Cheer How-To Series, Featured, Safety, Tips

The Essential Guide to Cheerleading Tumbling Progression

Posted on June 29, 2023July 4, 2023 by Steve Pawlyk

29
Jun

By Steve Pawlyk

Published June 29, 2023

Tumbling is an integral part of cheerleading. It enhances the visual appeal of routines and showcases the athletic prowess of the cheerleaders. However, learning tumbling skills is a gradual process that requires consistency, patience, and above all, a clear understanding of progression levels. In this article, we will walk through the tumbling progression guide, breaking down each level to help cheer coaches better structure their athletes’ training.

Level 1.0: The Foundation
The first level focuses on basic gymnastic skills that lay the groundwork for more advanced moves. At this level, athletes will learn forward and backward rolls, handstands, and cartwheels, as well as handstand snap-downs, bridge downs, and opposite cartwheels. Each of these moves builds core strength, flexibility, and body awareness, critical attributes for future progress.

Level 1.5: Building Momentum
At Level 1.5, the focus is on slightly more complex skills that build on the foundations set in Level 1.0. Here, athletes start learning moves like 2-step round-offs, power hurdle round-offs, backward roll press ups, and front and back walkovers. The Valdez, a graceful move performed from a seated position, also makes its debut at this level.

Level 2.0: Introducing the Back Handspring
The back handspring – a cheerleading staple – is introduced at Level 2.0. Also added to the repertoire are round-off back handsprings, front handsprings, front walkover-round-offs, and back extension rolls. These moves require and help develop upper body strength, better control, and enhanced spatial awareness.

Level 2.5: Mastery of the Back Handspring

Level 2.5 emphasizes the mastery and integration of the back handspring. The goal is to perform multiple back handsprings and seamlessly transition from a front walkover to a round-off back handspring. This level encourages fluidity in motion and lays the foundation for complex tumbling sequences.

Level 3.0: Daring Heights
By Level 3.0, cheerleaders should be comfortable performing solo and sequence back handsprings. They’re now ready for high-flying moves like round-off back handspring tucks, standing tucks, and aerials. The cheerleader will also start working on coin tosses, punch fronts, and toe touch back handsprings, further expanding their tumbling skill set.
Level 4.0: Layouts & Advanced Skills
Level 4.0 focuses on layouts and more advanced skills. Athletes start to incorporate skills like the round-off back handspring layout, cartwheel tuck, T-jump tuck, and whip throughs into their repertoire. They will also work on punch front step-outs, front handspring front punches, and Onodis.

Level 5.0: Full Twisting and Arabians

With a strong foundation in place, Level 5.0 cheerleaders are ready for full twists and Arabians. They’ll also learn whip tucks, toe touch tucks, and standing fulls. At this level, athletes also start practicing fulls with kicks, further enhancing their flexibility and control.

Level 6.0: Elite Tumbling
Level 6.0 is the final and most advanced stage in this tumbling progression. Athletes at this level are expected to execute difficult skills like back handspring fulls, whip punch double twists, and Arabian step outs to double twists. They also continue practicing fulls with kicks. Mastery at this level reflects the pinnacle of tumbling proficiency.

Conclusion

The process of learning and mastering tumbling in cheerleading is a journey that requires patience, practice, and persistent effort. By understanding and following this tumbling progression guide, cheer coaches can ensure their athletes develop the necessary skills in a safe and systematic manner. Remember, each level forms the foundation for the next – it’s important to master each skill before moving on to more advanced moves. Happy tumbling!

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Coaching Cheerleading for the First Time: Essential Tips for Success

Posted on June 20, 2023November 16, 2023 by Steve Pawlyk

20
Jun

By Steve Pawlyk

Published June 20, 2023

If you’re a new cheerleading coach eager to guide your team to victory, you’ve landed at the right place. Today, we will guide you through the best practices, tips, and advice that will help to make your first coaching stint a success.

Tip #1: Understand the Basics of Cheerleading

One of the most vital things for a first-time cheerleading coach is to understand the basics of the sport. This includes knowing about the different types of cheerleading (competitive, school-based, etc.), the various routines, stunts, and cheers that cheerleaders perform, as well as safety guidelines and regulations. Participate in cheerleading workshops, read books and online resources, watch competitive cheerleading, and familiarize yourself with the sport.

Tip #2: Make Safety Your Priority

The acrobatic stunts performed by cheerleaders might look glamorous, but they carry inherent risks. It’s crucial that safety is always prioritized. Equip yourself with knowledge about injury prevention, proper stunt progression, and how to manage emergencies. Encourage safe practice sessions, ensure the use of appropriate mats and safety gear, and insist on proper warm-up and cool-down routines.

Tip #3: Plan Your Training Sessions

The key to successful cheerleading coaching lies in careful planning. Schedule your training sessions strategically to include a balance of warm-up exercises, skill-building activities, routine practice, and cooldown periods. This will not only keep the sessions structured and effective but also maintain the interest and motivation levels of your team.

Tip #4: Encourage Team Spirit

Cheerleading is all about teamwork. Encourage a sense of camaraderie and unity among your team members. Team-building activities, both on and off the field, can foster a positive team spirit. Ensure everyone feels valued and that their contributions are acknowledged.

Tip #5: Communicate Effectively

Effective communication is vital in any coaching position. Be clear, concise, and consistent in your instructions. Also, listen to your team. Allow them to express their concerns, suggestions, or ideas. A two-way communication channel can foster a healthier relationship between you and your squad.

Tip #6: Provide Constructive Feedback

While praise for good work is essential, it’s equally important to provide constructive feedback. Cheerleading is a highly technical sport. Therefore, effective feedback can be a great learning tool. However, make sure your feedback is always constructive, specific, and respectful.

Tip #7: Stay Updated and Keep Learning

Cheerleading evolves constantly. As a coach, you need to stay updated with the latest trends, techniques, and safety protocols. Attend workshops, conferences, and coaching clinics to learn from other experienced cheerleading coaches and professionals in the sport.

Tip #8: Inspire Your Team

Lastly, remember that as a coach, you’re a role model for your team. Display qualities like sportsmanship, respect, dedication, and positivity. This will inspire your team and make your cheerleading coaching journey a rewarding one.

If you’re stepping into the role of a cheerleading coach for the first time, these tips will undoubtedly assist you on your journey. Embrace the challenge, take each day as it comes, and remember, the ultimate goal is to create a fun, safe, and empowering environment for your team. Good luck!

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Featured, Safety, Tips, Workouts

How Cheerleaders Can Improve Their Flexibility

Posted on September 24, 2020September 25, 2020 by Dr. Scott Christie

24
Sep

By Dr. Scott Christie

Published September 24, 2020

Did you know there are three main determinants of your flexibility potential?

They are:

Did you know there are three main determinants of your flexibility potential?

They are:

Your neuromuscular system
Your joint capsules
Your joint structure

Neuromuscular System:

Your nervous system and muscles are the largest determinant of your range of motion. The brain will create tension in the muscles surrounding a joint in order to protect it as you move closer to an end range of motion.

