Cheering to victory: Inside Team NL

JOURNEY TO ICU WORLDS 2024 - WITH COACH KYLE

Hey Cheer enthusiast! Today we’re pulling back the curtain on Team NL’s journey to ICU Worlds 2024 with none other than the head coach of our Team NL COED team, Coach Kyle Pappas. Grab a front-row seat as Coach Kyle Pappas spills the cheer beans on how Team NL is gearing itself up for a showdown in April!

Coach Kyle, what values are guiding Team NL in the preparation for ICU Worlds 2024?

I would say that in our programme, Team NL places a strong emphasis on two core values, discipline, and accountability, as we prepare for ICU Worlds 2024. These values are paramount to our success, given our training structure that involves a significant amount of independent or small group work, with limited time for collaborative team efforts. Maintaining discipline is crucial for maximizing practice time, and athletes must be accountable for meeting the high standards we uphold. While perfection is not expected, proactive efforts to address weaknesses and shortcomings are essential for bringing us all up to standard.

 
So, Coach Kyle, it's crystal clear that discipline and accountability are Team NL's secret weapons for ICU Worlds 2024. Now, let's dive into the nuts and bolts of this dedication. What does the training schedule for TeamNL athletes look like?

Right now, the TeamNL training schedule involves monthly official team practices, with athletes expected to train a minimum of one additional time per month, typically every other weekend. However, the majority of our athletes surpass this minimum requirement. In reality, many of our team members train more frequently, with most engaging in training sessions with their Team NL stunt partners at least once a week. This commitment reflects the dedication and ongoing efforts of our athletes to enhance their skills and ensure that no time is wasted during the official team trainings.

 

Now zooming out a bit and looking to the future, what's the grand vision for Team NL, and what legacy do you and the coaches aim to leave behind?

The legacy I hope to leave is a more vibrant cheer community than the one I came to. The aim is to build a community that is deeper, broader, and bigger than the one inherited. Looking ahead, I and the other coaches aspire to position the Netherlands as a competitive force across all divisions, with the goal of having multiple teams participating in ICU Worlds. The vision encompasses representation in COED, All-Girl, Junior, and Youth categories at ICU Worlds. Ultimately, the objective for the future is to establish the Netherlands as a formidable and respected competitor on the international cheerleading stage and people should be worried about competing against us because we are simply just that good!

 
So, Coach Kyle, it's clear that Team NL has some big dreams for the Dutch cheerleading community and for the international stage. Now, let's shift gears and talk about the crucial role sponsors play in making these visions a reality. How can sponsors help the team succeed at the ICU Worlds 2024, and what special opportunities do sponsors have to amplify the team’s performance on the global stage?

Sponsors play a crucial role in supporting Team NL's success at ICU Worlds 2024. Money makes the world go round. Cheer is an expensive sport, it doesn’t come cheap. Considering the costs for traveling and competing at ICU worlds, it’s already expensive enough for American cheerleaders, let alone for our Dutch athletes who need to cross 4,500 miles of the Atlantic Ocean to get to Orlando. 



Sponsors can directly support our team's performance by providing the necessary financial support, allowing athletes to focus more on training and skill development. If we have to split time between raising funds as a team or working for skills, we obviously get less skill development then if we are concentrating on raising funds. Moreover, by helping us through sponsorship, organizations can help us ensure the well-being and performance of our athletes when they are in Florida as financial backing ensures that our athletes receive proper nutrition in the week leading up to the competition. Ultimately, sponsorship helps our athletes focus on the most important thing which is on ensuring they are getting all the reps they need before taking the mat.