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Featured, Safety, Tips

Unveiling the Myth: Your Weight is Not the Deciding Factor in Becoming a Cheerleading Flyer

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
Unveiling the Myth: Your Weight is Not the Deciding Factor in Becoming a Cheerleading Flyer
08
Jun
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published June 8, 2023

The cheerleading world is often fraught with misconceptions, and one of the most prevalent is the notion that a flyer’s weight is a determining factor in their role. This erroneous belief has persisted for years, suggesting that only those of lighter weight can become flyers. But it’s time to dispel this myth and reveal the truth: your weight does not matter when it comes to being a flyer in cheerleading.

Strong is the New Light

The narrative that a cheerleading flyer has to be petite to perform effectively overlooks a fundamental factor—strength. It’s not about the weight of the flyer; rather, it’s about the strength of the flyer and their bases. Bases must possess the strength and endurance to hoist and maintain the flyer at an elevated level, regardless of the flyer’s weight. Similarly, the flyer needs to have the necessary core strength and body control to maintain stability and perform stunts.

weight-in-cheerleading

Skills Over Scales

Cheerleading is a performance sport. This means that the grace, elegance, and execution of routines take precedence over other factors, including weight. A flyer’s ability to synchronize movements, exhibit flexibility, and execute stunts with precision are skills that cannot be measured on a scale. Therefore, the focus should be on skill enhancement rather than weight management.

Body Confidence is Key

Being a flyer requires an immense amount of confidence and trust, both in oneself and in the team. Body shaming, which sadly often comes from misconceptions about weight and role suitability in cheerleading, can damage this confidence. It is important to remember that body positivity and confidence play a crucial role in performance. They have a significant impact on how an individual carries themselves, interacts with their team, and performs on the mat.

Safety First

Weight does not correlate with safety in cheerleading, but correct technique and training do. Regardless of size, if a cheerleader is not trained properly or does not perform the stunts correctly, accidents can occur. Proper training includes learning to fall safely, perform stunts correctly, and communicate effectively with teammates. Safety should always be the top priority, not the cheerleader’s weight.

The moderator of the r/cheerleading subreddit recently banned questions about weight and flyers and had a particularly succinct and insightful comment on the subject:

“It’s entirely subjective. I’ve had flyers that were 90 Is that I couldn’t keep in the air because they weren’t good, and I have had flyers that were 140 Is that were easy to base because they were good. I’ve seen big people under stunts who just couldn’t get them up, and I have seen bean poles with tiny arms throw stunts all the way to extended single hand.”

– u/Pa5trick

Inclusivity in Cheerleading

Promoting the idea that only lightweight individuals can be flyers perpetuates unhealthy body image standards and excludes those who don’t fit this criterion. Cheerleading, like any other sport, should promote inclusivity. The flyer’s role should be based on an individual’s skills, strengths, and abilities, not on their body weight.

Conclusion

The belief that weight is a deciding factor in being a flyer is a myth that needs to be busted. It’s strength, skills, confidence, proper training, and a positive attitude that truly make a flyer in cheerleading, not their weight. Let’s shift the focus from weight to performance skills, and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for all cheerleaders. After all, the magic of cheerleading lies in the unity and strength of the team, not the numbers on a scale.

flyer-cheerleading-weight

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Featured, Safety, Tips

Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines

Posted on by Dr. Scott Christie
Cheerleading Practice Design Guidelines by Dr Scott Christie youhitzero ippmusic com 1
17
Aug
dr scott christie

dr scott christie

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.

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2. Control fatigue

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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.

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4. Monitor overtraining

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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!

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Hit_Zero_Blog_Pic5

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.

cheer district app

About Dr. Scott Christie:

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Tips

In the Spirit of Safety

Posted on by Jess Forte
spirit of safety YHZ ippmusic com
10
Aug
jesse forte yhz blog profile

By Jess Forte

Published August 10, 2020

Social Distancing. Quarantine. Travel Ban. Pandemic. Asymptomatic. Pivot. Masks. Sanitize. New Normal. Apex. Virtual…

spirit of safety flyers

These words have become what we wake up to every morning, what we talk about with our families, in “social” situations, at work. They infiltrate our heads as we lay down to sleep at night and try to hold onto the hope in our hearts that it will pass. This is our reality now, and it happened so abruptly that we didn’t even have the chance to process it. We are LIVING it. Breathing history, inhaling the narrative of a nation enveloped in fear of the unknown. We can either let it consume us, or we can fulfill our duty as the spirit of the country. Our friend and longtime industry professional/coach, Jeff Manhart, put it best:

“Remember it’s the cheerleaders that continue cheering when down 20 points with a minute left. While some fans head for the exit before time runs out, it’s the cheerleaders that are out on the floor after the game for one more fight song, or school song. Remember what we are: we are the people going nuts and loving life when our situation is going great! But what we also are is “HOPE” when our backs are against the wall. In my mind it will be the “cheerleaders” that won’t give up until the game is over.”

