New cheer leading coach

Question

So i am starting a new thing as a cheer leading coach, (junior one) i dont exactly know how to handle it i will be working with the JV team which mostly consists of 4th and 5th graders any advice as to how to handle it? Ive never even been a cheer leader but i know all of the cheers and all so i just want some starting up advice

Answer 1

hey dont worry i just started out demonstrating 6 and 7 graders. just some advice dont let them talk alot. if they do make them run a lap or do pushups. not to much but just to show them who is in control. make sure when in lines they are even and straight. cheers wanna be loud. motions wanna be tight and sharp. when you stunt make sure they are experienced bases otherwise always stand next to the gruop so the flyer doesnt hit the ground.The Winning Attitude



Have you ever wondered what makes someone a winner? Whether it's sports or academics the best of the best seem to share certain ideas and attitudes. There is no doubt that natural ability is an important part of winning. But we all know people who have physical or intellectual gifts that just don't seem to accomplish anything. Just walking onto the playing field with talent is simply not enough. Just showing up for practice and going through the drills won't cut it. People that are the best at what they do possess many special characteristics. One of them is a winning attitude.

A winning attitude starts with loving what you do. Do you sometimes lay awake at night, too excited to sleep because tomorrow is the big game? Does the anticipation build throughout the day? Do you have trouble focusing on anything else? When you play or practice do your worries seem to fade away forgotten until the game is over? These are the signs that you love what you do.

Success at anything takes motivation. The best motivation comes from truly loving what you are doing. But what does being motivated mean? Usually it means a lot of hard work. Actually, what seems like hard work to others may be enjoyable to you. But there is no doubt that it takes motivation and desire to put in the time and make the sacrifices necessary to be a winner. Simply put, winners put in the time and make the sacrifices because they are chasing a dream and nothing will stop them. Focused on personal goals of being the best they can be and team goals like championships, winners just don't quit.

We all have doubts as we pursue our goals. Decisions must be made about goals, abilities, sacrifices and many aspects of our lives that are impacted by our desire to compete. A winning attitude means finding a way to overcome doubts and fears as we pursue our goals. This is where confidence is vital. Believing in ourselves can sometimes keep us going and ultimately it can be the advantage that makes us great.

Winning is a combination of many things including skill, practice and a little luck. But all winners have one thing in common: A winning attitude. An attitude comprised of the love of the game, motivation and confidence!

Types of Arm Motions

Before trying to throw up stunts or hit great Jumps, all cheerleaders should learn the basic motion technique. Without great motions, other parts of cheerleading will not look as appealing. For example, if you throw up an extension and the flyer has a wide high V and Bent wrists, the whole stunt will look awful. It's so important to learn, and make your motions look great!

The first part of having a good motion technique is knowing the motions and the position/angle each. Below are some basic arm motions

Hands On Hips Motion-Used mainly as a cheerleading stance. Be sure not to angle elbows behind the body. Knuckles should be facing the crowd.    

Clasp Motion-Keep arms tight, and close to the body. Also, keep all fingers close together. The motion should look neat and clean.  

High V Motion-It is important to watch bent wrists. Also, make sure not to make the V too wide, looking sloppy. The thumb should be facing the crowd.    

Low V Motion-Basically the opposite of the High V. The thumb faces the crowd. Once again, watch bent wrists and the angle of the motion.

Half High V Motion-The name says it all for this motion. One arm is in the half high V, the other on the hips. Thumb faces the crowd. This can be hit with either arm.      

Half Low V Motion-This motion also speaks for itself. One arm hits the Low V motion, and the other is on the hips. Thumb faces the crowd. It can be hit with either arm.  

Touchdown Motion-Make sure to keep arms close together in this motion. Make sure it is a clear touchdown, not high V. The pinkie faces the crowd. Keep this motion in front of you.      

Low Touchdown Motion-The opposite of the touchdown motion. Be sure to keep arms close together so it does not look like a low V. The thumb faces the crowd.  

Diagonal Motion-The top arm is at the same angle as a high V, and the bottom arm is at the same angle as a low V. Be careful, it is common for people to let the bottom arm drop, or the top fly high. In both hands the thumb faces the crowd.      

