Team Spirit

"Individual commitment to a group effort- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." ~Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then WE did it. If anything goes really good, then YOU did it." ~Paul "Bear" Bryant, NCAA Football coach

"Team Spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player." ~John Wooden

It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about the squad, the program, the team & fans we're cheering for, the school, the town, the community. You and I are a part of something bigger than either of us alone. We are BULLDOGS.You've heard the old cliche', "there's no 'I' in TEAM."

It's not about me. It can never be about you.It's all about US.Be a team player and you'll become a leader. What's it gonna be? 7 individuals who all want their own way? Two or three factions that each coalesce behind different individuals who each want to be in charge? Or ONE unit, one group, one team, one family, one squad with the same purpose- to get the crowds going and make games more fun- for EVERYBODY?

As you've read before, about other bricks in the Pyramid of Success, it might take sacrifice, selflessness, maturity, patience, compromise- but those are all things that genuine and successful leaders do. Be a leader by being a TEAM player.

Coach Wooden on Team Spirit: "This means thinking of others. It means losing oneself in the group for the good of the group. It means being not just willing but eager to sacrifice personal interest or glory for the welfare of all.

There is a profound difference between mere willingness and eagerness. A prisoner on a chain gang may be willing to break rocks to avoid punishment, but how eager is he?

Of course, we all want to do well and receive individual praise. Yes, that's fine, if you put it to use for the good of the team, whatever your team is: sports, business, family, or community.

Team spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player."

For my money, this may be the most difficult block in the pyramid to put into practice, but it may be one of the most rewarding and most important.

The reason King Aurthur's table was round, instead of rectangular, was because he saw his knights as co-equals. He wanted them to know that it wasn't all about him- they were a team. One version of the legend says that the round table was inscribed with this motto: "by serving each other, we become free."

Poise

"The key to winning is poise under stress." ~Paul Brown

Coach Wooden put Poise and Confidence near the top because they are the natural result of having the first 12 qualities in place.

You've heard of old saying like, "she makes it look so easy," the reason some people make things LOOK easy, is not because they are easy, but because those people have poise.

POISE:

1 : a stably balanced state : EQUILIBRIUM poise between widely divergent impulses --

2 a : easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling; also : the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise poise of the meeting

b : a particular way of carrying oneself : BEARING, CARRIAGE

synonym see TACT

Fashion magazines will tell you that runway models need to be poised, so you might think that poise is all an act, but really it's about being comfortable, unflappable even. It's about being stable.

Coach Wooden says that his definition of poise is simply being yourself. Not acting. Not pretending to be something you're not, you are who you are and you're comfortable with that. You'll function at your own level of competence. Granted, as a cheerleader you may sometimes have to pretend to be happy and you have to work at being positive- but if you have enthusiasm (love/spirit) then you'll be able to smile and act excited and still be genuine even when life is hard or you're having a bad day.

Poise means that your goal is not to satisfy anyone else's expectations but your own. You give your total effort to becoming the best you are capable of being.

Here's a famous poem about poise:

"If..." By Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son! (or may I rephrase, you'll be a woman my cheerleader! or how about, you'll be a leader, not just a cheerleader)

"You understand that the goal is to satisfy not everyone else's expectations but your own. You give your total effort to becoming the best you are capable of being. It takes poise to accomplish this." ~John Wooden

Confidence

" Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

"Courage is being scared to death- but saddling up anyway."

~John Wayne

"You must have confidence," writes Coach John Wooden, "You must believe in yourself if you expect others to believe in you. However, you can't have poise and confidence unless you've prepared correctly. (remember that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.) Every block is built on the others. When all are in place, poise and confidence result. You don't force them to happen. They happen naturally from proper preparation. "

Webster's Dictionary explains that it is "a state of mind or a manner marked by easy coolness and freedom from uncertainty, diffidence, or embarrassment... faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance confidence that comes from long experience>...an ease or coolness under stress that reflects perfect self-control and command of one's powers... a manifest self-possession in trying or challenging situations."

