"With courage and initiative, leaders change things."
~Rev. Jesse Jackson
Every cheerleader needs to work on the ability to make decisions on their own and act on them. Never be afraid of failure, but learn from it. No matter what, there are going to be times when you're gonna make mistakes or when something you try isn't going to work the way you hoped. No one is perfect. If you let fear paralyze you, you'll never achieve anything.
I've never had captains because I don't want popularity contests, and I don't want political battles.
EVERY cheerleader is a leader. ANY cheerleader can begin any chant and the rest of the squad should jump on board. Besides just how they perform at a game, initiative means that cheerleaders bring their ideas and contributions to practices. It means they become the "movers and the shakers" at school because they start projects and programs, through student council or other clubs, or just sparking trends, beginning or maintaining traditions and setting an example.
Again, if you think I'm writing this because of our squad's specific dramas, you should know that I wrote it back in 2005- see for yourself at http://cheercoach.blogspot
The pyramid's bricks apply to any team, any sport, any year, middle school, high school, or college. Initiative is part of leadership. It comes easier to some than to others, but my expectation is that each and all of you will begin taking initiative. The more you do it, the more natural it will become. But for some to even be able to take initiative, it will take the help and support of everybody else. When someone starts a cheer, follow along- don't complain that you don't remember it, or call it dumb, just support them- even if you have to fake it.
7 captains, not one or even two. Consider yourselves a pretty elite force, no non-commissioned officers, no enlisted men, just all captains. But, that means that some of you need to step up and some of you may need to back off just a little once in a while.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Pyramid of Success 8; Initiative
Pyramid of Success 7; Alertness
" Alertness and courage are life's shield."
~Phillipino Proverb
"As you strive to reach your personal best,
alertness will make the task much easier.
Be observing constantly,
quick to spot a weakness and correct it or use it,
as the case may warrant."
~Coach John Wooden
This means constantly observing what's going on around you. It means keeping an open mind. It means always being eager to learn and improve. It means to "look alive," and "stay-awake."
Obviously this is important during a game so that you don't look ridiculous. You have to know what's going on in the game in order to call appropriate chants, stop chants when it's the right time to stop, key-into what gets the fans to respond, the needs of your squad mates, etc. These are skills that get built with experience.
Obviously it's important while stunting to stay focused, to keep your eye on the flier and make sure that she never hits the ground.
But perhaps most importantly, it's important when it comes to self-awareness. Were you AWARE that your grades were slipping? Were you AWARE that adults were watching when you were smooching your beau? Were you AWARE that preschoolers were around when you were kussing?
Pyramid of Success 6; Self Control
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquuers his enemies;
for the hardest victory is the victory over self."
~Aristotle
"While we may not be able to control all that happens to us,
we CAN control what happens inside us.
~Benjamin Franklin
"He who conquers his anger has conquered an enemy."
~German Proverb
How can you have any kind of work ethic, or any cooperation without self control? Besides that, without self-control, you cannot remain loyal and you're liable to lose friends. Having self control, means being responsible and it's part of maturity. I tell students that to be responsible is being response-able, that means being able to control your RESPONSE to anything that happens and anything that anyone else says or does.
Pyramid of Success 5; Loyalty
"Be loyal to people in their absence. Then watch how others begin having more faith and confidence in you, because they know you won't be talking about them behind their backs."
~Stephen Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Effective People
( I recommend 7 Habits of Effective Teens)
Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
~Vince Lombardi
Coach Wooden expects members of a team to be loyal to themselves, but all so to everyone depending on you in order to keep your self respect. When you're a member of a squad, you can't flake out or walk off. Your teammates need you at games and at practices. You can't let them down.
So showing up, that's part of loyalty. Seeing things through. Being there for others. That's commitment and that's reliability. Seems to me that if that's loyalty, than loyalty must be made of things like a work ethic, enthusiasm, deliberate friendship, and cooperation. Funny how these bricks all relate to each other and build on one another.
I suppose the more conventional way of thinking of loyalty works too, even if it runs the risk of being more selfish and divisive than the self-sacrificing team building loyalty. Usually we tend to think of loyalty being something we have for one team but not another.
