Responsible

I’ve been writing a lot about the role of the coach over the past few weeks, but success doesn’t just hinge on their input.

Athletes, this one is for you.

Alongside working with AEC athletes, I deliver the TC open gyms and I get to travel to other gyms through my Bear Drylls work. It’s always interesting to see how athletes train and to listen to the types of things they’d like to achieve (as individuals and with their team).

Lots of athletes share their dreams of competing at Worlds; it’s easy to see which ones mean it. They’re the ones who memorise circuits so they can practice in their own time, who practice into breaks, who ask lots of questions and try to implement the adjustments you suggest. In short, they’re coachable.

The question you might want to ask yourself is,

How coachable am I?

Because if you forget something after it’s just been explained, do a few drills then slow it right down, or let feedback go in one ear and out the other, not only are you holding yourself back you’re also sabotaging the potential success of the team.

This is selfish. Cheerleading is a TEAM sport, regardless of your personal ambitions. Finding the balance for this is difficult. You might do cheerleading just because it’s fun. For others, it’s their life’s ambition. While it may not be your dream, a lack of effort could seriously impact the goals of a teammate. We all know what it’s like to feel let down, so don’t be that guy!

TC open gyms are hugely popular. On a Wednesday and Thursday we can have as many as 80 athletes attend our two hour sessions. These athletes are often on Worlds programmes. They’re also adult age living adult lives. Some are teaches and doctors, others are digital analysts or building surveyors, some are parents.

The point I’m trying to make is that not only do these athletes have cheer commitments, they have work and family commitments too. Life is busy but it’s the choice you make when you sign on at the beginning of a season.

One of my favourite T-shirts I’ve seen this season at open gym reads:

My season is my responsibility.

It also happens to be on the back of the t-shirt of x2 world champions Unity Black. Now, it’s easy to print something on a T-shirt, but it’s a culture and a collective choice that make it a reality. Some of those athletes are training 2/3 times a week alongside their regular training slots.

This might seem like an extreme example, and maybe it is, but there’s no denying that individually and collectively a choice has been made by those athletes to take responsibility for their outcomes. With this type of ethic, who’d back against them becoming back-to back-to back world champions?

We live in a time where accountability is rarely challenged. It’s always someone else’s fault.

• Failed your GCSE’s? Rubbish teacher.

• Didn’t win a competition? Not coached well.

• Insert your own here because the list goes on.
  

The question you should ask yourself is am I taking responsibility for my outcomes? If not, only a percentage of the job can be done by coaches, family and teammates. The rest is up to you. Therein lies your failure, or success.

Be accountable, take an active role in your development, and you’ll achieve things you never thought possible. You are the difference.

Thanks for reading.