What You Need To Know For Your First Game or Competition

It’s a lot different at a game or competition when you’re front and center in the spotlight instead of in the stands. The first game or competition is especially nerve-racking; you don’t know what to expect or how to feel. For many, the fact that all eyes are on you is additionally stressful. What if you mess up? What if you forget a move or cheer? We’re here to help you prepare and know what to expect at games and competitions so when the day of your first performance arrives, you’ll act and look like a pro. Here’s some insider knowledge on how to rock your first game or competition. What to Expect Game: A game is a little less stressful than a competition because the cheerleaders aren’t the focus – the sports team is. However, this doesn’t mean you can wing it on the sidelines. At a game, the cheerleaders are responsible for pumping up the crowd, motivating the sports team to win, and creating a spirited atmosphere, whether the team is dominating or getting their butt kicked. At a game, expect a lot of noise and a lot of action! There is a lot going on at a game – the team is playing and the crowd is talking, getting up to use the restroom, eating food, shouting at the team, and watching the cheerleaders. At a game, it’s important to always be aware of what’s going on during the game. Is your team on defense or offense? Are they behind or ahead in points? Is the team all-star on the field? Was anyone benched or injured? All of these questions will affect what cheer or routine you perform. If you don’t know what’s going on, you could accidentally cheer for an injury or a point loss. While your captain or coach will let you know ahead of time which cheer you’ll perform next, don’t rely on that alone. By watching the game (and the crowd), you’ll be prepared for your next cheer. Competition: As opposed to a game, the focus is on you at a competition. You’ll be performing with many other squads, possibly even dozens, and you have to stand out from the others in order to come out on top. At a competition, expect to be nervous! It’s intimidating being surrounded by so many amazing cheer squads. You may also feel overwhelmed at a competition site. Which way to the restroom? When should you eat lunch? Where do you change? Always stick with your squad, or at least several teammates, to avoid getting lost. If your coach gives you a schedule for the day, follow it! There will be specific times to stretch, eat, change, and prepare for show time. The worst thing you can do is get distracted and be late for practice or not have time to eat. Handling Nerves Nerves are natural! But that doesn’t mean you have to let them take over and distract you. There are many ways to combat nerves and different tactics will work for different people. As you attend more and more games and competitions, you’ll learn what works, and what doesn’t work, for you. Practice the opening a few extra times. Once you get into the routine, you’ll forget your nerves. The beginning is always the most stressful so if you nail the opening, you’re more likely to have an amazing performance the whole way through. Yes, you should practice your harder stunts and moves. However, don’t practice too much. Let’s say you’re having trouble with a certain section of your routine and you’re particularly tripping up during practice. If you repeat it several times and are still messing up, stop practicing. This will only freak you out and it could cause you to mess up your entire routine, as opposed to just that one part. Take a deep breath and move on. Don’t let it stress you out and start practicing something else. If you keep focusing on that one mistake, your bound to make it during your performance. Before performing, give yourself a few minutes to meditate. Practice deep breathing, release any negative or worrisome thoughts, and focus on the present. You never want to start a routine with a bunch of nerves or thoughts, as it will only distract you. Try to only think about rocking your routine. Recovering from a Mistake If you make a mistake, push through! The worst thing you can do is let the audience know you messed up. Act like nothing happened and keep going. For one, there’s a good chance everyone didn’t notice; second, if you keep smiling and performing, people may think it was all a part of the routine. If you make a mistake at a competition, many judges will factor in your recovery. Even if they notice your mistake, they’ll also notice how well you recover and whether or not you can get back on your feet and shine throughout the rest of the performance. Responding to a Tough Crowd While at a competition the crowds are generally supportive, but you may come across a less encouraging audience. If the audience is unresponsive to your routine or negative (although this is rare), cheer louder and harder! Make it impossible for them to not fall in love with your squad and routine. At a game, there’s a much larger chance of encountering a tough crowd. If your sports team is losing a game, suffering an injury, or receiving a foul, the crowd is bound to get rowdy and upset. As a cheerleader, it’s your responsible to keep them spirited and supportive of the team. If the crowd is booing or isn’t very spirited, think of a cheer that will get them excited! One way to get them spirited again is to perform a cheer that involves the crowd or requires them to participate. This will distract them from the scoreboard and encourage them to root for a victory! Newbie cheerleaders: are you nervous for your first game or competition? Veteran cheerleaders: what are your tips and advice on what to expect? Comment below!