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Stretch Into Success: Yoga in the Gym
jen : February 3, 2014 12:20 pm : Mind, Body & Soul| Web Exclusives| webexclusive1
When Megan Eacret’s business partner left Cheer San Diego to start her own program—taking some of their clients with her—Eacret was faced with a dilemma: shortage of flyers. Rather than feeling discouraged, Eacret embraced it as a welcome challenge. “Some of our athletes who had only flown a prep or two as needed in pyramids were given an awesome opportunity to develop their skills and become full-time flyers,” shares Eacret.
But there was a catch. “Two of our potential flyers were very strong and muscular athletes, but with little flexibility—a huge challenge for cheerleaders in general, but especially for a flyer,” she recounts. To pump up the athletes’ pliability, Eacret decided to offer them flexibility classes comprised primarily of vinyasa yoga.
“Our Flexibility for Flyers class was an incredible tool for these athletes to gain the flexibility they needed to be in the air and help their teams be successful,” she says. “They are now better able to stick to their stunts because of the increased flexibility and are also more confident as flyers because they can pull their body lines in the air.”
Eacret gained two new flyers—all thanks to yoga.
Yoga for Cheerleaders
The health benefits of yoga for all people are no secret, but for athletes, yoga can be even more important. According to Sage Rountree, author of The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga, yoga improves strength and flexibility in tandem, while also enhancing focus. “The balance is critical for cheerleaders, who need an abundance of both strength and flexibility, [as well as] razor-sharp concentration and self-control skills,” says Rountree.
Eacret’s cheerleaders are living proof: those who’ve participated in the gym’s yoga program report improvement in body awareness and control. “The relaxation and breathing exercises have benefited our cheerleaders by helping them learn new ways to cope with stress and control emotions,” she adds.
Like Cheer San Diego, more and more gyms are discovering the joys and benefits of this ancient Indian art of exercise. However, before putting a yoga program in place, it’s important to note a few key considerations:
Offer cheer-specific yoga: Not just any yoga instructor will do for teaching cheerleaders. “Hire an experienced teacher who will focus more on sport-specific exercises, integration (keeping from the far edges of flexibility work; less is more in this population), recovery practices and mindfulness,” advises Rountree. She also recommends keeping the intensity of the yoga practice in inverse proportion to that of other training. “Bodies need stress to adapt, but too much yoga practice combined with rigorous training can be overkill and lead to injury,” she adds.
Find the right coach: Much like hiring a cheer coach, it’s vital to hire a trained instructor with the proper certifications and knowledge, so make sure any instructors you hire have at least a Registered Yoga Teacher certification. Eacret found her instructors through Craigslist and word of mouth. “It’s amazing how many connections we find from just asking our families at the gym, and we always do background checks on our fitness instructors since we work with kids,” she says.
Know the going rates: Offering competitive pay can help attract a quality yoga instructor. Pay should be determined based on the person’s level of experience, along with the duration and frequency of classes. Geographic regions may also differ due to cost of living—for instance, Wendy Riley of Altus, OK-based Whitaker’s Extreme Gymnastics, paid her two instructors $10/hour for the yoga sessions last season, while at Cheer San Diego, instructors get around $30/hour.
Go for coaches who can do double-duty: When hiring a new dance or tumbling coach, consider giving preference to those who are also yoga-certified. Fort Mill, SC-based Charlotte All Stars offers yoga classes twice a week to cheerleaders and moms by a dance instructor who is also yoga-certified. “We actually hired a dance instructor, and we were contemplating yoga classes for increasing core strength and flexibility. Since she was yoga-certified, we got her to teach yoga as well,” says gym director Jamey Harlow.
Owners can go that route, too: Riley of Whitaker’s Extreme Gymnastics also procured a National Exercise Trainers Association certification recently and now teaches yoga at her gym.
Set up a swap: If you don’t have enough space for a yoga program, consider an exchange program. Take Griffin-GA based Legion of All Stars, which has partnered with Club Fitness of Griffin. They offer discounts to the gym members for signing up with them for cheer/ tumbling classes, and vice versa.
What’s in it for me?