L Motion- one arm hits the T motion, the other a Punch Motion. The touchdown arm has the pinkie face the crowd, and the T arm has the thumb face the crowd. Stop the T motion, before it flies high. This is a common problem.  

T Motion-Hands should be palm down/knuckles up, and thumb facing the crowd. Be sure to keep arms at level height.      

Broken T Motion-T motion with arms bent at elbows. Palms should be down. The pinkie faces the crowd.  

Punch Motion- This motion is very common in cheerleading. One hand is on the hip and the other up like the touchdown. Be sure to keep it slightly in front of you. Watch bent wrists in this motion. The pinkie is to the crowd.  

      

Timing - All Cheers will be based around a count of EIGHT!

Hitting Your Motions

Always hit motions sharply and cleanly. When going from one motion to the next, wait until the very last second before making the motion change. Although the key is to have the motion hit on the word, the less time it takes you to get from motion to motion the sharper they look.

Motions should also have lots of power. Always do motions to full extent, do not "Half do" the motions because it is practice. The more time spent hitting sharp motions, the better they will become. As time goes on, one should notice it becoming easier to hit motions sharply.

Motions should be hit slightly in front of you. Many think the motions should be lined up with the body. This is incorrect. If looking straight ahead while hitting a T motion, one should be able to see fists in the corner of the eyes.

When hitting each motion think about the basics. Make sure the wrists are not bent. If in an extended motion, make sure the elbows are locked. Also, make sure when practising motions to always hit them sharp.

Seeing if motions are hitting correctly is very hard. Also, most of the time cheerleaders can not tell if they have bent wrists. Practising in front of a mirror, with a friend, or video taping is a great way to critique motions. .With the video camera, watch the progress each week. Notice the motions getting sharper.

STUNTING BASICS



The Art of Spotting



Although I have many points to make about spotting and safety, I will begin with a pet peeve of mine and something I consider the most irritating and scary situation I have seen as a coach. On many occasions as I have watched a tryout or practice I have noticed that when a group or couple begins to stunt a coach or cheerleader will say to a new person "spot that stunt". It makes me want to scream. These words to a new person are like a foreign language.

First of all, asking someone with no experience to spot is like asking a five-year-old to perform surgery. It is dangerous for everyone involved. The simple word 'spot' means so much. It amazes me that a flyer would put their safety in the hands of someone who has no idea what they are doing. And there are times when coaches encourage this!

Spotting is the hardest and most important job a cheerleader can do. It requires physical strength, quickness, co-ordination and most important of all, experience. Also, a certain amount of preparation and planning are required.

What do I mean by planning? Let me tell you the steps that should be taken before the group even sets up for the stunt. A good spotter should know the skill level and experience of all members of the stunt group, both individually and as a group. Also, the spotter should know what stunt is being performed and be familiar with that stunt. It is also important to know how much the group has been working on the stunt and if they have performed it successfully in the past. This information allows a spotter to determine the most likely mistakes, weakest points and best positioning. While a good spotter is always ready for anything, I say the more information the better.

The number of spotters and their positions is also very important. Enough spotters should be used so that every angle is covered. While bases musty also spot you should remember that a falling flyer can knock down (or even knock out) a base. For stunts or pyramids with multiple flyers (or levels) always make sure that every upper and mid level flyer is spotted from all angles. It is possible for every flyer to fall so each spotter should know which flyer they are responsible for.

Where should spotters be positioned? That depends on the number of spotters and the stunt. The most important thing is that the spotters can reach or move to all sides of the stunt. A common mistake made by new cheerleaders is to spot all stunts in the front. They do this because they notice that flyers usually come down in front. What they don't realize is that the bases can easily spot the front. A fall to the back, while less common, can be far more dangerous because the bases may not be able to do anything at all. The spotters must be ready and able to catch a falling flyer behind a stunt with no help from a base. Of course, a spotter should always help a flyer down in the front even if it is a controlled fall where the base is guiding the flyer gently to the ground. There are two reasons for this:

It is possible for forward motion to force a flyer forward and out of the hands of the base

Repetitive landing (even on a mat) can cause stress fractures and knee injuries.