How can I support the D'Backs AND like the Dodgers. Well, they ARE both in the same division. I may be sad when Arizona loses, but I'd still prefer a team from the same division to win than for the Yankees to. Because both LA and AZ are part of something bigger, the NL West. Maybe you're more loyal to one sibling than another. You may love them both, but it's only natural to be closer to some people than others. But, you're also part of something bigger. When push comes to shove, blood is thicker than water. You may be closer to brother A than to sister B, but when someone outside your family knocks sister B, you and brother A are both likely to defend her, right?
When someone's loyal to you, you know they've got your back. Maybe you have a friend or two on squad whom you're closer to than the rest of the squad. That's fine and totally natural, especially if you were friends before cheer. But now you're part of something bigger. Now you've seen what it takes from the inside, so hopefully you'll support cheerleaders as cheerleaders, even if you're not crazy about them as individuals.
I know it's asking the impossible, but what can I say, sometimes a guy just wants the impossible- for you as a squad to become a unit, a team, a sorority in a way, a sort of family. Nobody always gets along with everyone in their families 100% of the time (if you've been snow-bound with yours this week, you know what I mean) but you always have something in common with them, you're always part of the same family and therefore part of each other.
It may be REALLY cheesy or sappy to talk about your fellow cheerleaders as a sisterhood, but now that you've been a BV cheerleader, even just for this one month, it will always be a part of your past, it is an experience that very few people get to have, and that experience is something that you now share with cheerleaders who have now graduated and with the other people on your squad.
If you are loyal to this elite sorority, you will look out for them and cover their back, even if as individuals they're not your favorite person in the world, even if they drive you crazy sometimes.
Why? Why should you? Why bother? Because loyalty is reciprocal. If you support them, they'll support you. They'll look out for you and you'll be able to know that there will always be someone who's got your back. In college and business they call that networking. That's one of the reasons they invented fraternities and sororities.
My father was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and one thing he taught me about the USMC is "once a Marine, always a Marine. You may refer to someone as a 'former-Marine' once they're discharged or retired, but the only 'Ex-Marine' is a dead Marine. Anyone who's ever known a Marine knows that they are FIERCELY loyal, first to our nation, then to the Corps (sometimes much to the chagrin of members of the other 3 branches of the armed services).
One of the reasons cheerleading was invented was to promote loyalty to your school, and to create that sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself- the community, the team, the school.
You will always be Bulldogs, and more than that, you will always be Bulldogs' Cheerleaders.
Pyramid of Success 4; Cooperation
"Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much."
~Hellen Keller
"We must be willing to learn the lesson that cooperation may imply compromise,
but if it brings a world advance it is a gain for each individual..."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Listen if you want to be heard. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
It should go without saying that a cheer squad is going to go nowhere if they can't cooperate. Cooperate with their coach and with each other during practice, cooperate with each other during a game or during a stunt. If a train has 8 cars and all 8 want to go in different directions, it won't go anywhere.
I know, I know, once again, it seems like I'm writing this just because I it's something I want this squad to work on, but again, it's just a coincidence. Well, come to think of it, maybe not- maybe Coach Wooden put these blocks in his "Pyramid of Success," because they're problems that every team runs into- even NCAA championship teams like his at UCLA. Maybe he included them because they really are things that everybody needs to achieve success, not just in sports, but in school, and work, and life.
Compromise- sacrificing our own personal self-interests, agendas and ambitions for the sake of what's going to make things work out best for everybody else can be really hard sometimes, but sometimes it's the only way to move forward.
Thomas Jefferson had to put up with a lot of changes to his Declaration of Independence to get it passed Congress.
You may not be Nebraska Cornhusker fans and I wouldn't blame you, they haven't been very good lately. But back when they were a "dynasty" under Coach Tom Osborne, the reason was because they didn't have any hot dogs, no glory hounds, primadonas or spotlight hogs. Every player was a team player, they weren't concerned with personal records or attention, they were all willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the whole team. During the 1980's most Nebraska quarterbacks went on to play as running backs, not quarterbacks when they went on to the NFL- that's because they were never big show offs while they played for the Huskers. The result was 13 conference championships and 3 national championships. That success came from cooperation, not domination.
King Arthur had this motto carved into the round table at Camelot, “In serving each other we become free.”
Think about that. The best way to become free is to voluntarily serve. Sounds illogical, but then, I bet it sounded illogical last time when I told you that you should try to be friends with people you can't stand. "Servant-Leader," it's not really such an oxymoron, actually it's a phenomenal key to success.
