Expert: Pamela Enders - 3/17/2009

Question
I'm having cheerleading tryouts this Friday and we have practice Monday through Thursday. Today at practice they taught us the cheer we will have to perform for tryouts and I can't get all the motions. The cheer is really hard and I really need some help. Also, my motions aren't that good either. Is there anything I can do to help my motions? I need all the help and tips I can get for the tryouts so [please write back soon!! Thanks!

Answer
Dear Shelby,

Remember that practice is just that - it's practice!  You aren’t expected to know the cheer yet since you were just taught it.  It probably seems hard because it’s new and unfamiliar to you.  Remember how things that come easy to you now used to feel hard when they were unfamiliar? Same thing!

Try not to spook yourself into thinking it’s harder than it is.  Also, don’t think of the whole cheer routine at once, take it step by step by step.

Cheer motions should be clean and sharp.  Practice in a mirror to see how you can improve.  Also, check out some videos on youtube to see how expert cheerleaders do it.

Now, you need to calm down a bit since the calmer you are, the better you will be able to focus.  So the first thing is to exhale slowly right now.  Go ahead, exhale s-l-o-w-l-y… and again…and again…and again.!

Here is how I recommend you practice your practice:

1. If you can,find a private space and set up chairs or pillows in front of you to represent the judges.  (Really...you can then also practice making eye contact with the pillow or chairs...or judges!)

2. Once the room is set up, close your eyes.

2. Exhale slowly 3 - 4 times to help you calm down.

3. Once you feel calm and centered, open your eyes and begin to practice the dance.

4. When you get to the point where you don’t know it or you mess up, skip over it and go to what you know, making a note of where you are unsure then check it out with your trainer as soon as you can.
5. But be sure to slow it down - a lot - and really zero in on the steps you need to make, focusing on making clean sharp motions.

5. If you become distracted or get too anxious, STOP everything and close your eyes and exhale slowly 3 - 4 times until you feel calm and centered and focused.

5. Now you may begin your practice again in this calm and focused state.

6. Go through it slowly - focusing on the transitions from one step to the next.

7. If you forget the step, say to yourself, "I'm letting that go," and move on.

8. Repeat over and over and eventually speed it up until you can go through the whole routine in a calm focused state.



The reason you are doing this is to help you get into a good focused performance state.  You are forgetting because you are getting distracted and then you are telling yourself you can't go on (unconsciously).



At the tryout, get into this focused state by exhaling slowly a few times.  You will be reminding your brain and body to click into this positive performance state.



Your body does what your brain thinks so if you keep telling yourself that you're going to mess up, guess what will happen! That's why I ask you to go though this slowly so you can get it right and so your brain will register that fact.  Each time you do it right, tell yourself, "I can do it" or "I'm doing it!" Then tonight, repeat that phrase.



Remember, judges are most impressed with spirit and attitude.  It's normal for people to make mistakes - especially during tryouts but if you show them you are having fun and know how to connect with people, they will like that. If you do make a mistake, say to yourself, "I'm letting that go and moving on," exhale once and get back in the groove.

By the way, I told this to another cheerleader who was worried about making a mistake and she used it and got in!

You may want to check out my bog for other tips and ideas. www.confidentcheerleadingblog.com


Good luck and let me know how it goes!