How To Become a Great Cheerleader

Cheerleading is a sport that requires you to look good and be good right from the start if you want to be on the squad because there are no backups. Once you are on the squad, there is still that sense of greatness that your squad has to uphold if your squad wants to be effective cheerleaders. In this blog, you will find several tips for how to maintain the excitement you had while trying out for the squad into the actual games and competitions and be the best cheerleader you can be.

1. The first thing you can do to maintain your great cheerleading energy is to do a sound off. The point of the sound off is to make it sound like your squad actually cares about having energy while doing the cheers. How are you supposed to get the crowd energized and into the game when the cheerleading squad sounds like they hardly even care? Make your cheers sound full of spirit and commitment to get the best effect from the cheers. Make sure to sound off nice and loud and make the crowd say WOW. 
2. Show the crowd your pearly-whites. Do not be afraid to flash the smile to the crowd and get them energized by knowing that the cheerleaders are a happy bunch. How is the crowd supposed to feel like you care when you're stone-faced and look depressed? Now, you don't have to be like Barbie in Toy Story 2 and be smiling huge and bright the entire time, you're not a smiling robot; just be cheerful and look happy. People love seeing smiles and when we see other people smiling, it improves our own moods and we smile too. This same concept applies to the cheerleaders and crowd at a football or basketball game. 
3. Keep sharp and snap the motions. When doing the motions in the game or competition, make sure that your cheerleading squad's motions are quick and have that snap. When doing the cheer motions, you do not want your motions to be lazy and loose, you want them tight. The reason you want to have the snap when doing the motions for a cheer is because it looks like your squad is on top of things; like your squad actually practices and cares about how it does. Also, it looks like your squad is moving in unison instead of staggered. 
4. Keep your mind in place. This means that you have to stay on top of things during the game. Know where your team is in the game; are they winning or losing? Offense or defense? You want to show your crowd, as well as your team, that you know the sport and that you are paying attention. It would be quite embarrassing if you were doing a cheer that said you wanted a touchdown when your team is on defense. I'm just saying. 
5. Stay in shape. This does not mean that you have to be constantly working out and have a perfect beach body but rather exercise so you are able to handle doing cheerleading for an entire game or competition. Having cheerleaders who are huffing and puffing just as much as the athletes does not look good for the team or the school. 

Bottom line, you do not want to lose that spunk once you become a member of the cheerleading squad. As someone who is around a lot of cheerleaders, I have seen a lot of moves from things discussed above and it never looks good when the tips above are violated. If you are in the market for some cheer apparel, check out this Chicago cheerleading apparel company for great deals and promos. 

Kids & Teen Fashion Fall 2013

The school year is back in session for kids and teens and so the time of getting new clothes and accessories has arrive; sorry, children, but it is true and sad that Summer 2013 is officially over. All the kids and teens want to look good in school and impress their friends. There are quite a few good looks for the kids going back to school For the Fall 2013 look in regards to children and teen fashion , many critics claim that bright colors and print designs are a couple of the hip looks. The only problem is that it can be difficult to find and sometimes even afford the coolest and latest fashion trends for children and teens; fortunately for you, Gear 4 Cheer has bags and other accessories that feature the latest fashion wants.

Print design is one of the latest fashion trends for children and teens for Fall 2013. Gear 4 Cheer has plenty of backpacks and lunch bags with print designs on them that your children and teenagers will love! We have designs such as zebra design, chevron design (looks like zig-zag lines), as well as other designs. A particularly interesting design we have in stock is an owl design. We also have outer ware, shorts, pants, shirts, and foot ware that all have attractive print designs. For our shorts collection, we have shorts with print on the backside as well as floral designs. If you are looking for a t-shirt that will feature a great print design, we have those too! You can even have the shirts made to represent the school; this is even better because not only is it featuring the cool trend of print design but is also unique which adds to the "cool factor." If you would like to check out our designs available for Fall 2013, then check out our back to school page as well as our apparel page.

As stated earlier, the other hot Fall 2013 fashion trend was having bright colors. At Gear 4 Cheer, we have bright colors such as turquoise, hot pink, lime green, powder blue, as well as other bright colors that will attract the eye and make your child or teen glow. We have backpacks and lunch bags that feature these colors as well as apparel; we have t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, jackets, pants (even yoga pants), shorts, and footwear that utilize bright colors that are in style to really make them pop and your child stand out. Your child or teen does not have to be a cheerleader to be able to find things they like on our website, they only have to enjoy looking good and feeling comfortable being themselves!

This is only a glimpse of what we can offer you if you want to send your child off to school in the latest designs. If you would like to see our entire inventory, check out Gear 4 Cheer and look for yourself, we think you will like what you see!

How Cheerleaders Can Represent Their School in the New School Year

The school year of 2013-2014 is finally here, whether the kids like it or not. And since it is back to school time, it is also time for the new cheerleaders to take their spots next to the football field with their veteran teammates as well as know how to represent their school to really get the school spirit flowing.

