One day I’m going to get on a soapbox about participation medals, but this isn’t the time or the place. I will say that it’s cool that we have something to remember every cheer event. But after eight years in cheerleading, all those medals add up, and it felt impossible to display them. Thanks to an incredible hack by my mom, we finally have a clean way to display all of Abby’s medals in a neat, clean way that we can enjoy. This was done using a simple rod and hook set from IKEA. They’re selling it on Amazon now, so bonus if you’re a Prime member! The cool part is that you can keep adding hooks as ... view the post
A PLAYLIST TO GET YOUR ATHLETE HYPED
I don't know what my life would be without music. There's music for when you're in love, when you're sad, when you're angry, when you're over-the-moon happy...there's music for every occasion, and competition day is no exception. The best, most elite athletes in the world use music to get in the frame of mind they need in order to be their best self. I think cheerleaders are also elite athletes, and need anything and everything possible to get hyped up for everything leading up to those two and a half minutes on the mat. Download this free list of song ideas that will get your athlete pumped up for competition ... view the post
COMPETITION DAY ESSENTIALS
Cheer competitions can be overwhelming. I can tell you, as an introvert, that I am WAY overstimulated on competition days. There's so much going on: The bass-loaded music, the strobe lights, adults you don't know fixing your kid's lipstick, and the walking…so much walking. Then come the sitting and the waiting while they keep playing the bass-loaded music. There was a time when I thought if I never heard Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" again, it would be too soon. Even if it's a short, one-day competition, I always make time for a nap. I don't mean to scare you. Cheer competitions can be exciting. And ... view the post
Cheerleader Superstitions
I wouldn't exactly call myself a sports fanatic, but I do know that professional athletes have superstitions they follow religiously and without fail. In my experience, baseball is the most superstitious. They do crazy things like wear the same underwear for days at a time, or they don't shave during a winning streak. I heard about a player who wears a gold thong anytime he's struggling. Another player is rumored to pee on his hands (on purpose!) WHAT? While I've never heard of a cheerleader purposely peeing on his or her hands, I think that they would give those professional athletes a run for their ... view the post