Many gym owners are in a constant state of high stress and could definitely use some yoga Zen. Tarisa Parrish, owner of The YogaSoul Center in Eagan, MN, says, “Running a gym is a demanding career. Keeping up at the necessary pace without losing your sanity requires self-care and calm. You need a grounded approach to life and business,” she says. “Many gym owners find that when they have a daily yoga practice, they make fewer mistakes and seem to get more done in less time.”
Eacret couldn’t agree more. “As far as a gym owner’s personal well-being is considered, it’s awesome to have yoga offered in-house so that if I end up having an hour free unexpectedly, I can head up stairs and get some ‘Om’ time,” she says.
–Dinsa Sachan
Get With the Program: Starting a Loyalty Program
jen : January 27, 2014 12:24 pm : Down to Business| Web Exclusives
Worried about gymhoppers? Consider implementing a loyalty program. These incentive-based programs provide a win-win situation by helping gyms retain clientele—and giving those families a reason to stay loyal. At Charleston, SC-based C3 Cheer and Dance, loyalty rewards range from free uniforms to discounted class tuition to free contest entries. “Our gym greatly benefits from loyalty programs because it gets our families spreading the word about our gym’s many classes and programs, and [our various reward offerings] help keep the existing customers happy,” says gym owner Robin Ridout.While some gyms like C3 Cheer and Dance have full-fledged loyalty programs, others implement targeted initiatives with the same aims. For example, Deana Ellison at Revolution Cheer and Tumbling Center offers referral credits. “We do not currently have a loyalty program, but we do offer a referral credit of $100 for referring a new cheerleader and a $50 credit for referring a new tumbler,” she says. “That can add up to a lot of credit, but it also brings us a ton of new clients.”
Let’s Get It Started
Before putting a loyalty program in place, here are two questions to ask yourself: 1) what do you expect to achieve from a loyalty program and 2) how do you plan to reward your clients? Ridout says she focuses on enrollment numbers in the gym and rewards loyalty with items that enhance the experience in the gym—such as local food coupons, cheer shoes, leotards, dance costume sponsorships and scholarship funds for tuition.
“I think it’s important to reward clients with tangible positive contributions that are used in the gym,” she says. “That way I see them back in the gym, year after year.”
Money for rewards doesn’t necessarily have to come out of the gym budget, either—Ridout says sponsors account for 99 percent of the loyalty rewards given at C3 Cheer and Dance. “It is positive and also allows me to toot the horn of local vendors and individuals and let the donors feel like a part of my gym program,” Ridout adds.
At Mississippi-based Oxford Cheer, Zach Lee has gone high-tech with his loyalty program—by enlisting a text service to send out regular messages to teams and parents on the latest developments in the gym. “It really is about keeping everyone in the loop. Sometimes it’s something as simple as saying ‘Have a good day’ or informing them about cancellation of practice because of bad weather,” he says.
The loyalty program is also integrated into the text service. As part of the program, parents and athletes receive texts about contests and other loyalty initiatives, and they can get juicy rewards for spreading the word. “If they show [the text] to a non-student, who then logs in to the Oxford Cheer system to enter the contest, the member who originally referred the contest to the new person gets discounts, open classes and open gym that week,” Lee explains.
Striking the Right Balance
Some gym owners choose to incentivize families with tuition cuts—offering incremental rewards for the amount of time spent as a customer. For instance, at Legion of All Stars in Georgia, tuition drops by $15 after a member’s first all-star season. At Cheer Fusion All Stars, tuition drops by $5 per year, so an athlete who has been at the gym for three years would receive $15 off tuition every month.
Many loyalty programs focus on monetary awards, sometimes as high as $100 per athlete for new client referrals. Could some gyms be giving away too much? It was a hot topic at various conferences this year, but ultimately, each gym owner must decide what works for his or her individual gym (with many learning through trial and error).
According to Lee, incentives and perks can only help so much. He believes that educating the parent is the most important part of fostering loyalty. “The more they know what’s going on, the more we’re on the same page and the more they know what to expect,” he explains. To achieve that end, Lee also makes it a point to frequent the open area of the gym where parents watch their kids practice. “I try to answer all their queries one-on-one,” he says.
