CAO Elite AllStars

Lessons From 23 Seasons

Parents, don’t befriend coaches. Coaches, don’t befriend parents.

After 23 seasons, I’ve learned that blurred lines often create blurred expectations.

Can those relationships work? Of course. Some become lifelong friendships. But they can also become a Catch-22. When things stop going the way one side expects, the friendship can quickly become a conflict, and the boundaries that once protected everyone disappear.

I’ve watched parents and coaches who had amazing relationships suddenly find themselves at odds because a decision wasn’t made the way someone thought it should be. The conversation shifts from gratitude to frustration, and before long, the gym itself is caught in the middle.

As an owner, I’ve also learned that systems protect people.

Here are a few things I intentionally implement in my program:

• The owner or program director is always the buffer between parents and coaches. It removes unnecessary pressure from coaches and ensures concerns are handled consistently.

• Coaches do not text parents about team issues or schedule private meetings. Communication should be professional and documented.

• No sidebar conversations. Perception is everything. Even innocent conversations can create the appearance of favoritism, special treatment, or hidden agendas.

• All meetings are scheduled through the front desk and include the owner or program director when appropriate. This creates accountability and keeps everyone on the same page.

• Coaches coach. Parents parent. Owners manage the program. Everyone functions best when they stay in their lane.

These policies are not about being distant. They are about protecting relationships.

I’ve learned that when communication is structured, emotions have less opportunity to take over. Coaches feel supported. Parents know the proper channels. Athletes are not placed in the middle.

The goal is not to build walls.

The goal is to build healthy boundaries that allow everyone to work together without personal relationships complicating professional decisions.

After 23 seasons, I believe one of the greatest gifts an owner can give a program is clarity.

Because clarity creates trust.
And trust builds culture.

Sometimes friction means you’re in the right place-

WE’RE A FINALIST! 🏆🧡💙

I am incredibly honored to be named a 2026 Cheer Awards Finalist for the Community Impact Award.

This nomination is bigger than me. It represents every athlete, coach, HBCU, volunteer, sponsor, and family who has believed in the vision of The Official Cheer HBCU Combine.

What started as an idea has grown into a movement—creating opportunities, increasing HBCU exposure, awarding scholarships, connecting athletes with college coaches, and proving that representation matters in collegiate cheer.

If the Cheer HBCU Combine has inspired you, opened a door for an athlete, or impacted our community in any way, I would truly appreciate your support.

🗳️ Please take a moment to vote for Toni Kendrick for the 2026 Community Impact Award.

Every vote helps shine a light on the work we’re doing to create opportunities for the next generation of student-athletes.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey. This recognition belongs to all of us. Let’s bring this award home!

🧡💙 Vote. Share. Celebrate.

Cheerawards.org

Originality Will Always Outlast Imitation

One of the most beautiful things you can be in this industry is original.

In cheer, there are only so many legal skills. Everyone will stunt. Everyone will tumble. Everyone will dance. The difference isn’t always what you do—it’s how you bring it to life.

For 23 seasons, I’ve learned that creativity is one of the greatest gifts a coach can possess.

I don’t just enjoy building routines. I love creating experiences.

The themed photoshoots.
The sisterhood events.
The retreats.
The parent moments.
The team bonding.
The reveal nights.

The little details athletes will remember years after they’ve forgotten a score sheet.
Those are the memories that last.

Trophies collect dust.
Banners eventually come down.
Even championship routines fade with time.
But the way a young athlete felt when she belonged somewhere…

The excitement of a team event…
The confidence built during a season…Those memories stay forever.

We all influence one another. That’s the nature of any creative industry, and there is nothing wrong with being inspired.
What becomes disappointing is when inspiration turns into imitation—copying someone else’s work almost verbatim without adding your own perspective, creativity, or acknowledgment.

If an idea inspires you, that’s okay.

Give credit.

Or better yet…

Put your own sauce on it.

Take the concept and elevate it in a way that reflects your own culture, your own athletes, and your own vision.

The industry doesn’t need more copies.
It needs more creators.

Originality isn’t about never being influenced. It’s about having enough confidence to build something that carries your fingerprint.

After 23 seasons, I’ve learned that trends come and go.

Authenticity never goes out of style.
— Coach Toni Kendrick�Lessons From 23 Seasons 💙🧡

Who has the greater responsibility for creating a positive team culture: the coach, the parent, or the athlete?

Why?

The most spiritual thing you can do is not stay silent but speak the truth IN LOVE. - Pastor Mike

Thus Lessons from 23 Seasons. Cause I can tell you how I am, what we do, and why we do it better than anyone- 🧡💙

HOME | CAO ELITE Welcome to CAO Elite Allstars! We are in our 22nd season and can't wait to experience all that is in store for the Allstars in Orange & Blue. We are located in the South Metro Atlanta area of Georgia serving over 200 athletes through classes, clinics, show teams and full season teams. Take a look ar...