Discipline > Feelings

One of the most important lessons we work to instill in our athletes is this: being a good teammate means showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Not only when it’s convenient or when you’re motivated. Not just when it feels fun, easy or when you're receiving praise and achieving success. You must show when you’re tired, when you’re frustrated, when you're in a slump/hard season and when practice isn’t going your way. Showing up regardless of external validation or "good feelings" is where character is built.

Kids don’t always love this message at first. The world is loud with the narrative of “do what makes you happy,” “protect your peace,” “you do you.” While those phrases sound empowering, they fall apart when life gets hard because life is not built around how you FEEL on any given day. Feelings fade, change and sometimes LIE. Feelings are not sustainable, but commitment and discipline is.

We teach this because cheerleading is not the end goal. Youth sports are an important vehicle for building people of substance. Someday, these athletes will be adults with jobs, families and responsibilities. They will need to show up to work when they don’t FEEL like it. They will have to follow through on commitments when it would be easier to quit. They will grow up to be adults who have the hard conversations to work through conflict in relationships instead of walking away the moment it feels uncomfortable. They will be adults who follow through on commitments even when the road feels difficult and imperfect. Discipline is what carries you through the hard moments of life, and character keeps you grounded when motivation dissolves.

Being part of a team means understanding that it’s not always about you. It’s so much more than you. It’s about doing your part so others can do theirs. It’s about responsibility, trust, and service. Real, lasting joy doesn’t come from chasing personal happiness but instead comes from being part of something bigger than yourself and contributing to it with integrity.

That lesson matters on the mat, in the classroom, in the workplace, in marriage, in parenthood, in friendship, in leadership and in LIFE. We aren’t raising athletes who only show up when it feels good. We are building young people who know how to commit, overcome, battle through, persevere, SHOW UP and LEAD.

Discipline over feelings... EVERY👏SINGLE👏TIME👏

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.