1. Tell me about a time you worked in a group project and took a leadership role. How can you see this experience being helpful in cheerleading? What leadership qualities do you bring to the team?

 

A time I took a leadership role was when my friends and I were working together on a group project in English.

Since we were all friends it was a challenge and someone needed to step up. I had to make sure we were always focused and held everyone accountable to do their work. I helped my friends understand what we were doing and guided them in the right direction of the project. This experience can be helpful in cheer because it is important to be able to teach others in a respectful way and to make sure everyone is on the same page. Some leadership qualities I have include responsibility, encouraging and motivating others. I am also determined, kind, understanding, and empathetic.

 

 

2. Negativity from team members can become a real problem. Tell me your thoughts on how negativity gets started and the effects it can have on a team. What can you do as a leader to help with this problem? What if the negativity is coming from the leader? What are your thoughts on that? What if the negativity is solely towards you as the leader, how will you be able to handle that?

 

Negativity can absolutely destroy a team and should be addressed immediately. It can easily

be started by one individual and can spread very quickly. As a leader, I can help with this problem by

redirecting everyone and showing up to practice with excitement every single day. If the negativity is

possibly coming from the leader, I would talk to her and make sure everything is okay. It’s very

important for the leader to have a good attitude and set the mood for the team. If the negativity is

towards me, I would talk to the team or individual and see if there is anything different I could do or change or find out the reason for the negativity and address it and try to correct it.

 

 

3. The talent on cheer teams can be varied and diverse. How will you, as a leader, make sure that everyone feels important, and accepts, respects, and encourages all team members, regardless of talent?

 

I am currently captain for my volleyball team with girls from all over DFW with all different talents (many were captains of their own high school teams). I make a point to include all of the girls and make everyone feel special whether they are on the court or not. For example, we have a girl on our team who doesn’t get to play as much, however she is constantly cheering everyone on from the sidelines. I always make sure to compliment her and tell her how very important that role it is! It doesn’t seem like a very fun or important role as she isn’t on the court—but her contribution to the team is truly invaluable and I tell her constantly how important she is to our team.

 

This past weekend we competed at a National Qualifier with teams from all across the country. A coach came up to me that said he was impressed with how I led the team, how I got excited for every single play, not just my own. He noted that my attitude and excitement on the court was contagious and loved how I involved every member of the team. This team effort helped us take down the Number 3 team in the entire tournament(out of 186 teams!) Every person matters and should feel valued, I make sure to include everyone so when we win- we win as a team and when we don’t, we figure out as a team how to fix it.  As a captain or co-captain on this cheer team, I will include and encourage all the girls and make them feel valued. I believe that everyone has their own role to the team regardless of talent level and it is important to let them know so they feel valued.

 

 

4.  What happens when you are tired and you have senioritis … how do you keep your focus and energy up, especially when everyone around you is just as tired?

 

I’ve always been taught to cherish every moment and I feel it is important to make the most of everything. I believe there is a great value in finishing strongly in what you started which also sets you up for success in the future. As a leader, it is my responsibility to keep everyone motivated and excited for cheer. I will do this by coming to practice every day with a positive mindset and encouraging the girls every day. We can still work really hard and also have fun along the way. This creates an environment that people enjoy and want to be part of.

 

I go back to my experience as captain of my Select Volleyball team. I was literally exhausted after playing 13+ hours of volleyball last Sunday, but I knew how I reacted to each play impacted my entire team. I had to give it everything I had and then some. Motivating and encouraging after EVERY point. We took it one point at a time as we literally had no energy to think about an entire game! I knew I didn’t have an option to give less than my best as my team counts on me to be there, motivate and believe that we can do this!

 

5. Scenario Question------ You are calling a cheer at a game and 2 girls get upset and say that they don’t know that cheer and don’t want to do it. What would you do in this situation?

