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©2014 Upward Unlimited.
Upward® is a registered trademark of Upward Unlimited.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION
Copyright© 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
©2010 Orange. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations in this publication are from
the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSON ®
NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.
TS
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Introduction
360 Coaching Keys.............................................................................. 3
Section One: Practice
Upward Cheerleading Coach App...............................................6
Practice Chart......................................................................................... 7
Welcome and Games.........................................................................12
Cheerleading Fundamentals..........................................................13
Warm-ups and Stretching.............................................................. 14
Motions.................................................................................................... 16
Motion Drills...........................................................................................21
Jumps.......................................................................................................22
Cheers..................................................................................................... 25
Chants..................................................................................................... 29
Pom Routines...................................................................................... 33
Mid-Practice Huddles (Devotions)............................................ 43
Practice 1...........................................................................................44
Practice 2..........................................................................................46
Practice 3.......................................................................................... 49
Practice 4............................................................................................51
Practice 5.......................................................................................... 53
Practice 6.......................................................................................... 56
Practice 7.......................................................................................... 59
Practice 8.......................................................................................... 62
Practice 9.......................................................................................... 65
Practice 10........................................................................................ 68
Last Practice of the Season..................................................... 70
Section Two: Games
Game-Day Format.............................................................................74
Section Three: Forms
Star Distribution Form.................................................................... 76
Game Day Cheer List........................................................................77
2
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
INTROD
UCTION
360 Coaching Keys
The 360 Progression™ is a uniquely
designed sports experience that develops
the total athlete mentally, athletically,
spiritually, and socially. To be a 360 Coach,
there are some practical keys to coaching
that are necessary for success:
1.Teach the basic fundamentals of cheerleading with
a progression plan in place – The ability to execute
proper drills enhances skill level and improves athletic
foundations. Using practice plans create a path for
progression of what to teach your young athletes and
when to teach it.
2.Teach how to effectively lead the spectators –
Cheerleaders should show confidence in their
performance and in their crowd-leading cheers. This
will help the fans to get engaged while building selfesteem in your cheerleaders.
3.Communicate effectively – In order to teach the
fundamentals and explain drills, you have to
be an effective communicator. Likewise, good
communication and organization are crucial in keeping
parents informed throughout the season. This includes
keeping them up to date on practice and game times
and having a plan in place each and every practice.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Upward Cheerleading Coach App
As a coach, it’s important to stay organized and prepared
for both practices and games. Upward Sports now has a way
to make coaching easy through the Upward Cheerleading
Coach App. With this app, you will be able manage your
squad in a simple, paperless way throughout the season.
Here you will able to:
› Manage cheerleader/guardian information
› View practice plans
› View this season’s cheers and chants
› Assign and track star distribution on game day
The Upward Cheerleading Coach App is available on iPhone
(iPad compatible) and Android phones.
As a coach, it is essential that you are prepared for practice.
Being prepared will make your practices fun, efficient and
meaningful. Below is a practice timeline to help you and your
cheerleaders have a productive practice:
1. Welcome and games (5 minutes)-see pages 12-13
2. Warm ups and stretching (10 minutes)- see pages 14-15
3. Skills and motions (10 minutes)- see pages 16-24
4. Mid-Practice huddle-Devotions (8 minutes)- see pages
43-72
5. New material (20 minutes)- see pages 25-42
6. Post-practice meeting (5 minutes)
FOR AN ADVANCE PRACTICE PLAN, PLEASE VISIT COACH
SIDELINES ON MYUPWARD.ORG.
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Practice Chart
On the following pages you will find practice charts for the
first five practices of the season. These charts are provided
here to help you structure your first five practices. However,
all eleven Coach’s Sidelines are located at MyUpward.org. We
recommend you print these out before your season starts so
you are fully prepared.