There are a few other basic rules that should always be followed:

Hands Up! Reaction time can be wasted moving your hands. Keep your hands at an appropriate level, at least chest high.  

Keep your eyes on the flyer. A spotter must not be distracted by anything. However, use peripheral vision to make sure that nothing (like a ball or a mascot) will interfere with a stunt.  

If you are not familiar with a stunt or don't feel you can adequately spot a stunt, quietly inform your coach.  

Use hands-on spotting for inexperienced stunters or groups trying new stunts.  

I've learned that the best way to learn how to spot is by doing it. This is a catch 22 because only a skilled spotter should be doing it so how do you get experience if you don't know how to do it already? There are some ways to learn quickly and make the most of the experience that you do get. Whenever possible, observe experienced spotters. One way to tell whom the best spotters are is to see whom the flyers trust the most. Another way to learn is to watch stunts over and over and noticing where and how flyers fall. Over time you will see patterns and the mistakes made by spotters.

This may seem like a lot to remember but it is well worth the time in order to ensure the safety of the people you stunt with. There is always more to learn especially as new stunts and pyramids are developed, new rules are introduced and new cheerleaders join your squad!

Timing - All Stunts will be based around a count of EIGHT!

Stunting Terms



REMEMBER: Stunting can be VERY dangerous, so don't stunt unless you have a coach or an adult who knows what you are doing. Always make sure EVERYONE knows what you are doing before you stunt.

Prep: Flyer jumps into bases, awaiting hands stands up and locks her knees while the bases bring their hands about shoulder height.  The coach or Back Base count "5,6,7,8, 1.2…."  The first move is determined by the coach and starts on "1".

Extension: Same as prep except the bases fully extend their arms.

Cradle: When in an extension or prep, when the coach or back spotter counts a predetermined  "1,2"  (in ongoing counts of eight) the bases pop the flyer in the air.  The flyer goes up and then hits a "T" with her chin DOWN!  She lands in a pike position with the back spotter catching under the flyers arms and the bases catch the back, thigh, and butt area.

Liberty: Flyer starts with one foot in the main bases' hands, the side base holds the flyers foot like a hamburger (one hand on top one on the bottom).  The back spotter calls "5.6.7.8.1,2" the flyer bounces on 1 (once or twice) the stunt goes into extension, the flyer pulls the leg she is not using up next to her knee (from a liberty you can do a scorpion, heelstretch, arabesque, etc.). Back spot helps the flyer up by stabilizing the ankle with one hand and pushing up on her backside with the other.

Basket Toss: The bases link wrists, the flyer plies (NOT squats) on their wrists, they bounce, then throw the flyer, flyer hits a toetouch, pike, etc. while flyer is in the air, bases unlink wrists and catch the flyer in a cradle position.

Tips:

Flyers, always stay TIGHT!

Bases, lift with your arms, legs and shoulders - not your back!

Spotters, always try to protect the flyers head, back, and neck!

Great Stunts are what many cheerleading squads strive for. Stunts add flair to a cheerleading routine. Stunts can be used to help lead the crowd with a cheer. They can also be used during music segments to build excitement or difficulty in a competition routine. Stunting Safely can be one of the most fun parts of cheerleading. What everyone must remember though, is that it can be the most dangerous. If not using the proper care while stunting, someone may get seriously hurt. Here are some rules to follow when stunting.

1) Always have spotters. It does not matter how easy the stunt may seem. Accidents can happen.

2) Always have proper supervision. Never stunt without a coach, or adult around.   Make sure they know what is going on before stunting.

3) Always wear the proper clothing when stunting. This means no oversized T-shirts, huge jackets with hoods, etc. Try to wear tighter fitting clothing. This will help prevent people from getting snagged by it.

4) Wear hair tied up, cut all nails, and do not wear any form of jewellery. All of these things can cause accidents that do not need to happen.

