Blogger Bryant - 8-21-2018

    Hello to everyone who’s eyes might fall upon this entry, whether it’s an aspiring cheerleader or a binge blogger at 1am. 

    My name is Bryant Griffith and I am 18 years old. I’m a Second year college student, but I have junior standing (not to toot my own horn or anything, but - toot toot). I started cheering for my high school cheer team during my freshman year of high school . They taught me level 4 and 5 stunts on the first day, and taught me no tumbling for the 3 years I was in the program. The summer after my sophomore year I came to my senses and joined North Star All Stars. Now fast forward 3 seasons and I am on a level 4.2, senior of course. Balancing school and cheer used to be easy just because school was really easy for me, and I never really had to try very hard. I did my homework on the plane ride to competitions which were pretty long since we live in Alaska. Now being in college it’s a lot harder to balance the two since I have to work to pay for tuition myself as well as be a Pre-medical Biology major AND actually show up to practice. I’m not here trying to start off this “series” whining or moaning about how tough it is, you’ll have plenty more blog entries to read about that from me. Overall I have a really amazing coach, her name is Meghan and she’s actually insane(ly disciplined), a pretty cool gym owner who understands me and my “I’m kind of an adult but also please help me” attitude, and a really great mom who I take for granted way too often. Other random facts about me before I go, I have a pet Boa Constrictor. Her name is Scarlette and she is 4 feet long. One day when she’s an adult she will be upwards of 10 ft. I love piercings and have 13, which the coaches resent because I have this cute habit of never taking them out like I’m supposed to. I can barely tumble (level one and two skills and an occasional tuck), but I’m always trying to improve. I’m comfortable saying I have the best performance/facials in my gym. I personally think it’s because I don’t mind making a fool out of myself because I have never known shame or embarrassment; sometimes my coaches have to pretend the other athletes have better ones so they don’t get jealous. But I understand.

    Anyways that’s it for today. Thanks for “listening” reading, whatever you’re doing, thanks for doing it. 

Ciao,

Bry

Welcome Blogger Bry of North Star Allstars!

Bryant

Choreography Season is Here! By Coach Mandi

Choreography Season is Here!

For most gyms, the summer training season is wrapping up and the much anticipated choreography season begins! By now, gyms should have evaluated the team placements made at their initial tryouts and determined that the placements made still hold true, making the most competitive team across the scoring rubric to set the team up for success.

Choreography is a really fun time for teams, but some athletes tend to feel anxious about what spots they’ll be placed in or what their role during the routine will be. Coaches should be having active dialogues with athletes if they are being moved spots so that the athlete understands the why’s.

As coaches, the more prepared we are, the more we can prepare the choreographer, which will then equal more success during choreography times! Coaches should have gone through the scoring rubric and identified the following:

1)      What tumbling skills (running and standing) the team can technically perform to be included

2)      What stunting skills the team can technically perform to be included, to include the required elite skills the team can technically perform

3)      Identify a stunt group that can perform the skills to be the “test group” the choreographer can work off of

4)      A basic layout of the routine (if your team is not strong in jumping, having the choreographer put jumps later in the routine may be detrimental for scoring purposes)

5)      Stunt group positioning (point groups, some sample formations)

6)      Top jumpers (based on the stunt group formations or from other formations)

7)      Top dancers (based on performance and showmanship)

8)      Paired up like-height athletes, for ease in formation shaping (having super tall athletes mirrored by super short athletes is an eye sore)

As parents, if your athlete is not happy with their placement in the routine, there are many ways you can address this issue:

1)      Listen to your athlete, but do not criticize the choreographer, coaches or teammates

2)      Wait 24 hours and see if your athlete still feels the same way the day after – sometimes the emotional reaction heightens the reaction you are seeing

3)      Speak to the coach if there are extreme concerns. Most gyms have in place policies about how to communicate issues

4)      Understand that spots in routines are based off many factors. Location of the athlete prior to and after sections is huge. Athletes who are in the back corner stunt group are not likely going to be in the point spots for jumps due to location of the section prior to. Athletes who are last pass may or may not end up in the next section of skills based on their tumbling pass landing during the transition to the next section.

As athletes, here are some general guidelines for choreography:

1)      Put your best foot forward. If you show up late looking like you just rolled out of bed, chances are your energy level is already set for the day.

2)      If you want a spot, perform for that spot.

3)      If a choreographer asks to see a skill, volunteer.

-Coach Mandi S.

Blogger Bella - 8-15-2018

         8-15-2018

            Hello, my name is Bella Arocha and I am a cheerleader. I am 12 years old and I am on a senior level 4 team named Black Smack at Memphis Cheer out of Tennessee.  My dad is in the Navy so we move every couple years. It can be difficult, but it has given me the opportunity to grow. This year  I am in the 7^th grade. School has just started here, and I know that being an all-star cheerleader can be quite stressful especially with school and everything. So I’m going to talk about how I deal with it, so let’s get started!

           I’ve been in cheer since 2008 when I was 4. I like to think  I 'm pretty good at balancing school and cheer since I’ve been in the swing of things for so long. I know sometimes it can be stressful and overwhelming. Homework can pile up along with projects (believe me I know.)   One thing that helps me  keep up with my homework is to try and make time to do it.  I know... I know... we all have cheer right after school and there feels like there is never enough time, but trust me there is always time. You might not notice, but remember that 30-45 minute drive or that 20-minute drive on the bus that you were listening to music? What about  that time where you were watching Stranger Things and eating Doritos? If you said "yes" to any of that... you have time. You don’t have to stop doing the fun things. You can still listen,  write, or watch and work. You can even sometimes find me jamming out while I'm writing down the periodic table. Get creative and make time.

        Signing out Bella Arocha 

Welcome Blogger Bella of Memphis Cheer!

                              

Bella

Cheerleader of the Month-August

Congrats to Khai Maddyx Davis

of Thunder Extreme

Name:  Khai Maddyx Davis               Nickname:   Cheerbeast                         Age: 11      

Years cheering: Cheered for 8 years

Current Team: Thunder Extreme -Strike

Favorite Competition: The Summit

Favorite Comp food/drink: Watermelon & A Refresher from Starbucks

Proudest moment in cheer: When we went to the Summit and placed third

Favorite Team (other than yours): Cheersport Sharks

Something you would like readers to know about you: I am a Rebel Model & I am funny and very active

Social Media Handle for others to follow you on:  Instagram: cheerbeast2025