Practice
Welcome
and Games
(5 min)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(10 min)
Review and
Fundamentals
(10 min)
K5-2nd
grade
Play the
Name Game
(see Page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Teach the following
motions: Touchdown,
Low Touchdown,
High V, Low V, T
Motion, Right L, Left
L, Clasp
1
MidPractice
Huddle
(8 min)
Devotion 1
(see page
44)
New
Material
(20 min)
Motion Drill 1
(see page 21)
Chant: Yell (see
page 30 or
DVD)
(See Page 18
for a visual
demonstration)
Teach the proper
jump form and a
Spread Eagle Jump.
(see page 23)
3rd-6th
Grade
Play the
Name Game
(see page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Teach the following
motions: Touchdown,
Low Touchdown,
High V, Low V, T
Motion, Right L,
Left L, Clasp, Right
Diagonal, Left
Diagonal, Broken
T, Candlesticks,
Daggers, Right
Punch, Left Punch,
Clap
Devotion 1
(see page
44)
Motion Drills 1
& 2 (see page
21)
Chant: Yell (see
page 30 or
DVD)
Post Practice
Huddle (5 min)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Update parents
with email
addresses,
phone numbers,
welcome letter,
and upcoming
practice times.
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Update parents
with email
addresses,
phone numbers,
welcome letter,
and upcoming
practice times.
(See page 18
for a visual
demonstration)
Teach the proper
jump form and a
Spread Eagle Jump.
(see page 23)
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Practice
Welcome
and Games
(5 min)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(10 min)
K5-2nd
grade
Play the
Coach Says
Game
(see Page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
2
Review and
Fundamentals
(10 min)
Review motion drill,
chant, and jumps.
Teach a Tuck Jump.
(see page 23)
MidPractice
Huddle
(8 min)
Devotion 2
(see page
46)
Teach the following
motions: Right
Diagonal, Left
Diagonal, Broken
T, Candlesticks,
Daggers, Right
Punch, Left Punch,
Clap
New
Material
(20 min)
Motion Drill 2
(see page
21 for visual
demonstration)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Cheer: Keep
on Yelling (see
page 26 or
DVD)
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
(See Page 18
for a visual
demonstration)
3rd-6th
Grade
8
Play the
Coach Says
Game (see
page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review motion drills,
chant, and jumps.
Teach a Tuck Jump.
(see page 23)
Post Practice
Huddle (5 min)
Devotion 2
(see page
46)
Cheer: Keep
on Yelling (see
page 26 or
DVD)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Pom Routine:
John 3:16 (See
DVD to learn,
page 36 to
review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music.)
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
SECTIO
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Practice
Welcome
and Games
(5 min)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(10 min)
Review and
Fundamentals
(10 min)
K5-2nd
grade
Play the
Cheerleader
Tic – Tac –
Toe Game
(see Page 13)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review motion drills,
cheers, chants, and
jumps.
3
MidPractice
Huddle
(8 min)
Devotion 3
(see page
49)
Play the
Cheerleader
Tic – Tac –
Toe Game
(see Page 13)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review cheers,
chants, jumps, and
pom routines.
New
Material
(20 min)
Chant: Go (see
page 30 or
DVD)
Pom Routine:
Joyful Teach
two eight
counts.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music)
Teach a Toe Touch.
(see page 24)
Encourage your
cheerleaders to
use their cheer
voices and to smile
throughout practice
and games.
3rd-6th
Grade
: PRAC
Devotion 3
(see page
49)
Teach a Toe Touch
Jump. (see page 24)
Encourage your
cheerleaders to
use their cheer
voices and to smile
throughout practice
and games.
Chant: Go (see
page 30 or
DVD)
Pom Routine:
John 3:16 Finish
teaching pom
routine.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music.)
Perform this
pom routine
using a creative
formation from
our “formations
page” at your
next halftime.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
TICE
Post Practice
Huddle (5 min)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Remind parents
about upcoming
practices and
games.