And no matter what method you use to reward loyalty, consistency and organization are the keys to making a program work, says Ridout: “Setting goals and deadlines, establishing criteria for selecting [contest] winners and sticking to the awards posted is key.”
–Dinsa Sachan
Candid Coach: Alisha Dunlap
jen : January 21, 2014 1:03 pm : In the Industry| Web Exclusives| webexclusive2
Fresh off Season Two of TLC’s “Cheer Perfection,” Alisha Dunlap’s gym and life have taken the spotlight once again. Find out what challenges and opportunities the exposure has brought this spirited coach and owner of Cheer Time Revolution, and learn what advice she has for other coaches hoping to follow in her footsteps.
“Cheer Perfection” just finished its second season. How has exposure from the show positively and/or negatively impacted Cheer Time Revolution?
Dunlap: At first the “cheer world” was not behind the show, so [my husband] RD and I took a lot of flack over it, but I knew, with time, it would show us as we truly are. For the gym, it has been so positive. It has put our name out there and also shown everyday kids that anyone can learn to cheer.
Since the show premiered, has it changed the way you interact with parents in your gym? Have their expectations shifted at all?
Dunlap: The show hasn’t changed the way I do things at the gym, but it has made me deal with the parents a little differently. I really have too much of an open line of communication with them; this “open door policy” may have given them a bit too much accessibility to me, but I still wouldn’t change this [approach]—as it has made Cheer Time Revolution the family that it is. As for expectations, I am not sure those have changed; our gym parents have always liked to win and want their kids to be the best they can be.
What tips do you have for gym owners who would like to gain more exposure for their gym?
Dunlap: Just put yourself out there by becoming more involved in your community, city and state functions. I never realized how getting your name out there could draw so many new clients. Our athletes do halftime performances at various collegiate basketball games, and we’ve been very involved in events such as Race for a Cure; we also work hand-in-hand with the City of Little Rock Tourism Bureau as city ambassadors. We believe it’s important to give back to the city and communities that have supported us.
What advice would you give to those who take part in a reality show?
Dunlap: Enjoy it. Have fun with it, but stand your ground and be you. Don’t let anyone tell you who they want you to be. My family and I have been so lucky to have a crew that has let us be “us.” You can’t let the spotlight get to you. Always remember that when the cameras and fame go away, life goes just right back to how it was before.
What has been the biggest challenge that “Cheer Perfection” has presented in your off-camera life—at the gym or otherwise?
Dunlap: The biggest challenge is trying to please all the fans at competitions. I am there for a reason, and that reason is to get my teams on the floor so they are able to do their best. I have to give my team my attention. It can be really hard to try to do it all! It gets to the kids, too. When hundreds of kids want their photos and autographs, I have to keep their focus on why they are there as well. But we love everyone that supports us and wish we had the time to see and visit with all of them!
Besides increased exposure and clientele, what opportunities has “Cheer Perfection” presented that you may not have anticipated?
Dunlap: We have had lots of great things come our way. We are doing lots of traveling to other gyms in other states for consulting, clinics and meet-and-greets. The supporters of Cheer Time Revolution are amazing, so we always embrace opportunities to meet them. We are also looking forward to our European tour and summer camps in 2014. Seeing other gyms and how they do things is a ton of fun; we love learning as much as we love teaching.
Are there any themes that “Cheer Perfection” has not yet addressed that you’d like to see highlighted in a future show?
Dunlap: I would really like “Cheer Perfection” to show more teams and how children of all ages and skill levels do it.
What are your short and long-term goals for the gym? How does “Cheer Perfection” fit into those plans?
Dunlap: The short-term goal is to have a great season at CTR and have our teams do their very best and learn a lot this year. The long-term goal is that I want CTR to be the place to be; I want to teach athletes to be their best. “Cheer Perfection” will always have a place at CTR—the experience has been so much fun for these kids and families.
