- 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.
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