Quiz the Coach - I Cheer for Jerks

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not Quiz the Coach?

Hey Coach,
I'm a cheerleader and the football players I cheer for treat me like dirt - and two of them are my friends! They won't talk to me when I am in uniform, and they don't come to my team's competitions, and it really hurts. We have to get up at 6:00 in the morning to go to THEIR football games but they don't have to go to our competitions. On top of that, we are trying to be nice to them and show them that we are something by trying to win our competition. We put our necks on the line because girls that go in the air (like me) have a very good chance of falling and breaking our necks. What do you think I should do?
HELP

Hey HELP,
It sounds like you've forgotten why you decided to become a cheerleader in the first place. Cheerleading involves going to a football team's games and cheering the team on. That's what cheerleaders do. The joy of cheerleading comes from working as part of a team, motivating the fans and knowing your helping the football team play better. If cheering on football players doesn't give you enjoyment or makes you feel unappreciated, then you should find another activity or sport which you do enjoy.

There's no reason for the football team to "treat you like dirt" or ignore you, but you shouldn't be expecting them to watch your cheerleading competitions. Football players play football and cheerleaders cheer for football players. That's how the relationship between the two activities works. If you think that system is stupid - and many kids do - then find another sport or hobby to do. Whether you're cheerleading, playing football, skateboarding or fishing, you should be doing it because it's an activity you like, not because you're looking for recognition from the football team or anyone else.

Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? Send it to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.

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