Some kids bring confidence to cheerleading. Generally cheerleading gives kids confidence.

Flying, basing and spotting in stunts. Leading chants; shouting, jumping and kicking in front of hundreds of people. Leading pep-rallies... practice, practice, practice... being LOUD and PROUD!

Heck, just having to perform in front of the whole student body or half the town gives you a certain amount of confidence- once you get over whatever stage fright you had, there won't be many times you'll be afraid to be in front of people anymore!

I wish we still had 10-20 people trying out for cheer- not because the competition means you get a higher caliber of cheerleader- you guys are great- but because having to go through the tryout practice is a real teat or confidence. Over the last 20 years I've known a couple of girls who gave phenomenal tryouts, you'd think they were college cheerleaders, unfortunately they became lazy and sloppy in practice and at games. These girls were "over confident." True confidence is built on the other 13 bricks and includes not just poise, but work, conditioning, alertness, loyalty, Enthusiasm, cooperation, etc.

Then there were a few girls who I absolutely knew had outstanding skills, knowledge, and work-ethic- but unfortunately for them, they completely freaked out when it was time for tryouts. A couple of times girls wound up in tears. It was too bad because I knew that they were brimming with potential. At least once they decided they couldn't stand being in front of crowds, at least once there wasn't anything I could do- there were too many other candidates that performed better, and I know a couple of times it worked out in the end. Even the girls who don't make the squad have said that just having to go through the tryout process helped build their confidence.

And as Coach Wooden explained, working on industriusness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, self-control, alertness, initiative, intentness, conditioning, skill, team-spirit, and poise- these are going to give you REAL confidence.

My hope is that through cheerleading, you will build all 15 of these bricks into your character and your thinking. If you do, they may not make you a billionaire or the first woman President, but I guarantee that they will bring you success- that is, the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you did your best. And THAT could make cheer one of the most important things you do in high school. Even if this is the last season you cheer and you don't come out again (and I hope you all will, whether it's during football or basketball or both), but even if you don't- it will be worth it if you gain at least some confidence from it. That will probably happen even if you think this Pyramid business of Coach Wooden is a bunch of bunk.

I've known tons of girls who agree that it made a difference in their lives. Some who were timid, shy and unassuming before cheer and confident and comfortable both with themselves and with others after. But remember, if your confidence is not merely building up an immunity to stage-fright, but if it's backed up by the other 13 bricks in the Pyramid of Success- you'll be ready for just about anything life throws at you.

Everybody need a little confidence. How do you get it? It's not about a sense of entitlement, it's about a sense of accomplishment. Esteem may give you value, but efficacy gives you confidence. If you have the other 12 blocks of the pyramid, then confidence and poise will come along naturally. If there's anything that cheerleading (and I'm sure other sports like VB, XC, BB, and Track) can give a girl, it's confidence.

Competitive Greatness

UCLA Coach John Wooden with some of the artifacts that came from his success, which he attributes to his Pyramid of Success.

“'When the going gets tough, the tough get going.' Be at your best when your best is needed. (competitive greatness is a) Real love of a hard battle." ~John Wooden

Get your game on.

Put your game face on.

Keep your head in the game.

And of course what cheerleader doesn't know "Bring it on?"

All of these cliches mean the same thing; keep your edge.

It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.

All of these mottos mean that the athlete relishes the opportunity to bring all their skill, talent, experience and character to bare on whatever problem or challenge they face.

Coach Wooden says "a hard struggle is to be welcomed, never feared. In fact, when you define success this way, the only thing to fear is your unwillingness to make the full 100% effort to prepare and perform at the highest level of your ability."

Over 20 years of bus rides, I've overheard a lot of conversations between basketball coaches. They talk a lot about who's giving 100%, 90%, 60%, and 110% both in practices and in games.