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
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Practice
Welcome
and Games
(5 min)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(10 min)
Review and
Fundamentals
(10 min)
K5-2nd
grade
Play the
Line-Up
Game
(see Page 13)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review cheers,
chants, pom routines,
and jumps.
4
MidPractice
Huddle
(8 min)
Devotion 4
(see page
51)
Play the
Line-Up
Game
(see Page 13)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review cheers,
chants, pom routines,
and jumps.
Teach how to
correctly show
spirit after every
performance. (Check
out Coach Sideline
on MyUpward.org,
practice 4 ways to
teach spirit.)
Teach a Herkie Jump.
(see page 24)
10
Chant: Hands
Up (see page 31
or DVD)
Pom Routine:
Joyful Finish
teaching pom
routine.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music)
Teach how to
correctly show
spirit after every
performance. (Check
out Coach Sideline
on MyUpward.org
and practice 4 ways
to teach spirit.)
Teach a Herkie Jump.
(see page 24)
3rd-6th
Grade
New
Material
(20 min)
Perform this
pom routine
using a creative
formation from
our “formations
page” at your
next halftime.
Devotion 4
(see page
51)
Chant: Let’s Go
(see page 32 or
DVD)
Pom Routine:
See DVD for
choices.
Teach two eight
counts.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music.)
Post Practice
Huddle (5 min)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Remind parents
about upcoming
practices and
games.
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Practice
Star for
participating
in Scripture
Learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
SECTIO
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Practice
Welcome
and Games
(5 min)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(10 min)
Review and
Fundamentals
(10 min)
K5-2nd
grade
Play the
Shoe Game
(see Page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review cheers,
chants, pom routines,
and jumps.
5
MidPractice
Huddle
(8 min)
Devotion 5
(see page
53)
: PRAC
New
Material
(20 min)
Chant: Down
the Court (see
page 31 or DVD)
Pom Routine:
See DVD for
choices.
Teach two eight
counts.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music.)
Formation Change:
Practice performing
a cheer in Formation
A and show spirit
while moving to
Formation B where
cheerleaders will
perform a pom
routine. Use our
“formations page” for
ideas. This will make
a great halftime
routine.
TICE
Post Practice
Huddle (5 min)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Scripture
Star for
participating in
Scripture learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Remind parents
about upcoming
practices and
games.
3rd-6th
Grade
Play the
Shoe Game
(see Page 12)
Warm-up
and Stretch
(see page 14)
Review cheers,
chants, pom routines,
and jumps.
Devotion 5
(see page
53)
Formation Change:
Practice performing
a cheer in Formation
A and show spirit
while moving to
Formation B where
cheerleaders will
perform a pom
routine. Use our
“formations page” for
ideas. This will make
a great halftime
routine.
Cheer: Go
Upward (see
page 28 or
DVD)
Remind your
squad about
skills learned at
practice.
This cheer is
long, so you
may want
to have two
practices to
teach it . Teach
words first,
then motions,
and be sure
to review until
everyone looks
synchronized.
Give each
cheerleader a
Green Scripture
Star for
participating in
Scripture learning.
Cheerleaders
should display
stars on their
megaphone.
Pom Routine:
Continue to
work on a pom
routine.
(See DVD to
learn, page 34
to review, and
Cheertunes CD
for music.)
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
Distribute
practice cards to
each cheerleader
at the end of
practice.
Remind parents
about upcoming
practices and
games.
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Welcome and Games
Always start your practices with a welcome game to get
your squad excited about the practice. Below are some fun
games you can play with your squad, or you can create your
own welcome games.
Name Game
Equipment needed: Five small balls (or use poms)
Have cheerleaders stand in a circle and create a pattern by
throwing one ball. Prior to throwing the ball, each cheerleader
has to say their own name and then throw it to another
cheerleader. The last person to receive the ball will throw
it back to whoever began the pattern. Once the pattern is
established, try speeding it up and see how quickly you can
complete the pattern while still saying the names prior to
throwing the ball. After they have mastered the speed, try
adding balls to see how many you can get going at the same
time.
