What Successful Cheer Coaches Plan Weekly (That Most Forget)
- Julie Olinger
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
Most cheer coaches plan practices. Good coaches plan games and competitions. Successful cheer coaches plan their week.
And not just the obvious stuff.
If you’ve ever ended a week feeling behind, reactive, or exhausted—even though you “planned”—chances are you skipped the parts that actually make the week run smoothly.
Here’s what successful cheer coaches plan every single week that most coaches forget.
1. They Plan Communication Before It Becomes a Problem
Most coaches communicate reactively:
After a parent complains
When an athlete is confused
When something already went wrong
Successful coaches plan communication ahead of time.
Each week, they decide:
What parents need to know before the week starts
What athletes need clarity on before practice
What admin or AD updates might be coming
Even a 5-minute weekly communication check prevents 90% of chaos.
Weekly question to ask yourself:
“What question will someone ask me this week—and can I answer it now?”
2. They Plan Energy, Not Just Time
This is a big one.
Most coaches plan what they’re doing:
Practice
Game
Practice
Event
Successful coaches plan how demanding each day will be.
They look at the week and intentionally balance:
High-energy practices
Technical / cleanup days
Mental load days (meetings, admin, emotions)
They know burnout doesn’t come from busy weeks—it comes from unbalanced weeks.
Weekly question to ask yourself:
“Where does this week feel heavy—and where can I ease it?”
3. They Plan One Leadership Focus Per Week
Instead of trying to fix everything at once, successful coaches choose one leadership focus for the week.
Examples:
Accountability
Effort
Communication
Confidence
Team unity
This focus quietly guides:
How they talk to athletes
What they reinforce in practice
What they correct (and what they let go)
It keeps leadership intentional instead of emotional.
Weekly question to ask yourself:
“What does this team need most from me this week?”
4. They Plan the “Non-Negotiables”
Successful coaches know exactly what must happen every week—no matter how crazy things get.
These might include:
Stretching properly
Mental check-ins
Skill review
Goal tracking
Team culture moments
They don’t leave these to chance. They schedule them on purpose.
Because consistency builds trust—and results.
Weekly question to ask yourself:
“What absolutely has to happen this week for us to move forward?”
5. They Plan a Win (Yes, Theirs Too)
Most coaches only measure wins by:
Scores
Performance
Results
Successful coaches plan one personal win every week.
Something small:
Leaving practice on time one day
Staying calm during a stressful moment
Having one meaningful athlete conversation
This keeps coaching sustainable—not just successful.
Weekly question to ask yourself:
“What would make me feel proud at the end of this week?”
Why This Matters
Weekly planning isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what actually matters—on purpose.
When you plan:
communication
energy
leadership
priorities
and yourself
You stop reacting…and start leading.
That’s the difference between surviving a season and actually enjoying it.
Want a Simple Way to Do This Every Week?
This exact weekly planning framework is built into my Cheer Coach Planner—so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering where to start.
It’s designed by a coach, for coaches, who are balancing:
teams
jobs
families
and real life
If you’re ready for calmer weeks and more confident leadership, this is for you.
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