Cheerleading Coach Resume Guide
Cheerleading coaches teach athletes how to perform jumps, stunts, and cheers. They also create routines and help their team practice. On game day, they lead the cheerleaders in cheering on the home team.
You have all the qualities that a great cheerleading coach needs. But unless you put them down on paper, no one will know just how perfect you are for the job. So to get hired, you must write a resume that highlights your strengths.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Cheerleading Coach Resume Sample
Sabrina White
Cheerleading Coach
[email protected]
115-822-0695
linkedin.com/in/sabrina-white
Summary
Amicable and patient cheerleading coach with 5+ years of experience working with children aged 4-18. At XYZ, increased team performance by 30% through the implementation of innovative game plans and drills. Led the ABC squad to 3 regional championships in a row.
Experience
Cheerleading Coach, Company ABC
Ontario, Jan 2018 – Present
- Substantially increased team morale and performance by leading weekly pep-talks and organizing regular team-building activities.
- Evaluated each cheerleader’s strengths and weaknesses in order to assign appropriate roles during routines; led the team to victory in 3 out of 4 competitions.
- Reduced practice time by 20% after developing more efficient drills and incorporating music into routines to keep the girls engaged.
- Assessed individual progress on a regular basis and provided feedback that was both constructive and positive; saw a marked improvement in all areas of cheerleading (such as tumbling, stunts, jumps, etc) among the squad members.
- Planned and executed fundraising events that helped cover the cost of new uniforms, travel expenses for competitions, and other necessary expenses for the team; raised over $5,000 through car washes, bake sales, garage sales, etc.
Cheerleading Coach, Company XYZ
Tacoma, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Prepared and ran weekly practices for a squad of 20 cheerleaders, teaching them new cheers, chants and dance routines while also reviewing existing material.
- Structured practices to be highly efficient and effective, utilizing all available time to maximize the team’s learning and growth.
- Efficiently managed the team’s budget, ensuring that all necessary equipment and supplies were purchased without going over budget.
- Utilized positive reinforcement techniques to motivate cheerleaders and help them overcome any performance anxieties they may have had.
- Trained squad members in first aid and CPR, ensuring that they knew how to respond in case of an emergency on or off the field.
Skills
- Motivational Speaking
- Time Management
- Communication
- Leadership
- Organizational
- Interpersonal
- Public Speaking
- Writing
- Research
Education
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
USA Cheer Coach Certification
USA Cheer
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary is like a teaser for the rest of your resume – it should give the employer an overview of who you are and why you would excel as a cheerleading coach.
Here is where you can showcase your best qualities. For example, you could talk about your experience leading teams to victory, the recent coaching award you won, and how enthusiastic and motivated your students always are.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Professional cheerleading coach with 8+ years of experience leading and managing teams of up to 50 athletes. Achieved an 82% success rate in competitions entered, including 3 national championships. Experienced in developing and executing training plans, teaching new stunts and routines, and managing team finances. Seeking a head coaching position at ABC High School to continue developing successful cheerleading programs.
Skilled cheerleading coach with 3+ years of experience leading and managing teams of up to 30 cheerleaders. Achieved consistent success in competitions at the regional level, including 2 first-place finishes and 1 second-place finish. Demonstrated ability to develop team morale and instill a positive attitude in athletes.
Talented and experienced cheerleading coach with 8+ years of experience leading and managing teams of up to 30 athletes. Achieved a 97% satisfaction rating from parents and guardians in 2020. Seeking to bring my passion for the sport and commitment to teamwork to ABC Cheer as the new head coach.
Dependable and enthusiastic cheerleading coach with 3 years of experience leading teams to victory. Proven ability to develop strong relationships with team members and motivate them to achieve their best. Seeking a position at XYZ School where I can continue to develop my coaching skills and help the team succeed.
Determined and results-driven cheerleading coach with 3+ years of experience developing and leading competitive teams to success. Seeking to leverage my knowledge of the sport, as well as my ability to motivate and inspire, in order to take on a new challenge as the head cheerleading coach at ABC High School. In 2018, led team to state championships while maintaining a 97% retention rate from previous year.
Diligent and passionate cheerleading coach with 3 years of experience at the high school level. At XYZ School, increased team morale and retention by 25% through leading weekly pep talks and organizing social events. Recognized as an excellent motivator by players, parents, and administrators alike.
