The Silent Struggle of Cheer Coaches: Why Burnout Happens and How to Fix It

Julie Olinger
Dec 9, 2025
3 min read

If you're a cheer coach and you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, unappreciated, or like you're constantly juggling 500 things — you're not alone. Cheerleading has evolved into a year-long commitment full of administrative duties, emotional coaching, public expectations, and performance pressure.

And yet, no one talks about how much cheer coaches carry.

So today… we’re talking about it.

💥 Why Cheer Coaches Are Burning Out

(The REAL Reasons)

1. You're Coaching AND Doing Administrative Work

You're not just teaching cheers. You're:

Budgeting
Fundraising
Planning apparel orders
Communicating with parents
Coordinating with athletic departments
Managing social media
Scheduling practices, games, and travel
Dealing with paperwork

That’s not “extra.” That is a whole second job, unpaid.

2. The Emotional Weight Is Heavy

You're supporting:

Teen emotions
Parent frustrations
Team drama
Athlete challenges at home
Leadership breakdowns
Confidence issues
Social anxiety

Cheerleading isn't just physical — it’s emotional coaching every single practice.

That takes energy.

3. Cheer Takes Place in the Public Eye

You’re not a behind-the-scenes coach. You’re ON DISPLAY:

On the sidelines
At pep events
At community events
In front of parents
In front of fans
On school social pages

Every mistake, cheer, voice crack, and sideline stumble is seen.

That pressure adds up.

4. You're Expected to Have It All Together

Cheer coaches are:

Expected to stay positive
Expected to solve problems
Expected to organize everything
Expected to never show stress
Expected to be “on” 24/7

And when you do feel overwhelmed? It feels like you can’t say anything because people will think you “can’t handle it.”

That’s isolating.

5. There’s No Real Training on the Administrative Side

The truth is—NOBODY teaches coaches:

How to communicate with parents
How to set expectations
How to plan budgets
How to create a sideline schedule
How to run meetings
How to manage conflicts
How to handle pressure

But you’re expected to do it all anyway.

💛 The GOOD News: Burnout Isn’t Permanent

You can reduce burnout by:

Getting organized
Having a plan before practices
Using systems (not scrambles)
Delegating where possible
Setting expectations early
Documenting everything
Tracking parent communication

These aren't luxuries — they are survival tools.

🧭 Practical Strategies You Can Start Today

✔ Create a Weekly Coaching Checklist

It takes away decision fatigue.

✔ Set Boundaries for Communication

You are not a 24/7 crisis hotline.

✔ Have a Game Day Routine Template

Run the game — don’t let it run you.

✔ Use Written Expectations for Parents

It avoids misunderstandings and emergencies.

✔ Plan Practices in Advance

Walking in with a plan preserves energy.

🌟 Here's the Part Nobody Tells You:

You are not failing. You are working your butt off in a system that gives you too many roles, not enough hours, and very little support.

You're an amazing coach. But even amazing coaches need tools.

📣 If you’re reading this and thinking: “YES, I need more structure and less chaos!”...that’s exactly why I created my Cheer Coach Planner.

It was built to:

Reduce overwhelm
Give you systems
Help you communicate clearly
Keep you organized
Help you enjoy coaching again

Whether you coach fall, winter, JV, or varsity, the planner covers:

Tryouts
Roster notes
Practice planning
Sideline strategy
Fundraising
Game day
Apparel
Parent expectations
Budget
Leadership development

You can check it out here: 👉 https://www.coachjulieco.com/category/all-products

And if you ever want to talk coaching strategies, I'm here. We're in this together. ❤️ Coach Julie 🎀

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