Minimal Mount Guidelines
	Minimal Mount  Guidelines for: Youth/Rec Leagues  Jr High/Middle School High School Minimal Mount Guidelines conform to OHSAA, NFHS, NLCC & USASF Regulations.  These guidelines are for those who are new to stunting/mounting and need safe skill level performance standard to continue to progress in cheerleading.

50 Ways to Imrove Your School's Cheer Program

The Cheerleading Coach:  If you’ve got a good one, do what ever it takes to keep that person.  If you’ve got a not-quite-as-good-one..... The Cheerleading Program:  Insist that each spirit program have an approved handbook, similar to .... The Cheerleading Tryouts:  Insist that tryout procedures are .... The Athletic Director’s Participation and Supervision:    Make informal contact with the coach and individual participants .... 50 Ways to Improve Your Program

Senate Bill 159

Senate Bill 159, legislation tol create a Coach’s Conduct and Ethics Policy for Volunteer Coaches of Recreational Youth Athletics. At a time when youth sports are often in the media for negative, harmful behavior, a tool to further the message that youth sports are for the youth and not adults could not be timelier. Youth sports build a child’s confidence and self-esteem while teaching important values such as teamwork, discipline and good sportsmanship. Ask yourself, “What is your best youth sports memory, and what is the worst?” Which was easier to recall? Usually the worst is easiest to remember: the extra laps for loosing a game, the extra suicides for not trying hard enough, the coaches red faced and screaming, or the parent yelling and you wishing you could crawl into a hole. See the OACC Character and Ethics Page  for more detail on information that should be included in your Code of Ethics and Exected Behavior of Coaches.

Risk Management for Cheer programs

Risk managements are focused on risks stemming from physical or legal causes.  You should already have in place procedures for your physical natural causes: fire, tornado, terrorists,etc.  Procedures needed to mitigate cheer accidents and lawsuits are available from the OACC, AACCA & NCSSE.  Start here: Use mats or a soft surface for practices. Trained Coaches. Monitor your safety procedures frequently using a written checklist. Enforce warm-ups/conditioning and cool-downs. Use Resources like the OACC.

Gym Design
	Design Strategies, Financial Srategies, Building Layout, Safety Layouts, Technology and training, Gym layout. Design for Profitability, Design for Programs, Design for the Future.  Innovative Gym Design

August 1, 2008 new OHSAA Amendments

2008 Amendments are effective August 1st.  CONSTITUTION 7-2 – Qualification for Election and Retention of a Position on a District Athletic Board - Approved for Referendum by the Board of Control Amend 7-2-1 to permit athletic administrators who are approved by a governing Board or Board of Education to serve on a District Athletic Board although not licensed members of the teaching profession.          In Favor 391  Opposed  176 BYLAW 1-5- Recognized Sports – Approved for Referendum by the Board of Control Amend Bylaw 1-5-1 to stipulate that a recognized sport is one adopted by the Board of Directors and for which the OHSAA sponsors a tournament. Add new Bylaw 1-5-2 to require member schools to comply with all OHSAA Bylaws and Sports Regulations, particularly those related to scholarship, age limitations and contest limitations, when competing in all school district sponsored sports at all levels. A "sponsored" team or squad shall include any "club" sport or team/squad.    in Favor   540   Opposed  47

Advanced mental training for the advanced athlete

Alison is the Peak Performance consultant to USA Women's Gymnastics, United States Figure Skating, and Australian Aerial Skiing. Presenter at the 5th International Olympic Committee's Congress on Sport Science in Sydney.  Peak performance consultant to amateur, professional, and collegiate, individuals and teams in a variety of sports ranging from baseball to wakeboarding. Creator and facilitator of corporate seminars15 years studying Eastern philosophy (and still a beginner).  International presenter and author of several mental toughness training manuals including, "The Athlete Warrior:  Advanced mental training for the advanced athlete."  Alison's thought-leading seminars and keynote speeches  have been described as "dynamic presentation with tools that change lives". Conference Speaker/Presenter   Doc Alison      visit the website  HeadGames Articles

Pro-Active versus Re-Active

With Cheerleading being one of the fastest growing youth sports in the world, many Athletic Directors have found themselves behind the eight ball. The programs have been reactive to the growth, reactive to the issues and reactive to the concerns of the cheerleaders, the coaches, the parents and the community. Directors wear a lot of hats and to some degree, are victims of circumstance. Without change, a reactive program will send the leader scrambling to keep up with current trends and the needs of their athletes. It's time to update your program, become more strategic and pro-active.   Your cheerleaders will demand it.  Your Coaches need it.  Your parents will support it.

