Youth sports in general today are exciting, fast, and competitive – All Star Cheerleading is no exception.
Young athletes train hard, coaches push to win, and parents hope their children become stars. While the focus on skill, flexibility, and strength is important, two powerful traits often get left behind—patience and loyalty. These are superpowers that don’t show up on any scoresheet, but they matter just as much.
Patience is the ability to wait for something without getting upset. In sports, this means giving yourself time to grow and improve. Today, many young athletes want success right away. They want to be the best on the team, the star of the routine, and win at every competition. If that doesn’t happen quickly, some give up or switch programs. But the truth is, real improvement takes time. Even great athletes like Simone Biles and Caitlin Clark didn’t become stars overnight. They had to practice, fail, and keep going.
Without patience, kids can get frustrated too easily. They may quit the sport they love because they aren’t the best yet. Or they may jump to a new gym hoping it will bring instant success. But being patient teaches kids how to deal with struggle. It shows them that hard work pays off in the long run. Learning to wait, work, and believe in yourself is a powerful skill—not just in sports, but in life.
Loyalty means staying true to a person, team, or goal. In youth sports today, it’s common for young athletes to change teams. If a team does not consistently “win”, or a player doesn’t have a large enough role in the routine, they may leave for another program. While at times this may seem to help, often it means missing out on something even more important – trust, teamwork, and long-term growth.
Being loyal to a team or coach can help athletes learn responsibility and friendship. It shows them how to stick with something even when it’s tough. A loyal athlete doesn’t quit when things go wrong. They show up, support their teammates, and do their best to improve. Loyalty builds strong bonds and teaches athletes to think about others, not just themselves.
In a world where switching teams, quitting quickly, and chasing wins are common, patience and loyalty seem rare. But that’s exactly why they’re superpowers. They aren’t flashy, but they are strong. They help kids become not just better athletes, but better adults.
Parents, coaches, and athletes should work together to strengthen these values and make sure they are not lost. Emphasizing effort and what is put into things (whether it is a team or program in general), not just results. Celebrate progress. Remind athletes that being patient and loyal will help them far beyond the mat.
While talent alone certainly contributes to winning games, character wins in life. Patience and loyalty are two of the strongest traits any athlete can have and when they are truly present, everyone wins in the long run.
