American Cheerleader Magazine
If you like your weekends free, enjoy leisure time hanging out at home or dread the thought of conditioning…this article is not for you. I’m talking to my afterschool and weekend gym rats, my “no water break until it hits” athletes. While some people are looking forward to the holidays and bundling up in their sweaters, you are counting down the days until your first competition and your uniform is hanging proudly in sight. We may not have a homecoming parade, Friday night lights or a pep rally in our honor, but we know that it’s game time! The 2014-15 competition season is here.
Before you step onto the competition floor for the first time, I want to ask you, what is going to make this year different? I spend a great deal of my time in gyms working with athletes; for many of them, their goal is to win. As athletes, we have the competitive attitude and physical ability, but what if we challenged ourselves deeper to change our outlook? I can’t lie, winning feels great, but you only have so many chances to make that happen each season. Consider creating weekly or monthly challenges to build confidence and achieve goals before your first competition. Here are some ideas:
-How tired are you after throwing your routine? After you go full-out at practice, check your heart rate. Additional cardio outside of practice can slow that down and if you can actively lower your heart rate, routines will become easier!
-Have someone videotape your skills and see if you can improve your technique. For example, are your legs are together in your tumbling? If you’re a base, record your stunt sequence and check your form. Can you take fewer steps under your stunts?
-If you know a teammate is struggling with the motions or dance, work with him/her outside of practice. It will make you a better teammate and them a better performer.
-Improve your gym presence and character by making it a point to know the names of younger athletes. They could grow up to be the next you!
If you strive to be better every day in character, as an athlete and a as teammate, you WILL win this season. When that music stops, and you know that you’ve already accomplished so much this year, you’ll walk off the floor knowing that you already won. And while there is no jacket, ring or trophy for that, the example you set and the legacy you leave behind will change the game and encourage othersto rise to the challenge as well. Good luck!
If you like your weekends free, enjoy leisure time hanging out at home or dread the thought of conditioning…this article is not for you. I’m talking to my afterschool and weekend gym rats, my “no water break until it hits” athletes. While some people are looking forward to the holidays and bundling up in their sweaters, you are counting down the days until your first competition and your uniform is hanging proudly in sight. We may not have a homecoming parade, Friday night lights or a pep rally in our honor, but we know that it’s game time! The 2014-15 competition season is here.
Before you step onto the competition floor for the first time, I want to ask you, what is going to make this year different? I spend a great deal of my time in gyms working with athletes; for many of them, their goal is to win. As athletes, we have the competitive attitude and physical ability, but what if we challenged ourselves deeper to change our outlook? I can’t lie, winning feels great, but you only have so many chances to make that happen each season. Consider creating weekly or monthly challenges to build confidence and achieve goals before your first competition. Here are some ideas:
-How tired are you after throwing your routine? After you go full-out at practice, check your heart rate. Additional cardio outside of practice can slow that down and if you can actively lower your heart rate, routines will become easier!
-Have someone videotape your skills and see if you can improve your technique. For example, are your legs are together in your tumbling? If you’re a base, record your stunt sequence and check your form. Can you take fewer steps under your stunts?
-If you know a teammate is struggling with the motions or dance, work with him/her outside of practice. It will make you a better teammate and them a better performer.
-Improve your gym presence and character by making it a point to know the names of younger athletes. They could grow up to be the next you!
If you strive to be better every day in character, as an athlete and a as teammate, you WILL win this season. When that music stops, and you know that you’ve already accomplished so much this year, you’ll walk off the floor knowing that you already won. And while there is no jacket, ring or trophy for that, the example you set and the legacy you leave behind will change the game and encourage othersto rise to the challenge as well. Good luck!