The beginning of every school year is filled with lots of excitement; excitement for new classes, the beginnings of sports seasons, and seeing friends that have not been seen since the end of the previous school year. The hope for a great year is high and the school pride is overflowing. Of course, there are ways that the cheerleaders can help facilitate the school spirit while still being respectful of other schools and showing pride for the teams while not being vicious and hurtful.

The best way to be a good cheerleader and still be respectful at the same time is to take on the role model mentality; know that people are going to be watching you and acting the way you do. By the time of high school, people have their own ability to make decisions by themselves but at the same time, there is immense peer pressure to act a certain way and it is quite often that the peer pressure overrides any conflicting ways of behaving. Thus, it is important to try to make the peer pressure positive instead of negative. A new school year promises fresh starts and enabling a positive attitude at sporting events can be what it takes to get the school in a good mindset. Acting nicely and being a good sport is something people will notice and will want to do if they see other people doing it too; peer pressure does not have to be a bad thing at all. It can be used for good.

Another way to be a good cheerleader is to be a cheerleader even outside of sporting events and pep rallies. What I mean by this is that it might be a good idea to promote school spirit even when just going about the normal school day and in the classroom. Encouragement is something that keeps on giving.

What Competition Judges are Looking For

            As cheerleading gear professionals, the experts at Gear4Cheer have compiled a list of positive and negative things competition judges are looking for.

1. Cleanliness 

             Keep in mind when choreographing, a clean skill always beats a sloppy, more advanced skill. With that in mind, if you have an individual struggling with a double down cradle, make it a clean single. Don’t hesitate to bring difficulty down a notch when the skill cannot be completed safely and cleanly. Cleanliness makes it easier for a judge to see what is happening in front of them. When a routine is not clean, it often appears to be chaotic, making it difficult for a judge to award points appropriately for the skills completed because they can’t determine what the skills they actually saw.

2. Energy and Spirit 

           This can make or break a routine. Cheerleading was created with spirit and excitement as core principles, and that has not changed. A routine should get the crowd and judges excited. There is nothing better than contagious energy. Be sure that your routine isn’t so draining that by the end the squad has no energy left. Our panel of judges commented that they often see teams who have crammed an incredible amount of skills into a routine but lack the ability to maintain the energy throughout the routine. In many cases, a routine with far less difficulty can beat the jam-packed routine simply because of the spirit and energy. Another tip is to practice like you’d perform it. Many cheerleaders feel silly giving facials during practice, but it develops muscle memory. So even when the adrenaline kicks in and the routine is moving a mile a minute, the performance aspect has become automatic through practice.

3. Follow the Rules 

            This tip seems like a no-brainer, but our judges agreed that they almost always have at least one great team lose significant points because it has not followed all of the guidelines. There are general safety rules that every competition company provides, in addition to skill-level-specific rules. The penalty for not following these rules can range from fractions of a point to several points per occurrence. It is simply not worth the risk, so be sure to read and adhere to the up-to-date version of the rules and regulations for each competition you plan to attend.

4. Sportsmanship 

           Judging is a biased job. There are guidelines in place to keep the scoring as impartial as possible, but in reality, a judge is being asked to render her opinion of the skills your team has produced. All this is to say that a judge can take all she has seen of your team and subconsciously factor that in when scoring in categories like overall performance. So be conscious of your team’s attitude and behavior on and off the competition mat. Sportsmanship is important. The last thing a judge wants to see is cheerleaders boo’ing or taunting other cheerleaders. Remind your team that they are being judged all day. The beauty of this is that it works both ways. Good sportsmanship can often yield rewards

           

             Things that make judges cringe… also known as the “no-no’s” for competition season:

1. Inappropriate Uniforms 

            In today’s society, children are being forced to grow up way too fast in many aspects of life. There has recently been an overwhelming push by competition judges and competition companies to take that power back by enforcing appropriate dress rules and guidelines.  Be sure to carefully review the uniform guidelines for every competition company you plan to use throughout the year. Many have recently updated their policies. When asked, our panel of judges overwhelmingly replied that uniforms need to be age-appropriate, as well as appropriate for the body of every girl on the squad. So when deciding whether or not to put your peewee team in crop tops, keep that pointer in mind. There are hundreds of great uniform options that will wow the crowd and judges without baring it all. Check out the incredible options within the Cheerleading Company’s uniform. Also, if your team does use crop top uniforms or shorter skirts, make sure that everyone is comfortable in the uniform. It is far more distracting to see a girl pulling at her uniform throughout the routine than to see one member with a full length top or longer skirt.

2. Inappropriate Movements & Gestures 

            Again, judges aren’t interested in watching young cheerleaders engaging in inappropriate dance. Our panel of judges specifically mentioned hip thrusts and other provocative gestures and movements as things that make them cringe. This is not to say senior level routines should be made up of these types of movements either, but keep age-appropriateness in mind at all levels. Secondly, judges don’t want to see bad sportsmanship or gestures made directly to other teams within your routine. That sends the message loud and clear that the coach of this squad has little regard for other competitors and/or sportsmanship.