Basket Tosses Limited to Soft Surfaces in High School Cheerleading

In an effort to minimize risk of injury to high school cheerleaders, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has stated that basket tosses and other similar multi-base tosses may only be performed on appropriate mats, grass, rubberized and soft-yielding surfaces, effective with the 2006-07 season. "The most visible change that will occur next year is that basket tosses no longer will be permitted on a basketball court,unless the stunt is done on an appropriate mat," said Susan Loomis, NFHS spirit rules liaison. "Basket tosses will still be permitted, but only on grass or soft surfaces. When basket tosses are not done properly and the person being tossed is not caught, serious injuries can occur. By eliminating the performing of these stunts on hardwood floors, the risk of injury is reduced tremendously.

Youth Directors Conference
	Ohio Parks and Recreation's Annual Conference is set for January 10-14, 2009 in Columbus

Program Review and Evaluation

Season-end assessment of the students’ experiences provide valuable data for program evaluation, revision, and implementation of new procedures. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and partnerships, policy reforms, new programming and organizational improvements. Plan to monitor and evaluate the cheer team’s success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. Include a survey questionnaire to be completed with confidentiality. Evaluation is important. A peer evaluation process should be introduced to help develop evaluative abilities.   Coach/AD Communication 101

Program Management for School Administrators and Coaches
	Introduced in 1995, this program is as beneficial to the A.D. as it is for the coach.  The course is a "How-To" manual covering methods and practices that can lead to a successful school-wide cheer program.  Forms and colorful illustrations contribute to the information you can use daily in the practice of handiling coaching duties. National Council for Spirit Safety and Education

Interns Available

Internships are now available! NCYS has added an exciting new service to its list of member benefits.   Are you a nonprofit organization who could use some extra hands to ease the crazy busy work load?    Are you an undergraduate or graduate student with a sports management background (emphasis on business) looking to hone your skills in a real world setting providing nonprofit organizations with programmatic support?   NCYS has entered into a relationship with the University of New Haven (UNH) to provide student interns to help any of our members with any personnel needs they might have.  Whether for individual projects or to work an entire summer or semester, UNH has over 100 undergraduate and 40 graduate students interested in helping non-profit sport organizations.    UNH has a well regarded sport management program housed in their College of Business.  Students are well trained in finance, accounting, marketing, risk management, and event management.  All students are required to participate in at least one 200 hour internship, which can be undertaken anywhere in the world.  Internships could be paid or unpaid, but if you need a student to move or to hire the most experienced student they often are looking for a paid internship.    If you have any projects that might need the assistance of a willing intern, contact UNH Professor Gil Fried for additional assistance.  His contact information is (203) 932-7081 and gfried@newhaven.edu. For additional information you may also contact National Council of Youth Sports at 772-781-1452 or youthsports@ncys.org.   Yours truly for the kids, Sally

Slander & Libel
	Civil lawsuits against your organization are becoming increasingly more common. Cheerleaders who didn't make a team, a pay to participate conflict and slander/libel.  Know what your coaches are saying and writing, even in emails and social networking websites (facebook, my space,etc). Impliment a policy in your Coach's Handbook.  See more detail on slander and libel on the all star page

Spotter Training Recommended
	The Ohio Association of Cheerleading Coaches strongly suggests ALL teams who have an intention to tumble, mount, build pyramids or stunt to receive Spotter Training during their pre-season practice. Proper spotting techniques are the first step in injury prevention. Contact the OACC for training in your district.

HIRING NEW STAFF

Warren Buffet - "In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy.  But if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you." Since it's easier to train a person of good character to do a job well than it is to develop character in a skilled but unprincipled employee, if you have to choose, hire for character and train for skills. Student quit because of a coach?

