Sideline Cheerleading: The Epitome of Servant Leadership
With the start of school, I cannot help getting excited for the next season to come... HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL! Yes, I'm the adult who doesn't have a high school student, but LOVES to attend high school football games. My favorite is cheering on the O'Gorman Knights, but I'd be happy to attend just about any football game. My love for the game isn't about being outside, being part of a community or even watching the game itself. I love watching young leaders practice their leadership skills just as much as spectators enjoy watching the game.
Through my own experience of being a sideline cheerleader and coach, I am of the opinion that sideline cheerleading is the epitome of servant leadership. Here is a quick list of why:
Cheerleaders spend their entire summers and countless hours before and after school preparing themselves for the benefit of others.
Cheerleaders' primary role is to support, encourage, and lift the team, but they are often requested to be ambassadors for the school and community.
Cheerleaders inspire the crowd to believe in others (the team and coaches) and sell them on taking action (stand, clap and cheer).
Cheerleaders have to know the game of football without actually playing the game. You can observe how well they know they game by watching how quickly they adapt. Do they switch their position or the words they are chanting before the call is made or before the possession logo is switched on the scoreboard?
Cheerleaders are adaptable. They have to quickly shift gears in a matter of seconds. Here are a few scenarios that they have to prepare themselves to handle: Fumble, Score, Interception, Injury, Poor sportsmanship, Unruly crowd.
Cheerleaders have to display incredible belief and positivity even when their team is on the receiving end of an upset or blow out.
Cheerleaders have to remain professional as eyes are always on them. Someone is always watching and people easily pick up on nonverbal cues.
Cheerleaders have to know how to work many different personality types and people at different levels. Some of the people they have to coordinate their efforts with are: Fellow cheerleaders and coach(es), Administrators, Team Coach(es) and the team itself, Teachers, Student body, Senior Class, Student Government Representatives, Band director and Band leaders, Announcers, Janitors and grounds keeper, Parents, Spectators: Children & Adults.
Cheerleaders need to be courageous and know how to recover quickly. There will be times that they will make a mistake or they will fail in their attempt and it will be witnessed by many.
Cheerleaders also have to be willing to let their voices be heard. They have to be able to speak up so others can hear.
Cheerleaders need to be good communicators so people can understand what it is they are saying or want they are wanting them to do.
Being a high school cheerleader was my first real experience with servant leadership. I loved the experience so much that I went on to cheer for my college and then for a few semi-professional teams. Inspired by my love for leadership and growth, I coached cheerleading for 20 years. Teaching young people leadership skills and the importance of the triple Ps (prompt, prepared and professional) and watching them use those skills in their future jobs has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Sideline cheerleaders may get a bad rap, but in my opinion, they are fantastic servant leaders who are young in their development.