703 Cheerleading’s new directors talk about preparing for the Spring Session

The sport of cheerleading can often be tough, physical, and very demanding. It also creates a culture of camaraderie that can last for a lifetime, resulting in greater confidence, identity, and self-fulfilling purpose for all who take part. Developing this culture is at the heart of what 703 United Cheerleading does, and recently their newest directors Keionna Benjamin and Assistant Director Stephanie Thompson, spoke with the PW Perspective about their experiences growing up in the sport and what they hope to bring to the program.

“The reason I started cheer because when I was 8, I tried soccer and softball, and that wasn’t working,” said Keionna. “So, I asked my mom to sign me up for recreational cheer, and my first year was rocky, but by learning teamwork and meeting the friends that I even have today, it’s a bond that you create.”

So what are some of the misconceptions that people have about the sport? “I think many people think it’s just jumps and cheers, but behind the scenes it’s a lot of hard work,” she says. “It becomes a system of trusting each other.”

“I have a six-year-old daughter and she does gymnastics and ballet, and I wanted to live through her [laughs], so we signed her up for cheer. I saw that there were coaching opportunities and so I thought to myself that this could be a mommy-and-me thing that we could do together. As I coached the season and got to teach these girls about cheer, it made me fall in love with the sport again.”

“When I started at 703 Cheerleading, they approached me about being a coach, and I jumped at the opportunity. I asked God about it first, and decided that if was for me, it was for me. I met with the president and shared what my vision was for the program, and they told me that they would support me with anything I needed. I met Stephanie at a previous program from our second practice together, and when I became director, she was the first person who came to mind, so I immediately contacted her and asked if she wanted to join. She was excited to come on board and we’ve been working together ever since.”

Keionna goes on to explain the differences between coach and directing. “Being a coach, you only have to focus on the fundamentals, but as a director, oversee the entire program. I have to look into uniforms, working with dance companies to come and talk with the high school coaches.”

“It’s like being a supervisor because you have to vet every coach who comes into the program. It is new, and it’s very exciting. I’m looking at it as my first year and give myself a little grace as I go along. I’m going to work and make sure it’s the best program it can be.”

What can a parent expect when signing up their child for 703 Cheerleading? “As a parent [myself], I try to make sure that they’re having fun before the cheerleading, because if they’re not having fun, then they won’t enjoy it. As a former pre-school teacher, I learned how to get down to their level and meet the child where they are. I emphasize friendliness and teamwork.”

How has the sport changed from when she first started? “When I used to go to school, I would practice for three hours, and then work. Sometimes I wouldn’t get home until midnight and then get up the next day. Some might say that it’s not a sport, but the amount of work that goes into it is similar to any other sport. There’s 2:30 minutes in a competition, and you’re throwing, dancing, and moving. It takes a lot of strength training and conditioning. It’s not for the weak.”

“I don’t think many people understand what that goes behind what they see on the field. Not only do they have to do the motions, but they have to be louder than the crowd. If they’re pumped, you have to be twice as pumped.”

“I would say that with cheerleading, you have to be dedicated to it. During competitions they want to see how high you can go, and you have to wow the judges. There has to be a uniqueness to your routine, but here’s the thing. They want you to reach for the sky, but don’t touch the stars just yet. There are certain levels according to age, and there’s a max skill set that you must have. You want to push the limit to your division, but stay within it. It really takes being a unit out there.”

She recalls a time in which she had to emphasize the teamwork aspect. “I had an incident where we were teaching someone to do a tumble and they were having difficulty, and some of the other cheerleaders were laughing. I stopped practice immediately and reminded them that this was their teammate and they need to root her on. They did, and by the end of the season, she could complete it. That’s what we want parents to know; it’s going to be a team aspect, and to expect being a family.”

“As a coach, I’m not above picking up their child if the parent can’t make the competition or has to leave. I’ve had previous cheerleaders from other seasons in which I’ve had to do that. We want them to know that we care greatly for their well-being.”

