Tag Archives: Cheerleading fitness regimen

The Megan Lambert Approach

Megan Lambert Approach to Cheer Coaching

By Steve Pawlyk

Published January 7, 2024

The success of a team often hinges on the effectiveness of its training methods and the strength of its team culture. The remarkable journey of Megan Lambert and her approach at Seabreeze High School provides invaluable insights into this dynamic. Today we’ll delve into Lambert’s strategies in training and team building, highlighting how these elements contribute to the success of a cheer program.

cheerleading team building

Understanding Megan Lambert’s Philosophy

Megan Lambert’s coaching philosophy at Seabreeze High School revolves around high standards, consistent improvement, and fostering a strong, family-like team environment. Her approach has led the team to impressive achievements, including reaching the state championship in consecutive years. Lambert’s philosophy is grounded in discipline and clear expectations, with a focus on both athletic performance and academic achievement. She emphasizes that team members must meet set standards to participate, instilling a sense of responsibility and commitment.

Lambert’s background in cheerleading, which began in her early childhood, has significantly influenced her coaching style. She cheered for Power Cheer All Stars and Matanzas High School, continuing her cheerleading career at Jacksonville University. This extensive experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the sport, which she leverages in her coaching.

After starting her teaching career at the Imagine School in Palm Coast, Lambert later became the cheerleading coach at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Recognizing the limitations due to COVID restrictions, she founded Cheer Force All Stars, a gym in Ormond Beach, to provide year-round training opportunities. This initiative underscores her commitment to developing her athletes’ skills and ensuring continuous training.

At Seabreeze High School, Lambert has been instrumental in building the competitive cheerleading program from the ground up. Her emphasis on creating a family-like atmosphere and building a team culture based on mutual respect and hard work has been key to her success. The gym at Cheer Force All Stars has become a unifying space for the team, contributing to the development of strong bonds among the athletes.

Lambert’s focus extends beyond just winning competitions; she aims to create memorable experiences for her athletes, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and lifelong friendships. Her holistic approach to coaching has led to significant achievements for the Seabreeze cheerleading team and has positioned them as a formidable force in competitive cheerleading.

cheer competition music cheap
Licensed Cheer Music for Competition Cheer Music

Key Training Strategies

Rigorous Skill Development: Lambert focuses on honing the technical skills of her athletes. This includes regular and intensive training sessions emphasizing stunts, tumbling, and choreography. Her coaching style is characterized by her unwavering commitment to excellence.

She sets clear expectations for her athletes, both in terms of their performance and their conduct. This includes maintaining good grades as a prerequisite for participation, thereby instilling a sense of responsibility and discipline in her team members. Her philosophy is not just about pushing for athletic prowess but also about building character and life skills.

Lambert brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her coaching. This is reflected in her ability to train athletes effectively, focusing on the technical nuances of the sport.

Emphasis on Physical Fitness: Lambert emphasizes the importance of physical fitness in her cheerleading training routines. Understanding the demanding nature of cheerleading, which requires high levels of strength, flexibility, and endurance, she ensures that her training sessions are comprehensive and rigorous.

Seabreeze High School

This focus on physical fitness is essential for the execution of challenging cheerleading routines that include stunts, tumbling, and complex choreography. Lambert’s commitment to maintaining high standards for her athletes has led to significant success, with her teams consistently placing in top positions at competitions. Her approach underscores the critical role of physical fitness in achieving excellence in competitive cheerleading.

Personalized Feedback: Each athlete receives personalized feedback aimed at addressing their unique strengths and weaknesses, fostering a sense of individual progress and contribution to the team.

cheer coaching strategies

Building a Cohesive Team Culture

  • Setting Clear Expectations: Lambert establishes clear expectations in terms of commitment, performance, and behavior. This clarity helps in fostering a disciplined yet nurturing environment.
  • Creating a Sense of Belonging: By promoting a family-like atmosphere, Lambert ensures that each member feels valued and part of a unified team. This approach has been instrumental in building trust and collaboration among team members.
  • Encouraging Leadership: Leadership development is a crucial aspect of Lambert’s approach, with senior members and captains playing active roles in mentoring and guiding newer members.