Competitive greatness isn't about winning competitions (especially in cheer, where yeah, there are such a thing as cheerleading competitions, but the whole purpose is really to help the football or basketball players reach their competitive greatness). Competitive greatness isn't about defeating an opponent or a rival. You can be competitive in an insecure, jealous, selfish, ambitious way like that, but true competitive greatness isn't about vanquishing enemies- it's about overcoming obstacles, solving problems, meeting challenges, and accomplishing personal goals.

The love of a hard battle isn't about destroying enemies or getting attention or power- it's about sojourning on even when you're faced with the most difficult trails. It's about not being lazy, apathetic, or lethargic but industrious, intentional, confident, determined and to bring us full-circle- it means being enthusiastic.

The point, that sharp top (competitive EDGE), the summit of the pyramid isn't possible without the force of the bricks below it, perhaps most importantly the corner stones of industriousness and enthusiasm- but not as high, not as powerful, and not nearly as meaningful or as successful without friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and team-spirit.

You can jump over a hurdle, avoid it by going around, or plow right through it. Sometimes competitive greatness means having to get a little dirty, it means having to work up a sweat. It means not giving up, even if you do lose. It means moving on and trying again after you have failed.

Winston Churchill once said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

That's why I always want you to keep trying to rev up the crowd no matter how unresponsive they are for your time out and quarter break cheers. And that's a lesson that will take you far in life. Another old saying says that if you aim for the moon, even if you miss, you'll end up in the stars.

Take a look and read through the 15 bricks. Do you have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you give it your best? That's what it means to be a true success. You can review them at my "Cheer Positive" wiki, at http://cheerpositive.wikispaces.com/P000+The+Pyramid+of+Success-+Intro or at my Coach's blog at http://cheercoach.blogspot.com/search/label/Pyramid%20of%20Success. 

2014 Football Schedule

Here's next Fall's game schedule, plus a few other important days you should probably know waaay ahead of time.

• CHEER "BOOTCAMP" M-F AUG 4-8
• School Registration Day, Aug 7
• First Day of School, Aug 19
• Picture Day, Sept 11

2014 Bulldogs Football Schedule
Remember; Pep Rallies for home games, van rides for away games (we'll work out a schedule for which 6 of the 9 of you go to each away game when it gets closer).

• Aug 29 v. East Mills
• Sep 5 @ Freemont-Mills, Tabor
• Sep 12 v.Newell-Fonda
• Sep 19 @ West Harrison, Mondamin
• Sep 26 @ Kingsley-Pierson
• Oct 3 v. River Valley
• Oct 10 @ ArWeVa, Westside
• Oct 17 v. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimbalton
• Oct 24 @ Woodbine

(This list doesn't include Playoff games)

FOCUS on PRIDE

Been talking a lot these last few days with other teachers about what our school needs so I know we'd have a lot of allies in this like Mrs. Beam (StuCo), Mrs.Lee (NHS), Coach Pete & Mrs. Pippit, Mr. Marlin, Mrs Klien (Sub & alumna, former StuCo)...

We need PRIDE.

I'll get you all some dates for Cheer Camp as soon as I can and I'll preach to ya on the Pyramid of Success at least once a week like I do every summer (please don't just plan do ignore those), but right now, besides wishing you all a good summer- I want to plant that thought in your heads-

We need PRIDE.

Our job as a Spirit Squad is to build, encourage, inspire, & spread School PRIDE.

So all summer long, sure I'd love ya to walk, bike, jog, run, or swim to keep in shape; sure I'd love for you to practice cheers & jumps and go online to try to learn more, but the biggest thing I want ALL OF US to do this summer- brainstorm & germinate ways that we can create more school PRIDE.

Weekly Spirit posters? Locker Decs for clubs & orgs, not just teams? Wearing letterman jackets? Spirit awards? Notes & Thank Yous?

These are only a few and they'll mean a lot more if they come from YOU.

So remember; our focus next year is PRIDE.

Start thinking.

Think PRIDE.

