Cheerleading Boss

Jersey #2 and Jersey #4 are enjoying Cheerleading this flag football season.  Both love the spotlight and pom poms.  

Jersey #4 has really surprised me with the way she will stand right in the middle of the gym, in full view of all the fans in the stands, and soak up the attention.  Typically, she is not a very friendly child, so I did not expect her to enjoy the crowd like she does.

It turns out that Jersey #2 is actually really, really good at cheerleading.  She has a gift for rhythm.  She loves the beat, the music, the routines.  She loves to be loud.  She loves attention.  As much as I would prefer my daughters to play the sport, rather than cheer for it, I have to admit that Jersey #2 is a natural cheerleader.  I am starting to think we may want to seek out a gymnastics, dance, or drill team for her.

This season, the cheerleaders learned a little dance to perform at the halftime show.  The dance is a series of ripple steps, set to an 8-count beat.  Every 8 counts, the pom pom motion changes.  The coach was wise enough to position the younger girls in between the older girls, so that the older girls could keep the routine in place, even if the younger girls changed motions on their own schedule.  Jersey #2 was slated to be the last in the ripple line, because she could hold the count and position, in spite of what the younger girls around her were doing.  

It was going very well all season....

Until this week.

Jersey #4 does not grasp the 8-count beat or the ripple concept.  She is convinced that her big sister is delayed on following the motions.  This week, she decided to become vocal about it.  During the performance, she stood next to her big sister, and watched her every move.  

As the other girls changed their pom pom position, Jersey #4 changed hers too....then she called to her sister to let her know that she was out of line.  She wanted her sister to change her pom pom position immediately.

 

Jersey #2 was not phased by her bossy little sister, and kept the beat instead.  I am so thankful for that level of maturity in her, because it would have been totally embarrassing if my girls had ended up in an argument in the middle of the half time show.

We attempted to explain the routine to Jersey #4 a couple more times that evening.  She refuses to believe that Jersey #2 was correct in her delay of changing position.  

End of Season

The Upward Flag Football & Cheerleading season is officially complete. Our family attended the award ceremony this evening. It is a great event. In addition to fun door prizes, slideshows, prayers, and music, there is usually an entertainer who performs and brings a positive message. Tonight's entertainer was a juggler. He had incredible talent, and captured the kids' attention the entire show.

At the end of the event, the teams lined up for the "parade of champions." There was an inflatable tunnel that each child ran through as their name was called. Our children beamed with pride as they ran through the tunnel to the front of the stage.

Jersey #1

Jersey #2

Jersey #3

Each player was given a gift. The cheerleaders received backpacks. The football players received footballs. Fun Stuff.

What a Sport!

Jersey #1 is a good sport at just about anything she does...

She tries her best, and takes it all in stride...

She makes friends with everyone on the team.

I expected her to be more timid and shy about performing in front of the crowd. She really surprised me by how well she goes forward. She learns the routines well, and concentrates to complete each cheer accurately.

Once in a while, she smiles and looks like she is actually enjoying herself...

Two games ago, she asked me if girls can play football too. The answer is yes.

She says cheerleading was fun, but next year she wants to sign up for the football team.

That's MY girl!

She's Got Spirit

There was a time when I thought it was absolutely crazy for me to volunteer to be a cheerleading coach, just so my girls could benefit from the Upward Cheerleading program. I had my reasons--lack of experience, lack of skill, and lack of bounciness.

We are now half-way through the flag football/cheerleading season. I am so glad I decided to coach, after all.

It turns out that Jersey #2 LOVES cheerleading. She has rhythm. She has bounce. She has energy. She loves the crowd. She loves the attention. She is having a blast!

When I think about the status of her health in recent years, the big open-heart surgery, and her amazing recovery, I can't help but be thrilled that she has the energy to cheer with all her might.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Her enthusiasm is contagious.


It turns out, I am having a blast coaching cheerleading too.

3 Cheers for the Coach

My experience as a cheerleading coach has been quite interesting, but definitely one that I do not care to repeat. I just wanted to give the girls an opportunity to try cheerleading. I didn’t want the program cancelled just because there was no coach. But, honestly, I do not know what I am doing. It seems accurate to say that coaches have much more to offer when they actually know something about the sport. The best coaches seem to have a real passion for their sports too.

I do not know anything about cheerleading. I was never a cheerleader. I do not have rhythm. I am not skilled at gymnastics. I do not even look cute in a skirt! What was I thinking?

