What Makes a Good Cheer Role Model?

As cheerleaders our children spend countless hours in the gym perfecting their skills. While they are self-driven motivated athletes, there are people in their lives that they look up to that provide that extra dose of inspiration to keep them focused on their goals and aspirations. These people are coaches, other athletes in the gym, friends, teammates, or even cheerleaders from other gyms. No matter who they are they fill an important role in our child’s life all the same as a cheer role model and mentor; a strong influence in shaping the person they strive to become someday. Athletes perceive and interpret their athletic experience based on the leadership they receive, as well as their ability to perform well. These important people in our children’s lives can have a huge impact on their goals and how they perceive themselves and their community. Individual athletes look to their role models and mentors for leadership and encouragement within the sports environment and beyond, and this carries over to every aspect of their daily lives. Young people develop as the result of many experiences and relationships they go through in life. Role models play an important role in inspiring them to learn, overcome obstacles, reaching their goals, and understand that positive values can be lived each day.

This led me to ask the question- What qualities make a person a good cheer role model?

In my research, I came across this quote that said it best. “True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. To advocate for ourselves and our goals and take leadership on the issues that we believe in. We often don’t recognize our true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. We recognize true role models by the impeccable qualities they possess which we would want to emulate in achieving our own personal growth, success and progress.”

I would like to share this study with you which was conducted among young people who identified the top five qualities a role model should have.

1. Passion and ability to inspire.

This was identified by far as the greatest attribute a true role model must have for the young people. Cheerleaders value passion in their role models and are inspired by it. True cheer role models show great passion for their sport and have the ability to infect others with their passion. Their passion is simply contagious. It rubs off easily to others and inspires them to work even harder themselves. Elizabeth Ryan, cheerleading/gymnastics coach and graduate student at Washington University, says “A good role model is someone whose behavior is imitated by others. Someone who shows respect and self-discipline. It's important to demonstrate these qualities by being on time, never quitting, finishing what you started, and not backing off when things are challenging. But most importantly you need a smile and a good attitude.”

2. Clear set of values

True role models live their values in the world that is full of phonies, corruption and compromise. Young athletes admire people who act in ways that support their beliefs despite the obvious pressures in the world to do otherwise. It helps them understand how their own values form part of who they are and how they might seek fulfilling roles as adults later in life. True role models stand for a set of beliefs. They understand clearly that, “if you do not stand for anything you will fall for everything.” Morgan Fairley, founder of Muddy Cheer Challenge, says “Being a good role model is realizing that eyes are on you 24/7 whether it be in person or through social media. Whether you believe it or not some child somewhere may be looking up to you (especially if you're in a child industry!) and it's our responsibility as older peers and influences to set good examples: I.E: sharing, manners, hard work, confidence, compassion and most importantly respect!”

3. Commitment to their team as a whole and to serving their community

True role models are other-focused as opposed to self-focused. They are usually active in their communities, they give their time freely (i.e. volunteerism) and use their gifts, talents and blessings to benefit other people. These people reach out to their neighbors in need, take their civic duties seriously, participate regularly in democratic elections and are active members of community organizations.

4. Selflessness and acceptance of others

This quality is related to the other quality mentioned earlier that role models show a commitment to their communities. Young people admire people for their selflessness and acceptance of others who are different from them. True role models embrace diversity and promote social harmony. They protect, defend and support the underdogs. They act out the quality of a Good Samaritan to those who are less privileged in society. They give others a break in life without expecting anything in return. They act on people’s needs without seeing social barriers. They are never afraid to get their hands dirty helping others out. They serve all with pride. Abby Belcher, founder of Abby’s Pledge, says “It's Time for a Change..and you CAN make a difference. One child at a time.”

5. Ability to overcome obstacles

Young athletes admire people who show them that success is possible despite obstacles and setbacks in life. They admire people who have gone through suffering, pain, rejection, failure and still continued to rise from the dust. They are inspired by people who persevered through hardship. Young people detest anyone who has bribed his/her way out of hardships and went through life lying, cheating and stealing without facing and tackling their obstacles head-on. They value hard-work and sacrifice. They develop the skills and abilities of initiative in their own lives when they learn to overcome obstacles, whether it’s a mental block in tumbling or something in their personal lives.

Last, I asked some cheerleaders from across the nation to share with me who their cheer role models are and why.

Noel C., a 9th grade cheerleader at University Cheer Air Force, states her cheer role model is Jenee Beth Cruise. "Jenee is an amazing role model because she keeps her faith in the plans the God has for her. She allows her faith, hard work and dedication to be a guiding force by striving to be her personal best every time she steps on the mat in the gym or at a competition." Jenne has inspired Noel in several ways. She states "I try to do my best when I am in the gym or competing, but sometimes I lose faith in myself when I don't do as well as I want. When I see people like Jenee go through similar struggles and not let it affect her performance, it helps me realize that I must keep giving it my all because that's what God wants me to to do."

Tessa R., a 6th grade cheerleader at CheerXperience S4 and SM Coed 5 says her cheer role model is her coach Geno. "He is a good role model because he has been cheering for over 15 years, knows so much about cheer and is always willing to help me and others. He has shaped me by being the strict but fun coach he is and by teaching me the right way to do things."