The Six Zones

1. The Arena: Arena distractions challenge your focus. In order to have a competition mindset, you must be able to put your mind in an intensely serious, highly competitive place. Being serious comes from attitude. It’s about being completely in the moment, not lost in self doubt and emotional anxiety. Seriousness comes from mental control. Conquer the arena don’t let it conquer you.

2. Nutrition: Food is literally your fuel. Don’t just think about what taste good, think about what your mind and body needs. Carbs and fats provide energy. Combining carbs and fats is are the key to having a fuel tank to compete. Drink water !!!!

3. Attitude: Doubt and fear are a reality a competitor has to live with her entire career. Its just the way is. Welcome the butterflies and the doubt, the nerves and apprehension. Don’t run away from it. Then, mentally step back, breathe, figure out what triggered those feelings of inferiority and replace them with positive images of success. Get yourself back to that centered confident frame of mind - a serious competition mind set. Concentrate, focus, and believe. Leave your casual life in the parking lot and get into you mind set. Being serious comes from attitude.

4. Visualization : Believe Visualization is thought of as seeing victory, imagining yourself nailing that basket toss as the crowd erupts. Go through your routine in your mind and see perfection. Keep telling yourself “I Can”. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

5. The Battle: Winning a competition takes an extraordinary level of concentration. At competition you need to be patient, focused, and have self discipline. Yeah, have fun, but don’t forget why your there - to compete. ADRENALINE—POWERFUL STUFF! During the last critical minutes of competition is usually when adrenaline happens. Oxygen will help you mange the adrenaline rush so breathe. Too much adrenaline can make you feel nauseous, lightheaded, unfocused, and physically weak Control it, don’t let it control you. Oxygen and concentration, breathe and talk to yourself. Every time you hit the floor to perform, it’s a new opportunity so look to the future. Adrenaline is a good thing. It can make you SUPERGIRL!

6. The Dream: YOU HAVE A DREAM. To be a champion, to rise above the average takes mental dedication, self discipline, and sacrifice. Your dream is your power. The road to being a champion is the road of DEDICATION, SELF DISCIPLINE, AND SACRIFICE. So dream big and commit. Make positive decisions, then do it.

Controlling your mind and emotions is what makes you a champion, so get real and learn how to believe in yourself under pressure. Remember its not about winning first place, its about doing your absolute best and feeling great when you get off that floor.

Do you have Scorpion Spirit?

Competition is here and the girls are very excited! I teach the girls about sportsmanship. The lessons taught by practicing good sportsmanship and showing respect for fellow competitors, are important in today’s highly competitive society. What is truly important about competition is what is learned from it rather than who wins and who loses. Parents play a big part in reminding their children about practicing great sportsmanship. It is my job to prepare the team for whatever the outcome. Teaching the girls to show class, win or lose, is a lesson that will serve them well in life.

I have the girls play a game called “Beat the Sheet”

During the competition season, we write down what score we earned and at the next competition we try to earn a higher score than the last. If we accomplish this, we win.

For example if we go to a competition and score 180 and get 4^th place then go to the next competition and score 150 and get 1^st place, we didn’t do better than the last competition.

The Americheer competition has designed a reward system to recognize cheer programs that emphasize and practice great sportsmanship. In order to be effective, recognition has to be given to all groups involved: the coaches, the parents, spectators, and the team members. We all need to work together to win this award. We won this award last year from all of our parents and members cheering for the opposite teams, cheering for our own teams, and making to most noise in the crowd. We won a plaque, announcement of winning on Ameicheer’s web site, $100.00 for pizza hut, and a year subscription to inside cheerleader magazine for all the girls. We want to win it again and use our spirit at all competitions. There are more competitions that we could win the spirit award.

How do we do this?

At every competition we go to, let’s have fun, enjoy, and encourage our girls to do a good job and have a good attitude. Parents can make signs, use fog horns, yell chants, dress in blue, white, and red, and anything else you can think of to support the girls. Parents and spectators please sit together. Make plans to watch all of our teams and yell and give them the support they deserve. The girls will support their buddy and the other teams with signs and chants when their buddy is competing. If the competition allows it move up to the front every time our teams are on stage. The girls need your support to do a good job.

Let’s all do our part in making this competition season a great one!

1st Small Youth Level - 2 California All Stars 7.33

2nd Small Youth Level - 2 Beach City Athletics 7.13

3rd Small Youth Level - 2 Flipz All Stars 7.10

4th Small Youth Level - 2 West Coast All Stars 7.01

5th Small Youth Level - 2 Top Notch Allstars 6.97    We were in 4th place after Saturdays performance. We got a couple deduction on Sunday that brought us to 5th.