There's Always Sumthin'

It's come to my attention that someone thinks I was hypocritical for not letting one candidate's sister help judge but allowing another's cousin to judge. First of all both of these candidates made it back onto squad so it should be a moot point. 

Secondly, I was unaware that they had any relationship until the day of tryouts. 

Third a sister is a whole lot closer than a cousins. What's more, I don't believe they're even first cousins, I think they'd second cousins or furhter (although I'll admit that I'm not sure). 

It's pretty hard not to be related in small towns like this. We had another candidate who has a sister who's a former cheerleader whom I didn't have judge and another potential candidate (didn't end up trying out) who's first-cousin recused themselves of judging earlier. 

Besides, this one "cousin" judge we did have has lived away from Dunlap for more than 10 years and didn't know any of the other candidates and I trust them to be impartial. Besides, having 4 other judges, another one of of whom was totally unfamiliar with all of the candidates more than balanced out any potential partiality. 

I apologize to anyone who perceived any hypocrisy or unfairness in the process. Please also remember that in addition to an average of the judges' scores from yesterday, candidates also have academic score and teacher-evaluation scores aggregated in so that the whole thing is as objective as we could design it. Life isn't always fair, but I've worked hard to make this a process that is both as rigorous and as objective as possible.

As usual- please try your best to stay positive, especially about your new squadmates, so that we can build our program and as a result contribute to a positive, inclusive, and encouraging community at our school. Please know that that's my goal and that I have your best interests at heart, as well as that of our squad's, and ultimately our school's best interests as well. Thanks.

Congratulations to the 2014-15 Cheerleaders:

• Jade Allard
• Mali Bounsana
• Catherine Dublinske
• Larissa Hollinger
• Lara Laubscher
• Liberty Monk
• Madison Seuntjens
• Jennifer Zehner

Alternate; 

• Cheyann Marshall

Mascot: Chelsea Willis

Alternate; 

• Nicholas Ahart

Tryouts

#BoyerValley #Cheer & #Mascot Candidates- Make sure your parental release signed & all 3 teacher-evals in by Fri for tryouts nxt wk

I sent out an email to all the candidates who are missing either, check your school gmail.

#Judges #BVCheerAlumn- any former cheerleaders/mascots still living in the area, I still need judges for tryouts next Wed 3:30. Please let me know. I'll buy snacks! Its a good excuse to see you again. I have one confirmation so far. I'd like to have 3-5 but the more the merrier.

Track Meet Cancelled

Tonight's Track Meet has been cancelled. If you were scheduled to work concessions tonight and are able to help tomorrow night, we'd love to have you- it's a big meet with 11 schools, both boys & girls. Thanks.

Re: Track Concessions Schedules

NEVER MIND, Cancel that last desperate-sounding email. I've just been told that the Rolling Valley Conference Meet on Monday, May 5 is NOT at BV/Dunlap, it's going to be at West Harrison. Whew! Told ya my brain's been fried this Spring. Sorry to confuse things.

On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 11:56 AM, Ted Mallory <ted.mallory@gmail.com> wrote:

AUUUGH! I can't believe I did this- We have ANOTHER meet on Monday, May 5! I swore I had them all and we only had 5. Not sure how I missed this 6th one. Its the Rolling Valley Conference Track Meet @ Dunlap. HS, and I think it's co-ed, which means that our track members won't be able to work it.

I'm looking for volunteers. So far this season, you've been great workers and frankly, we're actually having fun aren't we? Please let me know ASAP so I can put a schedule together this week. Thanks. Sorry about this. My brain's been fried this Spring.

PS & FYI- I'm going to see if NIkki will work for me this Thursday, May 1 because our daughter Annamarie has a school concert that night that I'd like to go to. But I'll let you know if she can or not as soon as she lets me know.

On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 1:34 PM, Ted Mallory <ted.mallory@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay- I've gone over the Girls & Boys Track and the Golf Schedule and this looks like the best I can do for all of you. I'm sending copies to our Golf & Track coaches so that they'll know you'll need to miss practice those days.

