How To Start A Competitive Cheerleading Team

1. Find out if there is any interest in your neighbourhood by putting up posters or handing out fliers.
2. Name your team and decide on team colours and team constitution which will govern practice times, eligibility, insurance, monthly fees and discipline
3. Find a practice venue that will allow you to do stunts and tumbling practice, as well as a regulation-size floor mat to practice competition routines.
4. Hold tryouts. Hand out fliers and put up posters to let people know about the tryouts. Give out information on number of members needed, age limit, monthly fees, tryout times etc. also have a dance routine prepared so that you can check the skill level. Make sure you get important signatures such as medical releases, practice rules, financial responsibility, constitution and contact information. You can hold a tryout clinic beforehand. Some teams charge a tryout fee. Make sure you have at least three judges.
5. Keep organized once you have a squad chosen. Gather the all the permission slips, contact information, medical releases etc. keep all your information in a file and make sure to have your attendance records up to date.
6. Create a routine for your team. Start practices and begin training hard for the upcoming season. Give the squad a practice and performance schedule and decide on the organization of a captain and co-captain.
7. Join a cheerleading association. Depending on where you are there are different provincial associations to choose from. They are the ones who decide on competition dates and train coaches.
8. Order all your uniforms and equipment from a reputable company. Your squad will need duffel bags, shell tops, skirts, bloomers, poms, cheer shoes, socks, and at least one set of practice shorts and a team shirt. Optional items include hair bows and team sweat suits.
9. Organise fundraisers to help raise money for transport, uniforms and equipment as the monthly fees will not be able to cover for everything. Also look for donations from the community and sponsors.

And then you are off on your way to becoming a national competitor

Cheerleading: what you can do

Cheerleading is a sport that still needs a lot of growing in South Africa. At the last competition in Western Province only one team was seen competing in the cheerleading category.

One way to grow cheerleading in the country is if we start more cheerleading squads in different parts of the country especially schools. Another way is to provide more training to people who want to be coaches so that there is someone with the appropriate training to help the young athletes.

Organisations will have to help with the training but the rest of the community can help by starting squads and focusing on the easy basic skills and joining forces with gymnastic clubs to help build on tumbling skills.

The next post will help you by giving you step by step guidance on how to start your own Cheerleading Squad

Ciao

Pics and Info

 Hello There

If you have any pics, videos from practise or competition of your team and you want them featured here you are more than welcome to just email them and your team information (age range, name, leader, coach etc) to drummiesandcheerleading@gmail.com

Drum Majorette Equipment

Hey There

I have received a number of requests on where people starting drum majorette teams can get second hand equipment. So if you are selling any of your old equipment such as flags or poles email me at drummiesandcheerleading@gmail.com.

Totsiens

1st Small Drill And Groups Competition

We decided to pop for a few pics at the 1st Small Drill and Groups Competition at CPUT, Bellville Campus
We caught up with the Groote Schuur Drummies who were practising for their non-prop.

The age range for the team is 10-13 and they were participating in most of the events.
Hope they do well.

17 March 2012 Competition Details

The details for the upcoming drum majorette competition are as follows:

• ·        It is the first small drill and groups competition
• ·        It is happening at CPUT, Bellville Campus
• ·        It will start off at 09h00 in the morning with the Cheerleading Chairman’s league which will end off at 12h45
• ·        Then it is the primary DISA League at 12h25 finishing off with prize-giving at 16h15.
• ·        Followed at 16h45 by the DISA and Tertiary league which will then end off at 19h45 with the prize-giving.
• ·        No alcohol permitted
• ·      Entry for adults is R20 and pensioners/ students R10

 SO GO ALL OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAMS

P.S. if you have any queries leave a comment below

WPDMA Competition Dates Are Up!

The Western Province Drum Majorettes Association have put up the competition dates for the 2012 season and they are as follows:

• 25 February :  1st Groups

• 17 March     :  1st Small Drill &   2nd    Groups

• 14 April       :  1st Large Drill

• 21 April       :  2nd Small Drill & 3rd Groups

• 5 May    :  WP Groups & 3rd Small Drill

• 26 May  :  2nd Large Drill

• 2 June   :  3rd Large Drill

• 16 June :  WP Drill Team    Championships

So plan ahead and bring the whole family to support this magnificent sport and be entertained. Do not forget to spread the word!!