5) Make sure everyone knows what he or she is doing before attempting a stunt. Nothing is worse than a cheerleader calling in mid stunt... "What are we doing??"

Stunting Positions

Now that the basics of safety have been covered it is time to stunt! There are three basic positions in stunts. Flyer (top person), base (bottom person), and spotters. Each position plays an important role in the stunt. Not one person has the best job.

The Base: Bases are the bottoms of stunts. This job is extremely important. The flyer needs to trust the bases she will be flying on. Without this trust, stunts will not fly to full capability. It is important that all bases understand the need for this trust. Here are some basic rules that bases should follow.

Lift up with legs and arms. Do not use the back. This will put a lot of strain on it. Make sure to have a nice line. The knees should be slightly bent, arms tucked close to the body, and the back straight. Do not lean towards the flyer, this will cause the use of the back.

When double base stunting stay close together. Although it's the flyer's job to keep her legs together and tight, the bases need to help. When the flyer goes up and sucks in, the bases' goal should be not to move. This means starting so you form a gap about the shoulder width of the flyer. If the bases are too far apart the whole stunt will move during transition. This looks very sloppy.

Always be prepared to catch the flyer. Yes, there are spotters who are supposed to do. However, three people catching is much better than just one catching. Even when a stunt always seems to hit, be prepared. It only takes one fall for a serious accident to occur.  

The Flyer: The flyer is the top person in stunts. Sounds like a lot of fun right? It can be, but it can also be scary and intimidating. A flyer needs to have a lot of confidence in herself and her stunting partners. Here are some things flyers should remember.

Always stay tight. This is the first rule of flying. When going up or coming down - stay tight! If scared, instead of getting flimsy and loose think scared stiff! This will make the flyer a lot safer, even if a stunt falls. The bases will have a solid body to catch.

Use your arms. Many flyers tend to drop themselves into their bases' arms. They expect the bases to do all the work. The best flyers should be able to hold all of their weight. Try doing push-ups, and lifting light weights to improve your arm strength. To test if a flyer can hold her own weight, do the following drill.: With a pair of bases, have them stand shoulder width apart of the flyer. Jump up as with the same technique a used for extensions. However, stop when the feet are over the bases' hands. The flyer should be able to hold herself up for at least 10-15 seconds.

Suck up and in when flying, it is important have to stay tight and suck the body in and up. This means, when going up in a stunt, raise up through the shoulders helping the bases. Also, suck the legs together. This well help from pushing the bases outward.

Once you are up in the stunt - show spirit!  Do the best job possible get the crowd involved. Eye contact and smiling will help lure them in. Also, remember to keep motions sharp, as if they are being done on the ground  

The Spotter: Spotters have a huge part in stunting. The spotters need to help brace the bases, catch the flyer if falling, and help sturdy the stunt in any way possible. The spotter needs to know how to help save things. In order to accomplish this the spotter must be aware of what is happening at all times. Being a spotter is a difficult position. There is very little time to think. Here are some tips if you are the spotter.

Do not be afraid to catch. Remember that the flyer needs to trust the spotter. Spotters need to catch flyers every time a stunt comes down. It is not possible to be afraid of getting hurt over the flyer. Here is a simple rule to follow. The spotter always hit the ground before the flyer.  

Always look up, during transition stunts this becomes a little more difficult. There are times when checking a grip is important. As a basic rule, do not take the eyes off of the flyer. This will give the ability to see if the flyer is falling at all times.

Keep hands on the flyer whenever possible. This constant contact will help brace the stunt, and give the flyer a sense of security.

When a stunt is falling try to catch the head and neck first. Scooping under the arms is usually a great way to do this. By protecting the head and neck, the spotter is decreasing the chance of a permanent injury to the flyer. Extra Group work is very important when stunting. Remember stunting is a team effort. Not everyone can fly, base, or spot. The coach will decided who he/she feels is the best athlete for each position in each stunt. Take the task given and soar with it!

JUMP BASICS

Timing - All Jumps will be based around a count of EIGHT!