The Pyramid of Success 2; Enthusiasm
"Act Happy
feel happy
BE happy
without a reason in the world"
~Dan Millian
ENTHUSIASM, love, school spirit, fire, energy, passion- whatever you call it all the work in the world won't be worth the time without it. If you have it, it brushes off on those you come in contact with. And THAT'S what cheerleaders are for- spreading that spirit!
ENTHUSIASM EQUALS LOVE
" And how does one have enthusiasm in life? Actually, it is as simple as this: Cultivate the ability to love living. Love people, love the sky under which you live, love beauty, love God. The person who loves becomes enthusiastic, filled with the sparkle and the joy of life. And then he goes on to fill it full of meaning. If you're not enthusiastic, begin today to cultivate the love of living. Like Fred, for example…
So don't depreciate life by enumerating all the thing that are wrong with it. Lots of things are wrong, and something has to be done about them. But focus mentally upon all that is right about life; life is mighty good, a lot better than not having it, I should think. A lifetime on this wonderful earth doesn't last very long, either. It is here today and gone tomorrow. So love it while you can, and be full of enthusiasm-"
~ Norman Vincent Peale
'Enthusiasm Makes the Difference'
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a powerful motivational speaker and writer who taught about being POSITIVE, optimistic, and enthusiastic- all vital qualities for any cheerleader.
He also wrote The Power of Positive Thinking, but I suggest you buy, read, and live by The Power of Positive Thinking for Teens, it's shorter and written in easier to understand language.
When I moved with my family to Iowa I left behind a lot of friends, a real support network in California. At that time Boyer Valley had a really tough reputation for fighting, drinking, drugs, and mistreating teachers. The building was literally crumbling around us. It was depressing. I'm one who's always struggled with bouts of depression anyway (fortunately never severe enough to require medication). A book encouraged me and got me through that first year.
Somewhere I got my hands on Dr. Peale's book, 'Enthusiasm Makes the Difference.' His bottom line is a lot like concentration camp survivor's Viktor Frankl's in his book, 'Man's Search for Meaning;' no matter what you're going through, you decide your attitude about it. Instead of passively complaining when you don't like thins you have to do or thinking that they don't matter much or don't mean much- YOU make them matter, you make them mean something by putting yourself into whatever it is you're expected to do.
Enthusiasm is difficult to put into words. Even the dictionary isn't all that clear, it just compares enthusiasm to things like excitement, zeal and passion. That might be why I'm using so many quotes in this post. Perhaps the reason I focused more on Norman Vincent Peale than on Coach Wooden this time is because I think that what enthusiasm really is, is having a positive attitude.
It sound's cheesy or cliche, but what it really boils down to is when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I know this may be a difficult concept to put into practice because many teenagers are naturally negative and critical, but along with hard work, it is a cornerstone- nit just another building block, but the very foundation of success and of cheerleading.
It's vital and indispensable. And it is most certainly not lame, stupid or pointless. I promise, if you work hard at making the most of things and staying as positive as you can in every situation- your life will improve.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." ~William James
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms-to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances." ~Vikto Frankl
Enthusiasm is contagious - and so is the lack of it. That's why I need you to give your all at practice and to stay upbeat and positive at games- even if you have to fake it.
“Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic” ~Dale Carnegie
“Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic”~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do” ~Norman Vincent Peale
Enthusiasm is contagious. You can start an epidemic. It starts with you. The more enthusiastic you are, the more it will spread. Really, this is a cheerleader's job. You already do it at games. Soon you'll be doing it at pep-rallies. Be positive and others will come around too. Smile and people smile back.
Enthusiasm is what wins spirit sticks.
Enthusiasm is contagious. You can start an epidemic. This is part of why I caution you against complaining to loudly when the crowd is unresponsive. You want THEM to catch your enthusiasm. You DON'T want for you to catch their apathy. In this way you are being thermostats instead of thermometers- instead or reacting TO the climate, you ought to be affecting the climate. Crank it up.
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
~John Lubbock
The Pyramid of Success 1; Work
The "Pyramid of Success" was developed by Coach John Wooden. His 10 NCAA National Championships in 12 years while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach ever. He has long since retired and lives near where I used to live in California. My friend and former Vice Principal goes to his church and has gotten to know him pretty well. He has written books on success and is widely respected in both sports and business.
