Preparing for the big day......

Feeling confident!!

Okay so we all get a little nervous for our competitions, we can admit that, right? So feeling confident with your routine, your tumbling, and your stunt is a big factor whether you're going to do well or not. If you doubt yourself or your stunt group, chances are you're not going to put in as much because you already think it's going to fall or not hit. Something I do that some other people might do is staying focused. I take every section of my routine piece by piece to help me stay focused on what I'm doing in that section of the routine. Even if I'm a little ( very ) nervous or scared to preform, I always try to keep a good attitude and stay positive because it helps me stay focused throughout the routine and the out come is always better when I'm positive than when I'm nervous and scared.

The proper sleep schedule 

Making sure you have enough energy and sleep for the routine is very important. As an All-Star cheerleader ( someone who tumbles, stunts, and dances competitively on a non-school sports team and making cheerleading and actual sport ) you use a lot of your energy when you preform because you're doing so many things ( Tumbling, stunting, dancing, and preforming for the crowd ) in the routine. I try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday so my body is use to going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday. I wake up between 6:30-7 am and I go to bed between 10-10:30 pm everyday and on days I have competitions, I'm properly rested for my competition. Most cheerleaders are between 13-18 years old. If you happen to be within that age range and you're not sure how much sleep you should get, check out this link for some information about your specific sleep schedule. Sleep in Adolescents :: Nationwide Children's Hospital. I recommend clicking on the link and reading it a little because it has helped me.

Staying focused & giving it your all!!!

What helps me, and I've said it before take ONE thing at a time. My coaches always tell me "take it piece by piece & section by section. Don't think about what you have to do next, just focus on what you have to do now" and it always helps me out.  Always listen to your coaches because they know what they're talking about. I've learned that if my coach tells me to do something, I've gotta trust them and believe them.... even if it may seem crazy or weird. When I take it one part of the routine at a time I tend to do better than if I was thinking about what I have to do next. ALWAYS preform with energy, confidence, and giving your all!! When I'm watching teams compete, I always look for the people who preform and gives you energy throughout the routine and during the stunt because it makes you want to watch more. At practice try to preform like you're at a competition so then when you're at a competition its going to be easier to put on a show and keep the audience entertained..... and after all, that's what us cheerleaders do best!!! It might seem weird at first but when you get use to preforming at practice it'll make it soooooo much easier to preform for an audience and maybe your stunts can look as good and as cool as the one in the gif!!