Parent Question

What does Ryan O’Connor look for beyond college cheer skills?

Short answer

In Episode 45, Ryan describes recruiting the person and teammate behind the skills. In her Kentucky experience, peer interaction, body language, response to feedback and mistakes, communication, self-advocacy and program fit all help her understand a recruit.

The CDU explanation

What that means in practice

She describes watching how athletes treat others competing for the same opportunity, receive corrections and communicate with a partner. These are examples from her evaluation process, not a universal college-cheer checklist.

Expert context

Season 1 sources

Ryan Martin O’Connor
Episode 45
University of Kentucky Cheerleading head coach sharing her Episode 45 athlete-and-coach perspective.

Last reviewed 2026-10-30

Season 1 evidence

Episodes that cover this

EP 45Cheer Dads Unfiltered – Episode 45: The Human Inside the Uniform with Kentucky Cheer’s Ryan Martin O’Connorwith Ryan Martin O’Connor

Who told us this

Related experts

RYAN MARTIN O’CONNORHEAD COACH • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CHEERLEADING

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