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

FREE Team Building Workbook - How to Coach Cheerleading

Would you LOVE some FUN and EASY ideas to build confidence in your team?   How about some ideas to make your practice more fun while you are building a stronger team?  Check out our FREE Team Building Workbook and get started today and CLICK HERE! :-)

Cheerleading and Covid 19 Tips to Making Your PRACTICE Successful and Safe!

With covid19 so many things have changed and that includes our amazing sport and every other sport too!  So, with many states planning to open schools this Fall, what does cheerleading look like and how do we make this a successful, fun and safe season for everyone involved?

As I am entering my 27th year of coaching and running the largest cheerleading after school company in South Florida with over 1,500 cheerleaders per season, I have been giving this A LOT of thought and I wanted to share my top tips with you and here are my Top Tips to use at your PRACTICE.  For my Top General Tips for your organization – CLICK HERE.

Practice Tips:

1. Limit the number of practices that you meet in person. For example, instead of practicing 4 time a week, just meet for 2 times per week.
2. To make up the practice times, send curriculum to your team via videos and have them learn them at home. So when you do meet, you will not have to “teach” the curriculum just review and work on formations and team integration.
3. You can also do virtual practices with zoom and other virtual services where everyone can interact and learn together.
4. When you do get together, try to keep your practices as short as possible. Also, make them as productive as possible and do not waste time.
5. Maintain social distancing during practice by keeping your team in formations where there is space between each athlete instead of allowing everyone to sit together or just be in groups.

For 5 MORE PRACTICE TIPS, check out our full article on CheerleadingCoachingCenter.com HERE.

Double Thigh Stands - the Beginning Stunt Every Team Should Use!

 

The Double Thigh Stand is one of the most important beginner stunts you should know. From this stunt, you can do a variety of variations to create numerous stunts.

Tips:

• Make sure your Bases have deep lunges for the Flyer to stand on.
• Make sure the Flyer steps in the “pockets” of the Bases, not on their legs.
• The Flyer should start with her right foot first and climb using the “Step, Lock, Tighten” Method.
• Have the base hold the flyer’s legs by wrapping their arms around the flyers knees.
• The back spotter should hold the flyer’s waist.
• When you are learning the double thigh stand, you should add a front spotter. ( You can never have enough spotters!)
• To dismount, have the bases hold the flyer’s hands and their armpit.
• The flyer lands in front of the stunt with her feet together.

Here is an example of how to incorporate this stunt into your stunt formation: Save

For more Beginning Cheerleading Stunts:

Check out the Cheerleading Coaching Center HERE!

 

The Perfect Beginning Cheerleading Stunt - The Pony Mount

Do you have a group of beginning cheerleaders and would love an easy, safe stunt that you can use in all of your formations? The Pony Mount is the perfect stunt to start with! Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The Pony Sit or Pony Mount is very simple and is one of the first stunts that your team should learn.
• Make sure your base has their arms locked at all times and head up.
• The Flyer should sit on the lower part of the base’s back; if you sit to high, you could hurt your base.
• The Spotter should hold the Flyer at her waist at all times.
• The Spotter should help the Flyer get up and dismount.
• The call to get up is “1 -2 Down Up ” The Flyer bends her knees on the down and jumps up on the base’s back on the up.
• Finish the stunt with the flyer’s hands in a high V and her knees bent up.
• To dismount, the flyer puts her hands on the base’s back and pushes herself off; the spotter also helps pull her off.
• One note to keep in mind, the base should never move. The flyer hops on, finishes the stunt and pushes off without the base moving at all.

For more stunting tips and beginning stunts you can use TODAY,

check out our FULL PONY MOUNT VIDEO

on CheerleadingCoachingCenter.com HERE!

Have a fabulous day! :-)

Cheerleading Tryouts - How to Choose Your Dates

Are you a cheerleading coach and getting ready for Tryouts?  Check out our post on the Cheerleading Coaching Center HERE for the 4 dates you need to start with and SO MUCH MORE!

