#TheCheerMom Motivational Monday

                        Staying positive is key...                            Every Monday I will be posting motivational quotes to get us through the week on a positive note.... 

Tara

#TheCheerMom, CheerLEADER Advocate

Cheer Life LI Special Report: LICCA Finals Recap

With the season coming to an end, Super Bowl weekend means more than football to Long Island cheerleaders. LICCA varsity finals took place on Saturday at Happaugue High School and Sunday at Suffolk County Community College with over 30 teams who qualified this year. The weekend started on Saturday morning with Medium varsity. 

West Islip started their routine off with standing tumbling followed by 4 low to high heel stretches in their partner stunt. They spelt their cheer with 4 unassisted one men reading W-E-S-T, and different color signs made it unique! Smithtown West stunned us all with their no handed one and a quarter ups that they made look as easy as pie. Their energy throughout the routine was great and their cheer was catchy and fun!

The session ended with the cheerlebrities of Long Island, Rocky Point. While a familiar face at LI Championships, we can't seem to take our eyes off them when they take the mat. 5 unassisted full ups hit along with the rest of their flawless routine. I think what most of us would like to know is how they don't get dizzy by spinning non stop!

Before awards, teams come together to put on a patriotic tribute performance which is always fun to watch. Gina Caputo puts together these performances, and they always turn out great. The sportsmanship award was called out first for West Islip. After that followed the top 5 which were 5-West Islip, 4-Bayshore, 3-Macarther, 2-Smithtown West, and the LI champion-Rocky Point. 

The large varsity division was next consisting of only 8 teams who qualified. Although there were only a few teams competing, it was a fantastic competition full of difficulty and well executed routines. These teams did not let anyone else in their division get past them this season and will continue to hold their own when 7  of them attend this weekends prestigious UCA nationals in Disney. The awards came to 5-Bethpage, 4-Freeport, 3-Plainedge, 2-Kellenburg, Long Island champion in large, Mount Sinai. 

Sunday was our most exciting competition of the weekend at SCCC. Small varsity consisted of 14 qualifying teams all around the same level as eachother.  Spectators and judges came into the competition having no clue who would take home that championship title.  North Babylon hit their stretch to stretches in the partner stunt and clean tumbling throughout. Hauppauge had an injury during warm ups, but they still went out there and did a great job. Shoreham had to stop their routine halfway through but the girls recovered from their mishap and finished their routine strong. Smithtown East had a fall in their partner stunts, but their high to highs looked solid! One of the most unique, and fun routines to watch was Massapequa. Where did they come from?! 

The weekend ended with the LICCA all stars, Act member recognition, patriotic tribute and power four. The sportsmanship award went to Kings Park followed by the top 5 teams with 2 ties in the small division. 5-North Babylon, 4-Wantagh and Hauppauge, 3-Clarke and Comsewogue, 2-Massapequa, and the championship went to Smithtown East!

With the LICCA competition season coming to an end, it only means one thing to many of our Long Island teams, NATIONALS! In just a few days, teams will be headed off to warm weather to turn theirs dreams into reality at the most magical place on earth, Disney World. Good luck to all teams competing this weekend and congratulations to all of our Long Island finalists on a great season! 

-Cheer Life Long Island

Follow Them @CheerLifeLI

The True Cheer Mom Profile

#TheCheerMom

Wow so this is quite a little adventure my daughter has put me on! What adventure you might be asking? Well that would be being a Cheer Mom.  

So here I am wondering what is a Cheer Mom? Well, “A cheer mom is the mother of a cheerleader who is very involved and supportive of her child's sport.” Simple enough right? 

Well nothing is that simple!

Do you know how many times I have heard the definitions of what others think of "cheer moms?" Let me give you some examples.

• Cheer Moms are mom's who are living vicariously through their child/children.
• Cheer Moms were a cheerleader in high school or college.
• Cheer Moms always wanted to be a cheerleader and never pursued it so now they are "making" their child/children do cheer.
• Cheer Moms are single minded, overpowering, loud, obnoxious, snotty, ‘clicky’, mean and oh, my favorite…..
• Crazy with a capital C!  

Now that you have heard what everyone else thinks a Cheer Mom is, let me provide you with my definition.

• First, the above statements are NOT ONLY FALSE but not how I feel. 
• Second, a Cheer Mom to me is a parent who is just like any other sports parent. We are the same as your typical "soccer mom", "baseball, football, lacrosse, track.. and so on mom",  a person who helps their child focus, who is supportive, understanding, trusting, and a team player. 
• Yes we are loud. Yes we can be crazy....but more with a lowercase 'c. 

I know what you are thinking, "Some of these sound like my own personalbeliefs!" Wellgues what? Then it seems like you might be a cheer mom too!

