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The “Off Season”

6-24-18

All Star cheer is different in that we are a year round sport. While this may cause burn out in some athletes and families, there is a way to prevent the monotonous circle of life. Coaches should utilize the off season for what it is - a way for athletes to cool down, enjoy a less pressurized atmosphere and work on skill progression versus routine elements. Athletes who enjoy a good off season will perform better for you when it’s the in season. As coaches, we always feel that we have to push push push in order to stay ahead of the game. But stepping back is sometimes the best way to move forward. This season, my gym took a step back. We implemented no weekend practices until August, a more relaxed attendance policy and we’re focusing on leadership development with our older teams. We always talk in our industry about raising good people as well as good athletes - this year my gym is taking it a step further and focusing on leadership at all levels. Coaches also need to off season to rejuvenate and reflect on what is important to them. We need time to study new trends, adapt to new scoring and make practice plans that fit the new mold. In our ever changing industry, coaches need to be able to have a breather just like the athletes and families do. Take the time to enjoy the off season. I know I will.

-Coach Mandi S.

Welcome Mandi...

         

Cheer4Today would like to welcome Mandi!  Mandi is in her 20th year in the Allstar Cheer industry.She is currently the Program Director for Cheer Fusion in Fredericksburg, VA. Mandi is on the USASF National Advisory Board, USASF Leadership Team, USASF Connection Team, and also a judge for Varsity. She will be blogging throughout the season for us here at Cheer4Today. Feel free to send her questions or send positive comments her way at the bottom of any of her Cheer4Today posts.

Cheerleader of the Month-June

Congrats Sydney Simelton! 

Name:    Sydney Simelton               Nickname:     Syd The Kid                         Age:7       

Years cheering: Going into year 5

Current Team: Cheer Trixx Youth Vixens

Favorite Competition: American Masters & Mardi Gras Nationals

Favorite Comp food/drink: Dippin Dots & Icee

Proudest moment in cheer: Winning Jackets at American Masters

Favorite Team (other than yours): Great White Sharks & Cali Reckless

Something you would like readers to know about you: Im a daredevil when it comes to trying new things for cheer. If I see it, I want to do it.

Social Media Handle for others to follow you on:  Instagram: sydrysim2011

Cheerleader of the Month-May

Congrats to Kiera McKee 

Name:    Kiera McKee               Nickname:     KK                               Age:       11

Years cheering: Going into year 2

Current Team: Stingray Allstars

Favorite Competition: WORLDS

Favorite Comp food/drink: Anything Sour & Starbucks

Proudest moment in cheer: When my team won the Arnold Comp.

Favorite Team (other than yours): Senior Elite or Steel

Something you would like readers to know about you: My gym was Midwest Xplosion but we are now Stingray Allstars!

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

A Cheer Dad's Perspective-April

Reflection Time: Just a look back at a season we will remember.     

            As the season draws to an end you’ve cheered your routine for the last time. You’ve done that tumble pass for the last time. You hear that music for the last time and so it means it is some time for some reflection. Now this year it feels as if our season came to an end a lot sooner than usual. That’s because it has. There has been a lot going on in our gym. A lot of changes are happening. Some families are leaving, some families are returning, or even joining us for the first time. A lot of changes happen during the “offseason.” I put offseason in quotes because in the world of cheer there isn’t a real off season. You are still trying to perfect the things you’ve been working on all season and you are trying to level up or for some you are just trying to make the team. So the job of a cheerleader is never finished. The same can be said for the cheer parent. Your job is never done. We are still going to the gym the same amount of times a week and some weeks it’s more than that. When you think about private classes, open classes, clinics for flyers, and tumbling the season is never truly over. In the past four years I don’t believe there has been a week without going to the gym for something. That is fine, for the love of the sport I don’t mind this at all.