So, when given the “go ahead,” every gym in America created a “re-opening plan” in accordance with their own state guidelines and with the National CDC recommendations. Intensity Athletics in Albany, NY followed suit. New York was the last state to allow competitive cheer to resume in any capacity. So we are cognizant that the hesitancy with which we were allowed to reopen is still looming, so we needed to be as calculated and CAREFUL with our plan as possible.




The first thing that we did was a morning check in every day about any changes in the state of the pandemic and any regulations regarding our ability to operate. Watching our Governor (Andrew Cuomo) everyday at 11:30am became a ritual. This allowed us to gauge the process in regards to the reopening of other industries in preparation for our own to be released. We created a Phasal Reopening Plan which ultimately we were never able to implement as our gyms were not allowed to open in any capacity until the FINAL PHASE (July 6).

As soon as our sport guidelines came out, we read through them all and created a document with all of the regulations that would apply to our staff and our customers.

We then did a “walk through” of the gym and took notes on how to make each room compliant and what potential hurdles we would need to overcome. This allowed us to create a “To Do” list of things that needed to get done in preparation for reopening which we dictated in a separate document, along with a list of supplies we needed to purchase:

  • Gloves
  • Hand Sanitizers and Refill
  • Ice Bags
  • Ice
  • Lamination Paper 
  • Bleach Cleaner
  • Floor Stickers
  • PlexiGlass
  • Disposable PPE
  • Lysol
  • Lemocide
  • 3 Fumigators
  • Paper Towels
  • Automatic Paper Towel Dispensers
  • No-Touch Thermometers
  • 3M duct tape

All hands were on deck! Our staff each took responsibilities and got to work! Laminating guidelines, putting tape on the floor for social distancing, creating a gym entrance process. We even created a video that we pushed out via email, social media, and our website so parents and athletes knew what to expect and how they could stay compliant with the guidelines we needed to follow.

It took us at least a week to prepare for the BIG DAY! And still, we were nervous to press play. July 6 came and each staff member was ready! The multiple zoom staff meetings we had prior to opening day were important in creating cohesion where not only did everyone understand the plans, but they were “all hands on deck,” so to speak. All of the Intensity Staff was willing to not only do their designated jobs but to pick up the slack if something needed to get done, whether that was bring a child to the bathroom, open up doors for parents, run to the store to grab something last minute. 

Currently, in NY State nothing has changed since July 6 in the way of regulations for our sport. They have not tightened or loosened. We are playing it incredibly safe as we do not want to take advantage of this opportunity to physically operate after being virtual for so long. Right now, “group trainings” are not (and cannot be) mandatory. We set up a computer at every practice and create a google meets link which we attach to our google calendar which is shared with each team separately. This way, team members who do not feel comfortable coming into the gym, or are quarantined from it, can still participate! All of our practices follow social distancing, so we are not stunting at all. We are training with backpacks! And “stunt buddies!” We adapted these techniques and trainings based off of Spring CDT’s BASE system!

cheerleading safety




Kenny Feeley is a mastermind when it comes to stunting and his ability to pivot in this setting and to create a system so that our athletes are able to maintain (and gain) strength and technique for our sport is genius! This, coupled with some of our own drills have allowed our athletes to mimic the movements of stunting without actually doing it. We have created 2.5 minute stunt workouts to IPPs 8-count track that we repeat. Check one out HERE!

We are confident that we will have no problem getting back into the groove of stunting once it is safe to do so.

