Tryout Anxiety

This happens every year. Candidates talk about how much they hate tying out, but I holding tryouts too.

One girl I've been trying to recruit told me this morning that she's open enrolling to a different school next year. Another one isn't over a foot injury yet and want to heal up for Soccer anyway.

Our mascot has decided that he only wants to perform during football season next year, but not basketball.

My veteran with the most experience, who's also the best teacher, can't help me at all this week because she has to work.

There's a candidate who's was pretty uncoordinated back in junior high- when she was removed from the squad for stealing something from the opponents' locker room, but she's best friends with our only returning underclassman.

And of course, plenty of kids have said that they want to only come out for basketball season, but not football and they can't come to tryouts now anyway because they have to go to track practice.

Whine.

Who knows. Maybe we'll only have 2 or 3 people on squad next fall. At least we'll save money on new uniforms!

Just once I'd like to have 20 candidates for 6 coveted spots. That actually happened to me a couple of times back at LA Lutheran.

Well, whatchyagonnado but pray and hope and wait. Amen

Loud and proud

Loud and proud
By Coach Ted Mallory Charter Oak-Ute NEWSpaper Thurs. March 10, 2005

March 7-13, 2005 is National Cheerleading Week. According to USA Today. There are about 3 million cheerleaders in the US today. Varsity Spirit, largest of about 50 cheerleading companies, made almost $150 million last year. American Cheerleader magazine debuted in 1994 and now has a circulation over 200,000.

Tommy Lee Jones recently stared in “Man of the House,” a movie where he plays a Texas Ranger charged with protecting members of the University of Texas cheer squad who had witnessed a murder. Its cheesy, contrived and predictable, but still cute. Of course, I may appreciate it more than most. I’ve been coaching Cheer since 1993. I know what its like to be trapped in a van with six giggling teenage girls for hours at a time.

The first organized cheers were chanted at Princeton football games in the 1880’s. The first official Yell squad was at the University of Minnesota in the 1990’s. In the roaring 20’s squads started adding pyramids and tumbling. Cheerleading was a predominantly male sport until all the men went off to war in the 1940’s.

Cheerleading is purely American. Think about it. Baseball evolved from Cricket, Football evolved from Rugby. Only Basketball and Cheerleading are purely American originals.

In High School, cheerleading is about school spirit. College cheerleading is all about stunts and athletics. Unfortunately, the cheerleaders for professional football and basketball seem to be more about glamor and swimsuit calendars. Kind of like how respectable high school and college wrestling are as sports, but Pro-Wrestling is pretty much a corny, violent soap opera.
Club squads, which are not affiliated with schools have become very popular recently.

Performing and competing against other cheer squads has become more important to these “all-star” squads as a sport in their own right then raising the spirit at football or basketball games.

The National Federation of State High School Spirit Associations’ official rules book states the first duty of Cheerleading is to “boost school spirit, promote good sportsmanship, and develop good positive crowd involvement Cheerleaders are in a position of great influence, therefore” …"high standards of conduct are essential. Cheerleaders can become the schools most effective student leaders.”

As a coach, I tend to agree with this philosophy. I take it even further. Cheerleading can be a tremendous opportunity to develop important qualities in yourself, your squad-mates and your classmates that will help you throughout your life and in every aspect of your life. The most obvious one might be fitness and fitness habits. I personally think that the most important ones are service, confidence, and positivity.

Service is vital to Cheer and to leadership. You would be amazed as a football or basketball player at the difference that a good cheer squad and crowd noise can make. We are there for them. Cheerleaders shouldn’t be self-focused, we should be focused on others. The ball-team athletes will tell you, there’s something powerful about playing with a lot of noise.

Cheerleaders can make a lot of noise, but their job is to get the crowd to make noise, to lead them in cheers. When the stands are packed and chanting in unison, its electric. It really can help the players, it literally can help determine the outcome of the game. If you’ve been to any of the Lady Bobcat basketball tournaments, you know its true.

Cheerleaders would also be amazed at how much young children watch them, imitate them, and want to be like them. Service could be small thing like picking up trash in the stands after a game, being quiet in the team bus, letting players get on and off the bus before you, or big things, like donating lots of time or money to some charity, church or community activities.

