Teambuilding, by definition, is work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. As a coach or director, you know that teambuilding is one of the most critical components of a cheer and dance team. At its best, it allows your team to reach its goals. It is the "X factor" that drives your team to finish first and edge out those close competitors. It is the difference between a smile and tears. It may be the most important skill that they will take with them as they move beyond their adolescent experiences.
Here are a few great ideas to foster positive teambuilding experiences with your team:
1. Have "themed" practices! Come up with a different idea for the next few practices where the team can dress up. This way they are getting the practice time in, but it breaks the monotony. Some ideas are decades or superheroes.
2. Have "positive circles" before games and practices! This reminds the team how much fun it can be, and helps them forget about the negative aspects of being tired.
3. Get to know your teammates by writing questions on a piece of paper and put it in a basket. Each team member draws a question from the basket and must answer it honestly. Such questions could be "Who is your hero," "What profession would you like to pursue," or even something silly like, "If you were an animal, which would you choose and why?"
4. The human knot! Have your team stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder. Each person then reaches in with their right hand and grabs someone else’s hand. Then they all place their left hand in and take hold of someone else’s hand. This is now the "Human Knot" that you must untie, without letting go of anyone’s hand. This is a great way for them to learn to work together and to communicate with one another.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Fundraising Successfully
The essential element of fundraising is to have a goal. That goal could be something like: "To send each cheerleader to camp without parental expense," "To run a completely free cheerleading program," or "To send the team to competition."
The second essential element is a highly motivated group of parents. For raising large sums of money, they are crucial. Get the support of your parents from day one. Let them know that the more cooperative they are in fundraising, the less money will come out of their pockets!
A third element that helps make raising large amounts easier is a cheerleading team's involvement in the community. Involve your team in as many things as you can: United Way, American Cancer Society, "Just Say No" Drug Prevention programs, anything that will get their name on the public's lips and teach them about community involvement. Then when you solicit advertising or are asking for a donation or selling a product, you have won half the battle. You're well known and you have established your commitment to the community who will in turn support you!
The second essential element is a highly motivated group of parents. For raising large sums of money, they are crucial. Get the support of your parents from day one. Let them know that the more cooperative they are in fundraising, the less money will come out of their pockets!
A third element that helps make raising large amounts easier is a cheerleading team's involvement in the community. Involve your team in as many things as you can: United Way, American Cancer Society, "Just Say No" Drug Prevention programs, anything that will get their name on the public's lips and teach them about community involvement. Then when you solicit advertising or are asking for a donation or selling a product, you have won half the battle. You're well known and you have established your commitment to the community who will in turn support you!
Help for Shin Splints
With the various types of jumps and landings that occur in cheerleading and dance, it is no wonder that one of the most common complaints of cheerleading and dance injury concerns "shin splints." Shin splint syndrome is a term often used to describe any pain in the lower leg. What is meant most often when describing shin splints is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS), a condition characterized as pain of the lower third of the tibia on the medial (inside) aspect of the lower leg.
RICE is a way to manage the problems shin splints present.
Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE) is an important principle in treating medial tibial stress syndrome.
Rest should be active, relieving stress on the involved areas, yet maintaining cardiovascular conditioning. Complete rest from activities may give temporary relief, but they are likely to resurface with resumed activity, especially if the athlete is trying to make up for lost time. Active rest activities for rehabilitating MTSS include cross-country ski simulation, stationary cycling, swimming or jogging in deep water with a wet vest.
Ice massage or ice bags to the shin region are beneficial before a workout. A handy ice cube can be made by freezing Dixie cups filled with water, then peeling back the top half of the cup to expose the ice. Ice massage with this ice block is applied for 10 minutes or until redness occurs. Ice application should be followed by a gradual stretch to both the anterior and posterior aspects of the leg directly after the massage. Gradual stretching should be routine procedure before and after physical activity for all exercisers who have a history of MTSS.
Compression involves wrapping the area with an elastic bandage. This can be applied with the ice when bags are used.
Elevation assists in venous blood flow return to the heart and should be done for the duration of the ice treatment.
RICE is a way to manage the problems shin splints present.
Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE) is an important principle in treating medial tibial stress syndrome.
Rest should be active, relieving stress on the involved areas, yet maintaining cardiovascular conditioning. Complete rest from activities may give temporary relief, but they are likely to resurface with resumed activity, especially if the athlete is trying to make up for lost time. Active rest activities for rehabilitating MTSS include cross-country ski simulation, stationary cycling, swimming or jogging in deep water with a wet vest.
