Deciding Whether or Not to Quit Cheer

This is a article that I didn't think I would have to write but it turns out there's a lot of girls who are either unhappy with their squad or the sport itself. Once you get into cheer there's a lot you have to put into it. You will be mad about wasting time while your parents are made about wasting money. Here's a few things to consider before you walk off the matt for good.

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#1 Think of Your Pros & Cons
You should always look at the big picture. Make a list of all the reasons why you like or joined cheerleading, then on another paper write down all of the cons. Be honest with yourself when doing this. Whatever has more on the list is probably the deciding answer.

#2 Talk to Your Parents
It might seem like just your problem when it's time to think about quitting but it's really not. Your parents will want to know why and if there's a solid conflict going on between girls or the coach itself they can most likely help. Never be afraid to talk to your parents about this especially if it's something that can happen to another squad member. Parents have a magical way of making problems go away when it comes to sports.

#3 Try to Fix the Problem
To you this probably seems super hard because there's an issue so big you're willing to quit the team, but leaving without solving the problem can come back to bite you. Talk to your coach, parents, teammates, or whoever or whatever the source of the problem is and maybe together you can work it out.

Here's a few scenerios and how to help fix them:

• The squad is getting cliquey: In order to deal with this it's best to talk to your coach. She knows that a team is a team and in order to get things done you need to be friendly and stick together.
• The program is going downhill: This is a job for the parents, because most programs have booster boards. Try bringing up important topics to the leaders and find some simple solutions
• A girl is bullying you: You can talk to your coach about this but you can also talk to the girl herself. Find the source of the issue and ask to work it out. If that doesn't work you can let your coach know and she'll probably handle it from there.
• Your coach is rude and basis: If there's ever a problem with your coach you don't have to hide it in fear of your team hating you. No squad should have to deal with a bad coach. Let someone know even if it's just your parents or someone from the school's office.
• Money is tight: Money is always going to be an issue for cheerleaders because of it's high cost and fees, but by using personal sponsorships and small fundraisers you can help keep the cost down even by a bit. You can almost always work something out with your booster board in order to help.

Hopefully you don't want to quit cheer because of any of these reasons because it's really fun and a great experience.

Love,
A Cheerleader