Either way, you can have a lot more influence by helping others than by ordering people around. If you take the focus off yourself and focus on helping others. You’ll be surprised and how good you feel, and how important you become. Perhaps, most importantly, you’ll have a lot less conflict with others if you’re not always trying to get your own way.

Standing in front of hundreds of people, jumping, shouting, and chanting aren’t things that come easy. Leading a pep-rally, speaking your opinion, standing up for what’s right, making new friends, engaging a stranger in conversation, holding up under peer-pressure, saying no, knowing that you have strengths and abilities to handle any situation- these are all things that you can develop by being a cheerleader. Trust in others and trust in yourself. What could Cheering offer that is more valuable than confidence?

Positivity is the next thing that Cheer offers. Think about that old saying “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” People who look for the good in any situation and any individual can usually find it. Once found, it can be used to make things better for everybody. Too often, too many of us tend to be critical of one another and ourselves. That kind of negativity is unproductive.

Optimism is more effective, progressive and productive. Certainly life isn’t always easy, cheerleaders don’t have to be in denial about real life, but if you’re going to encourage others, you can’t focus on what’s discouraging. Like the old saying says; “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!” Knowing that no matter how bad it gets, you can still get through it, move on, and learn, even gain from the pain- how awesome is that?

Some people think that they could never be cheerleaders, they’re not “perky” enough. Don’t think of it as being saccharine or Pollyanna, think of it as being positive. That’s part of the American character, that’s looking forward instead of feeling sorry for your self or criticizing and blaming the people around you. That’s leadership.

The Dunlap Reporter

The Dunlap Reporter My dear friend and collegue, Lauri Boysen is stepping down. Who will I commiserate with now?

Veterans

Once again, please forgive me for missing your last game. Thank you for letting us try to get Grace help at Shriner’s Hospital in St. Paul. Thank you AGAIN for an exemplary year. It had to be the absolute smoothest in all my years since 1993! I really appreciate it. And thank you, too for letting me videotape “the list.” It was obvious that you were relieved to get it over with, so I appreciate it all the more. Thank you.

2004-05 Varsity Cheerleaders- Randi , Rosemary, Moe , Aleigh, Kelli, and Rena. Please clean and return your uniforms, poms, warm-ups, bags, and megaphones to Coach Mallory in room 219 as soon as possible. (if your name is still in this announcement, you haven’t returned all of your items yet- Rosemary owns her uniform so that’s one of 5 items she doesn’t have to return)


RE: Cheerleading Tryouts- Veterans, please plan on helping teach on Monday and Tuesday and judging Thursday. Please encourage any underclassmen that you know (8-11) to tryout. 2005-06 Varsity Thur March 10th, Tryout practices Mon & Tue, March 7th & 8th. Please see Coach Mallory in Room 219 to sign up and get paperwork.


ALSO: Keep in mind that we have Track Concessions with Drill in the Spring. Everyone needs to plan to work at least ONE. Thank you so much.

Again, this has been an awesome year, you’re my “Dream Team,” if I could clone you all, I would. You showed a lot of spirit and a lot of class. I’m very proud of you all and will miss you each- especially. Next fall when Cheerleading starts up again.

Please keep in touch over the years,
Coach

P.S. Go see Tommy Lee Jones in “Man of the House,” it’s a kill.

REVISED Tournament Schedule

February 15, 2005 -

Cheer, Here is a REVISED schedule of Tournament Basketball Games. Remember only District Semifinals (#1&2) are absolute, everything else depends on whether we win or lose. IF THE BOYS WIN on Mon, then plan on a Pep-Rally on WED and before each game after that. PLEASE BRING your uniforms to school to wear AT THE PEP RALLY. Don't worry about wearing them durring the school days, but do please dress-up. Thank you1.