3. Music 

            There are several “no-no’s” when it comes to selecting the music for your routine, whether it be for spirit or competition purposes. As stressed in the last two points, keep age-appropriateness in mind. No, your pee-wee team doesn’t have to dance to Hannah Montana, but try to avoid suggestive lyrics. Additionally, avoid songs that provide your choreography for you. Songs such as the cha-cha slide, the cupid shuffle, and the hokey pokey all give verbal cues for movement. The judges want know if you can be creative and innovative, not if you can follow directions. The same goes for trendy songs that have dances associated with them, such as the dougie, the stanky leg, whip my hair, etc. It is almost impossible to have an entire squad do a dance of that nature and look like one cohesive unit. Remember that cleanliness is always a main goal.

Finding the Right Cheer Outfit

When there’s a need to order cheerleading apparel for an individual cheerleader or an entire squad, cheerleaders often find themselves a little overwhelmed at the prospect. There is much more that can go into a cheerleading apparel order than just picking out skirts and tops. If cheerleaders will be performing on the field or in competition, there are a number of things to keep in mind. There are three main things to keep in mind when ordering cheerleading uniforms that will keep you confident and comfortable while performing.

Coordination – When considering purchasing cheerleading apparel for your squad make sure to follow a set uniform to keep your squad coordinated from top to bottom. This means every member of a team should be decked out in the same uniforms from the cheerleading shoes right on up to the cheerleading hair accessories. Whether individual squad members place orders for themselves or team orders are placed all at once, decisions about coordination should be made in advance.

Comfort – Cheerleading apparel should, look great and match from head to toe. Comfort, however, should also be a one of your main priorities when shopping for cheerleadingapparel and cheerleading gear. Cheerleaders are athletes and they must have the freedom of movement necessary to perform their routines. In addition, uniform components like cheerleading shoes should provide the proper support to keep participants as safe as possible. To shop for comfortable shoes on and off the mat, visit our website: http://www.gear4cheer.com

Convenience – Placing an order for a single outfit or an entire squad worth of cheerleading uniforms isn’t always a simple task. When online stores that cater to the cheerleading set are considered, consumers will discover convenience can go along with the prospect. The best stores offer excellent pricing, around the clock ordering and even customization options to help meet their clients’ needs. Outfitting an entire squad in cheerleading apparel does take careful coordination. When the right factors go into the selection, the job can go much easier and the outcome can look stunning on and off the field. Gear4Cheer offers an easy shopping cart that allows you to fluently navigate throughout our products.

For more information on cheerleading uniforms and cheerleading gear, contact Gear4Cheer our visit our website.

The Essential Cheer Accessories

Cheerleading accessories like cheer bags, cheerleading jewelry and cheer hair bows can be deemed as waste of time and money by some. The cheerleading gear experts at Gear4cheer know the many benefits that cheerleading accessories can bring any squad. Accessories enhance a performer’s overall look and spunk.

Cheer accessories like cheer bags are essential to all squads. When traveling to away games, you will for sure need a bag to carry all of your personal items. As a cheerleading alumni myself, I always think a well matched squad looks professional and intimidating. Cheerleading squad members should always be matched to a T down to the cheerleading bag they use.

Cheerleading hair bows are also a fun add to the cheerleading look. Cheer hair accessories enhance the squad’s appearance. It may be hard to realize, but cheer hair bows can actually cause a tremendous attraction to the audience. When dressing for cheer competitions, go big or GO HOME.

The best accessory for all cheerleaders on any squad is confidence. You would be surprised how different a performance would look with enthusiasm, excitement and a smile!

For all of your cheerleading needs visit Gear4Cheer.com. Gear4cheer offers a wide variety of cheerleading necessities. Gear 4 Cheer has everything a cheerleading squad needs. From cheerleading uniforms to glitter, we have it all!!

Cheerleading is a sport!!

Every cheerleader gets fired up when someone tries to argue with them that cheerleading is not a sport. Cheerleading isn’t all about the fancy cheerleading gear and cheer uniforms like some people joke about. Usually people make negative comments about cheerleading because they know it gets under your skin, but some people truly believe cheerleading has zero athleticism behind it. So, what can you say to prove them wrong and in turn get a little respect? Remember the best argument is an educated one, so give them the facts!

The truth is, there really isn’t a solid definition of “official” sport. The cheerleading gear experts at Gear4Cheer have highlighted a list of things to prove that cheerleading is in fact a sport!

• A sport must be a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. There are stunts involved with cheerleading… check!

• “Contesting” or competing against/with an opponent is required to be considered a sport. There are three seasons in cheerleading: football season, basketball season and competition… check!

• It must be governed by rules that explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. During competition cheerleading squads have rules they need to follow such as a time limit, mat size and score sheets.

• Acknowledgement that the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. The cheerleading gear experts at Gear4Cheer always watch cheerleading when it’s featured on ESPN!

As you can see cheerleading meets all of the athletic specifications. The best thing to do when you are in a “Is Cheerleading a Sport” debate is give them all the facts. Even people still don’t believe that cheerleading is not active enough to be considered a sport, at least you know better… and that’s all that matters!

To spice up your squad, check out Gear4Cheer.com. Gear4Cheer offers a variety of the most fashionable cheerleading apparel, cheer uniforms and cheerleading gear.