The reason the nervous system does this is to ensure your joint stays in place and does not move out of place. Therefore, the stronger you are or the more stable your joint is as it gets closer to its end range, the greater range of motion can be achieved.

How do we create a greater range of motion?

The best way to improve your range of motion in this scenario is to use different contract and relax methods.

For example, use a partner, lie on your back, have your partner help you move into a heel stretch position. Once you are in position, resist your partner who is trying to push your leg further.

Do this for 5 seconds then relax. Repeat 5 more times. You can also do this with a stretching strap.

Joint Capsules:

The second area of restriction comes from your joint capsule which helps hold two bones together and can become stiff or can already be stiff based on your genetic make-up.

The best way to improve your joint capsule flexibility is to hold your stretches longer. Once you are done stretching you should do some contractions at your newfound end range so that you are strong in this new position.

Stretching like this every day is key to long term flexibility increases.

JOINT STRUCTURE

Lastly, the structure of your joint can dictate how far a joint can move. For example, some athletes will have a fairly deep hip socket and as such they will not be able to increase their range of motion at this joint.

However, they can employ other strategies like tilting their hip or flexing their back to be able to get their leg up higher. This may not be ideal, but the body ultimately is the boss.

As you can see, each area discussed above will respond differently to how you can achieve improved flexibility. There are also other strategies like vibration therapy and rolling but at the end of the day the most important takeaway is to stretch daily.

For tips on stretching, you can visit Cheer District’s Stretching Series on their YouTube channel.

Featured, Tips

Shifting your Mindset

Posted on August 28, 2020August 28, 2020 by Liz Scumaci

28
Aug

By Liz Scumaci

Published August 28, 2020

What is the Law of Attraction?

People have been practicing the belief that positive energy attracts positive outcomes for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until the early 19th century that this practice was coined the Law of Attraction. Every individual emits a distinct frequency that can be as high or low as they want. Higher frequencies attract positive experiences while lower frequencies attract more negative ones. It may seem simple, but it takes a lot of time and patience to fully master the practice of matching frequency to desired energy.

Shifting your Mindset GlitterStarz Attraction Cheerleading youhitzero ippmusic com splits

I adopted the Law of Attraction as a daily exercise in my life 10 years ago and haven’t looked back since. I saw a need and a want to always have a solution based mindset. Having a solution based mindset and a positive attitude towards the Law of Attraction is the perfect formula for success. Through the utilization of this practice, I continue to grow my business to unimaginable heights. My continual high frequency attracts positive life experiences which I attribute to the success of GlitterStarz.

Turning Uncertainty into Positivity

Turning uncertainty into positivity, and ultimately prosperity, starts with just changing your energy. In order to do this, you must first start by shifting your mindset. “I am,” statements are a great start. For example, if you are worried about having to close your gym then verbally assure yourself, “I am going to figure out a plan to keep my gym open.” Speaking this truth into the universe will boost the frequency you are emitting, thus attracting more positive life experiences. Simple wishful thinking won’t cut it. It is important to completely rewire your internal thinking, so that it aligns with this new mindset. Following simple steps will help boost your frequency in turn generating more desired outcomes.

Steps to Success

In a recent virtual meeting, I provided gym owners with several ways to increase their frequencies. The first being, the “I am” sentences as mentioned above. I recommended compiling all of the previous doubts into new positive statements. Create daily, weekly and monthly goals that help bring the “I am” statements to life. It is important to keep track of your accomplishments along the way in order to practice gratitude, so keeping a journal is highly encouraged. The most important step that is crucial for your frequency to increase is rehearsing your victories. Using all five senses try to envision yourself accomplishing those goals. How does it look, smell, taste, feel and sound? This mental image should always remain present in order to help align your frequency with the desired outcome.

Shifting your Mindset GlitterStarz Attraction Cheerleading youhitzero ippmusic com attraction

Have Patience

Trusting in positive thoughts to yield positive outcomes is a great start to practicing the Law of Attraction. However, there is much more to this theory when practiced. I provide an in-depth summary of the Law of Attraction and several steps to increase frequency. It is important to be mindful of your thoughts, feelings, gratitude and most importantly trust in the universe. It will deliver whatever the focus of your energy is and remember it will grow.

Liz Scumaci

Owner – GlitterStarz, Inc.

instagram.com/glitterstarzinc

Featured, Safety, Tips

Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines

Posted on August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 by Dr. Scott Christie

17
Aug

By Dr. Scott Christie

Published August 17, 2020

Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines

5 ways to reduce athletes’ risk of avoidable injuries

When designing a practice plan the main goal should be to put into place the appropriate elements of implementing the perfect routine. In order to achieve this goal, special attention must be paid to developing skills safely and efficiently, mitigating injury risk and ensuring your athletes have the adequate physical and mental capacity to handle the intensity of practices and performances.

Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines by Dr Scott Christie rules youhitzero ippmusic com

One of the biggest obstacles in cheerleading is being able to ensure that you have full attendance at practice. A coach constantly has to deal with athletes missing practice due to sickness, vacations, weather, other unanticipated events, as well as injuries in and out of practice. Most of these factors are uncontrollable but a coach does have a significant control over avoidable injuries occurring during practice.

To help with achieving full team practices, below are five ways to reduce your athletes’ risk of sustaining avoidable injuries.

1. Chunking your practice (10-15 mins sections)

Chunking your practice is good for two reasons. First, by changing up your activities into small 10-15-minute chunks, you can avoid unnecessary mental and physical fatigue that comes with staying on one movement pattern or skill for too long. Secondly, from a memory acquisition standpoint chunking your practices creates faster learning of skills.

2. Control fatigue

Pay attention to your athletes’ body language. As a previous coach, I know it is very easy to get upset with the poor performance of your athletes at times and as a result push them harder to help develop ‘mental toughness’. This strategy more often than not will lead to an avoidable injury. Cheerleading requires high power outputs and fatigue will reduce an athlete’s power production significantly which can lead to increased risk of injury (especially near the end of practices).

3. Use vivid visualization

Vivid visualization allows for more practice time without actually performing the skill. This can be done at home or at practice once the athletes are too tired to continue safely.

4. Monitor overtraining

Many sports have their athletes fill out short mental health questionnaires out on a daily basis. There are many stresses taking place in an athlete’s life outside of cheerleading. It is important to be aware of this and monitor it on a daily or weekly basis. Try to remember that as much as cheerleading is all about the team, a team is still made up of many unique individuals that require different coaching methods.

5. Improving physical fitness

Athletes that are extremely physically fit are better suited to be able to handle the high physical and mental demands of cheerleading practices and performances. Most sports have their athletes work on their fitness between practices, cheerleaders should be doing the same!

For more information from Dr. Scott Christie please visit our website’s resource page at www.cheerdistrict.com. Interested in implementing training programs backed by science within your gym community? Email support@cheerdistrict.com for more information.