Coaches Education & Certification
	All eight Ohio Districts will be hosting Clinics and Workshops for Coaches Education, Safety Certification and Skill Building Programs. Courses from Beginner to Intermediate to Advanced. Self Improvement and Certifications. Our programs are operated in conjunction with our affiliates. AACCA Training

Coaching Tip: Youth Sports & Self-Control You've probably seen the video of a youth football assistant coach leveling a 13-year-old player in a game over Labor Day weekend. "That could never happen to me."        But emotion can get the better of anyone. What the coach could have done, should have done and most likely would have done if he were a PCA-trained and certified Double-Goal Coach, is exercise a "Self-Control Routine" as we teach in our workshop, "Double-Goal Coach: Winning and Life Lessons." A Self-Control Routine ensures you do not dishonor the game in the heat of competition. You might: take a deep breath, remind yourself of the discipline required NOT to react engage in self-talk ("I need to be a role model. I can rise above this!") turn away from the action count to 20 (or 50!), or quickly refocus on the next play. The key is to develop your own Self-Control Routine ahead of time, so when you are tested (with a bad official's call, an opposing coach or player misbehaving, etc.), you can use it to remain calm and Honor the Game. Then, you can use it as a teachable moment with your athletes

NASC Natl Assn Sports Commissions

EDUCATION AND CONFERENCES for the Sports Event Industry The NASC hosts three educational opportunities per year to provide educational and networking opportunities for both NASC members and non-members. National Association of Sports Commissions The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) is the sports event industry's leading networking organization. Founded in 1992, the NASC represents over 400 organizations within the sports event travel industry. Members include organizations that attract sporting events to communities, event owners and vendors and suppliers to the sports event industry. The NASC is the primary network for communication and information sharing on all topics relating to the sports event industry. The single most important sports event conference for industry professionals!  The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) is the sports event industry's leading networking organization.  Founded in 1992, the NASC represents almost 400 organizations including cvb's, sports commissions, event owners and industry suppliers.  Produced annually by the NASC, the NASC Sports Event Symposium is the single most important sports event coference for industry professionals.  Attendees are provided with new ideas, practical tips and the hottest trends.   Membership not required to attend; however members receive registration fee discounts. NASC Sports Event Symposium

Setting behavior standards

The school Code of Ethics, The Athletic Department Code of Ethics and the Cheer program Code of Ethics.  it is proper and prudent to clarify existing laws and then establish standards of conduct in areas not governed by them.  Ethics codes transform moral obligations into binding rules.   See full paragraph   Commentary   By  Dan Nied, Editor in Chief       210 west When I was in college, I didn’t get special treatment. That was reserved for, you know, the athletes. Apparently that wasn’t enough help for Ohio state running back Maurice Clarett. Clarett walked out in the middle of a midterm after not knowing a thing, according to African-American and African studies professor Paulette Pierce. So Pierce decided to give Clarett an oral exam for the midterm and the final, which he apparently passed, clearing the young scholar athlete’s way into the national championship game. I have a problem with his.  Everyone should. When college athletes, who already have all of the above advantages over other students, start passing classes on the strength of two oral exams, things aren’t right. When a football game overshadows knowledge, things aren’t right. When a student, athlete or not, walks out of a midterm without even trying and is given a second chance, things aren’t right. What happened to accountability? Pierce said that it was her job to make sure Clarett knew the material. But that isn’t true. Her job is to teach the material. It was Clarett’s job to know it. If he doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain, if he can’t make it through a midterm, then let him go. If, with the help of study table and tutors, Clarett can’t grasp the concepts of a 100-level class, maybe he isn’t cut out for college. Maybe OSU and the NCAA should have shuffled him through to the NFL right out of Harding High School. Of course, if it is just that Clarett is too lazy, too apathetic to worry about his classes, then why did OSU accept him in the first place? Oh yeah, he can run with a football.    But if that is the case, then what is the meaning of “student-athlete”? Clarett’s major is football. His midterm is spring practice, his internship is the NFL scouting combine and his first job will be carrying that ball. So god forbid he should have to go to classes that aren’t practice. Is Ohio State offering him an education? Sure. Is Clarett accepting it? Hardly. But what does OSU do when other students don’t learn? I would assume that, like every other university, they let that student sink to the bottom until he is no longer welcome at the school. But those students don’t win national championships. They aren’t going to the NFL. No, those students are just going back to Bucyrus, Lorain, Pemberville or any other Ohio town to be anybody but Maurice Clarett. But Clarett had a study table, a tutor, a coach checking in and an oral exam. And he’s going on to big things. Just don’t expect him to finish that midterm.

