Coachability is the drive and willingness to listen and act on what a coach says. Being coachable is essential to becoming a better athlete, and more importantly, a better person.

There are many coaches who would much prefer a beginner Level 1 cheerleader who is completely coachable than a Level 5 cheerleader who refuses to listen to a coach. Coachability is huge! Check out what makes an athlete coachable below.

 

Determination.

How far is the athlete willing to go? Will they give up after the first mistake, or will they keep pushing until they overcome an obstacle? Determination is something that separates the good from the great – it is what a cheerleader is ready to do in order to achieve a goal. Cheerleading is particularly frustrating for athletes because every little body movement matters. It takes time, effort and dedication to master tumbling and stunting. You have to not only be physically prepared; your mind must be equally strong. And it all boils down to how determined an athlete will be to accomplish his or her goals.

Willingness to listen and apply corrections

This is something a coach does not take lightly. If an athlete is unable to listen to a coach, there will be tension and frustration on both ends. Being open and willing to hear what your coach has to say without getting defensive or angry is a sign of maturity and will take you far in life. Learning how to separate correction from “being mean” is something not all athletes understand. Some never do. Understand that your coach is not here to make you feel bad about yourself and that they want what is best for you. Apply the corrections and listen to the coach because, chances are, they are right! Know that you will become a better athlete through listening to your coaches.

 

Accepting of failure

You will fail. Many times. Cheerleaders fall; we don’t always hit every routine perfectly. When we learn a new tumbling pass or stunt sequence – it will probably not go as planned. And understanding that failing is a part of the learning process is applicable to your life far after cheerleading is over. I think the saying, “If you fall down 7 times, get up 8” is such an important one to remember. Failing is inevitable. But how you react is something you can control – and rising to the occasion only makes you stronger.

 

Genuine passion

Your commitment to cheerleading comes from your passion. It is obvious if a cheerleader is not passionate about the sport – you can see it on his or her face. You need to be completely engaged as a cheerleader, but this will come naturally if you truly love cheerleading. Passion arises from within and is not something you can force upon someone. If you love cheerleading it will show in your spirit!

the above was taken from an article from www.insidecheerleading.com