–Sara Schapmann
Share-ables and Wearables: Fun Ways to Reward Athletes
jen : January 15, 2014 3:17 am : Down to Business| Web Exclusives| webexclusive1
It’s a memorable moment at the Oregon Dream Teams gym, as an athlete throws a round-off/back handspring/tuck three times in a row. Mastering this new skill qualifies her for a special honor—she gets to ring the gym’s dinner bell. Practice halts as everyone in the gym gathers round to watch the athlete demonstrate the skill and give her a round of applause. The bell is just one of numerous ways gym owner and coach Tori Cotton gives her athletes public recognition, whether it’s in front of cheering teammates or with a shout-out on the scrolling web banner of OregonDreamTeams.com.
Akin to an angel getting its wings, the sound of the bell signifies athletes getting their due for putting in all the hard work—and the Pavlovian response often equals them working even harder. Find out how to elicit strong performances from your athletes with these creative reward ideas.
Give Share-able, Social Rewards
Cheryl Davies, owner of Florida Triple Threat All Stars, awards “Spirit Fingers” to athletes who’ve learned a new skill and can perform it consistently. The gym’s newsletter includes a Spirit Fingers column that lists the name of everyone who learned a new skill (and what skill it was). Explains Davies, “I even list the people that come to our tumbling classes who aren’t on a team. They get put in the newsletter and they get so excited. ‘I’m in Spirit Fingers!’”
At Cheer Force One in Mobile, Alabama, athletes are honored through their “Got Skills” program. If an athlete throws a skill three times consecutively without a spot, they get to put their name in the gym’s “Got Skills” box; those names are then compiled into a list that’s spotlighted via social media. “Every Monday, we post a list on our Facebook page of all the kids and what skill they got. They can share it with their friends, and it gives an extra little push for the gym,” says gym owner and director Sean Sutton.
Sarah Macrow of Cheer Extreme Allstars also highlights athletes on social media when they learn something new. When shooting video of an athlete trying a skill for the first time, she recommends, “Instead of stopping it just after they finish their tumbling pass or their first back handspring, record their reaction. Ask ‘How did that make you feel?’ or ‘How was that?’ and get that moment of celebration.”
Give Wearable Rewards
At Cheer Extreme, Macrow acknowledges the achievements of kids who are too young for social media by inviting them to pick the theme for their next practice. If an athlete asks everyone to come in Halloween costumes or wear knee socks and pigtails, teammates show their support by dressing as requested.
Earlier this year, Macrow created a simple but memorable award for her athletes by bringing a ball of red yarn to the gym. She cut it into pieces that athletes could tie onto their wrist, ankle or shoe. When an athlete got the skill of the week (which might be something like “landing with your feet together in a jump”), they earned a piece of yarn. Each week, she handed out segments of a different color yarn. “[Even though the reward was given in] June, some people still have them tied onto their shoes or backpack,” she marvels.
Cheer Force One uses silicone wristbands to reward athletes for more abstract achievements, like paying close attention or overcoming a fear. “It’s something that doesn’t have to go to the best kid in the class, or the most talented kid. It’s an opportunity for anybody, regardless of skill set,” says Sutton. “That way, even if Sally Sue will be working on this back handspring for the next three years, she can still earn a band in class, and that’s a little bit of praise and recognition.”
What Doesn’t Work?
An old program at Oregon Dream Teams rewarded athletes with fake dollars that they could save up to spend at the pro shop. Cotton says, “Nobody ever got into it, and I think it was because it was such a delayed gratification. It’s like, ‘Oh, I have to save up 20 of these bucks to get anything,’ and for some kids, that could be three years of tumbling.” If you’re proud of your athletes’ accomplishments, find a way to let them feel appreciated right away—and the rewards are likely to come back to you as well.
–Lisa Beebe
Meet the first 10 Americheer/Ameridance/CheerProfessional Coach of the Year Finalists!
jen : January 10, 2014 1:47 pm : In the Industry| Web Exclusives
What is a coach? Is a coach a leader, teacher, mentor or friend? If you ask the individuals who nominated their coaches, they’d say a coach is all of these traits and more. AmeriCheer and AmeriDance are partnering with CheerProfessional to award the Coach of the Year award at the AmeriCheer & AmeriDance InterNational Championship, held at Walt Disney World Resort®, on March 22-23, 2014.