Here's is most famous quote-
"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
~John Wooden
The first brick in the foundation of the pyramid is something Coach Wooden called "industriousness," but you could call it having a strong work-ethic.
~Pat Riley, NBA Coach (Bulls, Lakers)
"The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price."
~Vince Lombardi (Green Bay Packers - the Super Bowl trophy was named for him)
Success depends more on how hard you work for it then on your talent. Think of it as a math equation:
e/a= s
Effort divided by Ability equals Success. You can have all the talent & skill in the world, but if you aren't willing to work hard, you will go nowhere.
Cheerleaders need to focus and push themselves (& each other) in practice. We should WANT to work out and train and review and improve. If we don't work, we won't get anything done.
Not everybody likes to have to work. It may not be that they're lazy- it's just that they don't want to have to do what someone else tells them to, or they have higher priorities for using their time, but nothing pays off like hard work.
Between now and January, I'll be posting notes on the other bricks in the pyramid. I hope you think about them and take them to heart. It would be easy to not take it seriously- just more "Character Ed" stuff like the 5 pillars that you learned in elementary school, but John Wooden swore by his pyramid. And he must've known what he was doing. Check out what Wikipedia says about him:
"During his tenure with the Bruins, Wooden became known as the 'Wizard of Westwood' (UCLA) and gained lasting fame with UCLA by winning 664 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles during his last 12 seasons, including 7 in a row from 1967 to 1973. His UCLA teams also had a record winning streak of 88 games and four perfect 30–0 seasons. They also won 38 straight games in NCAA Tournaments and a record 98 straight home games"
Some of his players include the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who while he was a student, thought the pyramid was a little corny- but credits it with his later success in the NBA and in life in general.
I want cheer to be fun and full of memories for you, but I also want each and every one of you to come away from cheer with integrity, respect and genuine leadership abilities. Take time to read these and you'll be building yourself and our squad into something great.
"I am only an average man but, by George, I work harder at it than the average man."
Theodore Roosevelt
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Spirit Stick
If you remember me telling you a little bit about the origins and purpose of the Spirit Stick (Lawrence Herkmier and the NCA, etc.), you'd recall that awarding a spirit stick is not so much about skills and conditioning as it is about... well, SPIRIT.
There might be people who are better cheerleaders in that their moves are more accurate or more sharp, or they may be capable of more stunts or tumbling, or they may know more chants- but the spirit-stick recipient is the person who perhaps has the most positive attitude, the most supportive of their squad-mates, attempts the most direct crowd-encouragement, or if nothing else, they put forth the most effort (remember the formula e/a= s effort divided by ability equals success). So yes, it occasionally might go to someone who shows the most improvement. It's also important to remember that if you're not getting the spirit stick, that doesn't mean you aren't doing an awesome job.
Here are some of the qualities I will be looking for each game-
First, from our mission statement:
Positive, Committed Leaders stirring-up spirit, building excellence & character
* Who remains positive the whole game?
* Who demonstrates the most commitment?
* Shows leadership (managing, facilitating and setting an example- not JUST directing)
* Stirs-up school spirit (in crowd, team, and within the squad)
* Strives to improve
* and has personal integrity, principles and character
Those are pretty subjective, I admit, I can't see into your soul, after all, so I look for what's a lot easier to see. Things like:
* School Spirit
* Sportsmanship
* Energy
* Expression
* Encouraging/supportive
And, I hope you'll read the posts I make about John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, because some of his"bricks" also embody the meaning of the spirit stick:
* Friendship
* Loyalty
* Cooperation
* Enthusiasm
* Self-Control
* Team Spirit
I will be awarding our spirit stick on a weekly basis. Winners will receive it each Monday and are responsible for returning it the following Friday before the game. They're also responsible (of course) for not letting it touch the ground. That's not actually about bad luck- it's symbolic of the fact that you should always keep your spirit up!
Yes, I welcome your input, but no, it's not a democracy, it's definitely a coachocracy. I want to hear who you all think deserves it. I especially want to hear from past recipients, but I do reserve the final word.