Evaluation

Your evaluation plan should clearly distinguish between program output  vs. outcome. Outputs are the services delivered, often stated as an amount. This information is important to show the scope or size of activities, but it cannot substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people trained or the number of games attended or number of competitions attended. Outcomes, in contrast, represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is usually measured as an extent of change. Outputs and outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes. We encourage you to assess the following for outcomes: 1) Program Goals met. 2) Participant satisfaction with the program and team experience. 3) Participant learning, aptitude, skills, and changed understanding and attitude. 4) Participant behavior, concrete actions, applying knowledge in skills and in community endeavors. * Leadership  * Student Development   * Program Planning  * Oral/Written Communication Improvements * Knowledge of sport   * Professional Development     Program Management

Bad Coaches

The OACC is a great resource for dealing with bad coaches. All communication is held strictly confidential. The evaluations from your cheerleaders and/or their parents and fellow coaches should be your first clue in detecting a bad coach. As you oversee the daily practices, games, competitions and even try-outs look for: A coach who promotes the individual student's emotional, physical and leadership growth - not on winning competitions or games. A coach who is able to shoot straight without making the cheerleader feel bad. A coach who strongly believes in ethical practices and behavior. And our most frequently heard about quality of a coach- fairness. More information on bad coaches can be found on the OACC Parent's Page .

Coming soon

The New York Times reports that cheerleading IS the fastest growing youth sport. With a coaching turnover of nearly 60% per year, the need for student education and leadership is here. The sport is student driven and they are passionate. The OACC is currently developing and collaborating on a student leadership program and curriculum. Watch for the OACC Student Certification.   Nat'l Center for Youth Safety / OACC

Pull Them Together
	Have you ever worked with cheerleaders who are Resistant To ChangenStressed OutnNot Communicatingn Overwhelmed-Negative Nellies-Not Working Together-Complainers-Rumor Spreaders-Back Stabbers-Whiners-Stubborn-Hardheads-Blamers-Unmotivated Pull them together

Cerified Sports Administrator

NCYS Certified Sports Administrator Program Developed and Delivered by:    The George Washington University       Sports Management Program  Course #1: Risk Management for Sports Administrators  Course #2: Management and Leadership of Sports  Course #3: Funding Sports Organizations                       Course #4: Marketing Sports Organizations                       Course #5: Sponsorship & Negotiations                       Course #6: Event Management

Background Screening Services
	Effective solutions to some of the most complicated issues facing youth serving organizations today... how to better protect our youth while navigating through an increasingly complex maze of ethical, legal and financial challenges.

Collectively, schools and youth leagues control 30 million children a year who participate in orgranized sport. What power there is in that number! It is the power to shape our country, if we would only make what we teach in sports a national priority. There are only 52 million children in America betweeen the ages of 5 - 17 (2002 U.S.Census), so the majority of children are under our care. If you want to have a more positive school climate, have people practice being positive. This is not wishful thinking. This is a planned program to make sure that all negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors are corrected when detected and that there be consequences to all actions. -Make the right choice in your school by teaching educationally - have a written curriculum. -Make the right choice in your school by teaching scientifically - teach the science of applied sport psychology -Embrace the idea of being the captain of your team of coaches - give them a game plan you want them to follow! What you are accomplishing with a written curriculum: Ensuring that kids are being taught what you agree are the important lessons of sports on every team. Lessening frustration in parent, kids and coach when expectations are focused on personal improvement and progress and not outcome and statistics. Providing an excellent professional development course for your coaches. Providing a team-building experience as the team and coach work together on the mental skills. A written curriculum will add meaning to your athletic program, we ask that you take the time to contact GetPsychedSports.org   or   oacc@Ohiooacc.com

For Fun
	Dummocrats reader Opinion NFL vs College football College vs NFL

NFHS

Offerings from the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education program: AACCA Certification Spirit Program management Stunt Progressions I Dance technique I Motions, Jumps & Tumbling Spirit Rules Conditioning and Stretching for Dance And More...   Become a well trained professional, capable of overseeing a safe, successful cheer program. Most courses are approximately $40     Order a Spirit Safety Rule Book  $6.95 Be proactive - Be the AD in your area to host a conference for your collegues. Contact   oacc@ohiooacc.com   or    NFHS Home   for info. NFHS Overview

Risk Management
	">All Sports and Athletic Projects are subject to constant risk.       The key to success lies in how you manage risks, by putting in place a clear Risk Management Process.  This process describes the steps taken to mitigate risk, helping you meet your Athletic Department Objectives.

Minimal Mount Guidelines Reference Book  $3.50 + 1.50 postage/handling General Purchases and Reference Materials  - link near bottom of Donations page