Right, so I have proven that I'm rubbish at keeping up with this whole blog thing. Truth is, I just don't really have time for things that aren't essential right now. Nonetheless, I'm gonna try to keep it up for one good reason...
Last night at practice Iain made the comment that he doesn't think the Black Knights know how much I do for KAC when I'm not at practice. So I thought I'd use this blog as a journal of my days-- KAC and my real life. In case anyone is curious about what it takes to head a cheerleading and dance program. Here goes...
Well, today is Easter Monday and I'm hoping to spend some time with Hunter. It isn't often that we are at home together. I also need to make my lunches for this week at work. I can't find time to do much during the week (except before work-- I usually get up between 5:30 and 6 to do laundry and clean) since I have to leave for work at 8 everyday.
Nights are mostly out of the question... On Monday nights I usually get home about 5 or 5:30 and pick up Hunter on the way home. After cooking tea and getting Hunter bathed and to bed (after reading a chapter in whatever book we happen to be reading) I usually do whatever paperwork needs done for cheer on Tuesday. Tuesdays I go straight from work to cheer and don't get home until about 10:30pm, which is when I eat my tea. Wednesdays I leave work at 5, pick up Hunter, and come home to cook tea (I get Hunter to 'help' so we can hang out some) and then head out to cheer from 7:30-10. I get home about 10:15/10:30. Thursdays I don't have cheer, but I usually have 4 surgeries to attend and assist with so even though I leave for work at 8am I usually don't get home until about 8pm. Fridays equal more work and coming home around 6 to cook and try to spend time with Hunter and Steve. Saturdays are family days, but I spend most of Saturday night in front of the computer-- either doing assignments for the classes I'm taking or working on KAC stuff (accounting, choreography, file management, grant proposals... the list goes on and on). And Sunday Steve and I clean house before I head out to cheer.
Well, that's the basic timetable for my week, now I'll tell you more about what I will do today.
Today I have a list of things that need doing...
Blue Knights
This is the only cheer team who isn't competing and they already have a performance routine. Just need to find more little ones now.
Black Knights
I have to write 3 competition routines for the Black Knights stunt competitions. I also wast to write the full team competition so that we can get started on it. Last night after cheer, I stayed up until just after 1:30 looking at who has or will have what standing skills and thinking up ideas for the stunt competitions. And I was still up early because Hunter just does not sleep (I can't wait until he gets old enough to want to stay in bed all day, or at least on the couch in his pj's).
Green Knights
Now that I know what they can do, it's time to get their routine re-written for competition, too. I've already written the stunt group routine, but I still need to re-write the full team routine. It's hard to write full team routines because people are constantly dropping on and off and it's hard to tell who will be doing what tumbling and stunts until we've seen what each person can already do. The air track has meant that we have a much better shot at a higher level of tumbling, so the routine I wrote in January just isn't good enough now. I also need to figure out how to get more hours for them.
Gold Knights
Beckie and Steph do all of the choreography for this group, but I still need paperwork from nearly everyone and I spend Wednesday nights trying to keep them focused and moving toward an obtainable goal. We haven't even started thinking about their big trip or a competition since they don't have a full performance routine yet.
Grants & Building
Today, I have one grant application to finish and need to sort accounting because even though we gave invoices at the beginning of March, over half of KAC still hasn't paid for March. This scares me since I'm about to sign a lease. There are a further 4 grant applications on my desk, but I just have to get to them as and when I can. It takes about 8 hours to fill out a full grant application (you have to write a new proposal every time)! I also plan to have a look through the phone book and start hunting new sponsorships (I've applied for 3 so far). As far as the building is concerned, we have to wait to hear back from the planning office about our application. It takes a minimum of 8 weeks. In the meantime, I'm working like mad to find new fundraisers, sponsors, and grants to set up so we can afford to move in. It would break my heart if we got approved and then couldn't move in because we didn't have the money we needed.
Growing KAC
I have set up plans for ways to grow KAC and help us bring in the revenue we need to stay in our own building. Right now I am working on a new and improved web site (a lot more flashy and 'all star' like the ones used by American teams) with a friend of mine in the US who writes computer code. I have a list of primary schools, play centres, and community centres which I need to call this week to set up summer community classes to bring in more business for KAC, increase our presence in Warrington, and give some of the assistant coaches paid summer jobs. I hope to call these places tomorrow, but since I'm working it will depend on whether I am in my office and can make phone calls while I sort my pathology reports or whether I'm in the operating theatre. I also have to design a brochure for birthday parties and air track/facility rental. Renting out our equipment (with the appropriate staff to either supervise or coach) will also help us to bring in more money.
Coach Training
This week I have managed to set up a deal with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) to train and certify all of our KAC assistant coaches either as certified assistants or head coaches. I have also worked out a deal to get everyone CRB checked. The message about CRB checks needs to be sent out today as it takes up to 5 weeks to get a CRB check and any coach who wants to get paid to coach this summer will need both certification and a CRB check.
Uniforms & Shop
I have a list of measurements for the girls and now I need to match them all up with the correct US size. I also have to make a list of who hasn't been measured yet. I need to send out invoices for uniforms again based on what everyone raised with raffle tickets. I really need to get all of this done before Tuesday, which really means today. I need to get all of the sponsored bounce money in so we can order the uniforms. And then there's the new shop to make...
What else? I'm sure there's more, but for the life of me I can't think of what else right now. I couldn't even tell you how many hours this will take me to complete.
Can't start now though, Hunter is shouting because he wants me to play and as usual, I'm busy. I'll try to find time to write again tomorrow and let you know what I got done and what new jobs have joined my list.
xx Coach Christy xx
