New Coach Toolbox

Building Your Program

Determine Your Purpose

Setting program goals is the most important part of the planning process. Developed correctly, your program goals should influence your planning process. Below are some questions to guide you through the goal-setting process.

Choose Your Why:
- Are you planning to provide an avenue for teens to participate in something positive?
- Do you see a need for dancers and cheerleaders in your school or community to perform?
- Are you interested in taking a group of athletes to competition?
- Are you being asked to start a team by the school administration?
- Are you looking to start a small business with an all-star program?
Define your experience:
- Do you hope the athletes will become more responsible?
- Do you expect them to learn to work with others in a team situation?
- Do you plan for them to develop the skills necessary to be selected for a high school, college, or professional team?
Focus:
- Are you planning to have a team where having fun is the main goal?
- Are you planning to compete and therefore will be expecting a high level of commitment for practice and performance?

Once you have brainstormed the answers to the questions above, create a statement or list articulating your goals for the program. Use these goals as the foundation for the remainder of your program planning. Determining your personal goals and intentions as a coach will also help to influence your decisions made as a coach. Go back to these when you may be struggling with some of the more challenging aspects of coaching.

Establish Team Rules and Constitutions

Having guidelines and expectations outlined for your team in a handbook or constitution format can make your job as a coach much easier. When expectations and rules are laid out for your athletes to follow there is no question about why things are done a certain way. It is important to have these expectations completed for dancers to read over either as soon as they are named a team member or prior to the start of tryouts.

Topics to include in your constitution:

Team structure
Member requirements
Tryout process
Rules and Consequences
Expectations of Athletes
Social media policy (optional)

Constitution Checklist

Create Connections with School Administration

It is no secret that the cheerleading program can be overlooked within a school, but creating a line of communication with important key leaders within your school can change that. Communication with your administration is crucial to the success of a new coach and an effective program. There are a few key individuals you need to communicate with to find program success.

Athletic Director
Principal
Band Director
Teachers
Team Coaches

Importance of a Spirit Program

Preseason Resources

Planning Team Tryouts

The tryout process is one of the first moments to help establish yourself as a new coach and to kick-off the season with building the athletes that will be representing your program. It is arguably the most important moment of the season! Below are some helpful items to add to your checklist as you start planning the trout process that works best for you.

Create an application packet with these items:

- Application form- name, address, phone numbers, email address, class schedule, tentative activities schedule
- Information on the Tryout process – selection process, material taught, etc.
- Teacher evaluation form
- Copy of team constitution
- Medical release form
- Tentative calendar of events
- Parent/dancer/coach agreement form

Get the Word Out: Put signs up around the school to let everyone know when tryouts are and what skills are expected. Have the school make announcements over the PA system in the weeks leading up to the tryouts. Don’t forget about your social game—be sure to market your tryout well in advance on your social media outlets.
Schedule a Parent Information Meeting: Your parent meeting is the most essential part of the tryout process. This is when you need to tell the parents what you expect from your athletes throughout the season. Explain the rules and expectations of your program thoroughly. Make parents aware of the cost of uniforms, camp, competitions, etc. Also, let them know your planned practice schedule. You should eliminate any chances of parents raising questions about the way you run your program.
Secure Judges: Consider hiring judges for your tryout process. They should have a non-biased opinion to aid in the selection of your team and should not be involved in the tryout clinic. Contact judges at least one month prior to your tryout date. Judges are typically compensated for their time and efforts. It’s always nice to take care of them with snacks and water at the ready, especially if you have several dancers trying out!
Scoresheets: Scoresheets are a vital part of your tryout process. This determines what you think is the most important part of your dance team. You may want to have a team that is more skilled in different in all areas, or you may want a team with a strong level of technique. Be sure to make copies of your score sheet and hand them out at the parent meeting. You want to let the parents know how their child will be scored.
Tryout Process: Tryouts should be organized before you announce the tryout date. You can use a couple of graduating athletes (senior or 8th grade) to teach the material to the participants trying out. Make your tryout order. Depending on how many kids tryout, you should have 2 to 4 kids per group. After all of the participants have finished, scores will be tallied.
Communicate the Results: Electing how you would like to announce the results of the tryout is entirely your preference. There is no right way or wrong way, but a few options are detailed below.

- Announce the team the day of tryouts by number or name immediately following score evaluations.
- Post the new team’s number or names in a designated location following the tryout. Consider posting on a Friday to allow dancers some time to comprehend the results.
- Post results on team or athletic website
- Email results individually to each athlete who attended the tryout. The personal touch may go a long way for those not making the squad.

DOCUMENTS
These sample documents provide everything needed to plan and run a well-organized tryout!

