Expert: Kimmi - 12/6/2008

Question
Hi, Kimmi
I'm 18 and I have been cheerleading for 8 years I study cheerleading everyday... I'm currently a cheerleading but I'm about to graduate... I have been offered to be a head cheerleadig coach at a all-star gym... I know I need to get certifieda and everything.. But I was wanting to know how do I get people in..like as my first year I want to only work with one group first because there was another gym that was started in the area and it failed..I have another coach who will be coaching with me she's certified and she was a junior high coach for 3 years and she has been coach for 20.... How would I also go about making fliers what would I say In the flyer....

Leighvye

Answer
Hi Leighvye,

   Advertising is always tricky, and being in a tricky area myself, getting kids in has always been the hardest part. The things you can do, are to make sure you have some kind of website and that its listed on google when you search. You can also have it listed on the About:Cheerleading webpage. You can get an ad in the newspaper if you can afford it. You can also hand out flyers to all the local schools, and hang them up in area pizza places, the library, corner stores - anywhere kids might frequent.
   In my experience, most of the kids who come, do because of word of mouth. Hopefully your other coach can pull her kids with her, and maybe you can hit your fellow cheerleaders little siblings, cousins etc. My all-star team, although small, is made up mostly of two groups of cousins. Getting people through families, is a great recruiting tool. Good luck with your gym!

Happy Cheering,
Kimmi