Let’s face it, as humans, many of us have a natural tendency to see how far we can push the limits of things.

As an example, in our gym, we have a rule that athletes should not be dropped off to the gym more than 15 minutes prior to their team’s scheduled practice or class that they may be signed up for.

One recent balmy afternoon, one of our coaches went to open up the gym a few minutes past 4pm and found 3 athletes already inside.

The challenge with this situation was that 2 of the athletes did not have practice until 5pm and the other athlete did not have practice until 7pm (almost a full 3 hours later!).

Although the athletes were “older”, this is obviously unacceptable on a number of levels.

There is the clear concern for safety, especially without an adult being present.

Even if an adult were present (as in a ‘coach’), their time would most likely already be allocated to something else and should not be shifted to having to keep “watch” over athletes that were in the gym much earlier than they should be there.

While this is just one example, rules in general are put in place for a reason, in our world they usually have to do with safety, consideration of others, overall image of the program, etc.

Rules are important to keep everyone safe, ensure fairness, and create a positive environment.

In a nutshell, here’s why they are necessary:

Safety First

Left unsupervised, it can be very easy for an athlete to get hurt. While injuries can certainly happen at any time, having something occur that was entirely preventable is much more of a different thing than an injury that may happen during competition or regular practice.

Fairness and Respect

Rules ensure that everyone gets an equal chance to participate and improve. They promote fairness by making sure no one cheats or gets an unfair advantage. Respecting each other and the coaches is also a big part of this. Rules against bullying or negative behavior help create a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome and encouraged.

Discipline and Structure

Having a set of rules provides structure. When everyone knows what’s expected, practices tend to run much smoother, and there’s less confusion. This discipline helps teams stay focused on their goals and improves their performance. Rules about attendance, punctuality, and effort ensure that everyone is committed and doing their best.

Teamwork and Cooperation

Cheerleading is a team sport, and rules help build teamwork and cooperation. When everyone follows the same rules, it’s easier to work together and achieve common goals. Rules about communication, supporting teammates, and working together on routines help create a strong, unified team.

Positive Environment

Rules help maintain a positive environment in the gym. They encourage good sportsmanship, respect, and a positive attitude. This makes the gym a more fun and enjoyable place to be, where everyone can grow and succeed.

Although at times it may seem that rules may be being made up out of thin air or for some reason because someone did not have anything better to do at a particular moment, there is actually typically some very solid reasoning why rules are in place, and their aim is to help everyone work together effectively and ensure that the gym is a place where all athletes can thrive to the best of their ability in as safe, organized, and professional an environment as possible.