Cheerleading Info Center

How to Coach Cheerleading - How to Get Your Team to Take Practice Seriously

Here is a question that we receive A LOT from cheerleading coaches: 

Q:  Help!  I am a new coach and I need some help in motivating my cheerleaders during practice and to get them to take it seriously. 

A:  This is a concern for EVERY Coach as you are not alone if you find yourself looking at your team half way through practice and asking them to pay attention, stop talking or to get back in formation – lol!  Here are some ideas to help get your girls motivated and interested in your practice:

1. Set Season and Daily Goals for your season and have your team set them with you. At the beginning of practice, remind your team of the season goals that THEY set and then set goals for that practice to help them stay focused on your outcome.  Athletes generally perform better if they know what they are working toward.
2. Give REWARDS!!!! At the beginning of practice, give your team a reward if they accomplish __________________ during your practice.  Here are reward examples:

• Everyone will receive a piece of candy if you get through your new chant with stunts.
• Your next practice will have a fun theme.
• Play a game or do a fun team building activity.
• Give out a “Spirit Stick” or team Mascot Stuffed Animal to take home to the most outstanding cheerleader that day.

For more tips, check out the rest of this article on CheerleadingCoachingCenter.com

How to Coach Cheerleading: FREE DOWNLOAD! Top Discipline and Motivation Tool to Use with Your Cheerleading Team TODAY!

Would you LOVE an Easy and FUN tool that you can use with your cheerleaders to motivate them?  Here is our #1 cheerleading tool that we have been using since 1994 and I PROMISE it works and your cheerleaders will LOVE it!

Check out all of the details in the above video and get your FREE Download so you can start using it TODAY at the Cheerleading Coaching Center HERE!

Let us know how it goes :-)

To begin, YES!!!! you can achieve anything ( yep, I said ANYTHING!!! ).  The question is not whether it is possible, but WILL YOU make it happen.  Let me say that again, WILL YOU make it happen?

If you look around, there are so many women doing AMAZING things – women of all ages!  So why not you?

Referencing the cheerleading industry, what is the difference between a team that is in the top 10 national rankings every year ( even with new members ) and those who are not?  Is it skills, facility or training – yes and no.  What these team members have, including the new ones, is an EXPECTATION that they will be in the top 10 again.  With this expectation, they have already DECIDED to be there again and will work with this belief to make it happen until it is realized.

Accordingly, the primary difference between people who are living their dreams and those who are not, is that they first have DECIDED to make it happen.  Then, they followed their decision up with an unwavering    commitment, massive action, clarity of focus and expectation, and did not stop until it was realized!

So how can you do it too?  Just follow the CIC Success Formula:

CIC Success Formula

1. DECIDE and COMMIT to what your Really Want!
2. Define WHY your want your goal.
3. Get clear on your outcome and put together Action Steps to take.
4. Daily Focus and EXPECT your success!
5. Don’t Stop until it is realized.
6. Enjoy your success!

My goal is to help you not only achieve your current goals, but to realize ones you thought were impossible.  With the above simple formula, everything is possible!

“It’s not a question of IF it can happen – it is a whether YOU will make it happen!”

Are you ready to live your dreams?  NOW is it the time to get started as your future self will thank you for starting today!

CLICK HERE to Download Your Worksheet NOW on the Cheerleading Coaching Center!

Enjoy Your Success!

Valerie

How to Be a Great Cheerleading Flyer! Part 2 - Climbing Techniques You Must Know

Every Cheerleading Flyer should master proper climbing techniques for several reasons: 

1.  To prevent injuries to themselves and their teammates.

2.  To be able to master stunts more quickly.

3.  And to make your stunts look AMAZING!

Here are some of the basics that every Flyer should know:

Flyer Climbing Techniques:

Pinch-a-Penny:  This is the most important one to remember - basically stay "Tight".  Pretend that you have a penny in your butt cheeks.  Pinch or squeeze your cheeks together so the penny does not fall.  When you do this, you will feel all of you muscles tighten up.  When your body is tight, you feel much lighter for your bases.  If you just stand there in your Flyer position, you will feel much heavier!

Step, Lock, Tighten:  This climbing technique is used for Double Thigh Stands and the like.  When you climb follow this pattern:

• "Step" with your foot on to you base (usually you climbe with your right
  foot first)
• "Lock" means to bring your other foot up and lock both legs.  This does
  not mean to squat on your bases.
• "Tighten" means to finish your stunt and Pinch-a-Penny.

For more details, just click on CHEERLEADING FLYER TIPS on CIC!

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Cheerleading Flyer Tips - How to Be a Great Cheerleading Flyer Today

If you are a flyer or would like to be one, than this post is for you!   We have an entire section on CIC that has a variety of tips and techniques for you to be the best Flyer you can be.  For TONS of tips, click in CIC FLYER TIPS.

Flyer Positions:  There are a variety of positions for a Flyer.  Please CLICK HERE for a list of them.

Tips:

• Be Confident:  Confidence shows and lack of it can get you hurt.
• Smile
• Look Up at the crowd - do not look down.
• Always be "tight"
• Sell the stunt with your facial expressions and sharp motions.
• Always use proper climbing techniques (some listed below).
• PRACTICE in a mirror at home on the ground to make sure your posture is correct.
• NO LAUGHING while in your stunt.
• Use the word "DOWN" if you are falling
• NEVER try any stunt that you are not ready for.  For example, if you just mastered the Double Thigh Stand, you next stunt should not be the Ground Up Full.

How to Reduce Stress Before a Competition or Event for your Cheerleading Team

  

Over the past 26 years of coaching thousands of cheerleaders, there several things that are completely “normal” for all cheerleaders and teams to go through.  One of the most common is for the athletes to be nervous and anxious before a competition or event.  Here are some of the top tips to help ease the anxiety and make your event more fun!

1. Breathe!  I know it sounds simple, but so many cheerleaders forget to breathe while they are performing.  Also, when they are off stage, waiting to go on, remind your team to breathe and just relax and enjoy the moment.
2. Remind your team that this is FUN!!! Tell them to take it all in and just to enjoy the moment and have fun!
3. Go to the bathroom before you are in the staging area. I find that so many girls all of a sudden have to go to the bathroom just before going on due to being nervous.  If they go to the bathroom before getting in line, it absolutely helps!
4. Remind yourself to Be Proud of all that you have done to get ready for this moment and know that you are ready to do your best.
5. SMILE!!! Smile big for 30 seconds to improve your mood and to help you relax.
6. Do a “Wonder Woman” pose for about 30 seconds to make your feel more confident instantly.
7. Visualize you doing your routine, enjoying the experience and doing your best.
8. Remember, you are not alone! You have an entire team with you and you are all in this together.
9. Have a list of 5 to 10 positive affirmations that you can say before you perform to get you in the right mindset. Here are a few that we use: 

• I GOT THIS
• I am PROUD of ME and I am AWESOME!
• This is SO MUCH FUN and I am so excited!
• Everyone is going to love our routine and support us!

Do you have some tips that you use to reduce stress before your event?  We would love to hear them!