2 /5 Rachelle Smith: **Unfortunate Experience with Leadership and Communication**
My daughter was recently removed from Warrior Nations cheer program under circumstances that were deeply disappointing — not due to her effort, skill, or commitment, but seemingly as a result of my own concerns as a parent.
She missed a practice that was *not indicated as mandatory until the day of* — and one I had already received prior approval for due to a family event. As a result, she was benched from her final competition and later removed from the team entirely. This decision was never communicated to me directly; I only found out through another parent.
What makes this even harder is that my daughter had been a part of this gym for nearly two years. She trained consistently, gave it her all, and truly loved the sport of cheer. To see her removed so abruptly — without a direct conversation, a warning, or any real consideration for her hard work — was incredibly disheartening.
While I understand the need for policies, this situation felt less like a matter of rules and more like retaliation for concerns I had respectfully raised regarding communication, professionalism, and fairness. A previously resolved and communicated payment delay was also cited, even though similar situations have been handled very differently for others.
To be clear: this gym has some *excellent coaches* who genuinely care about the athletes and work hard to support them. The problem lies in ownership and leadership — where personal feelings are allowed to influence professional decisions, and children are ultimately the ones who suffer because of it.
To other parents: please be cautious. Ask questions. Pay attention not only to the performances and progress, but to how issues are handled behind the scenes. Advocate for your child, and make sure you’re placing them in an environment where their dedication will be respected, not dismissed.
I hope sharing this experience encourages more transparency, accountability, and child-centered leadership in the future.