Captain Series: What Does “Champion” Really Mean?

According to the dictionary, a champion is “a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sports.” Sorry dictionary, but we don’t agree with that definition. A champion is much, much more than a game winner or highest competition scorer. In fact, being a true champion doesn’t even have to be the gold winning medalist. In order to be a successful and inspiring captain (or even teammate!) of your cheer squad, you must understand what being a champion is really all about. Cutting straight to the chase, a champion is: an advocate, a supporter, a defender, a protector, a believer, and a cheerleader in every sense of the word. To be a great captain, you should be a champion – someone who supports her team through thick and thin, believes they can overcome obstacles, and inspires spirit after a loss or difficult practice. A captain is, above all, a cheerleader for her squad! We’d like athletes to stop thinking of a champion as a winner. By doing that, the game or competition just becomes a stressful job rather than a fun and rewarding experience. You’re supposed to enjoy your sport, not see it as a hurdle to jump. Athletes that are only focused on winning usually burn out the quickest. They forget why they enjoyed the sport in the first place. They get stressed and snap at teammates when they make a mistake. And that’s when a team stops being a team. A true team is made up of individual champions who support one another and genuinely enjoy what they do, win or not. This is especially important for cheer squads that don’t compete. Sometimes they may feel like they don’t have an opportunity to shine and show what they’ve got. As a champion captain, remind your squad that cheering on the sidelines and performing at pep rallies is your time to shine! Getting the crowd spirited and excited for the game is your goal! So, captains, be a champion for your squad and inspire them to be champions themselves and for each other. Your squad will have a stronger bond, which will set you up for a great cheer year! What does being a champion mean to you?