Many of you are probably preparing for tryouts next week! If you haven't the most important thing will be to practice your motions and jumps. These can be easier to learn and perfect whereas tumbling and stunting takes more time to learn. If you have never cheered before, don't worry... you can be taught! Just be open to teaching:)
Ask if you have any questions about tryouts!!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Interesting Connection..
Yesterday at Catawba College, I went to an amazing lecture. I heard Mr. Bryan Jordan, President and CEO of First Horizon National Corporation in Memphis, Tennessee, speak. I thought some of the things he said could be applied to cheerleading.
Mr. Jordan spoke about being fast and nimble. He talked about being able to adapt to an ever changing world and to always be looking for the next big thing. I began to think about how cheerleaders are always searching and striving for the next big thing. Once we have an extension, we do a lib, then a aerobesque, and so on. We are always searching for the next thing to try.
In the business world, Mr. Jordan says we need to think ahead to get ahead of the competition. As cheerleaders, we do this already. The things that come so naturally to us as cheerleaders can be applied to life once we graduate from college.
So, apply the skills you have learned from cheering and use them in all your endeavors.
Be fast, be nimble cheerios! :)
Mr. Jordan spoke about being fast and nimble. He talked about being able to adapt to an ever changing world and to always be looking for the next big thing. I began to think about how cheerleaders are always searching and striving for the next big thing. Once we have an extension, we do a lib, then a aerobesque, and so on. We are always searching for the next thing to try.
In the business world, Mr. Jordan says we need to think ahead to get ahead of the competition. As cheerleaders, we do this already. The things that come so naturally to us as cheerleaders can be applied to life once we graduate from college.
So, apply the skills you have learned from cheering and use them in all your endeavors.
Be fast, be nimble cheerios! :)
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hey everyone!
Right now, I am helping the middle school squad I help coach prepare for high school tryouts. I thought I would share some of the things we have been doing to get ready.
First, run a mile. Even if your high school does not require the mile for tryouts, it is important to help build stamina. About 22 laps around a standard size basketball court or 4 laps around a football field make a mile. If you are running around your neighborhood or street, have your parents track a mile and run that path often... It may be difficult at first but running the mile will get easier, I promise!
Do backbends! Several of the girls who came to workouts struggled to do backbends. Try to hold backbends for at least 30 seconds but try for a minute. To make the backbend more challenging, extend your legs to straighten them and make sure your arms are locked and beside your ears. This puts your body in perfect backhandspring form. Backhandsprings help will stomach and arm strength and tumbling.
Do pushups and sit ups. Cheerleaders need arm and core strength. Make sure you are working every day to develop and strengthen these muscles.
Right now, I am helping the middle school squad I help coach prepare for high school tryouts. I thought I would share some of the things we have been doing to get ready.
First, run a mile. Even if your high school does not require the mile for tryouts, it is important to help build stamina. About 22 laps around a standard size basketball court or 4 laps around a football field make a mile. If you are running around your neighborhood or street, have your parents track a mile and run that path often... It may be difficult at first but running the mile will get easier, I promise!
Do backbends! Several of the girls who came to workouts struggled to do backbends. Try to hold backbends for at least 30 seconds but try for a minute. To make the backbend more challenging, extend your legs to straighten them and make sure your arms are locked and beside your ears. This puts your body in perfect backhandspring form. Backhandsprings help will stomach and arm strength and tumbling.
Do pushups and sit ups. Cheerleaders need arm and core strength. Make sure you are working every day to develop and strengthen these muscles.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pre- tryout workout
Many schools are already having pre- tryout workouts to help you be prepared. If your school is not, get some friends together and run. You can also work together to do some push ups and sit ups.
Running is good for cheerleaders because it builds endurance. You need endurance to be able to yell and do cheers, chants, and stunts simultaneously. Push ups help build arm streth that you will need to stunt. Sit ups help build your core muscles that will improve your overall ability to cheer.
Make working out and getting ready for tryouts fun! You can also use the time together to practice jumps and critique each other. The more you condition and prepare yourself, the better off you will be come tryout time.
Running is good for cheerleaders because it builds endurance. You need endurance to be able to yell and do cheers, chants, and stunts simultaneously. Push ups help build arm streth that you will need to stunt. Sit ups help build your core muscles that will improve your overall ability to cheer.
Make working out and getting ready for tryouts fun! You can also use the time together to practice jumps and critique each other. The more you condition and prepare yourself, the better off you will be come tryout time.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tryout Season
As most of you know, tryout season is quickly approaching. With this in mind, I wanted to provide a few tips for the best things to do to prepare:
1: Stretch. Stretching will improve your flexibility and help with tumbling, jumping, and stunting. Flyers, especially, should stretch every day. One of the easiest ways to stretch is to sit in splits while you are doing everyday activities like watching tv or doing homework.
2: Jump. The more you practice, the better your jumps will be. Do toe touches, pikes, and herkys over and over again. Repetitive jumps builds muscle memory which will help the height of your jumps and make them easier for you to do.
3: Practice motions in the mirror. The best way to know if you are doing something right is to look in the mirror and see how it looks. Make sure you are being sharp and tight.
4: SMILE:). It is so important to have a pleasant expression while cheerleading. If you look like you are having fun and enjoying what you are doing, the judges will have fun with you at tryouts.
1: Stretch. Stretching will improve your flexibility and help with tumbling, jumping, and stunting. Flyers, especially, should stretch every day. One of the easiest ways to stretch is to sit in splits while you are doing everyday activities like watching tv or doing homework.
2: Jump. The more you practice, the better your jumps will be. Do toe touches, pikes, and herkys over and over again. Repetitive jumps builds muscle memory which will help the height of your jumps and make them easier for you to do.
3: Practice motions in the mirror. The best way to know if you are doing something right is to look in the mirror and see how it looks. Make sure you are being sharp and tight.
4: SMILE:). It is so important to have a pleasant expression while cheerleading. If you look like you are having fun and enjoying what you are doing, the judges will have fun with you at tryouts.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Purpose:)
I have been cheerleading for over ten years now (and I'm only 20!). Over my cheer career I have cheered and danced at games and competitions, watched games and competitions, worked competitions, coached competition teams, all star teams, and middle and high school squads, and judged competitions. I absolutely LOVE every aspect of cheerleading. I recently started a cheer camp and choreography business to turn my passion and knowledge into a career. I also work for Spirit Solutions, a competition company, and judge competitions very often.
With this blog, I hope to provide information to cheerleaders, coaches, judges, and even cheer families. I would love to hear any questions or comments you have, so feel free to leave them.
I will be commenting any time I see a cool new idea for a stunt or cheer and when I use an awesome product that I think will be useful for you also. I will also comment and review new products that have not been so beneficial, so be on the lookout!
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