The Upward sports program is more about faith than it is about sports. Each practice contains a devotion. The devotions build upon each other through the season, with the goal of teaching children about salvation through Jesus. Thankfully, I am comfortable leading a group of young girls through a devotion. So, that part of our weekly practices is going well.

As for the cheer part, I am counting on the fact that the girls are young, and they are cute, so no one will care that our cheers are a mess. I did manage to learn some very basic fundamental moves and stances. They are able to call out a cheer, and clap together (most of the time). After that, it is anyone’s guess as to what will happen.

Four of the girls are 6-8 years old, and seem to be able to learn the cheer combinations just fine. Three of the girls are 5 years old, either by chronological age or by developmental age. In any sport, 5-year olds are the ones who are easily distracted. Cheerleading is no different. That is why I am counting on their adorable presence to get us big applause!

Jersey #3’s first flag football game is scheduled for next week. His sisters will be cheering for that game. Jersey #3 is one of those easily distracted 5-year olds, too. This could get interesting.

Cheerleading

I am now a cheerleading coach.

I am not exactly sure how this happened. It was a series of comments and conversations. Then, suddenly, I was being handed a Coach's manual and a DVD about cheerleading.

Hold up! WAIT! How can this be?

I have never been a cheerleader before. I was never any good at gymnastics either. Actually, my gymnastics teacher said I had frog legs, and no upper arm strength.

I don't even fully understand the sport. Is it a sport? Or is it a complement to sports?

Is it even appropriate? I mean, I am trying to teach my daughters about modesty and respect for themselves. And, well, you know what cheerleader outfits look like. (And when I was in high school, there was a reputation attached to the outfit).

Oh dear. What have I gotten myself into?

Ok. Breathe.


What happened was that I decided to let my older girls sign up for cheerleading, when Jersey #3 wanted to sign up for flag football. When the girls asked to be cheerleaders during basketball season, I encouraged them to play basketball instead. They have developed a love for basketball.

Then, I saw the cute little cheerleaders, and I realized what the appeal was....the pompoms! There is just something about waving and twirling with pompoms.

My children are playing sports through the Upward sports program. Thankfully, since it is a Christian program, the uniforms are modest, including the cheerleading uniforms. So, when our daughters said they had no interest in flag football, we decided they could try out cheerleading. The program teaches the sport of cheerleading. Its primary focus is Christian faith. So, I felt comforted that this was a good outlet to try out cheerleading.

Then, I received word that enrollment was low, and the church hosting the program may have to cancel this season. I went to the meeting last night to learn more. The program director was explaining that there are only enough flag football players for 2 teams, and there are only 3 cheerleaders. They are short on football coaches, and absent any cheerleading coaches.

The other parents in attendance were in agreement that we should continue the season with only 2 football teams. No one seemed to mind playing the same team every week, since our boys were young and new to the sport anyway. Jersey #3 certainly fits that profile, because he has not played football before.

Then, the director came over to talk to me specifically, because I have 2 of the only 3 registered cheerleaders. He was pretty certain he was going to have to cancel the cheerleading program. He clearly felt bad about that. I explained to him that I had no cheerleading experience to be able to coach. He immediately perked up and said that he had a manual that laid out each week's skills....and a DVD that shows the routines. He assured me that Upward sets the program up so that coaches do not have to have experience. The director even explained that one year, his sister coached the cheerleaders, using a DVD to show the girls how to cheer, because she had no experience.

So, I agreed to fill the void. I volunteered to coach the cheerleaders.

As the director handed me the coaching materials, I assured him that IF he found a parent with experience or who wanted to coach that I would happily give it up! He laughed. Then, he asked me what evening I wanted to set up practice.

The first thing I noticed in the coaching manual is the comment that the coach should have an understanding of the sport of cheerleading, to be able to teach the skills.

Oh dear. I'm in trouble now.

I was not real sure how to break the news to my family, so I just blurted it out.

Jersey #2 was so excited that she ran up to me an gave me a hug.

The Referee, first acted a bit shocked, then shrugged as if he was not really that shocked that I got myself into another coaching responsibility.

Jersey #1 said she thought it was "really cool."

This could get interesting. I am coaching a sport I have never played. At a church I don't attend. With folks I don't know.

But, my kids are excited, so I am ready to take the plunge...