Benefits of a Guest Coach

In my 20 years of coaching, I frequently brought in guest coaches to give insight and instruction to my teams. I also continue to serve as a guest coach to multiple teams. Teams that utilize guest coaches are typically stronger teams because they are willing to seek diverse opinions. My teams have always been stronger when I bring in guest coaches.

Why hire a guest coach?

Fresh set of eyes. A guest coach is going to give you and your team a fresh set of eyes on your routine.  The guest coach will see something that you may not have seen. Or, the guest coach may tell your team how to fix something in a different way that makes sense and a stunt you have not hit consistently will start hitting.

Break up repetition. A guest coach will help break up the repetition of practice and can help you get out of a rut.

Practice like they are performing.  Even if your team consistently practices like they are performing, you will find they will step up their practice a notch to impress the guest coach.

“I tell them that All. The. Time.”

Let me warn you that the guest coach will tell your team to do something that you tell them everyday to do and suddenly your team will make the fix.  Don’t take it personally that the guest coach got through to them and you didn’t. Maybe the guest coach said it just different enough that it clicked.  Maybe it just took someone from the outside to confirm what you have told your team over and over. The goal is to improve your team.

Your practice plan.

Plan your practice specifically for your guest coach and have a goal for what you want to accomplish. Determine if you want the guest coach to lead the entire practice, or if you will lead the practice and the guest coach will give feedback throughout. As a guest coach, I have done it both ways.

Have a main practice focus for the guest coach. Potential practice ideas are as follows:

Overall review of a full routine.  If this is the case, let the guest coach determine what sections need the most work and also let him/her focus on the areas of the routine in which he/she has the greatest strengths.

Section of a routine. Maybe it is the stunts, the dance, or the cheer.  You choose where you want the guest coach to focus.

Clean the routine.  Your whole routine may be hitting for the most part and may just need to be cleaned up.  A guest coach can come in and drill each detail of the routine.

Stunt practice. You can have a guest coach come in to help you improve your stunts, add difficulty, or add more creativity to a stunt sequence.

Paying a guest coach.

Some coaches may have a set rate for practice, but some may be honored just to be asked.  I suggest you pay a minimum of $50 for a two hour practice for a coach newer to guest coaching.  A more experienced guest coach should be paid $100. If you get the right coach, it will be worth every penny. If a guest coach insists on coming for free, give him/her a gift card and and a thank you card. If you are having a coach from another school whom you don’t compete against, you can trade out practices and help each other.

Where to find a guest coach.

You can bring in a guest coach from a number of places.  The coach can be someone from another team that you do not compete against. You can bring in college cheerleaders, college coaches, certified cheer judges from different cheerleading companies, or all star gym cheer coaches.

You can take your team to another level by bringing a guest coach to practice. Give it a try!