Weekly Tips by MCHIC
2008-2009
Summer ideas...practice doesn't have to be intense in the summer. Suprise the girls and go to a park to play tag on the play structure. Bring popsicles for a cheap and easy treat. Build silly pyramids and take pictures (send them to us!) give copies to the girls so they can remember the fun later.
Try outs...If you have the luxury and chore of making cuts, choose wisely. Make sure to consider attitude as well as skill level. Life is too short to spend your season with girls that bug you. Choose girls that you like to be around and let the fun begin!
During season... stay focused. Don't let petty squabbles interfere with your ultimate goals as a team. Take control and make each practice productive.
Over break and beyond... Change things up during practice. Don't make practice tedious. Infuse some fun; have contests, competitions, etc. between lines, stunt groups, or alphabetical groups. Have candy, travel sized lotions, or other goodies for prizes. You will be surprised at how hard the girls work when a prize is on the line!
Enjoy the fall season. Let your girls have fun and experiment with new stunts and "silly" chants to rev up the fans' spirit! Allow the girls to LOVE cheer leading. You can still condition them and work on gymnastics, but remember, competitive season does not start until November. If you treat the fall team like it is competitive season you are heading for some serious burnout come January and February.
Archive of some previous tips:
Keep the summer practices fun! It is a long time before the season begins and you don't want your team to be burned out before the games even begin. Work on team bonding!
When picking your team, attitude is everything! One girl can make a HUGE difference! Think about how much time you will spend dealing with drama instead of coaching if you keep her because she is good even though her attitude isn't.
Coach to the score sheets! Even if you think the Judges are wrong, look at what they score you low on and try to improve those areas. You are getting an "objective" view of your cheer from someone who has no emotional attachment to your team. Listen to the Judges and your scores should go up!
Have a plan for practice and stick to it! Divide up your practice time so that you do not overload your team working on one round. "Changing gears" can keep the team focused and allow a far more productive practice!
Instead of always penalizing your team when they do things wrong ("thats terrible, do it again" "Go run a lap", etc.) try rewards for those that are doing a great job. Get treats before practice and have mini-competitions - best voices, best pointed toes in skills, etc. You'll be surprised how hard your girls work when candy/food is on the line :-)
Have your team practice formation changes with their eyes closed (do NOT do jumps, stunts, or skills with eyes closed!!!). After they change formations have them open their eyes and see if they are in the correct formation. They will learn to change formations without looking around and it will make them appear much more confident!
