Parent Question

What does Ryan O’Connor mean by “call up, not call out”?

Short answer

In Episode 45, Ryan frames correction as belief that an athlete can meet a shared standard, with accountability and teammate support—not humiliation. Her exact wording is: “We call it a call up. We don’t call it a call out. It’s a call up.”

The CDU explanation

What that means in practice

Her film-review discussion emphasizes understanding why a rep worked or failed without turning review into shame. She describes athlete-led teams learning to assess preparation and take shared responsibility. The approach to feedback must fit the athlete’s age and readiness; accountability does not justify personal attacks.

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