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Upward Cheerleading Coach Training Conference. What we will cover at this training. Primary responsibilities of an Upward Cheerleading Coach. The basics of cheerleading practices. Coach resources to assist you in conducting practices. How to conduct mid-practice devotions.
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Upward Cheerleading Coach Training Conference
What we will cover at this training • Primary responsibilities of an Upward Cheerleading Coach • The basics of cheerleading practices • Coach resources to assist you in conducting practices • How to conduct mid-practice devotions • The basics of cheerleading on game days • Format to Upward Cheerleading • Cheerleader recognition through game day stars
The Upward Cheerleading Coach Responsibilities at Practices: • Prepare for practices by having a plan in place for skill development • Teach the fundamentals of cheerleading to enhance skills of your squad • Share a five to eight minute devotion with your team during each mid-practice huddle time • Distribute green practice stars at the end of each practice and practice cards at practices 1, 2, 5, 8 and the last practice
The Upward Cheerleading Coach Responsibilities at Games: • Participate in player and cheerleader introductions and pre-game prayer led by the referees • Support the players, coaches and referees with positive cheers throughout each game • Know what your squad will be performing during each timeout and halftime of every game • At the end of each game, conduct a game day star presentation with all cheerleaders and parents
Practice Breakdown 1. Welcome and Games (3-5 minutes) – Start your practice with a fun game to welcome all cheerleaders and get them excited. 2. Warm-up and stretch (10 minutes) – Warm up and stretch muscles by using the warm-ups found in the coach cheerbook. 3. Fundamentals (10 minutes) – Review learned skills and teach new ones each week.
Practice Breakdown 4. Mid-Practice Huddle (8 minutes) – Share the practice-specific devotion for each week. 5. New Material (20 minutes) – Introduce new cheers, chants, pom routines or halftime routines. 6. Post-practice Huddle (5 minutes) – Distribute green practice stars and practice cards. Remind cheerleaders about the TeamUpward.com unlock code on the practice card and make any necessary announcements.
Coach Cheerbook (with DVD, CD and Sticker Stars) The coach cheerbook will be provided in your coach box and includes: • An outline of cheerleading skills and practice concepts • A complete set of practice devotions • Sticker stars to be distributed to cheerleaders at practices and games. • An instructional DVD that demonstrates all cheers, chants and pom routines • A music CD to be used when performing pom routines
Online Coach Resource(MyUpward.org) The coach resources of MyUpward.org contain everything you need to be a successful Upward Cheerleading Coach, including: • Cheers, chants and pom routines • Halftime routines • Weekly practice devotions • Formations and motions pages • “60-Second Spirit” video blogs for coaches
The Coach’s Sideline The Coach’s Sideline is a complete practice guide that is customized to the age division that you coach. In it you will find team meeting topics, warm-up activities, skills focus, skills/drills as well as the specific practice devotion. These practice plans are available at: www.MyUpward.org
Mid-Practice Huddle At the midpoint of every practice, you will lead a five- to eight-minute devotion during the mid-practice huddle time. The devotions teach on the character of Christ through the virtues he modeled. This season will focus on three virtues. Each virtue will be the focus of three practices and are highlighted by one verse. Let’s take a look at the virtues and verses:
Mid-Practice Huddle • All Scripture verses for the season will be made available to cheerleaders through practice cards. • Devotion guides are found in your coach cheerbook as well as on MyUpward.org. It is important to prepare for each week’s devotion prior to practice. • On page 22 of your coach training guide is the first practice devotion. If you do not receive your coach cheerbook by your first practice, follow this guide during your first mid-practice huddle.
Last Practice Devotion • During the last practice of the season, you will share a special devotion with your cheerleaders that reviews the season’s virtues while sharing more about Christ in preparation for the awards celebration. No matter when your last practice occurs, make sure to skip to this last devotion in your coach cheerbook.
Practice Cards Each cheerleader will receive a practice card at the end of Practices 1, 2, 5, 8 and the last practice. With the exception of the first practice card, each one will contain the Scripture verse being learned for the next two practices as well as an unlock code for TeamUpward.com. The first practice card details does not include a verse, but gives information on how to get registered on TeamUpward.com by including a sport-specific launch code.
Green Practice Stars Green sticker stars known as practice stars are found in the back portion of your coach cheerbook. These stars are distributed to each cheerleader at practice for participating in learning the Scripture verse. Cheerleaders are not required to memorize the verse individually to receive a star. Cheerleaders will display these stars on their megaphones along with the game day stars they receive.
Post Season Awards Celebration The awards celebration is the highlight of the entire season. This is a tremendous opportunity for you to communicate your love and support to the most important people in the league - the children. At the celebration each child will receive an end-of-season award. This award will serve as a reminder of the Christlike attitudes and characteristics each child has learned and experienced throughout the season. Cheerleaders should be used to generate excitement during the awards celebration. Details on the cheerleaders’ involvement during this celebration will come.
Game Day for Upward Cheerleaders Here are a few key points to remember on game day: • Cheerleaders should be instructed to arrive at the field prior to the scheduled game time to warm up and stretch and practice before cheering. • Include your cheerleading squad in the pre-game prayer huddle with players, coaches, and referees. • Incorporate your cheerleaders into halftimes. Games consist of four nine-minute quarters with an eight-minute halftime period. • The clock stops briefly at the end of each quarter. This can be a great time for cheerleaders to do a quick chant, cheer or jump.
Game Day for Upward Cheerleaders Key points to remember for game days, continued: • Encourage cheerleaders to watch the game, so they can cheer for each team when touchdowns are scored. • Cheerleaders need to be alert to the action on the field to protect themselves from an out-of-bounds ball or player. • If cheerleaders will be standing during games, have them place their poms on the ground as a marker for their position in the lineup. It’s also important for cheerleaders to stay in their lines throughout the game. • Come to each game prepared with a list of all known cheers and chants. You can also make a poster with all the cheers, chants, timeout routines and your halftime routine as a visual reminder to all cheerleaders.
Upward Cheerleading Format • All cheers learned will be used to encourage both teams that are playing. No negative cheers are permitted. Refrain from using such terms such as beat, kill, fight, defeat, etc. • No squad will have a specific team it cheers for each week. • All cheerleading squads will wear identical uniforms. • Upward Sports recommends you avoid tumbling and stunting as a part of your cheerleading program. • Squad divisions are determined by age. In most cases, like age groups will be cheering together.
Game-Day Recognition In order to build self-esteem and team spirit, each cheerleader will receive one of five different sticker stars after every game. These stars are to be displayed on the cheerleaders’ megaphones. The five colors represent the following: Use the star distribution form found in the back portion of the coach cheerbook to track which stars each cheerleader has received. Make an attempt to award each cheerleader all five star colors throughout the season. These sticker stars are located in the back of the coach cheerbook.
Distributing Game Day Stars Star presentation is a special time for every cheerleader. When distributing these stars, make it fun by: • Inviting parents and spectators to meet at a specific area off the field after the game. • Giving specific reasons why each cheerleader received their star. • Applauding each child as they receive their star. • Reminding cheerleaders to have their megaphones available so they can display their stars.
Upward Cheerleading Coach Training Conference