As we get closer to end-of-the-season competitions like Summit and U.S. Finals, we asked our coaches how to make the most of practices.  What are those qualities in athletes and behaviors that coaches look for? What makes for peak performance? These are the coaches’ answers so we can encourage our kids to be their best while on the mat, both at Capital and at competitions!

 

Coach Krissy: The biggest thing for me is active listening and not talking when coaches are talking! This isn’t just a safety issue, but it is more practice for good life skills when you move into high school, college, and/or your career as a young person. If you aren’t listening at your job later on in life, you will not make a good impression with your employers and colleagues. 

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Coach Emili: I’m going to agree. Listening when I’m talking is the main thing I want to see. If you are talking when I’m talking, how will you know what to do or what not to do? I’d also love to see athletes giving it their all while we are conditioning. Strength is the foundation of all of our movements. 

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Coach Alayna: I will piggyback on what Coach Krissy and Coach Emili said. Being focused and not having side conversations when the team is working on skills is critical to getting the most out of our practices. I think the best outcomes result from giving full effort and being focused on what coaches are saying and then doing it. This is one way to show full effort.

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Coach Megan: Oh my goodness, yes!! Full effort and focus! Every rep matters. Being mentally present and giving full effort is how progress and confidence are built. And you can’t cheat through the basics. The basics, or the foundations, are what make the harder skills possible, and skipping the “easy” work always shows later.

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Coach Alex: You perform how you practice. If athletes are constantly putting in full effort and being clean in practices, it shows when doing full outs and at competitions. And similarly, half effort and being sloppy and loose during practices is going to show up in those same places- full outs and competitions.

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Our coaches are knowledgeable and have experienced cheer both as athletes and coaches. We know what we are doing because we have seen it and done it, so it’s important for athletes to take corrections and not dismiss or argue the point. If you don’t understand the correction, please ask us to explain it. We are here to help.  

 

Coach Shelby: I know that practices can be tiring! But when we are going full out, start off STRONG. Be tight, say your team name with some pride and give me a shimmy. Confidence and pretending like you are not tired, even though you are, goes such a long way!

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Coach Lauren: All of what has been said, I strongly echo. I will add this seemingly little thing, but when we don’t do it right, you can’t not see it! Hide your THUMBS! I hate when thumbs stick out in blade motions, and my athletes know it!! So when you are practicing at home, check your thumbs! I also love to see sharp cleans. No sloppy cleans allowed.