Here are some DOs and DON’Ts for TRYOUTS of 2018!

I get it, tryouts can be stressful – but they don’t have to be! Follow my top tricks and tips to make this year’s tryouts stressfree and fun for both you and your cheerleader!

DOs:

1. Take extra tumbling classes or privates to clean up your current skills. You can take extra privates at your gym or virtually with Danielle (check it out)!! 

2. Look presentable. When you feel good, you do good! We are looking for you to be confident in the level you are trying out for. A polished, clean look adds to confidence and overall presentation.

Gabby looking presentable for tryouts.

3. Get a good night’s sleep and eat healthy the days leading up to tryouts. Getting sleep and eating healthy will help you stay focused and energized. 

4. Come to tryouts with an open mind. Just because you were a flyer at your old gym, does not mean you will be a flyer again.

5. Deep stretch the days leading up to tryouts. You might be able to accomplish that needle or a hyper extended jump if you really stick to a regimen. See my last blog on improving flexibility!

Amarys stretching at home.

6. Trust the process! The coaches are the experts and we take a lot into consideration when putting teams together.

DONTs:

1. DON’T Take extra tumbling classes or privates to try to get new skills in a rush for tryouts. Coaches are looking for proper technique or “compete-able” skills. We’d rather see a beautiful specialty level 2 pass, as opposed to a round off tuck landing to your knees. 

2. DON’T come to tryouts in non-cheer sneakers, hair in face, or wearing jewelry; these are not only unsafe, but also a distraction. 

3. DON’T come to tryouts with a cheeseburger, candy, and soda in your bag for break. Your energy will crash and you won’t feel 100%. Instead, stick with water and healthy options such as fresh veggies or a piece of fruit. 

4. DON’T refuse a stunting position when asked to try basing or flying in a particular group. Leave it to the coaches to “play around” until we find a perfect fit for you. 

5. DON’T skimp out on stretching. You can easily pull a muscle if you haven’t been in the gym in a few weeks and haven’t warmed up those muscles properly before try outs!

6. DON’T bad mouth the gym, coaches, or other athletes based on where anyone or yourself should be placed. Hold your chin high, be a good team player, and most of all, have fun!

#CHEERFITAMBASSADOR Kaylee stretching. 

JEN PESCI

is currently a coach at Premier All Stars in Morganville, NJ. She has coached cheerleading for 19 years, at all ages and levels, and is well educated and highly experienced in all areas of cheer. Pictured is Jen with her 3 daughters Kaylee, Gianna, and Gabriella, who all cheer for Premier as well

“I’m one of those mom’s who stick around during my daughter’s cheer practice.”

My oldest daughter, who is 13 hates it, my younger daughter Savannah, who is a CHEERFIT Ambassador, age 10, loves it. I like watching what they are working on, how they are progressing, etc.

BECOMING A TEAM MOM

I think after being around so much, I kind of asked if the team needed a Team Mom to take care of correspondence, help coordinate things, etc. For all the Cheer Team Moms out there, this can be such a rewarding thing! This has by far been fun, emotional at times, and so much more than just sending out reminder emails for the coaches. Like everything, you get what you put into it.

Yes, I totally admit I live vicariously through my daughter’s cheerleading. Thank you to their Coaches for allowing me to travel this journey with them. Mom’s…you can bring so much to your daughter’s team. I have sat down with them and told them about my experience with Traumatic Brain Injury (the reaction and emotions were heartwarming and priceless), we have created get well cards for injured coaches, I’ve surprised the girls with a candy table at Easter, Valentines party, motivational quotes in our group chat, and hand out photo collage’s they can hang in their locker or at school after a competition.

The ideas are limitless, and the girls love the encouragement.

Think about volunteering to be a Team Mom for the new cheer season! I promise you won’t regret it.

Don’t forget to join the CHEERFIT Movement with your cheerleader and discover that you can also be #CHEERFITSTRONG.

TARA HULETT

A mom of three.  My two daughters have been cheering since they were each two years old.  I’ve been a “Cheer Mom” for eleven years and going strong.

Now let’s face it… EVERY Cheer Parent is truly a SUPER HERO!

Whether it’s getting kids to cheer practice, school, or competitions… these schedules can get pretty CRAZY!

Luckily we have some AMAZING TIPS on how to STAY ORGANIZED and be able to GET EVERYTHING DONE!

1.  START TO SCHEDULE EVERYTHING!

I rely heavily on my phone and calendar to get everything straight. I am one of those moms that will completely forget that I have to do anything that day until it is time to go. I make sure everything is always set in my phone as soon as I find out about it, then I write it on the calendar in the kitchen at home so she can check it as well. The calendar in my phone is also color coordinated. Each event has its own color, whether it is Cheer, archery, doctor appointment, or her dad’s weekend. For archery tournaments and practice I also use my calendar and phone!

STAYING ORGANIZED IS KEY! WHETHER IT’S YOUR PHONE, PLANNER, OR STICKY NOTES; STAYING TRUE TO YOUR SCHEDULE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR DAY! : )

2.  FORGETFUL? USE ALARMS!

My daughter has a phone with an alarm that will go off forty-five minutes prior to cheer practice. This allows her to know when to get ready! I have another alarm that will go off fifteen minutes from when we need to leave. With all these alarms we are able to get through the day right on schedule. I can also get her one year-old brother and his bag ready before we head out.

ALARMS CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND AND LIFE SAVER!

3.  KEEP YOUR AREA ORGANIZED

We have specific places for EVERYTHING!

Practices and competitions require LOTS of specific items and sometimes it can get a little hard to keep track of everything! But we were able to find the PERFECT SOLUTION!

1. Bows
2. Practice Shirts
3. Practice Uniforms
4. Cheer Shoes
5. Competition Uniform
6. Team Cheer Bag
7. Water Bottle
8. Extra Accessories

WE WERE ABLE TO ORGANIZE ALL THE ITEMS IN HER CLOSET RIGHT BEFORE WE START OUR DAY!

Before we go we always double check all our bags the night before before we go to competitions, also the morning of JUST IN CASE!

MELLISA GUTHERY