            I spoke about some reflection. You may ask, “Well if the season is never truly over how do you have time to reflect before moving on to the next routine, next level, next team, and next season?” It’s actually pretty easy. This season my daughter competed at level 1 Mini Prep.  My daughter’s team was made up of six girls of different experience levels. These six girls took on the world. You can tell that when they went into a competition they had a fire in their eyes. They wanted to win and they wanted to do it big. Most of the time, they did just that. They went out and placed in the top 3 of every competition they were in this year. Beating between 3-7 teams in some competitions. These girls were underrated because of the size of the team and the experience they had. My daughter was the one with the most experience on the team she’s been doing this for four years now but this was her first year at the Mini division. So they weren’t the most experienced girls but let me tell you what the lacked in experience the made up with style and confidence. This team will have at least two girls leaving this team and gym. That leaves four girls and three of the girls will unfortunately age out of the mini division. That would just leave my daughter who could compete a couple years in the mini division or she could move on to the youth division. So there is going to be a lot of change.

            It’s always interesting when you move on from something but seeing the growth of that something says a great deal about the legacy you are leaving behind. My daughter left the tiny division after her first three seasons. She could have competed at that level but it was time for her to move on. She and her teammates left a legacy for that tiny team at our gym. National Championships, Grand championships, Event championships, and many awards for choreography, stunts, and spirit. To have accomplished so much in such a young age and in such a short time is crazy. She was a national champion in her first season. That tiny team four years ago was full of new athletes similar to this mini team this year. The other similarity was the bond they shared. They were a little family inside of a bigger family. They loved each other like brother and sisters and this mini team…they were practically sisters. So naturally it is sad knowing that you are going to lose teammates. That legacy for the Tiny Team will now be carried out by some amazing athletes that love cheer and my four year old son is one of them.

            Now my son finished his first year of cheerleading. He’s had some ups and downs. They were an exhibition team this year. My son went from being kicked out of practices for playing around to actually becoming a pretty good cheerleader in his own right. His team is looking to possibly transition to a Tiny Novice team next season. He would now be in the bigger competitions like his sister next season. That is something to think about. They are going to be competing together and there is a possibility down the road where they could compete on the same team. That is awesome. I’ve written about my son in the past maybe I’ll share it here one day. As for now I will just give you a taste of my thoughts about my son cheering. LET HIM CHEER! I hate it when people say to me, “Hey why don’t you let him play a ‘real’ sport.”  Well, he is doing a real sport he’s an athlete who will be able to do whatever his heart desires. If he wants to cheer right now I am going to let him do so because he wants to do that. I refuse to force him out of or into anything he doesn’t wish to do.

             You want to be able to sit back and think about all the good and all the bad of the season. You want to be able to think about what worked and what didn’t work when it came to traveling and competitions. We had some ups and some downs. We had some issues and they were resolved. Honestly I am happy with what we have done as a gym and what the teams are doing going forward. Listen at the end of the day you can reflect as a parent as much as you want but our children will keep doing what they love and they will continue to get better and that is what’s most important to me. Getting better and they will develop bonds with new teammates and new parents and that awesome because fun, love, and belonging three of the human five basic needs (the other two is survival and power) will be met and that is important not only for their development as athletes but important for their development as humans. So reflect all you would like that’s awesome but I would say, remember it’s not about us. We aren’t the reason they are there it’s their desire.

Charles Michael

Cheerleader of the Month-April

Congrats to Emma Dill of the 

Hilltop High School Varsity Cheerleading Team

*Emma will be receiving a Cheer4Today goody box for being selected as our cheerleader of the month. If you are interested in being a cheerleader of the month and being featured on our page, please send your information to breeze_kiss@hotmail.com with the subject line "Cheerleader of the Month"

Name:    Emma Dill                                                                               Age:       18

Been Cheering: Since the 7th Grade

Current Team: Hilltop High School Varsity Cheerleader

Favorite Food at a comp or game: Popcorn

Favorite thing about cheerleading: Supporting our teams & getting our crowd super excited!

Favorite or Proudest Mom

Proudest or favorite moment in cheer: When our varsity boys won the BBC (Buckeye Border Conference)

Something you would like readers to know about you: I love being able to help someone if they need it and love to put smiles on everyone's' faces!

Social Media Handle for others to follow you on:

"Emma Jo" (Facebook)