The first week I genuinely was watching to see who was smiling the most often. It may be ironic that other people were giving Nina a hard time about forgetting to smile. I guess in a sense they all share in her spirit stick. All I know is that I felt like she did a good job overall, particularly considering how insecure she's been about not getting things right. Were other people better over all? Maybe so, but remember- the spirit stick isn't about being best, it's about spirit.
This second week, I am proud to announce that the spirit stick goes to Melissa. Melissa smiled a lot more this game than the last three (maybe that means she's getting more confident). I was really impressed with how much louder she was too- which is no small thing for those who know her.
I don't believe that the NCA founder and inventor of the "Herkie" jump meant for the spirit stick to be a mere consolation prize. I think he'd agree that being positive, having good sportsmanship, and encouraging others is more important in cheerleading than impressive stunts, choreographed routines, or sharp moves and jumps.
"The spirit stick got its start at a camp at the University of Redlands in California. We had a squad out there who cheered for the other groups and were full of spirit, but they had almost no talent. So, I decided they had to have some recognition because their great attitude was just as important as skill! I broke a little stick off a tree and awarded them the 'spirit stick' for their unusual spirit. Then we started doing this at all the camps, awarding the spirit stick to the groups who showed the most spirit each day, and whoever won it at the end of the week got to take it home with them. The spirit stick is the most outstanding award you can get. It's the symbol for spirit." ~Lawrence Herkimer
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Order a Cheer Shirt
Support BV Cheerleading
We need warm-ups, poms, and a new mascot costume.
Shirts are just $12 for S, M, L, & XL, $14 for XXL and XXXL
Submit your order to Mr. Mallory. SHirts will arrive in January.
Woodbine
We finally got all 7 squad members together at a game. Now, if we can get all seven plus Quincy and a mascot at a home game! THAT would be a trick.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Quincy's Angels
Boyer Valley freshman Quincy Baker has a lot of school spirit. He's really wanted to participate in school activities and be a part of a team just like his older brother, Senior Colton Baker. But Quincy is a special needs student with a lot of limitations. It isn't always easy for him to communicate, he's endured hundreds of surgeries in his short lifetime and because he's so slim, a lot of people assume that he's more frail than he is.
For a long time it looked like school sports was just out of the question. But part way through football season last fall, Quincy had three "angels" intervene for him. Senior Football Cheerleaders Sasha Meggers, Meckensie Jensen and Christine Harriott realized that Quincy's school spirit could be put to good use. All three girls had served at different times as helpers or baby sitters for "Q" as they call him. Sasha was practically a sister to him, having grown up as next door neighbors with the Bakers in Dow City.
The three Seniors talked to their Coach, Ted Mallory, and Quincy's Mom, Paula Ritterbush Eickholt and the next thing he knew, Quincy was part of the squad. Meggers, Jensen, and Harriott had been cheering for Boyer Valley since the seventh grade, so Quincy's been exposed to every cheer they have and the girls had often taught them to him. They joke about being his girlfriends, but whenever he se's a photograph of any of the three girls in a yearbook or on Coach Mallory's desk, he lights up and points to his squad-mates.
Qunicy cheered at home football games in 2009. He plans on cheering at home basketball games this year too, although because of the inherent danger of balls, players and referees, he will be in the stands directly beside the squad. At the season opener in Missouri Valley, on of the cheerleaders was actually hit in the head with a ball. Coach Mallory frequently has to dodge colissions and crashes when he takes pictures for the yearbook and the Reporter.
Quincy's three angels have moved on from cheerleading. Harriott will graduate at semester, Jensen is putting more hours in at her job in Soldier and Meggers has been focusing on being Captain of the Boyer Valley Drill Squad- which just brought home their fifth first place State rating for pom in a row. Even though they're moving on, the girls still have plans for Quincy. They want to take him to his first prom.
This year's basketball Cheer squad features four Sophomores, two Freshmen and a Junior. Only Sophomore Cammey Hast has cheer in high school before, though another four have cheered in junior high. Mallory has been impressed with their energy, enthusiasm and initiative at practices.
"If they can push past their stage fright," he says "they will be incredibly effective at raising spirit at games." He thinks they've got a lot of skill and have a ton of potential.
Mallory has coached both middle school and high school cheer at Boyer Valley since 2001. Before moving to Iowa, he coached at Los Angeles Lutheran Jr/Sr High School in Sylmar, California. He lives in Charter Oak with his wife Bethany and their three daughters.
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