A hard case, the Tough Cookie is a rebel, challenges authority and has problems with respect. Behavior is often a direct mirror of family, social or personal problems with which the athlete is having trouble coping. It’s often easier to lash out than it is to communicate and negotiate. This squad member remains because of his/her athletic ability, pays good money and comes through in the heat of battle in the competition venue, even though practices usually are challenging, stressful and frustrating.
How to Deal: Take this one under your wing and explain how the program “needs” her strength and fighting spirit. Recruit this warrior to help the team effort, and her sense of worth may increase. However, be careful as the abused can sometimes become the abuser.
The Teacher’s Pet
It’s amazing how early some children learn to play head games, manipulate and negotiate for personal gain and recognition. The Teacher’s Pet is that squad member who is eager to play fetch for the coach in order to appear favored in front of peers. The Teacher’s Pet is also unobtrusively eavesdropping to pick up little tidbits, scheming to get out of laborious tasks by appearing busy at something else, and most likely to get dunked and held underwater at the squad pool party by jealous teammates.
How to Deal: You can start by sharing and delegating. If one member offers too many times to help out, ask if there’s someone else who wants to jump in on it, or make the line leader/door holder/music person a rotating duty. You don’t want to be rude and ignore your students, but you also don’t have to give them a captive audience, especially for non-cheer routine contributions.
The Hesitator
This type is one who drains the most energy out of coaches during practices and in the warm-up room. As a tumbler, the Hesitator has successfully executed the skill on forgiving surfaces with a spot or with the coach/babysitter constantly holding her hand, alternately encouraging or threatening her. This athlete monopolizes your time with constantly half-hearted attempts and kills the momentum of the rest of the workout for all the others. As a flyer, she’s one of the smallest and lightest, and yet seems like a wet noodle or a ton of bricks, failing to stay tight and lock out with the best of your stunt groups, flailing, arm-waving, fighting for a balance point—then jumping out of the stunt from a dozen feet in the air.
How to Deal: Take the word cheerleader out of the equation. If this athlete were any pitcher/quarterback/relay anchor who couldn’t do the job, she’d be replaced and on the bench. With 20 people on the squad, this challenging student is entitled to five percent of your time during practice. If she can’t do the skill that’s required, she needs to compensate for this loss of time in some other way.
The Cheeraholic
We all want cheerleaders who eat, sleep and breathe cheer 24/7/365, but how much is too much? Do you have cheerleaders who obsess about it, spend all their spare time on the computer in cheer chat rooms and constantly do motions in the hallway and supermarket? Does every casual garment have “cheer” across the seat? Dedication is a wonderful thing, but a wholesome, well-rounded lifestyle also has its benefits. There are certainly worse things in life to devote your attention and energy to than cheerleading, but if every art project and English essay is cheer-related, it may be time for a discussion.
How to Deal: Once again, community service comes up as a solution. It’s difficult to hit motions when you’re dishing out mashed potatoes and gravy to 100 homeless people on Thanksgiving, or carrying bundles of shingles for a Habitat for Humanity house-building project. A closer look at the criteria for American Cheerleader’s Cheerleader of the Month as well as National Cheerleader of the Year awards, hosted by top cheer companies such as Cheer Ltd and the Golden State Spirit Association, will show you how a well-rounded, academic, community service-minded person who also happens to be a cheerleader can be a contender for thousands of dollars in scholarship money. What could be wrong with planting this seed a few years ahead of schedule?
The Jekyll-Hyde
This athlete may seem like two different people from one practice to the next, making you wonder which girl is going to show up on a given day. She may either be taking medications to help control mood disorders, depression or epilepsy, or her shift in behavior may be due to circumstances at home, such as a split-custody situation.
How to Deal: Consistency and fairness go a long way, and this type of person probably needs to feel the security of sameness, regardless of what kind of mood they’re in when they come through the door. You can provide them with a sense of “safe house,” where the gym is always going to be a fun place where the squad is “family.” But in most cases, ask this athlete to try to check the attitude at the door.
The Cell Mate
What a wonderful age of technology we’re in, which is easily abused in the wrong hands. Rumors, misinformation and half-truths can make the rounds so quickly thanks to text messages, e-mails and social networking sites. A current issue at some gyms is cheerleaders skipping their water break so that they can check messages, getting back to formations late and dehydrating during the second part of the workout. What happened to the good old days where you’d call someone when you got home? How did such an urgency in instantly responding become a priority in life, and who should be calling or texting during your two-and-a-half-hour practice, anyway?
How to Deal: Make your policies very clear, in writing and visibly posted: No interruptions during workouts, in the interest of safety. In the event of an emergency, parents may call the front desk of the gym, and the message will be delivered to the head coach during the next break. All cell phones need to be placed in a closeable container, ringers turned off. And it doesn’t help to have one cheerleader run and grab the cell phone, run to the restroom and turn it into a phone booth during a water break, coming out upset and teary eyed because Jimmy what’s-his-name changed his mind about the prom.
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