Expert: Steve Michaud - 3/6/2001

Question
My sister is trying out for the varsity squad on friday and today is monday. she has never been a cheerleader before and i have. so has my little sister and all of her friends. we are trying to teach her how to do jumps. she is 17 and she is hearing impared. when we do tell her she trys but she can't get any higher. we tell her to rotate her hip we even tell her to strech more! but what ever she does it doesn't work. is she scared? please help me i really need it! and please make it before friday march 9 cause that is her tryouts! thank you so ever much for taking the time to read this!

Answer
Amanda I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you before her tryouts! :(  I hope the tryouts went well for her and this may help her improve on them for the future.  The two drills I like to use are assisted jump drills.  One drill you stand facing her and have her put her forearms on yours and you hold under her elbows.  As she jumps you push up through her elbows giving her time to "sit into it" more.  The other ways you can do this are by letting her push down on your back...you put your hands on your knees facing away from her making a platform for her with your lower back, or holding her at the waist and lifting her a bit to give her the confidence.

The other way is to get her on a trampoline and let her try them there...the extra height may be all she needs to rotate her hips.

Again I am very sorry it took so long to get your question and I wish you and your sisters the best of luck in the future!

Steve