About Dr. Scott Christie:

Featured, News, Tips

How to Maximize Your Score Sheet

Posted on February 24, 2020October 7, 2021 by Melissa Eannuzzo

24
Feb

By Melissa Eannuzzo

Updated February 24, 2020

How to Maximize Your Score Sheet

Ahhhh youth cheerleading…

It’s an exhilarating, inspiring yet scary sport. In the world of Pop Warner cheerleading, ALL of the coaches are volunteers so many are starting with limited knowledge and working their way up. Typically, they coach because their kids are cheering and they want to spend more time with them. For others, like me, we do it because we simply love the sport. My name is Melissa Eannuzzo and I’ve been coaching in the Pop Warner organization (as well as college, All Stars, middle school – you name it) for over 15 years. In this blog series I’ll be talking to various Pop Warner coaches about topics that are near and dear to our hearts.

I’ll be kicking off this series by talking to Kaitlin Eby of the South Pasco Predators. Kaitlin is the perfect coach to start with seeing she’s won 9 regional first place titles, 4 National first place titles, 3 national second place titles, 1 national 3rd place title and so on. Her scores have been the definition of “maxed out”, having scored 95-97 at each competition.

Let’s dive deep into what exactly it takes to “max out” your score sheet.

First thing you need to know is that there is a top half of your score sheet and there is a bottom half. Both are just as important, but also very different. The top half, according to Kaitlin, “is where many teams don’t maximize their scores”. The top half includes choreography, dance and performance. Here are a few rules I always follow when creating a routine:

4 count transitions:

I can’t emphasize enough how important this is. Cheerleaders should not have to move any further than they are able to in 4 counts. This ensures that no one is running across the floor and that they can confidently move to each formation.

No more than 2 counts of nothing:

This means that when cheerleaders are walking, stunting, dancing or whatever it may be, there should be movement at least every 2 counts. For example, when moving from their stunt group to jumps, many will walk in clean for an eight count to get there. Instead, add motions every two counts to give the judges more entertainment!

Rules of 3’s:

For each section of the routine (stunts, jumps, tumbling, pyramid & etc.), the judges want to see different pictures being created and unique transitions to get to each picture. By following the rule of 3’s in each section, choreography scores will improve. 3 pictures, and 3 transitions for each section!

Now comes the bottom half of the score sheet. This is broken into difficulty and execution. According to Kaitlin, here’s how to maximize both areas:

Difficulty in the routine:

Instead of having one stunt sequence that includes a 1/4 turn up to prep and a 1/4 turn cradle, look at every stunt and see where those 1/4 turns can be added. If you 1/4 turn up to each stunt and 1/4 turn cradle out of every stunt, you are much more likely to score a perfect 15 than if you only do it once. Another tip to maximize difficulty is by utilizing every member of the team. 9 groups of 3 athletes will always score higher than 5 groups of 5 athletes doing the same skills.

Execution:

This might be the most important section. Although execution only gives you an extra 1 point in each category, that 1 point is the difference between 1st and 5th place. Execution is what wins National Championships. When coaching, execution comes down to two things: being clean and being consistent. Kaitlin’s tip for all coaches when it comes to cleaning & consistency in a routine is to get your routine taught as soon as possible. The earlier that the cheerleaders know the routine, the more confident they will be. The cleaning and perfecting can’t start until the routine is taught.

Kaitlin Eby provided GREAT tips to help to understand the score sheet and also amazing tools to use as you prepare for the upcoming Pop Warner season. Since Pop Warner is year round now, you can start preparing your teams and your athletes IMMEDIATLEY by utilizing some of these techniques. This will ensure you certainly have an advantage over your competition.

Coach Melissa - How to Maximize your Score Sheet

Throughout the Pop Warner season, I would love to talk to as many of you as possible about topics YOU want to learn more about. If you have any suggestions, questions, insight etc. please email me: Melissa4398@gmail.com.

I wish you and your organization the best of luck this upcoming season!

Cheerily Yours,

Melissa Eannuzzo (Pop Warner & Allstar Coach)

Instagram: @melissaontheradio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioMelissa

Twitter: @radiomelissa

Featured, Tips

Mastering a Level – Perfection before Progression

Posted on September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 by Tanya Roesel

16
Sep

By Tanya Roesel

Published September 16, 2019

MASTERING A LEVEL - PERFECTION BEFORE PROGRESSION

Tryouts are over and teams are placed.

Although there is an objective standard to justify each athlete’s placement, you are still burdened with the task of explaining why a certain athlete was placed on a certain leveled team. Despite clear definitions of what is requires at each level of cheer (levels 1-7) some parents and athletes still question your decision(s). The following will help to explain to parents just why their child was placed on a specific team. It all comes down to mastering a level. Perfection before progression.

When being evaluated for a team, the question that you need to ask is…. has my child “mastered” the level?

Is my child at the high end of that level, therefore being able to fully participate in every aspect of a routine? Yes, there will be exceptions, such as a “monster” back spot that is needed for a higher level stunt to go up…. or a amazing flyer that is needed for an elite stunt… but those are few and far between. Has your child mastered the level?

LEVEL 1

Most level 1 elite athletes are working back handsprings, but they have mastered the level one skills… they have beautiful back walkovers, front walkovers, they could be the first pass or the last pass. They can now concentrate on perfecting their jumps, but can be 100% a successful part of a level 1, 2 1/2 minute routine!

LEVEL 2

A level 2 athlete is working tucks… as they have “mastered” the standing BHS and the Round off BHS. They are fully a part of the routine and even have their moments to shine.

LEVEL 3

A level 3 athlete many times is working layouts, but has mastered not just the round-off handspring tuck, but beautiful standing series BHS, a punch front and an aerial.

LEVEL 4

Level 4 athletes are many times twisting in classes while throwing a hollow body, technically beautiful layout, a solid standing tuck and again, are capable of doing any part of a true level 4 routine.

LEVEL 5

Level 5 athletes are working higher, more elite twisting skills, can nail a jump to back with their feet together and the straight fulls they will throw in the routine are technically gorgeous.

LEVEL 6

And the new Level 6 athlete… these are the athletes throwing doubles, trick thru to full, standing full, jump to back and are the true elite of the elite.

Look at it this way… if you have not mastered a level, why put the stress on an athlete to attempt to do tumbling skills at a level they have not mastered and then be expected to stunt, jump and dance for a full 2 1/2 minutes? Why not allow them the year to be the shining star, to build their confidence and feel a full part of not only the routine, but the team?

There will be always be exceptions to the rule, but again, those are few and far between. As coaches and parents, we have to look at the bigger picture. Yes, we want to challenge the athlete, but we also want to consider what that challenge is and how it will impact them. 99% of the athletes I ask, would you want to be on a team where you are 100% involved and the shining star or are you okay going up a level where you may not be in the tumbling pass or jump section, but you will stunt… they say they want to be on the team they can 100% involved in. They want that moment…

Trust the process… you don’t have to agree with the process, but at least trust it. I have never had a true level athlete quit, but I cannot count the number of athletes who quit because they were simply on the wrong level and were stressed out by it. This sport is hard enough but if it’s not fun, if it’s not challenging but at the same time building confidence, then your child will not continue.

