This past weekend the high school team I coach had their first competition. We took our JV and Varsity teams to a Cheer for the Cure, which raised money for Breast Cancer Research. Nerves were at an all new level as my team kicked off what is sure to be a memorable season. As we rode the bus down, most everyone was quiet – which, as we all know, is almost impossible for 36 teenage girls. We arrived and you could see the fear, anxiety and promise of what was to come that day. We went through registration and headed to our “holding rooms.”
Fast forward twenty minutes to our first of two warm ups. At this particular competition, you warm up close to 5 hours before you actually compete. It’s very nerve wrecking for those who are new to the high school scene and are used to the all-star warm up style. When we took the mat to warm up stunts, the nerves got the best of my team and they started to bicker instead of pull together to hit the routine. Back in our holding room, I talked to the team about how they treat each other on the floor and that being stressed or nervous is no reason to take it out on their teammates. As the coach, I am there to critique, be hard and push. As teammates, their job is to support and push each other.
Fast forward another 2 hours. I give the JV team their pep talk as their coach watches on. I talk to them about the tradition, legacy and name that our school carries. This is a very early competition and the nerves are normal. We don’t expect you to be perfect, but we expect you to give 150% of yourself to your team and our school. I talk about their routine, how it hits a score sheet and how they need to “bring it” to the judges. Always make sure the judges know who you are.
The team performs and does better than expected! Sure, some stunts fell, but wow did they bring the energy and excitement to the floor!! They walk off the mat and about 10 minutes later, I see one of the girls in the hallway surrounded by 2 other girls, and she’s crying. One of the girls steps away and informs that the girl crying has just found out her brother, who is in the military and overseas, has passed away. At that moment, I become a different type of coach. The speech about how well they performed and how they stepped up when they hit the mat is gone. It’s only about this cheerleader and her loss. I take her into the bathroom and let her cry on my shoulder. I know there isn’t anything I can say to take her pain away, but I do know that I can be there to let her cry. Her family wasn’t with us at the competition, which made it even harder. I asked her if she wanted me to take her home and she said no. She wanted to watch our Varsity compete and be able to cheer them on. It took me a moment to take that statement in. Here was a girl standing before me, suffering a loss I can’t even comprehend, and she wants to stay and cheer her team on. In that moment you realize just how much bigger this sport is than just what is put on the mat. We are family. She wanted to be in the comfort of her second family.