Just remember one last thing. No matter what you are, know I'm proud to be "that mom." The mom who will help their child. The mom who will hug and kiss, listen, then tell them to go back in the gym and never give up.The trust your coaches and teammates mom. The mom that also has to trust in the same people her child has too. 

To me being all this, goes far beyond being labeled Cheer Mom.

Tara 

CheerLEADER Advocate, #CheerMom

WELCOME TO THE LAYOUT

You are now entering the FIRST blog of its kind that is run by the cheerleading community, for the cheerleading community. Feel free to click around! 

Every article is written by either a  present Long Island cheerleader (or what we like to call our CLBs) or a guest writer! Get to know our fun and quirky Cheer Leader Bloggers by clicking to their bios. We are focused on spreading the word about the hard work and dedication cheerleaders put into their sport everyday. Help us with our mission! Be sure to Like, Comment, and Share our articles.

We are always open to suggestions! 

Thank you for your support and interest!
Jessica, Editor-In-Chief, CLB

Behind the judges table: 3 tips to get you ready for tryouts

Cheerleading tryouts for some athletes can be an intimidating and nerve-wracking experience.  Many cheerleaders tend to focus their energy on major skills that coaches often look for (stunts and tumbling) but forget about the basic components that can improve your score tremendously. 

Tip 1: Show up to tryouts with a competitive mindset.  Showing a tremendous amount of spirit, no matter what you’re doing, can set you apart from your competitors.  This begins by arriving to tryouts every day at least ten minutes before the practice is set to begin.  This will allow you time to put your stuff away, put your sneakers on, and begin to mentally prepare for what the day is about to bring.  “Looking the part” is extremely important as well.  Make sure you are wearing the designated clothing required for tryouts, your hair is pulled back neatly with a bow, you have removed all jewelry from your body, and your nails are cut short.  All of this shows the coaches and the judges that you are invested in becoming a part of their team and ready to meet any challenges that await you.

Tip 2: Work on improving basic technique and skill level during your off-season.  As a coach at the high school level, I expect all cheerleaders to show up to try-outs with perfect jumps.  This does not mean that you have to have the highest jumps, but what it does imply is that you should have perfect technique in your approach to your jumps and throughout the skill.  As a cheerleader, the only way to improve on this fundamental skill is by practicing them every day on your own!  Setting aside at least 30 minutes a day to work on stretching and your jumps in front of a mirror can help you obtain the flawless jumps that you have been working towards, impressing everyone that is watching you.

Tip 3: Take care of your body when you are away from the mat.  Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet to ensure you are gaining proper nutrition.  This will allow you to have enough energy to get through anything that tryouts may bring.  Getting enough rest each night is equally important because it helps your mind and body recover from all the stressors that tryouts brings, helping you to prepare for the upcoming days.  Lastly, make sure that your aerobic and anaerobic endurance is at its peak performance.  This comes from implementing an aerobic and anaerobic training program at least 6 weeks prior to tryouts.

 

 

Shari Tarburton is Cheer360’s Co-Founder and Director of Educational Programming.  She is a New York State Certified Health and Physical Education Teacher, a certified Personal Trainer and Mental Game Coach, and a Varsity cheerleading coach.

The Moment Calls for a Time of Reflection and Peace

Friday blog posts are a place for Cheer360 to showcase achievements and accomplishments that occurred over the past week. These accolades are shared by staff, parents and athletes. 

This week, due to the tragic events that unfolded in Massachusetts, Cheer360 will not share stories of success and accomplishment, but instead will solemnly keep those impacted by these horrific events in our thoughts and prayers. Additionally, Cheer360 thanks those who without hesitation, ran towards danger to help those in need. 

As we all learn more about what truly has happened, we should focus on the stories of bravery and courage and how tragedy and sport intersect to form comfort and support for us all.


As a Cheer360 Co-Founder, Arthur's young, energetic and ambitious career has prepared him for his exciting role as the Director of Operations and Business Development. Here he manages business operations and establishes strategic partnerships that will bring the latest equipment, guest speakers, food and nutrition and educational programming directly to the athletes, families and communities served by Cheer360. For more information visit: www.cheer-360.com

