Tag >> Coaching
As a cheer coach, you are part of a larger community-the spirit industry. Thousands of event producers, cheer vendors, organizations, gyms, and teams comprise the spirit industry. The longer you coach, the more you need to know. Why join professional organizations? - Membership in professional organizations gives the individual cheer coach an immediate network of other spirit professionals.
- Belonging to a professional organization puts you in contact with others who share your passion, your joys, and your frustrations.
- Attendance at conferences gives coaches the opportunity to learn from others who are leaders in the spirit industry.
- Continuing education should be a major concern for cheer coaches. Professional organizations often provide opportunities for continuing education and professional development.
- Membership often provides newsletters that keep members updated on the spirit industry.
- Future employers appreciate prospective employees' interest in staying updated on current issues and developments in the spirit industry.
- Professional organizations may offer additional insurance coverage.
- Becoming involved as a committee member or board member helps develop leadership skills that will be valuable as you grow in the industry.
- An element of coaching involves educating parents and cheerleaders. Active membership in a professional organization gives you the tools to provide your parents and cheerleaders with the latest news, tools of the trade, and safety information.
Look for local and state professional organizations but keep in mind that not every state has a cheer coaches' organization. States with cheer coaches' groups often offer yearly conferences and quarterly workshops. Research regional and national organizations. These will have large memberships and may offer more opportunities for workshops and networking. Join a professional organization for cheer coaches-you'll be glad you did!
 As we approach the next to last regular season ballgame, I think I am all out of energy! We did have a week off last week from school, but not from cheerleading or ballgames. It is hard to stay interested in the ballgame part of cheerleading when we have so much else to do! And it is cold and rainy - what a combination! Enough complaining.....How do you reenergize when you are on empty? I would love to rush off to the islands for some warm and sunny days on the beach, but since that is not possible give me some pointers! Some quick pick me ups because I know that my energy must be running high if I want my kids energy to run high! Hope you are fully energized and doing well - now help me!!!!! Happy Friday!
 I'm watching college football on tv and the camera zooms in on a cute cheerleader--Not! She's chewing gum. Granted the game hasn't started yet, but this tops my list of pet peeves. As a coach, I could spot a gum chewer a mile away!
Second--"spirit fingers." If you are wiggling your fingers and kicking up one leg, you better be preparing for a jump. What's with the kicking up one leg? Lazy cheerleaders show spirit fingers--competent cheerleaders jump. Third--pulling or picking on/out bloomers (lollys, briefs, whatever you call them). Don't. Wear boy cut briefs and stop this bad habit. Fourth--late cheerleaders. I attended a rec league game last week to see my grandson play football. The cheerleaders drag in during the second quarter. What were they thinking--the entire squad shows up late. Coaches and cheerleaders--get to the games well before the game starts! Fifth--silent claps. I have never understood why cheerleaders bring their hands together in a clap position and make no noise. Ok, I do know--they don't want the claps to show their timing is off. Work on the timing and make the claps sound together OR replace the claps with another motion. Easy solution. I'm off my soapbox to watch more college football. I hope your team wins! Debbie Bracewell
I have come to the conclusion that the majority of people think the cheerleaders should devote all time to "making spirit". While I do feel like we are the leaders of spirit I don't feel like we should be making spirit - to the point where we are the only ones with spirit and we are trying to make everyone else have it. I think back to my cheer days in high school and college and we didn't have to coax people into making spirit items or dressing up for spirit days. There was a little ownership. Where did we lose that? I feel like we almost can't cheer for the sporting events for trying to "create" spirit! How far do we go?
In the last month, two football players in New Jersey have died as a result of their participation in football. One died after a tackling incident; the other died from a previously unknown heart condition. As we work through a new cheer season, let's look at two health and safety issues that have taken the forefront in the news--heat and heart. Heat issues can be minor like heat cramps or life-threatening as heat stroke. Coaches should know the signs and symptoms of heat-related issues and how to treat them. Humidity, direct exposure to the sun and temperature can all contribute to heat-related illnesses. The combination of these factors make up the heat index you hear weathermen talk about. Proper hydration and reducing sun exposure can help reduce susceptibility to heat-related issues. "There's no excuse for any number of heat stroke deaths, since they are all preventable with the proper precautions," said Mueller, the author of the Annual Survey of Football Injuries, a long-running compilation of statistics that tracks major injuries and deaths in 1.8 million football players on middle school, high school, college, sandlot (organized, non-school affiliated) and professional teams (see report at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/uonc-urh073008.php). Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in athletes was the subject of the June 27, 2008, U. S. News & World Report article by Steven Reinberg. SCA is the leading cause of death in young athletes, but the worst news is that only one in 10 student-athletes who suffer SCA survives. The article goes on to say that "approximately one case of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) occurs every three days in organized youth sports" - Access to external automatic defibrillators (AEDs) can change these statistics. Access to AEDs within three to five minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
- Schools, practice areas, gyms-all need to have access to an AED, a person(s) trained to use the AED, and an emergency plan in place for using the AED.