Ice massage or ice bags to the shin region are beneficial before a workout. A handy ice cube can be made by freezing Dixie cups filled with water, then peeling back the top half of the cup to expose the ice. Ice massage with this ice block is applied for 10 minutes or until redness occurs. Ice application should be followed by a gradual stretch to both the anterior and posterior aspects of the leg directly after the massage. Gradual stretching should be routine procedure before and after physical activity for all exercisers who have a history of MTSS.
Compression involves wrapping the area with an elastic bandage. This can be applied with the ice when bags are used.
Elevation assists in venous blood flow return to the heart and should be done for the duration of the ice treatment.
The Kick Basket Toss
This is an advanced level basket toss skill that includes kicking your left leg up while your arms make an "L-like" motion, then snapping your legs back together for the cradle. This stunt is legal at the high school level.
This basket toss requires two tossers and a back spot. An additional tosser from the front is recommended, but not necessary.
The top girl loads in to the basket facing to the side of the crowd, making sure to keep her shoulders, knees, and toes in a straight vertical line and her hips up.
The tossers (bases) connect hands in a standard basket grip (the front tosser, if present, places her hands underneath theirs to assist with the toss).
The back spot helps the top girl load into the basket and then reaches underneath the basket to assist with the toss as well.
The tossers (bases) connect hands in a standard basket grip (the front tosser, if present, places her hands underneath theirs to assist with the toss).
The back spot helps the top girl load into the basket and then reaches underneath the basket to assist with the toss as well.
Exploding with their legs and shrugging through their shoulders, the bases toss the top girl into the air.
The top girl rides up, keeping her body in a straight line.
The top girl rides up, keeping her body in a straight line.
Once the top girl reaches the top of the basket, she kicks her left leg up, while keeping the right leg straight, and brings her arms to an "L-like" motion (left arm in a punch, right arm in candlesticks).
After the kick is completed, the top girl snaps her feet back together and her arms down by her sides, remains tight, and prepares for the cradle.
The bases and back spot wait with arms extended to catch the top girl in the cradle. They remain in the same position the entire time.
After the kick is completed, the top girl snaps her feet back together and her arms down by her sides, remains tight, and prepares for the cradle.
The bases and back spot wait with arms extended to catch the top girl in the cradle. They remain in the same position the entire time.
The bases begin to slow the top girl into the cradle as soon as they make contact with her body. As they catch, they absorb with their legs.
The top girl pikes her body for the cradle, keeping her shoulders up and catching herself on her bases' shoulders.
The top girl pikes her body for the cradle, keeping her shoulders up and catching herself on her bases' shoulders.
Benefits of Cheerleading Camp
Camp is a great way for all teams to start their season. It can be the first step in becoming a team, and the key to having a safe and successful year. Here are four great reasons to attend a cheerleading camp:
1. Develop skills safely! Camp will help your team create a foundation to build upon throughout the year. When you start training as a team, you should be starting with the basics, as well as learning safety and spotting techniques. As a team, you'll go through the proper progression of skills together, laying the groundwork for a safe season.
2. Build your team! Camp is the ideal setting for your athletes to bond together as a team and set common goals and purpose. This focused time is critical to creating the unity required to transform a group of individuals into a strong team.
3. Create confidence! Whether it's a private camp at your school or an overnight camp at a local university, camp gives your team the opportunity to succeed in the very beginning of the season. From learning a new cheer to performing in front of their peers, each activity builds the confidence your team will need to gain accomplishments throughout the year.
4. Stay current! When you learn from the experts in the industry, you learn all of the latest tips and techniques. Camp is the best way to stay up-to-date on cutting edge skills and safety rules in these ever-changing activities.
1. Develop skills safely! Camp will help your team create a foundation to build upon throughout the year. When you start training as a team, you should be starting with the basics, as well as learning safety and spotting techniques. As a team, you'll go through the proper progression of skills together, laying the groundwork for a safe season.
2. Build your team! Camp is the ideal setting for your athletes to bond together as a team and set common goals and purpose. This focused time is critical to creating the unity required to transform a group of individuals into a strong team.
3. Create confidence! Whether it's a private camp at your school or an overnight camp at a local university, camp gives your team the opportunity to succeed in the very beginning of the season. From learning a new cheer to performing in front of their peers, each activity builds the confidence your team will need to gain accomplishments throughout the year.
4. Stay current! When you learn from the experts in the industry, you learn all of the latest tips and techniques. Camp is the best way to stay up-to-date on cutting edge skills and safety rules in these ever-changing activities.
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