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If you’re coaching — whether it’s in cheer, dance, or any sport — tough conversations are part of the deal. And in this new episode of Five with Fry, I sit down with my friend Kierra Pelz, gym owner and coach at Premier Academy, to talk about what it actually looks like to handle conflict well. It’s not about avoiding it or jumping in to fix everything yourself.
Kierra and I met at the Next Gen Coaches Conference, where she ran a phenomenal session on managing difficult conversations, especially with parents. I knew I had to bring her on the pod. Her experience, honesty, and practical tips hit hard, especially if you’re in a leadership role and constantly putting out fires.
One thing Kierra said that really stuck with me? “Voice, not text.” In a world full of DMs and long emails, it’s tempting to handle conflict behind a screen. But that just makes things messier. Tone gets lost, emotions escalate, and suddenly a small issue becomes a big one. Kierra’s rule in her gym is simple: If it’s a concern, it needs to happen over a call or in person. Period.
But she doesn’t just talk about communication in theory — she gives you actual templates. Yep, copy-paste language that her coaches use to respond to parent concerns and reroute conversations into the right format. There’s even a response for when a parent skips the coach and goes straight to the director (you know that happens). It’s all about clarity, boundaries, and not getting dragged into a never-ending inbox spiral.
We also dive into a big leadership trap: handling everything yourself. Directors and head coaches often think it’s just “easier” to manage the hard conversations themselves. But if you’re always stepping in, your younger coaches never learn how to lead. Kierra shares how empowering her staff — and giving them room to make mistakes — actually strengthened her gym and made her job less stressful in the long run.
Coaching isn’t just about skills and drills. It’s about communication, delegation, and growth — for you and your team.
This is just Part One of our three-part series, and it’s packed with real talk, tangible tools, and leadership lessons you can use today.
Listen to the full episode now and come back next week for Part 2, where we dig into more strategies to help you lead through the messy, meaningful parts of coaching.
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About Kierra
Kierra Pelz is the co-owner and operator of a cheer gym in Alberta, Canada. Her gym is a thriving community where young coaches grow into exceptional mentors while inspiring the next generation of athletes in both competitive and recreational cheerleading.
As a mother of two, she understands the importance of balance and has built systems within her business that allow her to lead effectively while prioritizing her family. These systems also empower her coaching staff, giving them the tools and confidence to excel as leaders in and out of the gym.
Beyond the gym, she is passionate about leadership development and helping young coaches grow into strong, capable mentors. She actively speaks and teaches at industry conferences, including those hosted by Next Generation Gym Owners, where she shares insights on systemization, time management, and leadership. She is committed to lifelong learning and continually seeks opportunities to refine her skills while helping others do the same.