- Screening exams for heart problems along with a physical before sports participation are recommended. A study in Italy where a screening EKG was mandated for student-athletes resulted in a 90% decrease in SCD.
An amazing group of people have formed Parent Heart Watch ( http://www.parentheartwatch.org/). Their mission is to promote awareness of SCD, establish credible research initiatives for SCD, and affect public policy change to encourage community action. They assist in getting AEDs placed in public locations and devising a plan for training and maintaining. One of their goals is to provide the resources and training so communities and parents can host group screening events with trained professionals. The Parent Heart Watch is a non-profit, state-by-state network of parents. Check out their website to see if your state has a Parent Heart Watch group and contact them to see if they can assist your team or gym with EKG screenings or procuring an AED.
I am beginning to think this blog thing might be addictive even if noone reads it! I have to take a moment to give kudos to my administration! I know that at times we often get aggravated at our administrations because they just don't understand what we are going through, but after a week from well - you know where - my principal stood behind me with unwavering support. As we come into this week, I have another situation brewing - yes I did say ANOTHER, but he is still in my corner! I used to wonder what he would do when I made decisions - now I make them with confidence! I know that if I have done what I am supposed to do then he will be my biggest supporter. I must say though that I have been a documenter ever since I began coaching simply because Debbie Bracewell told me to. There were times when I wondered why I had done all that work because for the most part no one ever questioned the things that I had documented, but this time - I have it all documented - date, time, signature of cheerleader! I am so glad I listened! To those who have just started or have gotten lax with the documentation - do it for your peace of mind if for nothing else! How can a parent, child, or administration argue with the documentation! This week finds me in a better place even though the hits keep coming! I must tell you the life lesson I learned last week really is a God thing! He knows how to get me back on my prayer knees when I get a little overconfident thinking I can do it without him. I got the message loud and clear and I won't be getting up anytime soon! Speaking of being on my side - I know he will always be in my corner!Here's to bad weeks or days which remind us of the important things in life! Cheers! Heather
 I recently heard a television reporter saying football coaches were tired of their players just going through the motions. That comment made me think of the last two cheerleading competitions I attended. I wish the cheerleaders had gone through the motions!
Are good, crisp cheerleading motions becoming extinct? I see pictures of cheerleaders in newspapers with bent wrists and fly-away arms. I hear cheer competition judges bemoan the lack of motion technique. While coaches spend much time devising spectacular pyramids and clever stunts, they often forget the one basic that garners the most attention-motions. Closed fists are fast becoming a thing of the past, and bent wrists are quickly becoming the norm. Cheerleaders should spend a part of every practice on improving motion technique. Sideline cheers and chants should have precise motion technique just as competition routines should. Coaches, remember the four "P's" of motion technique: placement, progression, pathway, precision. Spend as much time and creativity on motions as you do on stunts and pyramids. Unique and exact motions appeal to football, basketball and competition spectators. Leave your crowds wanting more!
As I sat down to write this, I truly had a hard time trying to decide what to write about. But in the past 4 days we have had something that has happened to our squad that has never happened to me before. I had 2 people quit! I know some of you are thinking no big deal because it has happened to you, but I am thinking this is a BIG deal in my little world. It does make me feel better that the reason they quit truly has nothing to do with me because the last thing I would want to do is push someone away from the sport I love so much. At the same time, I sit once again with a heart broken bunch of kids that have already defied the odds one time and were hoping for bluer skies this year. So, I gave my inspirational message about how much each one of them means to me and how these are big holes to fill. I ask them to step up, cut the whining and be the tough group I know them to be when I know that they want to sit and feel sorry for themselves because I want to. I am reminded that tough times build tough people – at the rate we are going we are going to be Teflon! So I am on my way to “rebuilding” a competition routine and stretching my kids as far as they can go! I know the kids are hurt, but I know from experience that working through our hurt is the best thing we can do. We once again have lost two teammates, but in a different sense this time, but I am beginning to wonder if this is a trend! Lord, I hope not because I will have to retire out of this soon if it is – the heart can only take so much! On an ending note, I must say that I still love cheerleading and all it’s drama after 27 years as a cheerleader and coach and I know that we will once again bust out of what is trying to hold us back! Cheers!
Heather Mitchell
Enterprise HS
hmitchell@enterpriseschools.net
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