Star Qualities

Placing the focus solely on first place can cause any all-star program to dim; find out how to shine by rediscovering the true spirit of all-star cheerleading.

by Jen Jones

CBN Jun/Jul 2010

Topping many all-star programs’ to-do lists is the ongoing quest to take home national titles—or maybe even a coveted World Championship. It’s no secret that this competitive spirit is a big part of what fuels the success of all-star gyms—and the cheer aficionados who populate them—and even unites teams in many ways. Yet taking a step back to re-evaluate the true goals of all-star cheerleading reveals that trophies are just a small part of the bigger picture, and that winning programs aren’t necessarily all about winning.
“Our society tells us that winning and pushing is the way to live, and healthy competition is just that: healthy,” says Tegan Reeves, volunteer director of education and communication for the United States All-Star Federation (USASF). “If there’s been a shift [in all-star focus], I think it lies in a passionate drive for success. The key to unlocking that success, however, is to create an encouraging, uplifting environment that produces good people, not just good cheerleaders. Not only does this bring success in the form of a trophy, but it also brings achievement at a much greater level. We must, as a community, redefine winning—because when we do that, the competition will be healthy again.”
Step one in taking this winning approach? Revisit the foundations of all-star cheerleading and the spirited aims that made the sport the highly popular one it is today.

The Spirit of: Inclusion

Does the term “all-stars” denote that only the best of the best should be able to participate? Not if one considers the origin of all-star cheerleading, which stemmed from the desire to cheer strictly for the love of the sport instead of to boost spirit for other sports teams. Based on that original intent, all-star gyms should be places where anyone who loves cheerleading can find a team to call home—regardless of size, shape or skill level. “A young person who’s part of something, a community she can take pride in, has already won,” says Reeves. “As leaders, we must demonstrate that pride and foster the community; the challenge is defusing any anxiety about status or acceptance. I believe that comes from the coach, whose athletes and parents should know that they care more about them as people than the skills they perform.”
At Panther Extreme All-Starz in Geneva, NY, head coach Jaminett Ortiz makes a concerted effort to do just that by embracing physical diversity and cheerleaders of all body types. When choosing the teams’ uniforms, she foregoes midriff-baring tops in favor of universally flattering fare. “Many coaches fit to their smallest cheerleader, but I fit to my largest to ensure that everyone feels comfortable in what they’re wearing,” says Ortiz.
Encouraging cheerleaders of all skill levels to get involved is another key component to restoring the true spirit of all-stars. One positive development has been the recent rise of special needs teams; according to a November MSNBC preview of a report that aired on “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,” more than 150 such teams have formed to date in at least 30 states. “All-star cheerleading has made the sport accessible to anyone, and that’s an amazing concept which encourages me that our community is going in the right direction,” says Reeves.

The Spirit of: Community

Spreading cheer doesn’t necessarily come in the form of a two-minute-thirty-second routine. For many all-star gyms, service and community are integral aspects of the overall program. At Panther Extreme All-Starz, the gym hosts monthly dances to raise money for various local causes and families, along with annual charity walk-a-thons, stunt clinics, and cheer camps. “It’s absolutely a prerequisite for my squads to do community service projects.” says Ortiz. “We also do a lot of ‘support the troops’ efforts where we collect items and send care packages to Iraq and Afghanistan.”

All-Star teams are embracing athletes of all ages and skill levels.

To encourage more of these types of initiatives, the USASF introduced the Chairman’s Cup award last year at the 2009 Worlds. Designed to honor gyms exhibiting strong volunteer and philanthropic work, the annual award’s first recipient was McKinney, TX-based Pro Spirit, an all-star program that orchestrated a multi-day Race for the Cure event raising $30,000 for breast cancer research. “The [selection] panel isn’t looking for the biggest monetary gift, but the project that changed the lives of the participants and reached the community as a positive reflection of our sport,” says Reeves. “We see the award as a way to uplift the positive things our community is doing.”
Yet charity must often begin at home, and in the true spirit of all-stars, many teams rally around their own in times of need. At Lexington’s Kentucky Elite, one cheerleader’s world was rocked in late 2009 when her father suddenly passed away after a heart attack. In response, the program’s parents, staff and athletes sprung into action, arranging donations for gym and competition fees, rides to practice and other forms of assistance to support the affected cheerleader. “Everyone really tried to band together and help, and it was so awesome because many people didn’t even think twice about giving,” says coach Matt Parkey, now in his second season with the program. “Our goal is to build a family here and a place where people feel comfortable, and this was a great example of that.”

The Spirit of: Education

The pursuit of victory can no doubt be an invigorating and rewarding one, in which cheerleaders learn lasting life skills like teamwork, leadership, persistence and dedication. Yet by re-shifting focus and placing top priority on the awesome attributes gained through all-star participation, those positive benefits are sure to multiply. “Teaching kids to be champions doesn’t happen overnight; there is so much that goes into it,” says Parkey of Kentucky Elite. “If cheerleaders can learn qualities like hard work, sacrifice and taking direction from authority, they’ll really develop into great individuals who can win in the future long past [their career in] cheerleading.”

Cheerleading teaches athletes more than just performance skills.

Of course, the teams at Kentucky Elite are no strangers to winning titles, having taken numerous top awards at both national competitions and Worlds. Yet according to Parkey, the most meaningful experience for the program was when they landed fifth place at the 2009 Worlds in the Large Coed division.

“During the last three months of the season, we’d put in such hard work, teaching them how to be strong competitors and how to stand stronger when struggling,” remembers Parkey. “Before you can be a winner, it’s about being at practice, being dedicated, working as a team toward one goal. We learned that winning with a team that has created a bond and overcome obstacles together is the best win of all. In all my years of coaching and winning titles, this was the win that made everything seem worthwhile.”
Indeed, the fleeting taste of victory is sweet, but the lifelong rewards of achieving it with integrity are often far more fulfilling. For Tegan Reeves, this truth is best summed up by a famous quote from Penn State football coach Joe Paterno: “Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won’t taste as good.”

Rules to Cheer By

Part of keeping the true spirit of all-stars alive is giving cheerleaders a good name—not only in the public eye, but also amongst peers at competition. Below, the top tips your team can follow to present both your gym and the sport as a whole in a good light:

Show grace and gratitude in the face of second place. The measure of true champions isn’t how a team reacts to victory, but instead to defeat. At Panther Extreme All-Starz, Jaminett Ortiz instructs her cheerleaders to embrace the outcome—whatever it might be. “I say, ‘I don’t want to see tears, and if I do, they should be tears of happiness,’” says Ortiz. “Cheerleaders shouldn’t draw more attention to themselves during the award ceremony than they did on the floor.”

Keep in mind that image is everything. Projecting a polished appearance at all times shows respect for your team’s uniform—and what it represents. Though competition days can be long and comfort is key, it’s important that your cheerleaders present themselves with class. “Respect the uniform you’re wearing by keeping it zipped and clean,” says Tegan Reeves.

Set the tone with a positive attitude. Leading by example may be the most powerful way that coaches can ensure positive competition experiences. “I strongly believe cheerleaders behave the way their coaches do,” says Ortiz. “It all lies in the coach; the coach is ultimately the leader.”