Tryouts: Looking the Part

In addition to being a member of the Spring Valley Heat open coed level 6 team, I coach the Daniel Boone Blazers 5th grade competition squad. Every year I hold tryouts with the same expectations in terms of what the girls' appearance should look like, so they can gain experience for what middle school and high school tryouts will be like. They are scored on their appearance as well as their abilities, which include:

1. All hair is to be all the way up and pulled back off of the face (including all bangs)
2. T-shirts are to be tucked into the shorts
3. Absolutely no tank tops
4. No rolling the shorts
5. Must wear white ankle socks with cheerleading sneakers
6. No nail polish
7. No hair ties, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc. should be worn

If any of these rules are not followed, points are taken off of their appearance score. They may seem a bit strict; however, these girls will be entering middle school and high school relatively soon. I want them to be familiar with this whole process so they can know what is expected of them.

Cheerleading: a sport or not a sport?

Many people have different opinions about cheerleading. Some say it is a sport, some say it is not, and some say it depends on certain factors. Personally, I feel it depends on certain factors.

Cheering on the sidelines for football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, etc. is not considered a sport to me. In this case, the cheerleaders are getting the crowd pumped up for the actual sport they are watching. Although this still requires cheerleaders to be physically fit, there is no score or competition between the opposing team's cheerleaders.

On the flip side, I believe the competition aspect of cheerleading is considered a sport. This requires even more physical fitness than just cheering on the sidelines. In addition, each team is competing against each other for the top score, which is what most sports are about.

What are your thoughts about cheerleading as a sport? Do you have different ideas about what makes cheerleading a sport or not a sport?

10 Tips for Effective Stretching

One of the most important rules of cheerleading is safety. With that being said, you should ALWAYS stretch before practicing. Below are ten tips to help you stretch effectively and accurately (yes there is a wrong way to stretch, which can result in injury). Keeping these tips in mind every time you stretch will help further your abilities as a cheerleader, while at the same time keep you from any injuries.



10 Tips for Effective Stretching:

1. Always precede stretching by warming up the muscles first. This can be done by power walking, light jogging, or aerobics. Warming up increases blood flow and raises muscle temperature, both of which are very important for muscle elasticity. Without a proper warm up, stretching could result in sprains, strains, or muscle tears.

2. There may be slight discomfort during stretching, but it should be mild and brief. If you feel pain, stop immediately. 

3. Be sure to stretch 3 to 4 times a week.

4. Stretching sessions should last 15 to 20 minutes. Hold each stretch for a count of 30. 

5. Stretch major muscle groups first, then smaller ones. This ensures the smaller groups have been slightly warmed up. Large muscle groups handle shock better than small muscle groups. 

6. Stretch within 1 hour before strenuous exercise or competition to prevent injury and to prepare the muscles for maximum contraction and force.

7. Stretching should be slow, steady, and relaxed with no bouncing involved.

8. Try to isolate the muscle being stretched.

9. Stretch before, during, and after vigorous exercise. This prevents muscles from tightening up and reduces the chance of soreness.

10. Flexibility varies from person to person. It takes time to improve the range of motion, but you will see improvement with time.

Hello!

Hey, everyone! I guess I will tell you a little bit about myself. I am a junior this year at West Chester University; however, I just transferred here from Bloomsburg University so it's only my first semester here. I am a psychology major with a plan to get my PhD after I graduate next spring to become a counseling psychologist. Outside of school cheerleading takes up a good majority of my time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I currently cheer for the competitive cheerleading squad Spring Valley Heat All Stars. I also coach my hometown recreational 5th grade cheerleading squad. As for blogging, this is my first blog site so I'm really new at all of this. Hopefully it will turn out to be a good experience!!