1. Mon 2/14 Girls @ Manilla 7pm v. IKM- Dist Semifinal...BUS TIME 5:40pm

2. Mon 2/21 Boys @ Manning 7pm v. Woodbine- Dist Semifinal

3. Wed 2/23 Boys @ Manning 6:30pm v. Treynor- Distirct Final

4. Mon 2/28 Boys @ Manning 7pm v. winner of Manning v. IKM- Regional Semifinal

5. Wed 3/2 Boys @ Denison 7pm v. ?- Regional Final

Thank you AGAIN for an AWESOME job this season and for putting up with my missing the last couple of games because of Annamarie!

One last favor, it's really important to me to finish videotaping "the list" on Thrursday, 2/17. It shouldn't take more than a half an hour.

We'll need your uniforms, warm-ups, megaphones, poms, and bags as soon as possible after the last tournament game. Please be sure to clean and iron them before you turn them in.

ALSO: Keep in mind that we have Track Consessions in the Spring.

Thanks again,Love,
Coach

District Tournaments

District Tournaments
Here is a schedule of Tournament Basketball Games. Remember only District Semifinals (#1&3) are absolute, everything else depends on whether we win or lose.

Lets show our pride and wear our uniforms to school EVERYTIME! Thank you. :)

1. Mon 2/14 Girls @ Manilla 7pm v. IKM- Dist Semifinal...BUS TIME 5:40pm

2. Sat 2/19 Girls @ Manilla 7pm v. winnwer of W Har v. Woodbine- Dist Final...BUSTIME 5:40? (TBA)

3. Mon 2/21 Boys @ Manning 7pm v. Woodbine- Dist Semifinal

4. Tue 2/22 Girls @ Denison 7pm v. ?- Regional Semifinal

5. Wed 2/23 Boys @ Manning 6:30pm v. Treynor- Distirct Final

6. Sat 2/26 Girls @ Harlan 4pm v.?- Regional Final

7. Mon 2/28 Boys @ Manning 7pm v. winner of Manning v. IKM- Regional Semifinal

8. Wed 3/2 Boys @ Denison 7pm v. ?- Regional Final

9, 10. State again!

Thank you for an AWESOME job this season and for putting up with my missing the last couple of games because of Annamarie!
One last favor, it's really important to me to finish videotaping "the list." It shouldn't take more than a half an hour. Please let me know what day works best for you ASAP. If I don't hear from you, I'll just plan on Thrursday, 2/17.

We'll need your uniforms, warm-ups, megaphones, poms, and bags as soon as possible after the last tournament game. Please be sure to clean and iron them before you turn them in.

Thanks again,
Love,
Coach

PhotoShop Phun!

I told you that Jessica was a little snot!
Mallory

Hair Salon

Who understands Middle School girls? Yesterday they all decided to cut Kassie's hair. She CLAIMED that her parents wouldn't care. I hope she's right!

Reps

"China, glass, and reputations are easily shattered but not easily mended."
~Ben Franklin

Yeah!!!
Mallory

New Cheerleader!

Annamarie Carolyn Mallory

Born: 1:57 pm Sunday, February 67 lb, 7 oz, 19 in long, 35 cm head

LOUD and proud!

Both Mom and Annamarie are well. Dad and both big sisters are all thrilled.Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!

Upcoming End-of-Season Schedule

Upcoming Schedule:

Wed 2/2- No Practice
Thur 2/3- PRACTICE 3:20>> Going thru "the list" on a camcorder for posterity
Fri 2/4- @ Manning, Aleigh will miss
Sat 2/5- Home v. Red Oak- Brett (SPEECH) & Kelli will miss
Tue 2/8- Home v. W. Harr
Fri 2/11- Pep Rally- Senior Special
Fri 2/11- Home v. ArWeVa (Senior/Parent Night) Please invite your parents

Please Plan on District Tourneys Tue & Fri nights (maybe even Wed) @ least Feb 21- Mar 4

Please Plan on working @ least one of the 5 track concessions this Spring

Please Plan on helping @ least 2 of 3 after-school practices (teaching) for next years' tryouts- probably the first or second week of March (possibly/probably also judging for outgoing Seniors)

PLEASE BE AWARE- "Baby Mallory III" may arrive at any time from here on out. Coach Mallory will go on leave, therefore Coaches Boysen, Pippitt, or Ms. Panzi will serve as your faculty supervisor/contact for whatever games Coach Mallory misses.

Thank you