Featured, Tips

Chasing Perfection in an Imperfect Sport

Posted on August 23, 2019August 23, 2019 by catweeden

Chasing Perfection__you hit zero_ipp cheer music

23
Aug

By Cat Weeden

Published August 23, 2019

Allstar Cheer is a conundrum.

We are literally chasing perfection ( Zero Deductions/ a perfect 100 score) in an imperfect sport. Yes, I can love allstar cheer with every part of me, and still say that this sport is imperfect and its questionable if it is moving in a direction that will solve any of it’s current problems. But that’s for another blog ☺

Some of the biggest imperfections with the current state of Allstar Cheer, in my opinion:

1. The rules of play are ever changing
2. Divisions are created and altered to solve perceived problems, but sometimes they create more problems
3. The rising cost of the sport is a barrier to entry and retention
4. Too much of our scoring, point deduction and legality calls are subjective and are without the proper balance and checks system that’s needed for accuracy and legitimacy

5. Until 1-4 are resolved, the disparity between small gyms and larger gyms will not lessen, but only continue to increase.
6. Politics play WAY TOO BIG of a part of ALL aspects of this industry. If you disagree with this, then feel free to stay in the Skunken place…. Cause being blissfully unaware is really a thing.

So if I’m saying that so much of allstar cheer is imperfect or broken, then the real question is how do we define “perfection” and how do we obtain it?

The answer to this question is going to be different for everyone. Some may define perfection as a win, a zero deduction routine, no parent complaints, happy teenage girls at practice, no drama, all accounts current ( we can only dream right?). I personally have defined it numerous ways over my career as a coach. Some of these ways ( like ‘Let’s win this event’) make you feel ultra fulfilled if you succeed, but incredibly hollow if you fall short. And most importantly there are factors outside of your control in this industry. You can only control your product, you cannot control what other teams do, or how judges judge creativity, routine comp or even the difficulty of your stunt sequence.

With all the factors you cannot control it is imperative that you focus on the ones that you can control. Take a step back and start focusing again on “The Experience” across the full season. Create or attend an allstar summer camp, find a sister/buddy team to create another layer to your season, choose competitions that offer more than just a bid, and enjoy every moment of your season as it happens.

Create or Attend a camp with other teams in your level or division

Last year the Small Cheer Gym Association held two allstar cheer camps in Tulsa at Luxe, one was for level 3&4 teams and the other was for level 5 teams. We came together, all helped coaches each other’s teams and spent 48 hours learning, bonding and breaking up the monotony that the summer time can be. Our kids interacted and made friends with kids in Texas, Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma.

The camp was helpful for skills, but more importantly, it created another experience that our kids will remember for a lifetime. Find some friends, pick a gym and do this! It was awesome

Find a Sister/ Brother Team for the Season

I will be the first to say I thought this was super dumb…. I’m not going to lie.

Just another gimmick that gyms/teams do to stay relevant on twitter or whatever. The idea of having a team across the country that you’re linked to didn’t make sense to me. But what did make sense to me was having a team we were around many times throughout the competition season as a buddy team.

We found this in Icon Cheer Lady Envy. The Lady Legend and Lady Envy kids bonded immediately at our Level 5 camp and continued to stay in touch throughout the summer and fall. Lady Envy’s Head Coach, Tabbi McCallister, and I are great friends, but we didn’t foresee the bond our kids would create. We are cheering each other on during warm ups, on the floor, after the event and during the week. When we struggled, they were there for encouragement, and vice versa. We will practice together at worlds, even got a matching shirt for the girls, and will plan a sister team retreat this summer for the two teams. The addition of a sister team added a whole extra layer to this season for our girls, and I am grateful for it!

Choose a Schedule that Celebrates the Experience

Competition scheduling can be very redundant. Over the last 3 years the only time we adjusted the schedule was in order to accommodate bid intentions/ allocations. The lack of value on the actual event, but the overemphasis on a bid to another event started sucking the life out of me and our families.

We decided to drop a couple local two day events, and instead went to JAMZ Nationals Vegas. And man, that event was the Ultimate Experience. #1 its Vegas , #2 The Closing Awards ceremonies were a complete production, like amazing, #3 for our elite teams there were no bids, we were just trying to win our divisions!

Imagine that. #4 it was VEGAS! Our families didn’t even care what hardly happened at the competition, because the experience was enough. We will still attend bid events, but they will be attended because they offer something of substance to our families. Whatever your reasoning is for picking events, ask yourself “ what does this event offer my families, experience wise, other than just a bid”

Enjoy as Many Moments as Possible

Go to the parks at your end of season events. Talk about how special each one of your kid’s are at your end of season banquets. Encourage and appreciate all the new skills kids are getting around tryout time, instead of reminding them that a single skill doesn’t make them a specific level. Find a couple parents and let them know how much their words of encouragement have helped you. Connect, connect, connect.

This isn’t about retention; this is about connecting to the people that have believed in you. Make sure people know that this is bigger than just skills and wins for you. You know this is the case, but sometimes they need to hear it from you. And please take the team picture event when you don’t win the event, or place last. The experience of the event was great even if the final placements weren’t what you wanted. Give them a memory to look back on.

The imperfections of this sport can literally kill you on the inside, you owe it to yourself to find the joy and fun again. And you owe it to these kids to keep their focus on the aspect of this industry that you can control. At the end of the day you can compete the best routine you ever have done, and you still cannot guarantee a win! That’s just how cheer works. So stay keyed on the experiences you can navigate and create through your program. Families that buy into this will carry these experiences with them for life.

Cat Weeden Signature Full Wht

Featured, Tips

Stress Block – Stress reduction overcomes skill challenges

Posted on March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 by Debbie Love

15
Mar

By Debbie Love

Updated March 15, 2019

In sport, the word Block is used to describe an event whether single or ongoing where an athlete cannot do a skill they once had!

We live in a world of high pressure and stress. Our bodies are bombarded by internal and external struggles to remain relevant in whatever capacity we find ourselves!When we do not handle this stress and place boundaries to keep our balance in equilibrium, we may have a Tumbling or other sport related challenge. It may also show up in our relationships, health or ability to learn!

Therefore the answer to this problem is to keep our tools of stress reduction right within us. I want to share some of these with you.

1. Belly Breathing
belly in first – belly out last. This fills the lungs completely with air thus giving more energy and controlling too much emotional input!

2.Go to your happy place
Picture yourself where you are most calm!

3. Script your skills
Write all skills out using short action verbs and power words.This keeps your cognitive brain working so emotions can’t come over and play and wreak havoc with your mind and body!

4. Practice progressive relaxation
This is where you lie down and relax. Tense each muscle starting with your toes and move up to your fingertips, then relax going the other way so you understand the difference between a relaxed state and a tense state!