The Spirit of Athleticism Shines Through Tragedy

All of us here at Cheer360 decided to perhaps take a break from “Taste Bud Tuesdays” to comment on yesterdays events at the Boston Marathon. As a four-time marathon runner and a Boston College Alumni, I was devastated when I heard the news of yesterday’s tragedy.  I spent four "Marathon Mondays" in Boston and have nothing but joyful memories of the day. We would spectate at the top of “heartbreak hill” a rather intense incline that comes around mile 20, right when the majority of runners hit “the wall,” a term used in endurance running to explain the point in a race when all of a sudden you don't think you can go anymore.  But runners, like most athletes are resilient.  They break through “walls” and come out stronger on the other side, crossing the finish line or achieving their goals. While all of us in this country may not be athletes, we have all embodied their spirit at one time or another.  As Americans, we have faced tragedy and come out stronger on the other side.  We rely on each other the same way that athletes rely on their teammates. We look to certain teammates to step up and take charge, an attitude we now see in the many acts of heroism that are being revealed today not just by first responders, but runners and spectators whose instinct was not to run away, but to run towards the smoke and save those who were ailing.  We are a team stronger than any other, and this tragedy will only strengthen us, the same way athletes take a loss as a way to get better. An interesting quote was brought to my attention yesterday evening via the Washington Post. It came from Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon.  She said "If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon."  She could not be more right.  Yesterdays events were tragic, and our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the city of Boston, but yesterdays events also brought to light the most admirable aspects of human nature.  We saw bravery, strength, courage and resilience at its best, and it is these aspects of yesterday's events we should take away from this year's Boston Marathon. Coach Shelbi is Cheer360's Director of Nutrition and is a certified personal trainer and soon to be Registered Dietitian. Shelbi's roots in personal training have given her a better understanding of the important piece of the overall health puzzle that nutrition plays, especially when it comes to training for a sport. She understands the physical demands of cheerleading and knows how to educate young women on the importance of proper nutrition to support an intense training program. Shelbi has completed 4 marathons and 6 half marathons and the training process for these races only reinforces the strong belief she has in sports training and proper nutrition and how both go hand in hand.

When Cheerleading Ends

High school cheerleading is more than just promoting school spirit at football and basketball games and competing locally, regionally, and nationally from November through February.  If you sit in on a three hour practice, you will find that these athletes should be gaining something bigger.  Like all sports, cheerleading teaches skills that transcend to all aspects of a person’s life and future.

Teaching young athletes how to maintain an optimum level of wellness is just as important as teaching them how to jump, stunt, and tumble.  One of CHEER360’s goals is to promote healthy lifestyles not only during their cheerleading careers, but also throughout their entire lives.  Learning how to build and maintain muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility will reduce the likelihood of injuries now, as competitive cheerleaders, as well as in their futures.  The fitness related benefits that can be taught to teenagers are ones that can be carried throughout their college careers, adulthood and beyond. 

Having a regular fitness regimen in place improves one’s overall sense of well-being including body posture, endurance for daily activities, an increased self-esteem, and a decreased likelihood of developing lifestyle diseases. But, as much as we don’t want to think about this, at some point, a cheerleader’s career will come to an end.  Often times this leaves a previously active person struggling with ways to keep fit.  So why not start teaching these habits now to our cheerleaders in order to promote long, healthy, and successful lifestyles?  After all, other sports have been doing this for years!  

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A Dream Becomes a Reality: The CHEER 360 Story

On March 1st, with a newly furnished key (a zebra printed one for the record), CHEER 360 opened the doors to more than just a 2,200 square foot training facility. CHEER 360 opened the doors to a future of endless and limitless possibilities.

For the preceding 8 months that led up to March 1st, CHEER 360 was just a dream. At a beach gathering among family and friends, the eventual founders of CHEER 360 were having an in depth conversation regarding what their passions were and what they most desired. Kristen Perri and Shari Tarburton, lifelong cheerleaders and current varsity coaches, with big smiles and excitement, spoke at great length how they would love to work with young athletes by providing them with a strong foundation of strength, mental and nutritional coaching. Three key elements that are needed to not only be a successful cheerleader, but to live a well-balanced, healthy and successful life. 

This idea quickly gathered momentum as research was gathered, support was well received and the energy never lost. Co-Founders, Kristen and Shari working with their respective husbands Artie (a business development specialist) and Kent (a certified personal trainer and one time cheerleader himself) found that no such program existed for Cheerleaders on Long Island--nor throughout the entire country. 

Knowing no such program existed, Kristen and Shari suddenly felt more empowered than ever to create a program that addresses the true needs of cheerleaders. When accounting for sports related injuries, including concussions, Cheerleading ranks among the highest. Not only is this population prone to sport related injuries, but additionally, the demographics of the sport are of high risk to having eating disorders. Combining these issues with the social pressures of being a young athlete, it was clear, that a solution is needed to meet the demands of these pressing issues.

CHEER 360 is no longer just a dream, it is a reality. With teams already signing up to participate in the sport's only strength, mental and nutritional coaching program, CHEER 360 recognizes the vital role it plays in shaping the lives of the athletes but the future of the sport of Cheerleading as well.

Since the zebra printed key opened the door to the facility, paperwork has been signed, specialized programming has been planned and equipment ordered and assembled. Much time has been spent preparing CHEER 360 to meet the demands and needs of its athletes. More so, a lifetime has passed as its founders have long been ready to share their dream with the world.

CHEER 360 is officially ready to continue this exciting journey with each and every one of you. Stay tuned and follow the CHEER 360 blog as it will regularly be updated with content specific to health and wellness, proper nutrition, strength and conditioning training tips and mental exercises. 

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