Effective practices are vital to the success of your cheerleading squad, and the first step toward crafting an effective practice is a written plan. Include in your plan approximately how much time will be spent on each item on the agenda. Work hard to stick to the agenda in order to maximize your accomplishments at practice.
Announcements
Start practice with announcements at the exact time practice is scheduled to begin. Never allow cheerleaders to show up late to practice without a consequence or you will waste valuable practice time. During announcements, introduce upcoming events and policy changes and give positive feedback. Make sure to allow time for clarifying questions, but stay on topic and do not allow question time to drag on too long. Try to keep announcement time to less than 15 minutes. Require your cheerleaders to have a cheerleading notebook and have them take notes during announcement time so they can refer back to important details.
Physical Training
Start the physical training portion of your practice with a thorough warm up. First do at least 10 to 15 minutes of cardiovascular activity in the form of jogging, aerobic dance, or calisthenic-type activities such as jumping jacks. After blood is pumping, use a full-body dynamic stretching routine to ready the muscles for action. Dynamic stretching involves fluid motion to stretch -- for example, leg swings, knee lifts and torso twists. Include stretches to cover ever muscle group from head to toe. Next, do a few conditioning exercises such as situps, pushups and kick and jump drills. End with a few static, or stationary, stretches to make sure the body is completely pliable and ready for practice. Physical training should take at least 30 minutes and can last up to 45 minutes if you have the time available in your practice schedule.
New Materials
Allow for a short structured break after the physical training portion of your practice. Instruct cheerleaders to grab a water bottle and have a seat while you introduce the new materials, cheers, chants and dances you will teach that day. Do not allow the break portion to last more than five minutes before you move on to learning the materials. The entire new materials section should take only 15 to 20 minutes. When teaching new materials, make sure one or two cheerleaders are given the responsibility of teaching. Instruct other cheerleaders who already might know the material to restrict input, as too many people giving instructions leads to chaos. While materials are being taught, circulate through the group tweaking motion levels, giving encouragement and discouraging talking.
Stunting
Carve out at least 20 to 30 minutes from your practice schedule for stunting. Devote time at the beginning of your stunting time to reviewing a few stunts that have been mastered. Use stunting time to continually reinforce safe stunting practices. Remind spotters to keep their arms up and have their full attention on the top person at all times. Tweak form in your stunters with observations, reminders and even hands-on correction of poor form. Treat stunting time seriously, allowing no talking and requiring spotters at all times.
Cool Down
Devote the final 10 minutes of practice to a cool-down period. Include only gentle static stretches in this portion of your practice. Consider turning the lights down to create a relaxing environment. Have cheerleaders hold stretches for 30 seconds each and repeat stretches at least two times. Focus on concentrated breathing to relieve stress and relax body and mind. Give instructions in a soft, calming voice. Lead your cheerleaders to let go of any stressful feelings left from practice and focus on the positive accomplishments they made.
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