How to Coach Cheerleading - Common Cheerleading Stunting Mistakes and Solutions

Stunting is SO MUCH FUN but it takes time to master! So to help you get their quicker, you should cultivate great stunting habits and avoid some common mistakes:

1.) You have Stunt Position Miss-Matches: Most everyone wants to be the flyer – we all know it! However, when you are starting and very few, if any of your athletes know proper technique, you MUST choose stunt positions based on body size to help prevent injuries.

2.) The Spotter Backs Up: It is a normal tendency to back up when something is coming your way. However, when you are a Spotter and your Flyer is coming down, you must lean in to catch them.

3.) You have Several Stunt Captains in the Same Group: You should have 1 person in charge of your stunt group ( generally the Spotter as they can see when everyone is ready ) If you have several people talking, someone may not be able to hear instructions and that is when injuries happen.

4.) Progression is your Goal: Stunting looks so easy when you watch a college team or great all star team. Remember, it took YEARS for all of their athletes to get that good! When stunting, it is important that you START AT THE BEGINNING and not just try a stunt because it looks easy. Perfection should be your goal – perfecting a stunt before progressing on to the next one.  

For more Cheerleading Stunting Tips, Mistakes and Solutions, check out our Cheerleading Stunting Section and JOIN the #1 Resource for Cheerleading Coaches TODAY!

 

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How to Coach Cheerleading - Cheerleading Stunting Safety Tips

Cheerleading Safety Tips:

• Perfection before progressions!!! Make sure ALL of your stunt group members are READY to try a new stunt before you attempt it.
• Use HANDS ON SPOTTING for all stunts to help minimize falls and injuries.
• Look at the area where you are stunting and make sure you have plenty of room and proper safety mats. Also, if you are outside, check to see if there are any rocks, sticks or uneven ground that my through your group off.
• Only stunt when every member of your team has the proper attire on! That means everyone must have athletic shoes and proper clothing with no jewelry, and hair pulled back.  Please note, do not wear shorts with pockets as they can catch your flyer’s feet on the way down and make them fall.

For more cheerleading stunting tips, check out our Cheerleading Coaching Center and JOIN the #1 Cheerleading Resource Community for Coaches!

 

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How to Coach Cheerleading - How to Teach Cheerleading

 

When teaching new skills to your cheerleaders, here are some tips to keep in mind to help them absorb the curriculum easier to learn faster:

1. Make it FUN and SMILE - it so SO MUCH easier to pay attention to someone who is having fun and friendly. :-)
2. Be Prepared!!!!! If you start teaching and don't know what comes next, you will lose the respect and attention of your team.
3. Put your team in a formation and not just standing anywhere - structure is a great thing!
4. SHOW what you are teaching FIRST to give the team an idea of what you expect. Obviously you can not show the stunts but you can do the motions.
5. When teaching, there is a formula that works great: Teach feet / legs first, arms next and then add the head motions.
6. Teach SLOW and LOUD!
7. Repeat Often! Remember, repetition is the mother of skill :-)
8. ALWAYS cue the upcoming movements BEFORE they come up.
9. GIVE COMPLIMENTS as you go and reinforce the positive commitment that your team is trying and learning.

For more Great Tips, Tools, Ideas and Curriculum to help you have the BEST Cheerleading Season, Join the #1 Cheerleading Resource Community TODAY – Click HERE and Get Your FREE BONUSES with your membership!

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How to Do Cheerleading Jumps

Are you ready to have AMAZING Cheerleading Jumps?  Let us help you get there quickly with the Cheerleading Jumps Book from the CIC Cheerleading Mastery Series! 

We have everything you need to know to get started and to master your jumps including the Toe Touch!!!    Here is what you will be getting to help you have GORGEOUS Jumps:

• Detailed photos, descriptions and tips of the 8 Cheerleading Jumps including: the Toe Touch, Front Hurdler, Straight Jump, Tuck, Herkey, Spread Eagle, Double Hook and the Side Hurdler.

• 3 Easy Stretches to improve your flexibility.

• 5 Jump Exercises to give you gorgeous jumps.

• 9 Common Mistakes and Easy Solutions.

• 6 Practice Tips to help you practice on your own.

• Detailed breakdown of the approach and landing of your jumps.

• Practice Log to help you reach your jump goals.

• $5 Coupon to TheCheerleadingShop.com

Get your copy TODAY at TheCheerleadingShop.com