I'm asking Nikki Ahart to be the adult at the next meet because I'm scheduled to go to a technology conference in Omaha that day. (Will that still work for you Nikki?- please let me know, because I can come back early if I have to). 

Frankly this ends up being a little unfair to those not in Golf or Track because instead of everyone working 2 meets, they all have to work 3 each. But we're a small school and I'd rather encourage you to be in more than one sport. I may try to think of some special reward/thank-you to those of you working multiple meets though, I really appreciate your help.

I scheduled more people for the Apr 24 meet than the May 1 one because while they're both MS, this upcoming one has 6 schools, whereas the May meet has only 5.

Please let me know ASAP if there is a problem with any of these dates of if you get sick- so that we can try to find a replacement for you. Thanks everyone.

MEET	Th Apr 24- Junior High Invite	Thr May 1- JrHi Harrison County Invite	Mo May 12- Boys' HS Invite	Tue May 13- JrHi Rolling Valley Conference
SUPERVISOR	N.Ahart (?)	Coach Mallory	Coach Mallory	Coach Mallory
STAFF	Jade Allard, Catherine Dublinski, Liberty Monk, Chelsea Willis	Jade Allard, Catherine Dublinski, Larissa Hollinger	Catherine Dublinski, Mali Bounsana, Lara Laubscher, Jennifer Zehner	Catherine Dublinski, Larissa Hollinger, Liberty Monk, Madison Seuntjens,

Re: Track Concessions Schedules

AUUUGH! I can't believe I did this- We have ANOTHER meet on Monday, May 5! I swore I had them all and we only had 5. Not sure how I missed this 6th one. Its the Rolling Valley Conference Track Meet @ Dunlap. HS, and I think it's co-ed, which means that our track members won't be able to work it.

I'm looking for volunteers. So far this season, you've been great workers and frankly, we're actually having fun aren't we? Please let me know ASAP so I can put a schedule together this week. Thanks. Sorry about this. My brain's been fried this Spring.

PS & FYI- I'm going to see if NIkki will work for me this Thursday, May 1 because our daughter Annamarie has a school concert that night that I'd like to go to. But I'll let you know if she can or not as soon as she lets me know.

On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 1:34 PM, Ted Mallory <ted.mallory@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay- I've gone over the Girls & Boys Track and the Golf Schedule and this looks like the best I can do for all of you. I'm sending copies to our Golf & Track coaches so that they'll know you'll need to miss practice those days.

I'm asking Nikki Ahart to be the adult at the next meet because I'm scheduled to go to a technology conference in Omaha that day. (Will that still work for you Nikki?- please let me know, because I can come back early if I have to). 

Frankly this ends up being a little unfair to those not in Golf or Track because instead of everyone working 2 meets, they all have to work 3 each. But we're a small school and I'd rather encourage you to be in more than one sport. I may try to think of some special reward/thank-you to those of you working multiple meets though, I really appreciate your help.

I scheduled more people for the Apr 24 meet than the May 1 one because while they're both MS, this upcoming one has 6 schools, whereas the May meet has only 5.

Please let me know ASAP if there is a problem with any of these dates of if you get sick- so that we can try to find a replacement for you. Thanks everyone.

MEET	Th Apr 24- Junior High Invite	Thr May 1- JrHi Harrison County Invite	Mo May 12- Boys' HS Invite	Tue May 13- JrHi Rolling Valley Conference
SUPERVISOR	N.Ahart (?)	Coach Mallory	Coach Mallory	Coach Mallory
STAFF	Jade Allard, Catherine Dublinski, Liberty Monk, Chelsea Willis	Jade Allard, Catherine Dublinski, Larissa Hollinger	Catherine Dublinski, Mali Bounsana, Lara Laubscher, Jennifer Zehner	Catherine Dublinski, Larissa Hollinger, Liberty Monk, Madison Seuntjens,