Reliable and encouraging cheerleading coach with 3+ years of experience leading and managing teams of up to 30 athletes. Skilled in developing training programs, teaching new cheers and routines, and motivating team members. In 2019, coached the junior varsity squad to a first-place finish in the state championships. Seeking to continue coaching career at ABC High School as head coach for the varsity team.
Hard-working cheerleading coach with 3 years of experience leading teams to victory. At DEF High School, coached the cheerleading team to a state championship and was named “Coach of the Year” by the ABC Cheerleading Association. My passion for working with young people and helping them succeed will be a valuable asset to your team.
Accomplished and enthusiastic cheerleading coach with 8+ years of experience leading and managing competitive squads. Helped the XYZ All-Stars win 3 national championships and 5 state titles. Seeking to take the ABC Cheer team to new heights by instilling a winning attitude and teaching advanced techniques.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience/employment/work history section, you will talk about your past jobs. It is written in reverse chronological order, which means that the most recent job is listed first.
In this section, it is best to stick to bullet points primarily. This allows for an easy read as the potential employer can quickly see what you accomplished at each previous job. When writing out the bullet points, be sure to go into detail about what exactly you did and any quantifiable results that were achieved because of your actions.
For example, instead of saying “Coached a cheerleading squad,” you want to say something more like “Successfully coached an all-star competitive cheerleading squad of 15 girls ranging in ages from 5-18 years old; helped them win 1st place in 3 local competitions.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Led
- Trained
- Developed
- Motivated
- Encouraged
- Guided
- Supported
- Monitored
- Assessed
- Evaluated
- Coordinated
- Scheduled
- Planned
- Implemented
- Organized
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Compiled
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Accurately led and instructed a squad of 20 cheerleaders in daily practices, routines and competitions, while maintaining a strict focus on safety at all times.
- Guided the team to revise their choreography for 2 routines, resulting in an increase in points scored by 5% at the state championships.
- Achieved a personal best score of 9.8 during the floor routine at the national competition, helping the team to place 4th overall.
- Compiled a report of over 100 pages detailing each cheerleader’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as recommendations for improvement; shared this report with parents and guardians at regular intervals throughout the season.
- Successfully managed logistics for away games and competitions, including booking travel arrangements and coordinating with other teams’ coaches to ensure smooth event operations.
- Supported a team of 20+ cheerleaders, helping them to improve their techniques, routines and performances.
- Improved the team’s average score by 3 points after implementing new strategies and coaching methods.
- Facilitated regular practices and provided feedback that helped the team members to improve their individual skillsets.
- Demonstrated excellent leadership qualities when managing the team, motivating them to achieve their best results.
- Reliably attended all competitions and events, cheering on the team and providing support as needed.
- Organized and led daily practices, ensuring that all routines were executed safely and effectively.
- Developed creative and challenging drills to help improve the team’s skills; increased overall performance by 15%.
- Represented the school at various competitions and events, leading the team to victory in 3 out of 5 competitions.
- Meticulously planned each routine, paying close attention to detail in order to create a visually stunning and exciting performance for the audience; received positive feedback from parents and spectators alike.
- Coordinated with other coaches and staff members to ensure that all aspects of the team’s activities ran smoothly; developed strong working relationships with fellow coaches and administrators.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of a new training program that increased the team’s average score by 5 points.
- Mentored and encouraged team members to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.
- Diligently monitored player performance and provided feedback to help them improve their skills.
- Encouraged teamwork and positive attitudes among players, leading to a more cohesive unit.
- Helped players develop good sportsmanship habits, resulting in fewer penalties during games.
- Led a team of 20+ cheerleaders and coordinated their performance routines at school pep rallies, football games, basketball games and other sporting events.
- Presented new cheers, chants and dance routines to the squad on a weekly basis, effectively increasing audience engagement by 15%.
- Effectively managed the budget for cheerleading uniforms, pom-poms and other supplies, optimizing spending by 10%.
- Optimized practice schedules to ensure that the squad was prepared for all performances while still allowing time for academic studies.
- Formulated creative ways to fundraise for new uniforms and equipment, raising an additional $2,000 per year on average.
- Scheduled and led daily 2-hour practices for a team of 20 cheerleaders, teaching them new routines and cheers while also reviewing older material.
