1. Shape Up for Cheerleading Training
If you think that the toughest thing about cheerleading is waving pom-poms and the most strenuous activity you'll do is to yell at the top of your lungs, you'd be apt to lose your money. Cheerleading takes stamina, strength and coordination. Cheerleading training should always involve some type of aerobic activity and weight training. An exercise program incorporating light jogging, walking or swimming with upper and lower body weight training is crucial in preparing a body for the rigors of cheerleading training. Pilates or yoga to improve balance and coordination is also a good idea.
2. Before and After
Jumps, tumbles, splits, flips and handstands require a certain amount of flexibility. To avoid injury, the body should be put through a warm up of stretches before and after cheerleading practices. A mandatory 5 to 10 minute warm up session involving jogging and stretches, particularly of the hamstrings and lower back, should precede and follow every cheerleading practice.
3. Safety Is Something to Cheer About
As with any sport, the risk of injury exists for cheerleaders. This risk can be substantially reduced if safety becomes a main focus during cheerleading training. Proper spotting techniques that involve careful observation and anticipation and avoidance of possible accidents should be taught during practices. Stunts should be performed on mats and pads and either outdoors or in gymnasiums with high ceilings. Don't allow cheerleaders to be distracted. A trained and certified coach should be involved in training at all times.
4. Learn to Walk Before You Run
There should always be a gradual progression to more difficult stunts in cheerleading. Stunts involving lifting squad members in the air, jumps and pyramids should never be attempted before every cheerleader masters the basic moves, since many stunts incorporate some of these moves. Building up to more complicated stunts helps to train the cheerleaders to learn proper techniques as well as to develop much-needed confidence.
5. Team Spirit
Always reinforce that cheerleading is a team sport. Every member of the squad must work together. Support, both physical and emotional, is a must and needs to be stressed during training. Team goals should be established and every cheerleader should work to motivate and encourage each member of the squad toward those goals. Each girl should know her role in every stunt. "Go, team!" need not apply only as a cheer to the guys on the playing field.
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