How to Become a Certified Cheerleading Coach

Leading the squad

Guiding a team of high-spirited cheerleaders offers a challenging, yet honorable, career path. Instructing youth or adult cheerleading routines and stunts, then facilitating the improvement of performance to the competition level, offers an achievement that can last a lifetime. Coaching, of course, requires commitment and dedicated training to be successful. While there is no guaranteed path to becoming a certified cheerleading coach, there are certifications available that will increase your chances of landing a high-profile position.

Instructions

1. Master the fundamentals of cheerleading to include all warm-up exercises, stunts, routines, and drills. Practice makes perfect and cheerleading in no exception.

2. Join a cheerleading squad, Try out at your school if you are a youth or in college. Or try out for a local competition squad or join a squad at a gym.

3. Volunteer to lead the squad in warm-ups and practice drills. This will help you gain leadership experience and get a good taste for coaching, while improving you own skills and keeping you in peak performance.

4. Become a coaching assistant while still competing. As an assistant, you will find yourself working with younger cheerleaders, while gaining valuable guidance from an experienced coach.

5. Find out the requirements for coaching certification in your state. Begin working towards fulfilling those requirements.

6. Obtain the Spirit Safety certification from the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (see References). This certification focuses on medical, liability and safety issues.

7. Obtain the Master certification from the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education. This certification focuses on tumbling, cheerleading fundamentals, stunts, and ethics.

8. Seek other applicable certifications available. The United States All Star Federation offers six levels of certification for those belonging to a gym's cheerleading squad.

9. Get a first-aid certification and make sure you retain that certification. First aid is crucial in any athletic program and cheerleading is no different.

10. Put together a compelling resume that details your experience and certifications related to cheerleading. When applying for coaching positions, any experience as an assistant or instances of leading a squad are important, as well as the certifications outlined in the previous steps.

Tips & Warnings

• It is crucial that cheerleaders trust one another and not fear their safety while discovering new stunts. Instructing spotting and trust before moving on to drills and stunts will aid in mitigating the risk of injury and create an environment of trust and confidence.

• Warm-up is imperative to any cheerleading instruction. Without proper warm-up, the body's muscles and ligaments are susceptible to tears. You will prevent many injuries simply by taking the time to stretch and do some light cardiovascular exercise.

References

• USAF: Coaching Credentialing
• National Council for Safety and Education: Courses
• AACCA: Cheerleader Safety Certification Finder
• Western Oregon University: Head Cheerleading Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics

Resources

• Kids Sports Network: Cheerleading Coaching Resources