- Introduced innovative drills and methods to make practice more fun and engaging for the team, resulting in a 5% increase in attendance on average.
- Implemented a new nutrition plan for the team, helping them to improve their energy levels and stamina during performances; saw a marked improvement in the team’s overall performance within 2 months.
- Independently created customized routines for each game or competition, based on the opposing team’s strengths and weaknesses; helped the team win 3 out of 4 competitions that season.
- Reorganized the squad into smaller groups so that each member could get more individualized attention; this resulted in an increase in morale among squad members as well as marked improvements in their skillsets.
- Thoroughly planned and executed daily practices, coached a team of 20+ cheerleaders and helped them win 3 competitions throughout the season.
- Participated in all aspects of game-day preparations, including pep rallies, warm-ups and chants/dances; motivated cheerleaders to stay engaged and enthusiastic throughout each performance.
- Motivated team members to maintain high levels of physical fitness by setting achievable goals and leading regular conditioning sessions; advised on healthy eating habits and injury prevention techniques.
- Advised cheerleaders on proper stretching & safety routines before/after practices and performances to help prevent injuries; also created individualized workout plans for those recovering from injuries.
- Streamlined practice schedule to focus on key skills while still allowing time for fun & bonding activities; this helped reduce pre-competition jitters & increase team morale overall.
3. Skills
Skills required for cheerleading coaches will differ depending on the employer. For example, one company might be looking for someone with experience choreographing routines while another might place more importance on first-aid certification.
It is essential to keep this in mind when crafting your resume because many employers use applicant tracking systems that scan resumes for particular keywords before passing them on to a human. If your resume doesn’t include the right keywords, it is unlikely to make it past the initial screening stage.
Make sure to list relevant skills in this section and then discuss them further in other areas of your resume, such as the summary or experience section.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Communication
- Confident
- Conflict Resolution
- Creative
- Critical Thinking
- Determined
- Driven
- Encouraging
- Enthusiastic
- Flexibility
- Innovative
- Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Motivated
- Motivational Speaking
- Organizational
- Organized
- Passionate
- Patience
- Persistent
- Planning
- Positive
- Problem Solving
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Resourceful
- Supportive
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Writing
4. Education
Mentioning your education on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no prior experience, include your education below your resume objective. On the other hand, if you have been coaching for years with plenty of different responsibilities to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly fine.
If an education section is included, mention courses related to cheerleading and coaching that you took while obtaining your degree. Examples include “Courses taken while obtaining my degree were Introduction to Cheerleading & Dance, Coaching Principles & Practices, Sport Psychology” and “Also obtained CPR & First Aid certification during college.”
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are always impressive to potential employers as they show that you are willing to go the extra mile in your field. If you have any certifications related to cheerleading or coaching, be sure to include them in this section of your resume.
Highlighting your ability to coach and motivate a team will give hiring managers confidence in your abilities as a leader.
USA Cheer Coach Certification
USA Cheer
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Sabrina White, this would be Sabrina-White-resume.pdf or Sabrina-White-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your job application is a great way to show off your personality and give the hiring manager a more well-rounded view of who you are.
Cover letters should be 2-4 paragraphs long and focus on explaining why you’re the best candidate for the role. They also provide an opportunity to address any red flags that may come up when reviewing your resume, such as employment gaps or lack of experience in a certain area.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Kari,
As a highly experienced and successful cheerleading coach with over 10 years of experience leading teams to victory, I am confident that I can be an asset to your organization. My proven track record of success, combined with my passion for the sport and commitment to developing young athletes, makes me the perfect candidate for this position.
In my previous role as head coach of the [school name] varsity cheerleading squad, I led my team to 3 state championships in 4 years. My coaching style emphasizes teamwork and sportsmanship while also teaching essential skills such as tumbling, stunting, and dance routines. Under my leadership, our squad was not only successful on the competition floor but also in the classroom; our team GPA was consistently above 3.5.
I am confident that I can help your cheerleading program achieve success both on and off the competition floor. As someone who is passionate about developing young athletes into well-rounded individuals, I would be proud to become a part of your organization. Please do not hesitate to contact me at [phone number] or [email address] if you have any questions or would like to schedule an interview.
Sincerely,
[Your name]