As a team parent, we know you’re committed to your child’s success, health, and happiness. That’s why we want to touch on something vital to your child’s long-term success in the sport: practice is important, but it’s what happens outside that time that truly elevates their progress.

Consider this — Imagine your child only learned math for 2 or 3 hours a week at school. If they never did homework or reviewed what they learned, would they perform well on their exams? Probably not.

In the same way, showing up to cheer practice for a few hours each week isn’t enough to maximize your child’s and team’s progress and help them succeed on the mats. Skills, especially as you advance through streams and levels, require consistent work — both physically and mentally — to truly stick and develop.

Practice Sets The Foundation — Consistency Builds The Results

Team practices are designed to teach group skills, build routines, and master them before competing and upgrading elements. Key word here — upgrading — because routines keep evolving and increasing in difficulty throughout the season. The first version of the routine you learn at choreography camp is almost never the same routine you compete at your end-of-season events.

However, with practices typically ranging from 2 to 4 hours per week for competitive teams, there’s only so much that can be done within that time.

You Make The Magic Happen With Extra Effort

Here’s where you come in. As a parent, your encouragement of at-home practice can be a game-changer in your child’s cheerleading journey.

Here are some key areas where a little extra effort outside of practice can make all the difference:

  • Strength Training and Conditioning: Cheerleading demands both endurance and explosive strength. At-home exercises like squats, lunges, body positions, and core workouts help build the muscle required for powerful stunts and tumbling. An extra 10-15 minutes a day will benefit your athlete’s stamina and performance. Proof of photos or videos in your team’s Band group is always appreciated and helps with accountability.
  • Flexibility Work: Stretching after practice and on off days is critical to preventing injury and improving flexibility, especially if your athlete is a top person or flyer. Consistent stretching of hamstrings, quads, and back muscles helps athletes hit the required body positions in stunts and improves their tumbling.
  • Marking Their Routine To Counts: Visualization is a powerful tool for athletes. Encourage your child to spend a few minutes each day marking their routine to counts using an 8-count track. This builds confidence and solidifies muscle memory, ensuring they feel more prepared under the pressures of competition. Practicing in front of a mirror or on video helps athletes see what their body is doing and if they need to fix anything. Here is an 8-count track we love and use in the gym — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1wMGfJnrL0&t=3s
  • Classes, Clinics, and At-Home Work: As we mentioned, team practices are designed for group work where all members of the team are required. Additional training opportunities to work on individual skills like jumps or tumbling will improve your athlete’s skills and confidence. Even without gym equipment, your athlete can work on perfecting their form for jumps or tumbling skills. Ask your coach for more information about drills your child can do at home!

Coaches and Parents — Partners In Athlete Development

As coaches, we do our best to teach, inspire, and guide our athletes, but we can’t do it alone. The partnership between coaches, athletes, and parents is critical to the development of skills and confidence.

As we work together, your child will develop not only into a stronger athlete but into a more confident, disciplined, and resilient individual. Small, consistent efforts at home make a massive impact, and with your support, they’ll be set up for a season of success.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

Talk soon,

Your Coaching Team at Pegasus Cheer