Cheerleading Coach Says
This game is played just like the traditional game of
Simon Says except that the things “Coach” says to do are
cheerleading-related. For example, you could say “Coach
says, ‘Do a High V!’” or “Coach says, ‘Do a toe touch!’” You
could also let the cheerleaders take turns being Coach. This
game encourages the learning and improvement of motions
and jumps.
Shoe Game
Have everyone take off their shoes and put them in a pile
in the middle of the room. Mix the shoes up. Divide the
cheerleaders into two groups. See which group can find their
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shoes and put them on first. When they have their shoes on,
the team done first must quickly sit on the floor.
Cheerleader Tic-Tac-Toe
Set up nine chairs in three rows. Divide the squad into X’s
and O’s. Just like in regular tic-tac-toe, the X’s and O’s
alternate, except they sit in the chairs instead of drawing
it out on paper. Ask questions about the rules of basketball
or cheerleading. The cheerleaders must raise their hands to
answer. If they answer correctly, they sit on one of the chairs.
The first team to get three in a row--diagonally, vertically or
horizontally--wins.
Line Up
Divide the squad into two groups, which will compete against
each other to complete the challenge. Challenges could
be lining up according to birthdays, alphabetically by first
name or last name, age or other criteria. Then try the same
challenges without talking.
For additional welcome games and activities, please visit
MyUpward.org.
Cheerleading Fundamentals
Being prepared for practice is imperative. You will need to not
only know what to teach, but how to teach it. In the following
pages, you will find specific skills to aid you as you prepare
your cheerleaders for games. Refer to your cheer coach DVD
for visual demonstrations of each of the items covered in this
section. Additional resources are available at MyUpward.org.
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Warm-ups and Stretching
Warm-up exercises and stretching are necessary before
any sports activity. Prior to each practice, use the following
guidelines to lead your squad:
· Warm up to a fun song with built-in instructions.
· Choose a fun song from our coach’s resources at
MyUpward.org, or select a song of your choice and
choreograph your own warm-up routine.
· Check out warm-ups in Coach Sidelines on MyUpward.
org for a visual demonstration.
· Play a fun game with commands.
Here is an example of a fun warm-up game:
Captain’s Coming!
The coach plays the role of the Captain. The Captain will call
out any one action listed below and each cheerleader will
have three to four seconds to start performing the action:
COMMAND
14
ACTION
“Captain’s
coming”
Everyone stands frozen in a salute until the
captain says, “At Ease!”
“Ship”
Cheerleaders run to the right
“Sailors”
Cheerleaders run to the left
“Man
overboard”
One person drops to a knee while the other
stands behind, putting a hand on their shoulder
“Three men
rowing”
Three cheerleaders get in a line and pretend to
row a boat while singing “Row, Row, Row Your
Boat.”
“Four men
pointing north”
Four cheerleaders get into a circle and point up
“Hit the deck”
Cheerleaders fall to the floor on their stomachs
“Pirate attack”
Captain tries to tag the cheerleaders as they try
to escape
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The following is another simple but effective layout for
warm-up activities:
· Running: One minute around the room. If you have
limited space, run in place.
· Jumping jacks: 20-30
· Trunk twists: From a standing position, twist back and
forth 10-20 times to loosen backs.
· Shoulder circles: With arms by your side, lift your
shoulders and take them back down, creating a circular
motion 10-20 times.
· Arm circles: Hold arms out in a T-motion and circle them
10-20 times.
Stretching is a vital part of cheerleading because good
flexibility helps prevent muscle injuries. Stretching should
be done before every practice and game. Below are some
stretches you can perform at each practice.
Neck Stretch: Sit or stand with
arms by your side. Tilt head
to the right and hold for eight
seconds, then tilt head to the left
and hold for eight seconds.
Hamstring Stretch: Sit on the
floor with right leg straight out
in front. Bend left leg and cross
it over the right one. Pull the left
knee across your body toward
opposite shoulder. Reverse.