So what will the Spring session entail? “It will start with dance class; we want to incorporate teaching them the eight counts, and the side step. Dance teaches us to work on face expressions, and that attitude that cheerleaders must have to succeed. We will also work with teaching them tumbling, cheers in chants, how to do motions, arm and hand placement, learning different jumps, and what is their job during stunting basics.”

“I want a program that is community driven, and we encourage anyone who loves to cheer to sign up, because this is for the children we’re bringing up in our community. Parents are allowing us to be a part of their children’s lives, and it’s something I take seriously. We create a setting where everyone will succeed as a team, because when we get on the floor, everyone works together.”

“Now that we’re doing all the planning behind the scenes, I’m so excited to see what’s going to come of it.”

Next, we spoke with the new Assistant Director Stephanie Thompson, who started cheering at 5 years old until her junior year of high school. “Every summer when I was in college, I would come back home and do some choreography for the recreational teams. Although there was no cheer in 2020 because of COVID, in 2021 my old cheer coach asked me to come back and coach after I graduated. There was no hesitation. We had a great season last year learning how best to coach and keep our girls safe in a pandemic. You have to be creative. Then when the opportunity came to be a director, which is a dream for any cheerleader who becomes a coach, and that’s where I am now.”

She goes on to talk about the goals of the program. “What we’re doing, since it’s ages 5-12 is to get them ready for middle school cheerleading, and what we want to do is have our 12 years olds cheering at the high school level by the time they leave our program. When we’re cheerleading, we’re representing our schools and communities and that can be a lot of pressure. Some of our participants go through a lot of things, but when they’re cheerleading, it helps them develop confidence. It’s a way of life.”

What are some lessons she learned that she’s able to bring as an assistant director? “Resiliency and having patience with yourself, and learning self-love.”

“I remember how I got started, and how passionate I was. I tell them how they can improve and not to expect to be perfect at first. The five-year-olds may not know what self-love is about at first, but over time, that term will click. It’s a lot of pressure for these young girls to live up to an image by what they may see on social media or what have you, but when they’re comfortable in their own skin, they appreciate themselves a bit more.”

“If one child is inspired, then I’ve done my job.”

Next, she emphasizes the unity between herself and her fellow director, as well as how that will be a part of what they’re teaching the cheerleaders. “Coach Keionna and I are always talking with each other and coming up with new concepts. We’re going to do a competition team for those who want to compete. We will also do fundraising and other activities, will visit senior homes, do trunk or treats, and anything that is in the community.”

“We want our girls to be a part of the area and expect them to learn life lessons. I remember seeing my parents and family being there to see me, and we want for those parents to be a part of their performances as well. It’s amazing when you have that connection because it creates that sense of belonging.”

So what happens when a cheerleader wants to implement their own ideas? “Going back to my personal experience, when I was in seventh grade, I went to my favorite coach [Coach Cook] and showed her a routine that my best friend and I came up with. We actually won a competition doing that, so if a girl or guy comes up to us and says, I have an idea, we’ll see if it works, because the goal is for them to be inspired. It’s like when you’re working on a project. If you put together this presentation and it works, the teacher sees that you can apply it and show it to others. We love to hear their ideas, because it’s not just about us shouting commands, it’s about listening to them and making sure they’re able to be successful.”

For new cheerleaders, it may be a nervous first-time experience, but Stephanie has a message to give reassurance for anyone having questions about participating. “Any child who puts themselves in a new situation may have doubts, but cheerleading has changed so many lives, give it a chance. They may not have the best rhythm, but if they try it and see, they will get so much out of it. If they’re taught by us, they will learn the humility and privilege of being a cheerleader.”

“It’s the greatest joy. They will get someone who cares for them, in and out of uniform.”

Parents can contact 703 Cheerleading via their Facebook, Instagram, and website. The Spring session will start on April 11.