As many of you already know, I coach a D2 college team. One of the reasons I took the job is because it allows me to give out about $70,000 in scholarships each year for cheer and dance. I absolutely love that. But it has raised the question, “What kind of experience do I need to get one of these scholarships?”.

I wish that the answer was straightforward, but it never is. 

When I am evaluating athletes to offer scholarships, I am looking at their skill sets. That’s it. The fact is that cheerleading is unregulated, which means that coaches do not need any certifications, licenses, or knowledge… So, at one high school or all star program, you might have the best of the best coaches, but a little further down the street, your coaches might not have the know-how to properly train. There is also the consideration that an athlete could have spent their life as an all star cheerleader but never cleared level 1. It just is what it is.

All this really means is that we, as college coaches with scholarship money to spend, have to see what an athlete has for skills, live and in person. I’ll go to competitions and watch, or have tryouts, or get videos. I will ask about experience, but it very rarely impacts my decision. 

Until Next Time,
Coach Jill