Ah, Crazy Cheer Moms of Cheer on Facebook…. What a group! While I believe the original idea was to share information and be helpful, it’s sure taken a turn. Recently, I was a victim of anonymous7811239 (who doesn’t know me) criticizing my schedule as a gym owner. Since this person isn’t in my gym, they knew some things, but didn’t have their facts straight, and they were using misinformation to run me down.
I know that it wasn’t true, and the families in my gym defended me.
It still hurts my feelings, though.
Once someone puts a statement out there, true or false, it’s out there. I figure the only thing I can do to protect myself is to try to answer those questions/concerns. So here they are:
- Jill is too busy to really be connected to the kids in her gym.
- Well, yeah, I am busy. The fact is, I am a high performer, type-A with anxiety. I literally do not understand how to sit still – it’s as if I am driven by a motor. I love to work, especially on cheer. However, I also take the time to know every single kid who walks in the door of my gym. I ask questions about their day, and I try to connect with them as people. Every one of them, from the tumblers to the elite team kids. I take real joy in being a part of someone’s journey and I am grateful that people entrust me with their kids. I am not now nor will ever be too busy for personal connections.
- Jill hires her college kids as her primary instructors and coaches, and they know nothing.
- Again, partially true! I do hire my college team members to coach our half year teams, some tumble classes, and Intro to Cheer. The ones I have hired have been lifelong cheerleaders from various gyms with a great deal of experience. They also get trained by our head tumbling instructor or cheer coach as part of their onboarding, and they also get step-by-step lesson plans to follow. I feel very blessed to be able to create opportunities. Worth noting though – they are not head coaches on any full year teams. Our full year teams have head coaches who are all professional cheer coaches with years (sometimes decades) of experience.
- Jill is always changing routines.
- Although this feedback was directly about our Open 4 NT team from the 2024 season, it’s very true that I will change routines. We get scoresheets, ideas, and feedback from judges and experts, and we incorporate it into the routines as the goal is to be successful. I will say that with this Open 4 NT team that was specifically called out, I don’t think we ever competed the same routine twice. It was a challenging year with lots of churn and strife. We did take bronze at All Star Worlds though…
Now I am sure if I go look at that Facebook page, there is probably more drama and comments, but I just do not want to. I simply do not need a stranger’s opinion of me living with me.
If I may make a suggestion if you or someone you know is an anonymous information spreader… Just call or email the gym and ask your questions. Arrange a tour or a meeting with the Gym Owner. Get references. There are so many more productive, kinder ways to get information than blasting a small business owner in a forum where the business doesn’t get to be shielded by an anonymous handle and cannot always defend themselves.
Until Next Time,
Coach Jill