It is so important to us to put the athletes first right now. Every family’s situation is different, so it is very important to us to be aware of this and make sure we are not making any families feel uncomfortable. We are also very aware of the reality of what would happen if a breakout happened at our gym. We need to be looking 10 steps ahead. If we were to have multiple athletes with COVID in our location, we would need to shut down again, losing revenue and potentially customers. It could cause the government to tighten restrictions on all NY State All Star Programs. Not to mention, our athletes contracting it could have serious health ramifications for them and their families. Because of this, we are 100% abiding by the NY travel ban. We are also sending athletes home if they have ANY symptom whatsoever. Headache, tummy ache, cough, runny nose. You name it, they are going home! We even have our bathrooms labeled by which floor the kids are practicing on for contact tracing! We are going by the motto that “you can’t be OVERCAUTIOUS!”




cheer safety guidelines

Today I asked an athlete who was frustrated about the situation, “who won the race? Did the hare win? Or the tortoise?” Right now, patience will win out. We have a responsibility to our athletes to keep them safe. They are trusting us. And most importantly, their parents trust us. That is a huge responsibility. When they are dropped off at our front door, as we take that temperature and escort them to their “x” on the spring floor, their well being lies in our hands. Right now we show our families that we are that “home away from home.”

We need to be the constant in their lives. We were there virtually the moment the pandemic shut us down. We were there to “foot-five” the kiddos after they did their back handsprings for the first time again in 3 months. We will be there this season in whatever capacity we are able to practice (and compete) our sport! The kids need us to be that constant, but also need us to have their best interest at the forefront. The health, the wellbeing, and the safety of each athlete is the priority in the “new normal.”

Remember, we are making history. Let’s do it right!

Covid Staff Regulations 

  • We must be notified immediately if you're feeling sick or have any covid symptoms?
  • All employees must fill out the gym entrance form and come through the front door - Must have temperature taken.
  • Employees must wear masks at all times.
  • Wash and sanitize hands often.
  • Only contact with athletes is while spotting and if an athlete has a waiver signed to do so. This should only be safety spotting at a MINIMUM.
  • Mats must be cleaned after single use for each athlete using spray and paper towel lemocide. 
  • All cubbys must be cleaned out by the end of night and all belongings must be taken home. 
  • Please use personal stationary and if using community stationary whip with disinfectant wipe. 
  • Please use a disinfectant wipe and clean music player after use. 
  • Drinks must be kept in a single cubby by gym entrance away from other athletes or at their personal desk. Please wipe down with disinfectant wipe when done.
  • All Coaching must be done at a 6ft distance unless safety spotting.
  • Please disinfect any area you have eaten.
  • Please do your best to keep all athletes at a 6ft distance.

 

Covid Regulations

  • Only athletes and staff are allowed in the gym facilities unless the athlete is 6 years of age and under.
    • Parents of athletes under 18, parents entering the gym, Employees, and Athletes over the age of 18 must fill out the Gym Entrance Form
  • If your child needs to arrive late or leave early, arrangements must be made ahead of time over the phone or through a note at the time of verify.
  • Prompt pick-up is required to properly clean the facility and maintain our COVID safety procedures; no late pick-ups will be allowed. We will have an adult guiding to help socially distance pick up. 
  • Pick up will be at the side exit.
  • Athletes will wear face coverings when in the building except during athletic activities which can be done with appropriate physical distancing.
  • Staff will wear face coverings at all times while with athletes.
  • Frequent hand washing/sanitizing practices will be required of athletes and staff, this will be before, during and after practices, private lessons and water breaks, or at other intervals necessary.
  • Employees and athletes will follow illness policy including temperature checks (over 99.9 no entry) and 24-hour wellness standards upon entering the facility.
  • Staff will have limited direct physical contact with students. A waiver must be signed for consent to safety spot your athlete. 
  • Athletes who are developing symptoms or are unable to adhere to physical distancing policies must be picked up promptly.
  • We will follow cleaning procedures throughout the day and evening. We will also be fumigating disinfectant after any morning and afternoon activities that may take place and always at the end of day. 
  • Drinking fountains will be closed, athletes are encouraged to bring full water bottles. Water will not be sold at this time.
  • Only one person will be allowed in each bathroom at a time and bathrooms will be cleaned frequently
  • Athletes should come dressed for practice with shoes on and have their own backpack. Shoes will be disinfected at entrance. Backpack will be brought to their gym floor spot. 
  • Locker rooms will be closed at this time. Please only come with items necessary for practice and can fit in your backpack.
  • Proshop will be closed at this time please refer to the website intensityathleticsny.com for our online pro shop.
  • If ice is needed, personal ice will be given and can stay with that athlete.
  • Face Masks must be brought home and cleaned between time at the gym.