5.Visualize
Visualization is used to see yourself doing skills you desire to have; usually done by closing your eyes.You can also view videos of the skill being done by yourself at an earlier time!

6. Say NO to negative thoughts
Whenever a negative thought or idea comes into your head turn it into a positive thought. Don’t allow negativity to take seed!

7. Take a break
Sometimes we focus on one thing too long and our mind zones out. We need balance at all times

8.Laugh a lot!
When things get so tense and you feel stressed out, read a humorous book or joke and laugh!

9. Listen to music!
Music is calming and releases stress!

10. Journal
Keep a journal to get rid of the thoughts in your head that need to be purged!

These are just a few tools!

When challenges come in any part of life these will help to overcome the event!A challenge is any situation that causes us to grow either physically or mentally!Challenges do not define us as people or athletes. They push our limits so we can cross boundaries!Have fun overcoming your stress challenges!

Jason Mason Signature Full

Featured, Tips

Going independent: more options than you think!

Posted on January 29, 2019February 4, 2019 by Heidi Weber

29
Jan

By Heidi Weber

Published on January 29, 2019

Going independent: MORE OPTIONS THAN YOU THINK!

With costs in our industry on the rise and unpredictable changes each season there has never been a better time to compete at independent events.
Here are 5 major benefits of going independent:

1. Full production for a fraction of the cost:

Did you know that registration fees can be up to $20 less per athlete?

There are full production events that are being offered with less cost per athlete and many times less cost per spectator too!

2. Independent events cover most of the country:

There are independent events from Coast to Coast and the amount of events is growing everyday. If your area is in need of more events many independent event companies will consider bringing events to your area. Reach out they want to hear from you.

3. No Stay to Play requirements

This benefit alone is worth shopping independent events in your area and even areas beyond. This is an immediate savings for your athletes, parents and an increase to your gyms bottom dollar

4. Multiple End of the Season Choices

When attending independent events there are multiple all level end of season events for gyms to choose from. You won’t lack with world’s bids either.
Independent companies have a huge variety of bids to end of season events all over the country including Las Vegas, New Orleans, Virginia Beach and even Universal Studios Resort Orlando

5. Personal Connection

Just like you are a small business owner so are these event producers. They have a deep rooted desire to make your gyms experience a success and enjoyable.
Many independents offer participant gifts, coaches room access, rebates, individual awards and much more.

As our industry grows and evolves

there is an even stronger need for competition in the market place. This is a great time for gyms to reap the benefits of shopping independent events. There are so many choices right at your finger tips.

For hundreds of events and more information about your area visit

www.iepcheeranddance.com

Heidi Weber Signature 2019

Featured, Tips

All in or All Out: Letting Go and Moving Forward when a Kid Leaves your Gym

Posted on January 17, 2019January 22, 2019 by catweeden

17
Jan

By Cat Weeden

Published January 17, 2019

This industry demands every single part of you to be successful.

You must be able to problem solve, balance budgets, work quickly and work well under pressure. You will sacrifice your time, your sleep, your relationships, and the ability to talk about anything else other than cheer in a one on one or group setting. I had no way to know almost 20 years ago that I would learn so much about love, loss and commitment through this sport. But I have. Over all these years, the biggest lesson I have learned, is that the greatest and most important part of you, that you voluntarily give away while coaching is your HEART.

I have given a piece of my heart away to thousands of kids who have turned into great adults, and great little people. They say that shared experience creates bonds, friendships and lifetime memories, and I cannot think of a better example of this than cheer. We grow with these kids through practices, tumbling classes, traveling, competing, handling adversity in their lives, celebrating individual and team successes and through navigating life, which can be really hard on some kids.

Its only natural that these kids hold a very special place in your life and you grow to love them like your own children.

There is no other heartbreak that is comparable in coaching, then when you have a kid or kids you have invested in, leave your program.Every coach or owner I have ever met, has a story (if not more than 1) of the total and absolute heartbreak stemming from this. It can be confusing, hurtful, blindsiding and really derail your forward momentum if you let it. Or this can be a moment in time where you grow as a coach and a person.

I have personally experienced this many times over the years. Its not easy to navigate through, but I have always come out the other side a better, stronger person. It’s important when you lose a kid to understand the situation from all angles, remind yourself that you ONLY want kids in your program that want to be there and lastly move on, find peace and gain focus.

Understanding the Situation from all Angles

Kids leave gyms or get out of cheer for a handful of reasons depending on their age.

Here are just a couple of reasons:

Cost

Time Commitment

Not Progressing

Burn out

Playing another Sport

Opportunism

Fit

Outside Distractions (Boyfriends, Friends, High School, Getting a Car, etc).

These are all valid reasons for a kid to start unengaging and want to quit or move on, but these are not necessarily reasons that parent should allow it. But that’s itself could be a whole other blog ☺

Whatever their reasoning may be, once a kid or family lets one of those reasons fester long enough, it will become a distraction for them, you and the team. Not every kid is made for the long haul in cheer, and not every kid that starts in your program will make it to the end of their eligibility in your program. Once you understand and accept this some disappointment will come off your shoulder.

Put yourself in the kid or parent’s shoes. Realize that sometimes it really isn’t about you, its about them and whatever stage they are in in their lives. If they have done you wrong before, during or after they’ve left, that’s on THEM, not you.

Our job is to love these kids, help them foster growth and become better people while they are with us. We are just lucky enough to do all of those things through the vehicle that is Cheer.

Only Want Kids in the Program That Want to Be There

This was a big mentality shift for me about 6 years ago. Instead of valuing my team, program or gym where I should have, I had gotten really suck on this idea that if a kid left it was because we “weren’t good enough in some way.” Being on the defense all the time stopped me from being able to read the team environment and individual kid’s interactions correctly. Some kids/ Parents are TOXIC to your gym and environment. Don’t fight for those people. Don’t stand in their way if they talk of leaving And don’t be sad when they leave.

Nowadays, my mentality is that it’s a privilege to cheer in our program, and I may love you, but if you don’t hold value in our gym, team, stunt, then this isn’t right fit for the kid, the team nor the program.

Move On, Find Peace and Gain Focus

Move on! Every kid that has ever come through your doors has been an important part of your history, your now and your future. No one kid, or handful of kids will define you or your program. It’s really easy to let getting burned by a kid or a family alter what you do, and question the motives of others around you. Be vigilant, but not paranoid. Never let a situation or disappointment create an emotional wall between you and the people that are deserving of that love.

The last piece of the puzzle for me was gaining focus. I aim to focus on everyone around me that’s ALL IN. those people are the ones who can handle a rocky competition, terrible practice, stunt/ formation changes with grace and ease. They understand the process and the hills and valleys of a season. They understand that you are human and sometimes make mistakes, and they support you through them. I invest in these people and they invest in me and the program. Give new kids and families that join your program the chance to create forever bonds with you.

