HEY

I'm coaching a Junior-All-Girl Cheer squad. You don't have to try out, in order to become a memeber of this team. So it happens from time to time, that girls quit. Some don't even tell me that they are leaving the team. This is really annoying, since we're attending a lot of shows and if someone's missing we have to change the entire routine. Cheerleading is a team-sport and if you decide to quit cheerleading you should at least wait until the end of season. But some girls don't seem to care about this.
Is anyone else having this problem? What do you do about it?
DARCEY

Are these girls fully aware of the commitment they're making when they join? And is this with a school? And are the parents involved?

Hey,

our team doesn't belong to a school. Most of the times the parents are fully aware of their children quitting in the middle of the season - and even if I tell them that I don't like them to, they don't seem to care... Parents these days...

DARCEY

Actually I not having this problem. I am a student for rhythmic gymnastics at isadora and my name is shayna valdez. You should have a rule that even if they leave they have to pay the price tile the end of the season. You should have 4 session.

Hello,

this is the "coaches only" section!! Of course they have to pay - even if they quitin the middle of thes season. But that isn't the issue. The problem is that when kids quit in the middle of the season, I have to replace them or change the routines...

DARCEY

Note: i'm not a coach so if mods feel this is inappropriate, they can delete it. i was a captain of a high school guard squad and help coach a middle school squad.

I have a background in colorguard, not cheer, but I think in this situation its kind of the same. In my high school squad, we had a problem with girls quitting after we had learned a lot of the show and that meant we would have to rewrite everything in limited time.

However, in my independent guard that i was a member of, we didn't have this problem nearly as much because at the first rehearsal we had to sign a contract that said we wouldn't quit in the middle of the season and if we did there was no refund, etc. If a member was under 18 and/or in high school, they had to have a parent sign it and also their high school band director/guard coach so everyone was aware of the commitment.

Personally, I suggest you take this approach and try writing out a contract and have each girl and her parents sign it so all are aware. Hope this helps!

You might get a better response on this situation on the Teachers Boards.

I am a cheer coach too and gym owner. It is very frustrating when this happens, especially if you are all star and stunting is involved.

I just started my first twirling class last night. My students so far loved it. They were actually very good for first timers. I think it would devastate me if students left during the middle of the season. Unfortunately, only 8 girls signed up. I do hope I get more students.

Keep at it. Encourage visitors and have recitals and exhibitions-
don't give up, give it time and your numbers will grow!

This past spring I had a student quit the first night of our recital. The student had purchased the costume......but had been less than faithful in attending the classes. She did not know the routine very well; however, promised over and over that she would have it down by recital time. At the stage rehearsal, she struggled through the routine and left upset. I found out from the other students as we were warming up for our performance, that the student was not coming (quitting)....and in fact had encouraged others to do the same. What did I learn? Maybe it is alright to have those that want to quit, are only taking lessons due to family or peer pressure, and clearly lack motivation or interest.... to just quit. After my experience, quitting in the middle of the season is much better than at the end of the season! Just a thought.