Stretching  This is very important. Without stretching, jumps will not hit the best position possible. Plus, injuries can occur when the body is not fully stretched. Make sure the entire body is stretched, including neck and arms! The whole body is used in jumping, not just the legs. Once stretched jumping may begin.

There are a lot of things one must do to get jumps high, and have legs hit a great position. It is essential to practice jumping at least every other day. For best results, jump daily. Without practice it will be nearly impossible to get the best jump your body is capable of. Do not get discouraged if you do not see results right away. You can not expect miracles over night. Just keep practising.

Parts off the Jump



Prep: The prep is what helps get the jump off the ground. There are several types of preps used in cheerleading today. Described is the most popular prep.  Most other preps are variations of the described prep.

.

Start with feet together and hands by side. Quickly bring arms into a high V. Pull up through the shoulders. At the same time go up onto tiptoes. This motion should be done fast, and with a lot of power. Go straight up into a high V. Do not do a "cross over" motion before going into the high V. This is a common mistake. It will cause an arch in the back, and a hyper-extended high V. Doing this will take power away from the prep.

Next, swing arms in front of body. As arms come down cross one over the other. Bend knees at the same time. Be sure to stay tight throughout this motion. Now, swing arms back up, lifting through the legs. Concentrate on pushing off the ground. Use toes to get extra height.

Jump: When in the air keep your  head up and back straight. Looking down will cause the rest of the body to follow. Keep toes pointed at all times. This is very important for the visual appeal of the jump. Do not reach for the toes in jumps. If you touch the toes, it may stop the jump from achieving the hyper-extended position. Instead, reach for the inside of the shoe.

Many judges rather see great form over height with bad form. Keep that in mind when practising. Always remember form over height! If correct form is used now, it will be easy to keep the form when jumps are higher!

Landing: Landing seems to be one part of jumping that people do not put a lot of emphasis on. However, landing is a very important part of the jump. Without a great landing, the whole jump can look awful.

Whip legs shut when coming down from a jump. Use the same, if not more power than when going into the jump. Do not float down from a jump. This could result in the famous "legs apart" landing.

When hitting the ground absorb the pressure through the balls of the feet. Avoid landing flat footed. If a loud thump is heard when landing most likely something is wrong. When landing bend the knees to absorb some of the shock. Do not land with the knees locked. This is very dangerous.

Jump Drills

Jump drills help with form, control, height, and overall execution of the jump. Jump drills are extremely important to improve jumps. Try doing these jump drills daily, or every other day

also try cheerwiz.com

Answer 2

Well the other answer was long, but I still want to give you advice from a cheerleader, not a coach. Our lines must be perfect. Make sure that there are not sagging arms and all wrists are straight. Make sure thumbs are across the fingers, not sticking up. They need to be loud and smily all the time. Let them help eachother sometimes. If you see two girls talking then realize that they are helping eachother, don't stop them. They are a team and should rely on eachother. But do let them know who is in charge. Every move should be sharp and clean. Always make sure they commit to the move. All voices should be loud and the words should be sharp. Do core work with them. Crunches, planks, anything to get a strong core. This is important for stunting and jumps. When stunting, it doesn't really matter how experienced they are. Odds are, you will have most girls on the squad be inexperienced. So take it slow. Get out a bench or one bleacher. Have them do a little routine. On one two put their right foot on the bench. On three four do a dead leg with low v, on five six do a liberty(foot to knee with a high v. Make sure that their foot is right at the knee and everthing is tight.). On seven eight come down. Do this on both feet multiple times. Then have one base. Have the base in a lunge with one leg straight and the other bent. Then have the flyer put her foot in the pocket on their leg(the little indent on the very top of the thigh under the hip. This is there because she is bending her leg). Do the same routine. Then start two bases on the lunge position with their feet next to eachother(heel of one next to the toe of the other. This is because they are facing eachoter). Have the flyer get up this way onto the bases hands which are on the pocket spot. Have her get up one foot at a time. Then have the girls grab her foot and step together. Make sure their hands rotate. You have to be peppy too. Make sure you set the example. When you are showing a cheer you be loud and sharp and smily. They follow you.

Good luck and hope I helped!!