People stay in a sport like cheer because of their kids abilities, and their belief that the coaches care about the kids successes on and beyond the mat. A gym is a family, and its own community. And that community is strongest when you believe in your program, your product and yourself . These kids deserve ALL of you, not just a small protected portion of you.

Water, love, and nurture the ones who have dropped roots and move forward from the ones who have not.

Posted in Featured, Tips | Tagged advice, athlete advice, athlete leaving, cheer, coaching, coaching tips Leave a comment

Featured, News, Tips
How to properly train for a “Full Out”

Posted on December 6, 2018December 10, 2018 by Matt Kelley

06
Dec

By Matt Kelley

Published on December 6, 2018

One of the biggest & most controversial questions in the Cheerleading World….”How to properly train for a Full Out?” There are so many variables that come with this question:

Safety

Building Physical Strength

Endurance

Mental Toughness

Progression

RELATED ARTICLE:

Coaching tips to help keep your team injury free and more powerful

All while needing to maintain TECHNIQUE! As a Cheerleader my self for more than 15 years, and a Coach of 15 years, these are some of my suggestions to help!

One of the most important things to maintain, Safety, is to properly have the skill before performing it in a routine/practice. Being able to do the skill multiple times, while maintaining technique!

As a coach, I make my athletes over rotate their skills when training them in a Private Lesson or Tumbling Class. Weird right?

Here is my theory:

If I am training to stick & stand a Standing tuck in my tumbling class, but in the routine, the Standing tuck is 45 seconds into the routine…I might fall forward. So I suggest, training the Skill to OverRotate. This also helps with getting your chest up when landing the skill.

Preparing the body physically

is MAJOR KEY!

As stated above, skills can be performed separately, with ease. But as we know, a cheer routine is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of Non Stop Physical skills. I am a firm believer in making sure the athletes body is Physically Strong enough to do the skills. Working out (depending on the level) 2-3 days outside/after practice are incredibly important.

The higher the level, the more conditioning you should do for your body. In a perfect world, it would be great to land that 3 to double full to the front every time. But when running multiple sections and/or full outs, it doesn’t always work out that way. Your body must be strong enough to with stand some of those (hopefully never) incomplete spins.

What body parts should I focus on to work out? I suggest Core, Explosive Leg movements, Arm Strength and also Calves. I post different work outs & conditioning drills on my snapchat Mkells5891 every week.

Higher level gymnasts will condition 30-45 minutes before their practices 4-5 times a week. Not only does this help them gain New Skills, but also be strong enough to perform the ones they are currently competing.

Speaking of gymnast…I reached out to my long time friend, Olympic Gymnast Jonathan Horton, to ask him how he trained. If you don’t know who he is, here are a few of his stats:

Jonathan horton

2-Time Olympian (2008 & 2012)

Bronze & Silver Olympic Medalist

World Bronze All-Arounder

2-Time US National Champion

6-Time NCAA National Champion

4-Time American Ninja Warrior Competitor

NBC Broadcast Analyst

Author

Jonathan horton

2-Time Olympian (2008 & 2012)

Bronze & Silver Olympic Medalist

World Bronze All-Arounder

2-Time US National Champion

6-Time NCAA National Champion

4-Time American Ninja Warrior Competitor

NBC Broadcast Analyst

Author

Here were a few questions I asked him, when it came to preparing to do his full out routines properly:

Here were a few questions I asked him, when it came to preparing to do his full out routines properly:

When you trained your floor routine (tumbling), did you always do it straight on the floor…or onto Mats or into a pit?

75% of my tumbling was done with safety measures. Either I was tumbling into the pit, resi pit, or I used mats on the floor. Tumbling takes an extreme toll on the body over time, and although our pride wants us to go all out on the real surface, it’s important to protect ourselves first. If you do enough repetitions onto safe surfaces, most athletes won’t feel like it’s necessary to do as many numbers later.

How often did you Practice? How often did you condition your body?

In my prime I trained twice a day. I did morning conditioning for 2 hours on M,W,F, but 6 days a week I did a 4 hour routine training workout in the afternoon. Even on days that I didn’t have morning strength and conditioning, I did some light conditioning in the afternoons everyday. It’s important to keep every muscle group moving. Even on light days it’s important to stretch muscle groups or even do a couple of light reps just for muscle memory.

Was your conditioning things directed towards strengthening things to improve your floor routine & keep your body safe?

I did a lot of “get stronger” conditioning, which involved some brutal workouts that tore me down pretty bad, but the majority of my strength and conditioning was for general body strength and cardio ability. It’s important to cycle in an out of different types of conditioning. Athletes that are always trying to see “gains” will eventually injure themselves because our bodies have to recover.

How often would you do a REAL Full our floor routine? Monthly, Weekly etc? And why that number?

We tumbled 3 days/week, but we only did routines when we were in season. During season we would do anywhere from 1-3 routines in a 45min session. Off season training just required a lot of strength training and tumbling into the pit to learn new skills.

How often would you do a REAL Full our floor routine? Monthly, Weekly etc? And why that number?

We tumbled 3 days/week, but we only did routines when we were in season. During season we would do anywhere from 1-3 routines in a 45min session. Off season training just required a lot of strength training and tumbling into the pit to learn new skills.

Going back to question 4, did that give you the longevity in gymnastics and the ability to compete in the Olympics 3 times?

My longevity came from a well thought out game plan that relied on putting how my body felt over results. Results ’now’ driven people will burn out versus someone who sees the long term game can last a long time. No matter what, our bodies will break down overtime, but being smart and listening to what our bodies are telling us can keep us in the game a while.

Awesome to get some tips from a former Olympic Gymnast! .

Moving forward, let’s talk about Mental Toughness. Some Coaches & Athletes would agree this one is the most difficult to master. I believe it’s Extremely important to have a Balance of Physical Strength & Mental Strength.

What are the best ways to Master the Mental toughness that a certain Skill or Full Out brings?

Proper Progression of the Skill

Good Reps—Do the skill multiple times with perfect technique

Once you have mastered those things, it’s time to start training them with small routine sections. Here are a couple examples:

Cut the routine into 5 different sections. Do each one 2-3 times with perfection. Throughout practice, note what section had mistakes, and at the end, focus on details with the skills in that Section. As these 5 sections get easier, break it down to 4, then 3, then 2 & then 1.

Divide the Routine into a Stunt Routine & a Tumble Routine. You can do 3 of the Stunt Routines, then 3 of the Tumble Routines. You can also do the Stunt Routine, then Tumble routine back to back multiple times.

Let’s say you are a level 5 Worlds Team. You could do Tucks for all tumbling and do the stunts & jumps full out. This is a great way to push your endurance and focus on building elements.

Some coaches like to make it a game, which makes it more fun for the athletes. You could have a wheel to spin, and have different elements of the routine on the wheel: All Stunts, All Tumbling, 1st half, no jumps etc.

Those are just a few examples. Closing out, I wanna conclude with some of our main points when Preparing Properly for a Full Out

Perfection of each skill individually

Proper Progression of the routine, which will help with building confidence

Strength & Endurance of the body. Making sure to condition outside of practice.