Cheer Team Tryout Materials

ROUTINES

View DANCE Routines Here

MUSIC
Music provided by unleashthebeats.com! Click each link to download the appropriate music for the material you are teaching.

Jazz
Download Here
Pom
Download Here
Hip Hop
Download Here
Game Day
Pair with any band or radio music of your choice

Let's Go Cheer Camping

Selecting a Camp Brand

Camp is the kick start of your season! Varsity Spirit branded camps provide an environment for your athletes to learn and grow, while you are able to gain certifications for the season. At camp your squad will bond, connect with other squads, learn new material, improve technique, strengthen memorization skills and prepare for the upcoming season!

Choosing Your Camp Type

When selecting a summer camp consider your budget, ideal dates, preferred location and curriculum offered. You will be able to search and choose a camp tailored for your squad’s needs. In general, each camp brand offers the following camp types.

Overnight Cheer Camps
- Focus on skill progression, crowd leading, leadership training and team bonding in an environment that champions spirit building and memory-making at Cheer Camp! Traditional Overnight Camps typically take place at a university/college where squads stay in dorms and camp takes place inside a field house, arena/gym, or outside on campus.
Resort Camps
- From beautiful beaches and fun-ﬁlled water parks to destination country clubs and mountain retreats, it’s a summer camp and vacation all-in-one! Resort Cheerleading Camp schedules often include an afternoon or evening off so you can enjoy the resort’s amenities.
Elite Camps
- Elite Camps are perfect for squads with a strong skill base who are ready for the next level. These camps follow a similar schedule as a traditional overnight camp with a focus on crowd leading, skills training and leadership in a faster paced environment.
Masters Camps (UCA ONLY)
- Masters Camps are invitation only for competitive teams with curriculum focused on skill training to prepare squads for competition. Camps are staffed with top UCA instructors from around the country. *Programming typically varies by location, contact your State Director for details.
Stunt Camps
- Stunt Camps are a skill and performance camp type for teams interested in learning new creative inversions, transitions, dismounts and pyramids in a faster paced environment. Stunt Camps include additional one-on-one time with the UCA Staff to perfect your new skills.
Home Camp
- Build Your Own Home Camp schedule with the best staff in the country on your own turf! With a 1-15 ratio, home camps provide the most personal attention to concentrate on both individual and team improvement. Once you register, Varsity Spirit takes care of the rest. We pay for our staff’s travel, lodging and meal expenses so you only pay for your squad’s camp participation.

Preparing to Summer Camp

Cheer camp is another important event that marks the kick-off of your season! The memories made and knowledge gained at camp will stay with athletes far beyond their time within your program. As your plan for your Summer camp, whether overnight or a home camp, here are couple of items to guide you:

Mark Your Calendar for Registration Opening Dates
- To make sure you get your top choice of camp brand, location and type, be on the lookout for important planning dates such as camp registration at the beginning of each calendar year.
Organize Camp Payments and Invoices
- Make sure to keep your MyVarsity account up to date with your contact information to stay in the loop on your team’s registration. For questions regarding your team’s account, contact your state director for assistance!
Plan Your Teams Camp wear and Packing List
- Your Varsity Spirit Rep can help create custom looks for your teams to rep their schools at Summer Camp! This outfits are also great to have for community events and practice as the year goes on.
Create a Camp Foundation
- While the staff instructors are highly-skilled in building your team’s confidence and skill set, it always helps to go into camp with a strong foundation to learn off of. We recommend reviewing basic motions, jump technique and stunting terminology to make sure your athletes feel prepared and ready for camp. This is also a great chance to add in team bonding opportunities!

School Spirit Raising

Spirit teams do more than just perform at games and competitions, they are also spirit leaders on campus and in the community. Collaborate with the cheerleading/dance team contact to make sure that each team is doing what they can to keep the school full of spirit. Keep in mind some of the following ideas to help raise spirit around your school and community.

School Decorations and Signs: Keep the student body involved with signs and decorations posted around the school. Not only does this inform students about dates, times, and locations of events but it also gives the school a more spirited feeling! Always check with your administration before hanging anything throughout the school.

Pep Rallies: Pep Rallies are a great chance to get the students involved with your team and the athletic teams. Many teams perform upbeat and fun routines at pep rallies that get the crowd pumped up and excited for upcoming games or events. At many schools, the cheerleading team is in charge of organizing the pep rally so it is important to collaborate with them or offer to help with planning and preparation. Some schools even incorporate games during the rally to involve all students.

Community Involvement: If possible, get your team involved in the community whether it be volunteering or marching in parades. Take advantage of these opportunities to create school spirit in the community to help build a positive reputation for your school and team’s program.

School Spirit Guide