I was up late last night binging on the first few episodes of Netflix’s second season of ‘Cheer’. I want to be the first to warn you – this is not a show I can advocate for the littles. I’m sad that a show about my favorite sport – one that my girls are dying to watch – is rated TV-MA. That said, there are some hard topics discussed on the show, and I believe it’s only right to tell you where we at Twisters stand on those issues.

Athlete safety – As you see at Twisters, you always have 100% access to your children. Angie and I do not believe in closed practices or any sort of practice that parents cannot visibly see and be a part of. At times, a separation is needed (mostly for our littlest athletes as they learn independence), but we ensure you have full visual and audio access at all times. Not only are we focused on their physical safety as we learn new skills, but we’re also focused on emotional safety. That’s why our coaches undergo a rigorous hiring and training process. So, if we seem understaffed at times, it’s because we are incredibly selective on who we will allow to work with your children. Further, we understand that while a quiet, less-chaotic environment could be valuable for learning at times, we believe your comfort as a parent and your child’s safety is more important than what we’re learning on the floor.

While I haven’t gotten to it yet, I’m told there are also episodes that deal with eating disorders and emotional abuse. There is no skill in the world worth either of these things. We believe in a healthy and balanced lifestyle all the way around – to include some fun at times (hence the cookies at the front desk.) Our coaches regularly check in with our most competitive and most at-risk athletes to make sure they’re properly fueling their bodies with the right foods.

When it comes to emotional well-being, you’ll find that for most classes, we use a team-coaching approach. While it’s not feasible in every class, most classes have two coaches. Not only is this designed so your child gets plenty of personal attention during class, but it’s designed so that if an adult needs a moment to step away – he or she is given the opportunity to do so.

This not only gives adults a moment to breathe if they need to gather their patience, but it also holds us accountable for the way we coach. We are here to build children’s confidence.

The final part of this is – we won’t stop with Twisters. What is displayed in the show, while dramatized, is also reality for some people. As many of you know, about 4 years ago, Justin and I started working with gyms across the U.S. and Canada. Twisters has provided business education and training for more than 1,500 gym owners to date. This includes education on how to hire the right people and systemize your gym with safety policies that hold people accountable. This morning, I emailed 1,600 gym owners asking them to take a stand as well. We’re not just trying to make sure kids at Twisters are protected. We’re trying to make sure cheerleading and gymnastics be a safe place for everyone.

If your child wants to watch ‘Cheer’, I recommend checking it out first. I’ve already warned Addy (my 11 year old) that she may watch it, but only with me alongside her so we can talk about some hard realities of the outside world.