Calf-Muscle Stretch: Lean
toward and support yourself
against a wall while keeping your
leg straight. Press your heel to
the floor. Reverse and stretch
other calf muscle.
Quadriceps Stretch: Support
yourself against a wall or
stationary object. Pull one heel
up behind your body and hold.
Repeat with other heel.
Triceps Stretch: Bring one arm
up beside your head, bending
it at the elbow while reaching
across with the other arm and
hold. Repeat using other arm.
Shoulder Stretch: Reach one
arm across your chest, holding
it at the elbow with opposite
hand. Reverse.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Motions
Learning motions properly is necessary for your squad so that
cheers will be done precisely and accurately. Sharp, tight,
clean motions are essential for all cheerleaders. You may want
to use this section as a reference when creating motions to
your own cheers or to the chants found on pages 25-32.
When practicing motions, make sure your cheerleaders
follow these guidelines:
· Keep motions in front of you: If you hit a motion properly,
you should be able to see your arms and fists in your
peripheral vision while looking forward (with the
exception of a Touchdown motion).
· Watch arm levels: Keep shoulders relaxed. A T-motion
should be level and a High V or Low V should look like a
“V.”
· Use proper fists direction: The thumb should always be
on the outside of the fingers, but should not extend
above the knuckles. The side of the fist facing the
crowd depends on the motion being performed. For
example, the pinkie side of the fist faces the crowd when
performing a Tabletop. However, the index-finger side
faces out for a high V-motion.
· Keep wrists flat (not bent or cocked): Your wrists should
be perfectly flat, as if they were extensions of your arms.
· Use proper hand placement for claps: Keep elbows in and
clasped hands right below your chin.
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Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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INCORPORATE PUSH-UPS IN YOUR WARM-UP PROGRAM
TO STRENGTHEN ARMS, SINCE STRONG ARMS PRODUCE
STRONG MOTIONS. EVEN WHEN YOUR CHEERLEADERS ARE
LEARNING A NEW ROUTINE, CHEER, CHANT OR JUMP, HAVE
THEM PRACTICE SHARP MOTIONS. THE WAY THEY PRACTICE
IS THE WAY THEY WILL PERFORM ON GAME DAY.
Cheerleaders should avoid the following:
· Bent wrists (wrists should be perfectly flat, as though
they were extensions of the arms)
· Bent elbows (when arms are supposed to be straight)
· Misplaced arm levels
·Over-extension of arms (always make sure fists can be
seen out of the corner of the eyes)
· Improper fist direction (varies according to the motion the
cheerleader is performing)
· To maintain sharpness with motions, your cheerleaders
should avoid:
· Bouncing or swinging their motions
· Inserting extra motions or movements
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Clapping
Two clapping positions can be used.
Clasp
Clap
Ready Position
Hands are held
together below the
chin.
Similar to a clasp, but
hands are flat against
each other.
Feet are positioned shoulderwidth apart while hands
rest on hips. This will be the
position in which most cheers
are called.
Side Lunge
Left Punch
Touchdown
Front leg is forward with
knee bent, in line with the
ankle. Back leg is straight.
Front lunge is another
variation of this stance.
Right arm rests on
the hip. Left arm is
extended straight up
by the ear. Both hands
are in fists.
Extend both arms
straight up by your ears.
Hands are in fists. Bring
the arms straight down
for a Low Touchdown.
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Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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High V
Low V
Both arms are raised at an
angle to create a V shape.
Hands are in tight fists with
arms forward enough to be
seen out of the corner of
your eyes.
This is similar to the High V, but
both arms are lowered to create
an upside-down V shape. Hands
are in tight fists, with arms forward
enough to be seen out of the
corner of your eyes.
: PRAC
TICE
THE HIGH
AND LOW
V MOTIONS
CAN ALSO
BE SPECIFIC
TO THE
RIGHT OR
LEFT ARM
BY USING
ONLY HALF
OF THE V
AND THE
OTHER HAND ON
THE HIP.
