Anyone who knows cheerleading knows there’s more to it than waving poms and memorizing clever catch phrases. While those are still essential during sports games, competitions require another level of finesse. As cheerleading has grown as a sport, choreography has become more important than ever. Here are some tips for developing choreography with your squad: Start with Team Bonding Choreography tends to be taught at the beginning of the season, and many of the cheerleaders will be getting to know each other for the first time. Bringing teammates together outside of cheerleading is an important part of allowing them to connect. The more they connect, even if they aren’t the best of friends, the easier it will be for them to gain the trust and confidence needed to master complex group formations and choreography. Know the Regulations Chances are, if you’re hiring a choreographer, it’s so your cheer squad can shine during competitions. If this is the case for you, learn the regulations before plotting out the choreography. Prepare for each competition individually, as some will have different rules than others. For example, some competitions allow team members to step off the mat, while others deduct points for it. Get Transitions Down Flashy choreography without smooth transitions can be jarring. The audience may enjoy the routine in bits and pieces, but it doesn’t feel whole without transitions between moves. Seat rolls and cartwheels are some basic skills that can be covered when the choreographer isn’t around. Make sure your cheerleaders practice these basic transitions so they can be seamlessly incorporated into any choreography. Utilize Acrobatic Skills Acro skills can be some of the most impressive for audiences and judges alike. See which cheerleaders already have acro skills that will truly shine in a performance. Find basic acro skills that the team can learn together with the help of the more acrobatic teammates. This can help the squad create more impressive routines and learn skills that can help them in areas like flexibility and coordination. Incorporate Fluid Motions Just like transitions, adding motions after skills can help with memorization and assist athletes in getting in and out of the technique. Picking up choreography is much easier when you’re not focused on mastering a specific skill. Learning to move from skill to skill makes all the difference when it comes to creating a fluid routine. It can also help athletes pick up and move on when one move doesn’t go as planned. Have questions about what Star Line Baton can offer your cheerleading squad? Call us at 931-528-7829.

Posted: 5/19/2023