#cheer 101

Cheerleaders are loud, but they don’t screech. Think about your lower belly. Take a deep breath, still thinking about that lower belly and trying to fill it and your lungs with air. Imagine you are filling the bottom of your lungs, then middle, then the top. You should feel a difference in how open your throat is as compared to when you do normal shallow breathing. 

Cheerleading should be about having a positive and supportive attitude, spirit and enthusiasm. No question about that. But there is also a tremendous physical aspect to it. The following pages will give you the low-down nitty gritty step-by-step how-to on the most essential elements that every cheerleader on our squad should do their best to master. We don’t expect perfection. We expect effort for their personal best. 

A word to the wise, if your child is going to be a cheerleader they need to grow a thick skin!! If your coach comes into your house and straightens out a crooked picture hanging on your wall, would that make you cry? Of course not! And the same should go if (s)he or another team member straightens out your child’s high V, or toe touch, or dance moves. Don’t take constructive criticism personally, but please do listen to it and learn from it.

Finally, as important as all of the cheer skills are, don’t ignore the academic side of things. Homework before cheer. End of story. We will do our best to accommodate homework schedules. 

Some easy and free ways to help your kids:

Have you child imagine performing all of their skills successfully.

If they are the type to get nervous performing for a crowd, practice with an audience of friends and family watching so that they get used to being in front of people. 

Before show time, have your child try taking some deep breaths and then do their thing like no one is watching. 

Remember, our bodies don’t know the difference between nervousness and excitement. The physical processes are the same. So any time they feel nervous, try to convince them that they are actually excited by listing things that really get them pumped up.

Have all your signed waivers and permission forms in your hand ready to turn in when the coach asks for them. 

Hair should be pulled back away from the face at all practices and competitions and showcases.

Please wear clothing that is easy to move in to practice. Blue jeans do not count! 

When spiriting onto the floor, don’t yell, “Woooo!” Audiences and Coaches and Judges really don’t like that. Instead, try saying things like, “Let’s go (team)! We’re, Number one! All right! Go get ‘em!” 

Make sure they are projecting with a loud, low-ish voice from your stomach instead of screeching from your throat.

Smile, smile, smile! Show that enthusiasm and pep!

Keep motions tight, and snap them into place.

Be enthusiastic about trying new things. “Can’t” is not in our vocabulary, but “I’ll try” is. (Unless it would be dangerous, such as throwing a back tuck when you have never done one.)

If they or you don’t understand something, ask!

If they make a mistake, pick up the next move and keep going!

Make eye contact with the crowd. Exude confidence!

If your child still isn't feeling confident, talk to other cheerleaders and the coach and see what they have to say.

Community Involvement:

Laugh. Go to a funny movie or do something silly with a friend.

Take a 10 minute break and walk around the block.

Light a candle and take a bubble bath in the dark.

Do nothing… and don’t feel guilty about it!

Pay off your credit cards.

Turn off the T.V.

Read a book or magazine.

Read a classic book as a family.

Make time for a hobby or activity you really love.

Meet a good friend for coffee.

Write your child’s coach a note of thanks.

Smile at someone.

Sit outside on a warm summer night and watch the stars come out.

Concede that you don’t have to be proven right every time.

As a family get involved with a project that helps someone less fortunate.

Set up a carpool schedule for your kid’s activities so you don’t spend your life in the car.

Set aside a day with no outside activities scheduled.

Go to the group of believers, church or synagogue of your choice.

Schedule a meeting with your child’s coach to discuss her progress and establish agreed upon goals.

DO FOR YOUR CHILDREN:

Provide guidance for your children, but do not force or pressure them.

Assist them in setting realistic goals for participation.

Emphasize fun, skill development and other benefits of participation, e.g., cooperation, competition, self-discipline, commitment.

Show interest in their participation: help get them to practice, attend showcases and competitions. 

Ask them questions.

Provide a healthy perspective to help children understand success and failure.

Emphasize and reward effort rather than results.

Intervene if your child’s behavior is unacceptable during showcases or competitions.

Understand that you child may need a break from sports occasionally.

Give your child some space when needed. Part of their participation involves them figuring things out for themselves.

Keep a sense of humor. If you hare having fun and laughing, so will your child.

Provide regular encouragement.

Be a healthy role model for your child by being positive, relaxed and by having balance in your life.

GIVE THEM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: SHOW THEM LOVE WHETHER THEY WIN OR LOSE, DO FABULOUS OR HORRIBLE!!!

DON’T WITH YOUR CHILDREN:

Expect your child to get anything more from cheering than a good time, physical fitness, mastery and love of a lifetime sport and transferable life skills.

Ignore your child’s bad behavior in showcases or competitions.

Ask the child to talk with you immediately after a competition.

Show negative emotions while watching them perform.

Make your child feel guilty for the time, energy and money you are spending and the sacrifices you are making.

Think of your child’s participation as an investment for which you expect a return.

Live out your own dreams through your child’s participation.

Compare your child’s progress with that of other children.

Badger, harass, use sarcasm, threaten or use fear to motivate your child. It only demeans them and causes them to hate you.

Expect anything from your child except their best effort.

DO WITH OTHER PARENTS:

Make friends with other parents at events. Socializing can make the event more fun for you.

Volunteer as much as you can. Youth sports depend upon the time and energy of involved parents.

Police your own ranks: work with other parents to ensure that all parents behave appropriately at practices, showcases and competitions.

DON’T WITH OTHER PARENTS:

Make enemies of other parents.

DO FOR YOURSELF:

Get vicarious pleasure from your children’s participation, but do not become overly ego-involved.

Try to enjoy yourself at all showcases, competitions, etc. Your unhappiness can cause your child to feel guilty.

Look relaxed, calm, positive, and energized when watching your child cheer.

Your attitude influences how your child feels and performs.

Have a life of your own outside of your child’s participation.

DON’T FOR YOURSELF: 

Base your self-esteem and ego on the success of your child’s participation.

Care too much about how your child performs.

DO WITH COACHES:

Leave the coaching to the coaches.

Give them any support they need to help them do their jobs better.

Communicate with them about your child. You can learn about your child from each other.

Inform them of relevant issues at home that might affect your child at practice.

Inquire about the progress of your children. You have a right to know.

Make the coaches your allies.

DON’T WITH COACHES:

Interfere with their coaching during practices, games or competitions.

You are representatives of our community and we expect you to put your best foot forward at all times in the classroom, at competitions, showcases and practices, and out in the world at large. Please remember that good sportsmanship is an important part of being a cheerleader. That means we build our community’s or an individual’s spirit up without ever putting another community or person down.

Our Goals

To have fun! 

To develop our skills in leadership, cooperation, perseverance, and in the giving and receiving of constructive criticism.

To support each other and boost community spirit.

To represent our community as a sports team in our own right.

To reach out to the community as ambassadors.

To prepare ourselves for school cheerleading.

Our Rules

The coach is the adult, you are the child. That makes her the boss.

Do not leave the practice, showcase, or competition area without first checking in with the coach.

No tumbling or stunting when the coach is not in the room.

This is cheerleading practice, not playtime. You are here to work not hang out.

Be respectful of others and yourself, whether it concerns feelings or personal space and belongings. 

Hands off of what is not ours. 

Make sure your belongings are not in the way on the stairs or on the hallway floors. 

Please be very quiet in the hallways and on the stairs.