“To celebrate 20 wonderful years of memories and magic at Disney, we wanted to do something special to commemorate this landmark event. We chose to honor 20 coaches, nominated by their peers, athletes, friends and family, with VIP treatment at our InterNational Championship,” said Elizabeth Rossetti, AmeriCheer & AmeriDance President and Founder.
At InterNationals, the 20 finalists will enjoy a luxurious limo ride to a private reception within the InterNational Victory Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There, they will gain access to the exclusive VIP Coaches Club tent and will receive custom jackets, a champagne toast and a bag full of goodies. One of the 20 finalists will be awarded Coach of the Year at the awards ceremony, held on March 23rd, and will be featured in an issue of CheerProfessional. The winner will also receive a custom Coach of the Year jacket, designer tote and invited back to InterNationals as a VIP guest in 2015.
“Each year we are proud to announce the Coach of the Year winner at our awards ceremony because at AmeriCheer & AmeriDance, we know how important coaches are to their teams,” explained Missy Richard, AmeriCheer & AmeriDance Brand Manager and National Event Coordinator. “Many of us have been coaches and we know how much time, effort and dedication it takes to be a coach; we want to celebrate the efforts these coaches haven given to their teams.”
10 of the 20 finalists have been selected, but 10 spots still remain. Do you know a coach who deserves to be on this list? Download a nomination form by visiting AmeriCheer.com or AmeriDanceInc.com and submit it by March 1, 2014. In order for coaches to win, they and their team(s) must compete at the 2014 InterNational Championship. Register by calling 1-800-966-JUMP or download a registration form at any AmeriCheer family of brands websites. Show your coach how much they mean to you by nominating them for Coach of the Year.
10 of the 20 Finalists:
1. Cookie Jamison McGowan
School/Gym: Maximum Cheer All Stars
City/State: East Greenville, PA
Years Coaching: 25 years in Pop Warner, High School, College, and All Star
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Cookie made our first trip to America and attending the AmeriCheer InterNationals unforgettable with her constant support of the our team, the BCA Allstars.”
2. Amy Faulkner
School/Gym: North Star Studio
City/State: Sunbury, OH
Years Coaching: 20 years
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Amy’s leadership for all of her teams not only exemplifies her dedication to the sport and spirit of cheerleading, but also to the molding and shaping of young people into productive good citizens.”
3. Kelli Marin
School/Gym: Spirit Enhancers
City/State: Portsmouth, VA
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Kelli’s vision and dedication have allowed her to transform inexperience young squads into confident, award-winning teams.”
4. Erica Brunow
School/Gym: Findlay High School Dance Team
City/State: Findlay, OH
Years Coaching: 10 years coaching Findlay High School Dance Team
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Erica demonstrates amazing coaching through her devotion to our team, her encouragement during our competitions and her ability to push our team to be our best not only in dance, but in our everyday lives.”
5. Brandy Horn
School/Gym: Pazazz All Star Cheer
City/State: Marion, IN
Years Coaching: 6 years
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Brandy is fair and impartial; she always does what’s best for the entire squad. She teaches them to respect one another and is a positive role model.”
6. Shannon Callen
School/Gym: Kalaheo High School Cheerleading
City/State: Kailua, HI
Years Coaching: 13 years
Quote From Nomination Submission: “From practices turning into late-night tutoring sessions, Shannon is our teacher, our strength, our confidant, and she never stops believing in our abilities, pushing us to achieve goals beyond our own expectations.”
7. Tammy Strouse
School/Gym: Rangeview High School Dance Team
City/State: Aurora, CO
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Tammy is an extraordinary coach; she always puts her team first and encourages them to be their best.”
8. Elsa Gomez
School/Gym: Notre Dame High School
City/State: Lawrenceville, NJ
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Elsa strives to make her team the best at every practice and every event.”
9. Jennifer Pulizzano
School/Gym: Wayne Valley High School
City/State: Wayne, NJ
Years Coaching:
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Jennifer is a great coach. Her team knows how much time and dedication she gives to them and they work hard to make her proud.”
10. Julie Hallam
School/Gym: Titanium Athletics
City/State: New Freedom, PA
Quote From Nomination Submission: “Through thick and thin, good and bad, injuries, tears, excitement. . . Julie always has a positive attitude and is always there for her Bionic cheerleaders.”