The Impact of Effective Training and Team Building

  • Enhanced Performance: The combination of rigorous training and a strong team culture leads to enhanced performance in competitions. Teams that train effectively and work cohesively are more likely to execute complex routines flawlessly.
  • Resilience and Adaptability: A well-trained and tightly-knit team can better handle the pressures of competition and adapt to unexpected challenges.
  • Long-term Success: Lambert’s approach has not only brought immediate successes but also established a foundation for sustained excellence in the program.

Megan Lambert’s success at Seabreeze High School serves as a shining example for cheerleading coaches and programs worldwide. Her emphasis on rigorous training, personalized coaching, and fostering a strong team culture has proven to be a recipe for success. By adopting similar strategies, cheerleading teams can enhance their performance, resilience, and achieve long-term success in the competitive arena.

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix

Improve Stability and Grip Strength for One-Handed Cheerleading Stunts

Improve Stability and Grip Strength for One-Handed Cheerleading Stunts

By Steve Pawlyk

Published August 8, 2023

For cheerleaders tasked with executing stunts, especially one-hand stunts, maintaining stability is essential. However, it’s not uncommon for cheerleaders to experience shaky hands during these challenging maneuvers. This article will delve into the reasons behind the instability and offer solutions to help you enhance your grip strength and overall performance.

Understanding the Issue

Performing one-handed stunts often requires cheerleaders to hold a flyer overhead with just one arm. This kind of stunt puts a lot of pressure on the wrists, grip, and smaller muscles of the hand, leading to instability and shaking. The root cause is usually a combination of underdeveloped strength and a lack of endurance in these areas.

Solutions to Improve Stability and Grip Strength

Solution 1: Wrist and Grip Strengthening Exercises

To reduce shakiness and increase stability, focusing on exercises that strengthen your wrists and grip can be incredibly beneficial. One exercise, as recommended by a cheerleader on r/cheerleading, is the dead hang. To do a dead hang, you simply grab onto a playground bar and hang for as long as you can. This not only works on your grip strength, but also helps to build endurance in your forearms. Implementing dead hangs into your regular workout routine for a few weeks can bring noticeable improvements to your performance.

Solution 2: Kettlebell Exercise

Another exercise recommended on the r/cheerleading subreddit is the overhead kettlebell walk. This exercise engages your grip strength and activates smaller muscles, which are often neglected in traditional weightlifting exercises. Start by gripping a kettlebell upside down (so the weight is above your hand) and holding it above your head. Make sure to choose a light kettlebell to begin with. As you become more comfortable and your grip strength improves, you can increase the weight of the kettlebell. Walking while holding the kettlebell overhead not only improves grip strength but also enhances overall body stability and core strength.

 
Stability-and-Grip-Strength-Cheerleading-Stunts
cheer competition music cheap
Licensed Cheer Music for Competition Cheer Music
Stability-Grip-Stunts-Cheerleading

Strategy 3: Incorporate Wrist Curls

Wrist curls can be a fantastic exercise for enhancing wrist strength and stability. To perform this exercise, sit on a chair with your forearm resting on your thigh, palm facing upwards, and a dumbbell in your hand. Then, curl your wrist upwards, hold for a second, and then lower it. Do a few sets of 10-12 reps, and as you get stronger, you can gradually increase the weight.

Strategy 4: Practice Farmer’s Walk

The Farmer’s Walk is another exercise that can improve grip strength and stability. This exercise involves holding a heavy weight (such as a dumbbell or kettlebell) in each hand and walking a certain distance. Start with a manageable weight and gradually increase it as your strength improves. This exercise not only works on your grip but also enhances your core stability and total body strength.

Performing one-handed stunts as a cheerleader requires a combination of strength, stability, and endurance, particularly in the hands and wrists. With specific exercises like dead hangs, wrist curls, Farmer’s Walks, & overhead kettlebell walks, you can effectively tackle the issue of shaky hands. Remember, it’s essential to start slow and gradually increase the intensity of these exercises to avoid injury. With consistency and dedication, you’ll see a big improvement in your one-handed stunts.

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
SHARE YOUR CART