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First Cheer Practice

Byteachthencheer
How to Plan the First Cheer Practice

Here is an idea of what to do at your first cheer practice of the season if you are a high school cheer coach.

Make a Plan

Before the first cheer practice, sit down and make a plan. You will feel prepared and confident to coach your new cheer squad. For this first cheer practice, I recommend that you create a detailed plan and over-plan, even if you have already been coaching for several years.

There is a practice plan template in my Cheer Coach Binder Cheerleading Editable Planner Pages.

Here is an overview of a First Cheer Practice Plan

  • 5:30 Ice Breaker
  • 5:45 Review Rules & Expectations
  • 6:00 Warm up
  • 6:05 Dynamic stretches
  • 6:10 Static stretches
  • 6:15 Stunting
  • 6:50 Cheers
  • 7:10 Jumps
  • 7:15 Conditioning
  • 7:25 Wrap Up

Ice Breaker

Your cheer team wants to get to know each other! Plan an ice breaker for the first cheer practice. Plan ice breakers that get the cheerleaders talking to each other, especially the returning cheerleaders talking to new cheerleaders.

Review Rules & Expectations

Start off your season on the right foot at the first cheer practice by reviewing rules and expectations. You should have a cheerleading contract/constitution that every cheerleader and their parent/guardian signs. If you have not had them sign it already, have copies ready to hand out so they can take it home and sign it. Be sure they bring it back as soon as possible.

We have the cheerleaders and their parent/guardian sign our cheerleading constitution right after they make the team. I also include an editable cheerleading contract in my Editable Cheer Tryout Score Sheets & Packet.

Teach Practice Routines

What are some of the routines you do every single practice? At the first cheer practice, you should break down those routines and thoroughly teach your expectations of how things should be done. For example, at every practice, the team runs laps around the gym, does a dynamic warm up, and stretches. At the first cheer practice, we review the expectations for how many laps, how to do the dynamic warm up, and how to stretch.

You will continuously revisit these routines throughout the season as cheerleaders start to get comfortable, but keep your standards high. A kind and firm way to reinforce your expectations is to have them try again. Simply re-explain the skill and the expectations for completing the skill then try again until it is correct.

Break Down the Basics

At the first cheer practice, start by teaching the basics and foundations of cheerleading before moving on to advanced skills. Before you begin cheering, explain how to project your voice and review sharp cheer motions. Before you begin jumping, explain the jump prep and work on timing before adding the skill. Before you begin stunting, review safety procedures. Expect them to master each step perfectly before moving onto the next. Spend the time now to review basics so that you won’t have to keep revisiting basics all year long and you can move on more quickly to more advanced skills.

Practice Wrap Up

At the end of the first cheer practice, teach your team how you will wrap up cheer practice every time. For example, if your team does a break.

Wishing you a great first cheer practice and an amazing cheer season, Happy Coaching!

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