Shout out to Jonathan Horton for the interview.

Be on the look out for his new book coming out December 4th,

“If I had known”

Thanks again for reading my article.

Hope this helped everyone! Message me what you would like to have me write about next!

PHOTO CREDITS: ADRIAN KRAUS

Posted in Featured, News, Tips | Tagged advice, cheer, cheerleading, coaching, coaching tips, confidence, Full Out, gymnast, gymnastics, How-To, jonathan horton, olympian, olympics, practice, strength, technique, tips, training, worlds Leave a comment

Featured, News, Tips
Objectifying a Subjective Sport – How I get such Precision and Timing

Posted on November 6, 2018November 6, 2018 by Cody Woodfell

06
Nov

By Cody Woodfell

Published November 6, 2018

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objectifying a subjective sport

How I get such precision and timing

After doing many coaches workshops from the US to the UK, one of the main questions I’m asked is how I get such precision and timing that stand out from all my Cheer Factory teams. The answer is actually extremely simple. So simple In fact most coaches fail to do it. Make a chart! And don’t stray from it.

There’s an innate problem with all non point based sports like cheerleading and dance (to name a couple). The problem is everything from training to competition is subjective. “Yeah I know you had a good practice today because everything hit.” Thats great, but not only did everything hit not accomplish quantifiable results, but how do you track the process for next practice?

“everything from training to competition is subjective”

Anything in life that one wants to become better in requires a chart. If you own a business, you keep charts in the form of spreadsheets of how much money you take in, how much your spending.

If you want to lose weight, you keep a chart of how much food goes in and how many calories your burning. How precise and detailed you are will determine how much success you have.

The Assembly Line

Knowing this, I left the common practice regimes most coaches follow and created a detailed, objectify able progress chart we call the “Assembly line” for every skill from tumbling to stretching to stunting. Every practice, an objective goal is made and must be completed before leaving.

Stunts no longer just “hit.” No, today every stunt group flyer must point their toes when hitting bows and not wiggle even an inch for a count down of 5.

Next practice we have to do the same but now the bases cannot move even a finger. This process continues everyday for a season like a long game of add on.

RELATED:

RELATED:

Practice Scheduling, Attendance & Motivation

By Cat Weeden

Thinking about the big picture blurs your perfection. Make a single achievable small goal daily, stick to it as if your life depends on it and do that every day. Keep a chart of these micro goals and eventually, perfection will be achieved.

CHEER FACTORY, owner-operator

Posted in Featured, News, Tips | Tagged coaching tips, method, planning, practice, precision, routine, technique, timing Leave a comment

Featured, Tips
Coaching tips to help keep your team injury free and more powerful

Posted on September 21, 2018May 26, 2020 by Jason Mason

21
Sep

Coaching Tips

By Jason Mason

Updated September 21, 2018

You know what’s one thing that can really throw a wrench in your season?

An Injury

It always seems that just as all the gears are turning and your team is starting to gel that someone gets hurt. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may now have to go back to the drawing board. You know what this means.

New stunt groups, rearranging spots, athlete from ripple 1 now needs to remember ripple 3 – which she always forgets. It’s basically a brand new routine. You know what’s probably more frustrating than an unexpected an injury? The fact that it probably could have been prevented. How you ask? Properly conditioning your team may be monumental in keeping your athletes injury free. We’ve provided you with an easy-to-follow guide that help to reduce injury and keep your athletics more powerful.

Develop a Dynamic Warm-Up/Dynamic Stretch.

This is to get your athletes muscles warm. It is best to stretch when muscles are warm versus static stretching. This is also a great way to mimic movements that are performed during routines….and perfect them :)

Take a step back

Many times we go into a season with high expectations. This is great unless you skip over the basics. Take a step back and look at your athletes movements and their strengths.

Do you see anything common among your athletes? If so, that is a great place to start. A couple common issues I see are Squatting ability, Shoulder/back flexibility, Core activation.

PROGRAM OUT YOUR PRACTICE

Set time limits or set time aside for things that are important and must be accomplished. One being constant improvement on the athletes stamina and power production. Yes, you are challenged when running a routine full out over and over….However, if your athletes are tired and start to practice bad form. They are now teaching themselves improper mechanics which lead to injuries. Save time at the end of practice or don’t be afraid to drop something from your practice and condition where the athletes can be successful by performing at their top ability at that time versus lifting, flipping, twisting etc.

Open to change

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. If you tend to have drops, weak tumbling, a sloppy second half of your routine or a mixture of these. Then it might be time to have a second opinion review your teams. This consultant should be knowledgeable both in fitness/health as well as understand the cheerleading/gymnastics/dance requirements.

Don’t be afraid of what they might tell you

It could be anything from a couple quick tips for fitness to changing/firing/moving staff members around so they are best utilized. Sometimes people are placed or hired for a certain part of the job but are a better fit somewhere else. By putting them where they belong it increases moral and helps them be a better coach. This gets the athletes excited and doing what they need. When athletes do what they need and are excited to be there….Well the results speak for themselves.

Add a strength training day

On this day your athletes will work on just strengthening their body. Athletes tend to do the same movements in a sport over and over again. Strength training allows the athlete to increase the activation/strength of the opposite muscles that are typically used. These create balance which not only will make them stronger but balance helps prevent injury!

Posted in Featured, Tips | Tagged advice, coaching, coaching tips, endurance, exercises, health, injuries, routine Leave a comment

Featured, Tips
Top 5 Practice Wear Trends for 2018-2019

Posted on September 10, 2018November 26, 2018 by Heidi Weber

10
Sep

By Heidi Weber

Published on September 10, 2018

HERE ARE My Top 5 practice wear trends for 2018-2019

Our athletes are walking billboards for our gyms everyday. We dress our athletes for success at practice, showcases, and events so getting our items lined up early is key

Here’s a list of some of the hottest trends for practice/gym wear this season.

Looking Great

without Breaking the Bank!

1. Sublimation is back

In the current competitive market you can pick up a completely custom designed sublimated practice set from $30-$45 from most companies.

You can design your wear to be simple and clean or busy and colorful the sky is the limit and now it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

2. Jerseys

Baseball jerseys were all the rage last season and you’ll continue to see them this year too.

But take into consideration all the Jersey possibilities out there:

Soccer, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball…

All these jerseys can be customized for your gym and teams… start the next trend with a new Jersey style.

3. Cover Up Tanks

Tanks are hot hot hot and aren’t going anywhere. You can mix and match your gyms brand and team names with cover up tanks design specifically for your brand and your message.

Remember youth and adult tanks that match don’t always come in tons of color options so be creative with your ink colors instead of the tank color itself

4. Crop Tees/Tanks

Taking it back to the Old School you’ll be so cool. Crop boxy tanks and tees are back and great for uniform cover ups and gym practice wear. They are loose and comfy and have that 90’s appeal that you see in fashion this season.