 

As a leader I would check in with the girls each week (before each game) and make sure they are comfortable with every cheer and feeling confident so we wouldn’t run into this. However, if we run into that situation where some girls don’t know a cheer or forgot it, I would quickly change the cheer to one everyone knows and feels confident with. Then I would address it next practice and take the time to review and go over the it and make sure we feel fully prepared for the next game.

 

 

6. If you are not chosen as captain or co-captain of your team, how will you maintain a leadership role and exhibit a positive attitude throughout the season?

 

I’ve always been taught that leadership is not defined by a title. I would still continue to encourage the girls, motivate and lead by example. I have gone into every sports team that I have participated in being a leader before ever being appointed captain. A title is earned based on leadership skills, you don’t become a leader once you are named a captain.

 

 

7. As captain, what are your thoughts on the roles of the co-captains? How do you incorporate and involve the co-captains, who are also leaders on the team? How would you handle a disagreement with the co-captains?

 

I think the co-captains should be just as involved as the captain is. I would set aside time to get together and discuss things with her to make sure we are on the same page. We could get together once a week and go over what’s working for the team, what’s not, what we can change, etc. Together we would help set the mood of the team and both be involved in leading the team. If there was any disagreement between us, I would sit down with her and talk about the situation and come to a mutual agreement. I think communication is very important in everything you do.

 

8. As captain, how do you hold yourself and your team members accountable for exemplary behavior, in and out of cheer, in every scenario possible? What should be the natural consequences when team members are not exhibiting this exemplary behavior?

 

Whether I am captain or not, I believe it is very important to hold yourself accountable to the highest standard. As a member of Coppell Cheer, we are role models to our peers and an entire generation of younger girls who look up to us. We can continuously remind the girls to watch what they post on social media, encourage good grades, and think before we make decisions. We have to hold everyone accountable if they do make mistakes. If there are no consequences for bad behavior, there will be no incentive to change. If a girl is not meeting the expectations set forth by

the coaches and Coppell Cheer, a natural consequence is to be benched for a game or a part of a game per the coaches decision.

 

 

9. How do you earn respect from others? How do you think you can be a leader of a team of natural leaders?

 

I believe that respect is earned. When people see you giving a 100 percent effort at practice and being fully committed to the team, that leads to respect. Being kind and understanding to everyone as well earns you respect.  You do not have to be the best on the team to be captain or a leader.  100% effort, good attitude, motivating others to be the very best earns you respect.

 

 

10. Do you have faults as a leader? Discuss your best and worst quality.

 

I believe everyone has faults, however I don’t think my faults involve my leadership skills. As a leader I am always looking to learn and improve and be a better person. My best quality is being very passionate about people by wanting to see the best in everyone and doing whatever I can to

help them be achieve their goals and be their very best. I truly love people and invest my time and heart in everyone.

On the other hand, that is also one of my weaknesses because I want what’s best for everyone and when I wear my heart on my sleeve, it can sometimes hurt when others don’t care or give the same effort.  

 

 

11. Name two ways to get students interested in attending pep rallies.

 

I believe social media has a lot of power and we can use that to our advantage by having girls post before pep rallies to get students excited and wanting to attend. I would encourage and remind the team each week to be creative, post something fun and unique to get people involved and come to the pep rally!  This also goes for all games and events to help raise awareness and get the student body involved.

 

12. What would you like to see implemented in next year’s cheer program?

 

I would love to see more team bonding activities next year to create a stronger and cohesive team. I would also like to be more involved with the community including the youth cheer program which is a great way to get the young girls excited and wanting to become a Coppell Cheerleader. We could also go to the middle schools and elementary schools as well to again create excitement and also help build the program for the future.

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13. What is something the cheerleaders did last year that you felt was effective?

 

One thing we did last year that stood out to me was the big sis/little sis between different ages of the cheer team. This concept truly lends itself to team bonding. I loved having someone to look up to and easily ask questions.  I think we can do even more with it this year (not in a pandemic.)