Keep it Simple

It was difficult coaching last year in the pandemic, but I think this year is even more difficult.  At this point last year we had no cheer competitions on the calendar and the State Championship had not been scheduled yet.  This year, we have been pressing forward with games and competitions.  My team has already competed and we have not had the same athletes on the mat at each competition due to quarantines and injuries.  Our team missed two competitions because of being quarantined.  

It was difficult last year to not have anything on the calendar and not knowing if all of our practice would result in any kind of performance.  This year it has been challenging to be completely ready for a game or competition and a quarantine prevented us from going.  

As I look at how to go about coaching this year, some of the tips I gave last year have come in handy.  I thought I would pass it on with updates to help you out!

Keep it Simple

Not knowing who will be at each practice, I have reminded myself to 

Keep it simple…..Keep it simple….Keep it simple.

This is the phrase that continues to resonate in my head. When I taught the team the competition routine, I put stunts and other skills that I knew they could hit. 

I am keeping it simple for several reasons:

Clean and Confident Scores Best

First, COVID or not, a clean routine performed by a confident team will ALWAYS score better.  As coaches we need to empower our teams for competition to be confident.  Confidence will help them to be more clean when they perform because they will be confident in every motion, tumbling pass and stunt.  

Eliminate Extra Stress

Second, our athletes do not need the extra stress.  I am always a coach to push my team hard and get them to do skills beyond what they thought was possible.  But, this is not the year to focus on hitting the most advanced skills possible.  

As with our own lives, our athletes' circumstances have likely changed drastically. We don't need to add a level of stunts and other skills to our routines that may cause unnecessary anxiety that may be magnified in a year like this.  

When you try this, and your team is hitting their stunts and their other skills where they are ready to perform at a competition, then upgrade the routine by adding difficulty, one small part at a time.   

Focus on the Basics

Third, continue to focus on the basics and building a foundation.  I am optimistic that someday we will come out of COVID and get back to “normal” - a better “normal”.  If you can have a solid foundation with your motions, stunts, tumbling and other skills, it is a great place to build on for the future.  It always benefits a team to go back to the basics and will serve your future teams well.  

Remember - Keep it Simple!  

Need new stunts?  Check out Stunt School HERE!

Photography by April Hagestad