Featured, Tips

Keeping Athletes Safe with Social Media and Gym Communications

Posted on by Kyle McCarthy
Keeping Athletes Safe yhz ippmusic scaled
16
Nov
Kyle_ _Circle_630x630

By Kyle McCarthy

Published on November 16, 2019


Our industry is an informal one...

…it’s hard not to be when you’re dealing with family! We spend so much time together as a gym family that it’s sometimes not easy to see how social media and the way we interact with it can actually put the kids we coach at risk. After all, social media is great! It’s been revolutionary for the ways in which we can quickly communicate with parents, share photos and videos, free marketing for gyms and has really helped build gym communities and bonds. We’ve become so accustomed to sending a quick message to an athlete after a hard practice to check in on them, or to give them a personal shout-out, that we don’t realize the potential harmful effects of this casual closeness.

Kye YHX BLOG 1
Kye YHX BLOG 1

In most areas of life, communications between minors and adults is a no-go zone. Whether it’s a teacher at school or an inappropriate message on Instagram, neither of these are ok. So why is it ok for a coach? Truth is, it isn’t. And we have all allowed a culture to grow where it’s normal and ok for adult coaches to message minor athletes, and vice versa, potentially creating an understanding in a minor athlete’s mind that contact from an adult is not unusual nor cause for concern. The normalization of adult/minor online communication was a huge concern for the USASF and prompted the creation of the USASF Electronic Communications Policy.

In most areas of life, communications between minors and adults is a no-go zone. Whether it’s a teacher at school or an inappropriate message on Instagram, neither of these are ok. So why is it ok for a coach? Truth is, it isn’t. And we have all allowed a culture to grow where it’s normal and ok for adult coaches to message minor athletes, and vice versa, potentially creating an understanding in a minor athlete’s mind that contact from an adult is not unusual nor cause for concern. The normalization of adult/minor online communication was a huge concern for the USASF and prompted the creation of the USASF Electronic Communications Policy.

Kyle McCarthy blog4

The USASF acknowledged that our informal industry culture was putting athletes at risk and acknowledged the need for safety measures to be put into place swiftly and comprehensively. They immediately banned private communications between athletes and coaches, as well as banning them from following each other on personal social media accounts (athletes can still follow official gym accounts).

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They tasked every gym with coming up with an Electronic Communications Policy that was as stringent as the official USASF policy, or gyms would be expected to default to the USASF official policy. 

As we are into the second season with this policy in place, many gyms may still be lacking comprehensive plans or implementing the policies they have effectively. With the 2019-2020 under way, we want to help you with an easy plan to ensure that your athletes and coaches are safe into the future.

Here are 5 easy steps to ensure your gym is adhering to the USASF Electronic Communications Policy and protecting athletes from potential harm:

  1. Review your Electronic Communication Policy with your staff. This is something you should do monthly or multiple times throughout the season as a refresher so coaches remember how to appropriately communicate with their athletes.

  2. Hold parent information sessions to inform your parents of safety concerns regarding social media. Parents should oversee their child’s social media accounts within reason.

  3. Discuss social media expectations with your athletes and inform them of the rules so they are aware.

  4. Eliminate multiple forms of communication for the program and make all staff, parents and athletes aware of the official channels of communication.

  5. Find a digital platform that is trusted so you can manage the communication for everyone.

  1. Review your Electronic Communication Policy with your staff. This is something you should do monthly or multiple times throughout the season as a refresher so coaches remember how to appropriately communicate with their athletes.

  2. Hold parent information sessions to inform your parents of safety concerns regarding social media. Parents should oversee their child’s social media accounts within reason.

  3. Discuss social media expectations with your athletes and inform them of the rules so they are aware.

  4. Eliminate multiple forms of communication for the program and make all staff, parents and athletes aware of the official channels of communication.

  5. Find a digital platform that is trusted so you can manage the communication for everyone.

Kyle McCarthy blog3

An app such as the CheerLife app will tick all of your boxes when it comes to safe electronic communications. It has group chats, one-way broadcast push notifications, revenue building channels (who doesn’t want to make more money?!), action tracking in a safe social media environment, a noticeboard for gym updates, built-in pro-shop channel, private lesson scheduler and full integration with existing class management software like iClassPro and Jackrabbit. It’s also adheres to the USASF ECP and our content management team is quick to remove, suspend or ban any individuals who violate our terms and conditions.

Keep your kids safe in a specialized custom app for your gym and keep your minor athletes off major social platforms!

Contact CheerLife today!

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