5. Crew Neck Sweatshirts

Hoodies are a thing of the past and oversized crew neck sweatshirts are the go to.

These are easy to get over your hair and have a variety of color options and even better a much larger canvas for design and branding.

Not all designs are created equal.

So shop with companies that get who you are. ASCE is always looking for new trends and new ways to help you distinguish your brand and your gym vibe.

We offer sales and specials every month on various products. Shop smart with specials and sell more with rad designs that everyone loves.

“In an industry where your name is your brand, design matters”

You can look amazing in every design when you shop with companies that take the time to know you, your style, and your message.

In an industry where your name is your brand, design matters. You don’t have to break the bank for great apparel that your athletes and coaches will love to wear!

Shop now: www.americanspiritandcheer.com

Social: @asce_asce

Email : sales@ascestaff.com

Posted in Featured, Tips | Tagged 2018, 2019, advice, coaching tips, list, practice gear, practice wear, styles, trends Leave a comment

Featured, Tips
10 Simple tips for a productive season

Posted on July 26, 2018November 26, 2018 by Heidi Weber

26
Jul

By Heidi Weber

Published on July 26, 2018

10 Simple Tips for a Productive Season

For the Love of Coaching…

For most of us gym owners, directors and coaches, the love of cheerleading has been the driving force for a die-hard commitment to competitive cheerleading over the past 30 years. The passion for the development and growth of the sport has kept us motivated work tirelessly for the advancement of cheerleading for the future generations.

Going into the 2018-2019 season we have put together a list of 10 simple tips for a productive season. These are reminders that passion and love is inspiring, but won’t pay your rent, practice wear and competition fees.

With an ever competitive marketplace growing around us, we must always remind ourselves that the industry we love is also a business full of overhead, increasing variable costs, and demanding customers. The ever real pressure of staying competitive and relevant exists daily so why not start the new season with a plan that allows for goals, boundaries, and peace of mind.

10 Simple Tips for a Productive Season

Accept now that you can never make everyone happy. You are not a cupcake. You can’t bring happiness to everyone. Some people just can’t be satisfied. This can be a huge time and energy sucker so decide now to let that go.

Identify your best customer. Who is your best customer and the easiest to recruit to your gym? If it’s your mini level 1 and beginning rec tumblers who are excited then spend extra time encouraging them to invite friends and even highlight them on social media pages, newsletters and etc. A little recognition goes a long way.

Make extra money. Plan additional money making activities that are good for your customers and your bottom line. Parents night out, drop in gym time during black friday, preschool or homeschool classes. Plan a minimum of 1 event per month to drive up additional income. This can be done in about 15 minutes on a downloadable blank calendar for the whole year.

Don’t compare yourself to nearby Gyms. You are your own brand. People are buying you and everything that comes with you. Sell yourself and don’t worry about others around you. Repeat this to yourself every time the opportunity arises to feel less than the other guy.

Laugh and Smile. Laughter and smiling is contagious. Your staff will follow and then your athletes make it a habit to bring a positive vibes to your gym daily.

Find and Assign. Everyone on your staff has a special talent and strength. Find it and assign them a task within your program that highlights this strength. If you don’t know what their strengths are …. Ask them. Let them lead in the areas they are strongest and you will grow and relieve your own stress.

Share your vision. People love to buy into a vision for success. Share your vision and passion out loud with your staff, kids and parents. Set reasonable goals that bring satisfaction.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s easy to lose an entire day or week on small tedious problems that arise in everyday gym life. Look at your circumstances and decide where they land on a scale of 1-10 in term of long-term importance. If they are less than a 6 let them go.

Be open to Change. If something comes your way that seems like it would be a great fit for your gym, athletes and families then try it. You can always switch back.

HAVE FUN. Only 1 team per division can win at each competition you attend. You may be that winner most times or it may be few and far between, but the enjoyment of your program comes from the year long journey each season. Don’t forget the FUN and your families and athletes won’t either.

Cheers to 2018-2019 take a deep breathe and enjoy a laugh!

[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifF0kZ0zp4″ thumbnail=”46677″ /]

Posted in Featured, Tips | Tagged coaching tips, gym ownership, motivation, productivity Leave a comment

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Conclusion

Tip #1: Understand the Basics of Cheerleading

Tip #2: Make Safety Your Priority

Tip #3: Plan Your Training Sessions

Tip #4: Encourage Team Spirit

Tip #5: Communicate Effectively

Tip #6: Provide Constructive Feedback

Tip #7: Stay Updated and Keep Learning

Tip #8: Inspire Your Team

Your neuromuscular system

Your joint capsules

Your joint structure

Neuromuscular System:

How do we create a greater range of motion?

Joint Capsules:

JOINT STRUCTURE

What is the Law of Attraction?

Turning Uncertainty into Positivity

Steps to Success

Have Patience

Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines

5 ways to reduce athletes’ risk of avoidable injuries

1. Chunking your practice (10-15 mins sections)

2. Control fatigue

3. Use vivid visualization

4. Monitor overtraining

5. Improving physical fitness

About Dr. Scott Christie:

How to Maximize Your Score Sheet

4 count transitions:

No more than 2 counts of nothing:

Rules of 3’s:

Now comes the bottom half of the score sheet. This is broken into difficulty and execution. According to Kaitlin, here’s how to maximize both areas:

Difficulty in the routine:

Execution:

MASTERING A LEVEL - PERFECTION BEFORE PROGRESSION

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 4

LEVEL 5

LEVEL 6

Some of the biggest imperfections with the current state of Allstar Cheer, in my opinion:

Create or Attend a camp with other teams in your level or division

Find a Sister/ Brother Team for the Season

Choose a Schedule that Celebrates the Experience

Enjoy as Many Moments as Possible

In sport, the word Block is used to describe an event whether single or ongoing where an athlete cannot do a skill they once had!

Therefore the answer to this problem is to keep our tools of stress reduction right within us. I want to share some of these with you.

These are just a few tools!

Going independent: MORE OPTIONS THAN YOU THINK!

1. Full production for a fraction of the cost:

Did you know that registration fees can be up to $20 less per athlete?

2. Independent events cover most of the country:

3. No Stay to Play requirements

4. Multiple End of the Season Choices

5. Personal Connection

This industry demands every single part of you to be successful.

Understanding the Situation from all Angles

Only Want Kids in the Program That Want to Be There

Move On, Find Peace and Gain Focus

Water, love, and nurture the ones who have dropped roots and move forward from the ones who have not.

One of the biggest & most controversial questions in the Cheerleading World….”How to properly train for a Full Out?” There are so many variables that come with this question:

Safety

Endurance

Mental Toughness

RELATED ARTICLE:

All while needing to maintain TECHNIQUE! As a Cheerleader my self for more than 15 years, and a Coach of 15 years, these are some of my suggestions to help!

**All while needing to maintain TECHNIQUE! As a Cheerleader my self for more than 15 years, and a Coach of 15 years, these are some of my suggestions to help!**