When thinking of cheer-specific conditioning ideas, it's important to focus on what your squad or cheerleaders in particular need to work on. Conditioning, not only improves strength and endurance, but can also correct areas your cheerleaders struggle with.
Examples:
1. Run laps while yelling one of your longer cheers in unison. This will improve the volume of their voices when they're cheering at games, or help them keep their voices strong and audible during stunting!
2. Run laps while having their arms glued cleanly to their sides. This helps prepare them for walking transitions in competition routines or half time performances.
3. Do jumping jacks, but have them hit High V's and Low V's with their arms. This will strengthen motions.
4. Create an 8-count of cheer motions, that the girls can repeat over and over to work on motion sharpness and placement. (I use: 1. Broken T, 2. T, 3. High V, 4. Low V, 5. Table Top, 6. Right Diagonal, 7. Left Diagonal, 8. Clap. Repeat!)
5. For stunting, as Rachel mentioned above, you can strengthen bases arms/shoulders by having them go from prep/elevator level up to a full extension and then back to prep/elevator. This is more effective than simply doing push-ups on the ground, as lifting their flyer is giving the bases stunting endurance.
If you are a current or past coach or cheerleader and have any other conditioning ideas, please share them so we can all get stronger and sharper together!
Examples:
1. Run laps while yelling one of your longer cheers in unison. This will improve the volume of their voices when they're cheering at games, or help them keep their voices strong and audible during stunting!
2. Run laps while having their arms glued cleanly to their sides. This helps prepare them for walking transitions in competition routines or half time performances.
3. Do jumping jacks, but have them hit High V's and Low V's with their arms. This will strengthen motions.
4. Create an 8-count of cheer motions, that the girls can repeat over and over to work on motion sharpness and placement. (I use: 1. Broken T, 2. T, 3. High V, 4. Low V, 5. Table Top, 6. Right Diagonal, 7. Left Diagonal, 8. Clap. Repeat!)
5. For stunting, as Rachel mentioned above, you can strengthen bases arms/shoulders by having them go from prep/elevator level up to a full extension and then back to prep/elevator. This is more effective than simply doing push-ups on the ground, as lifting their flyer is giving the bases stunting endurance.
If you are a current or past coach or cheerleader and have any other conditioning ideas, please share them so we can all get stronger and sharper together!
