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🎓 Is the scholastic cheerleading season ending too soon? (S4.6)
Episode of October 6, 2026
Why end your season in April when school continues until June? When she resumed coaching at the high school level, Janie asked herself this question… and decided to build her schedule differently.
In this episode of the Kick's Cheer Podcast, Janie, Nadia, and Keaven discuss the time spent on development, the pressure of competitions, and the habits we sometimes follow without questioning them. This discussion focuses on extracurricular activities at the high school level , not at the college or university level.
🤸 Back to high school: taking the time to teach the basics
As she prepares for her season, Janie realizes she's still thinking in terms of the school calendar, which she's used in recent years. Yet, high school students stay in school well past April.
She then wonders if scholastic cheerleading has adopted the pace of civilian life too much, rather than building a season adapted to its own reality.
Should the date of the championship always determine the end of the team's development?
For Janie, aiming for one last performance in May could offer a few extra weeks to progress without having to concentrate so much training into an already busy period. It's a possibility she wants to explore with her team, not a formula she presents as the best for everyone.
đź“… Should scholastic cheerleading follow the pace of all-star cheerleading?
As she prepares for her season, Janie realizes she's still thinking in terms of the university calendar, where she coached in recent years. Yet, high school students remain in school well past April.
She then wonders if school cheerleading has adopted the pace of all-star life too much, rather than building a season adapted to its own reality.
Should the date of the championship always determine the end of the team's development?
For Janie, aiming for one last performance in May could offer a few extra weeks to progress without having to concentrate so much training into an already busy period. It's a possibility she wants to explore with her team, not a formula she presents as the best for everyone.
🎯 Her choice: to aim for a performance peak in May
Janie doesn't just plan to add another competition after the provincial championship. This season, she has chosen not to participate in the RSEQ provincial championship.
Her schedule includes two competitions in her regional network (RSEQLL): the Canada Cup in April, followed by Graduation Montréal in May. It is at this latter competition that she hopes to see her team reach its best level of the season.
It remains competitive. But for this new team, the priority is to assess the progress made and build a solid foundation. According to her, the four or five extra weeks could also make a difference when the athletes return the following season.
💬 Extending the season, yes… but based on what reality?
The discussion also raises the limitations of a longer schedule: coach fatigue, civil commitments, travel to the World Championships and resource availability.
Janie has arranged for a team of coaches to ensure training sessions take place during her absences. This organization is part of what makes her choice possible.
Other options are being considered: ending competitions earlier, then continuing with advanced training or clinics. The end of competitions and the end of training are not necessarily the same thing.
This episode doesn't claim to explain all the constraints of the RSEQ. The hosts specifically want to hear from those in charge of the network. The starting point remains simple: choose your schedule based on your athletes, your goals, and your resources, rather than following a routine without examining it.
🎧 And in your schedule, when does the season end?
After the last competition, does your team continue training or put their uniforms back on until the fall?
Listen to the full episode of the Kick's Cheer Podcast and share your thoughts in the comments. The discussion is open.
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