T Motion
Broken T
Dagger
Extend both arms out to the
side of your body to create
a T shape. Hands are in tight
fists, with arms forward
enough to be seen out of the
corner of your eyes.
This is similar to the T motion
except that both elbows bend
inward, bringing fists toward
the chest. This motion can
be specific to the right or left
arm by only using half of the
Broken T.
Bend both arms at the
elbow. Hold arms parallel
to each other and tight
to the chest.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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20
Candlesticks
L Motion
Arms are straight out,
parallel to each other and
the floor. Fists should face
inward, as if holding a
candle in each hand.
Raise one arm to a T position.
Extend the other arm straight
up by the ear. (Pictured is a
Right L.)
Bow-n-Arrow
Diagonal
Right arm is in a
Broken T while left
arm is in a T motion.
(Pictured is a Right
Bow-n-Arrow.)
One arm is in a High V
position while the other
is in a Low V position.
(Pictured is a Right
Diagonal.)
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Motion Drills
Below are two eight-count drills that include a series
of motions. The purpose of this motion drill is to help
cheerleaders put their knowledge of motions to counts and
rhythms. Often cheerleaders who know every motion forget
the placement and sharpness when performing. Encourage
them to make the transition from one motion to the next
sharp, clean, quick and simple. Start slow so that each motion
is correctly performed with each count:
Motion Drill 1
Motion Drill 2
1. Touchdown
1. Right Diagonal
2. Low Touchdown
2. Left Diagonal
3. High V
3. Broken T
4. Low V
4. Candlesticks
5. T-motion
5. Dagger
6. Right L
6. Right Punch
7. Left L
7. Left Punch
8. Clasp
8. Clasp
For a video
demonstration of
these motion drills,
go to the cheer
resources of
MyUpward.org.
FIND A HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CHEERLEADER TO
ASSIST YOU DURING PRACTICE WITH DEMONSTRATIONS
AND TECHNIQUE.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Jumps
Jumps are another key element of cheerleading. Performing
more jumps will build your cheerleaders’ stamina, endurance
and flexibility. The following drills will help to improve their
jumps’ height and form. Focus on one jump per practice and
encourage your cheerleaders to perform jumps at games
after every cheer, chant and pom routine. As you teach,
stress good form over height of the jumps.
Jumps should be done in the following manner with
appropriate counts:
1. Arms in a High V and feet together.
2. Swing arms around.
3. Slightly bend your knees, placing your weight on the
balls of your feet. Lift arms to a T-motion while hitting
the appropriate jump.
4. Squeeze legs together for a “feet together” landing
with arms by your side.
5. Stand up with feet together and hands on hips or by
your side.
1
22
2
3
4
5
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Spread Eagle
Help cheerleaders perfect their overall
jump form by teaching this drill with
Spread Eagle first before moving to
another jump.
1. Arms in a High V and feet
together.
2. Swing arms around. Slightly bend
your knees, placing your weight
on the balls of your feet.
3. Swing arms out and around to a High V, keeping your
back straight. Spread legs with toes pointed, knees
facing forward.
4. Squeeze legs together for a “feet together” landing
with arms by your side.
5. Stand up with feet together and hands
on hips or hands by your side.
Tuck Jump
1. Arms in a High V and feet together.
2. Swing arms around. Slightly bend your
knees, placing your weight on the balls
of your feet.
3. Keep legs squeezed together and back
straight while bringing your legs up to your chest. High
V with arms.
4. Squeeze legs together for a “feet together” landing
with arms by your side.
5. Stand up with feet together and hands on hips or arms
by your side.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Toe Touch
1. Arms in a High V and
feet together.
2. Swing arms around.
Slightly bend your
knees, placing your
weight on the balls of
your feet.
3. Swing both arms out to a T-motion while lifting both
legs in a split high as they will go.
4. Squeeze legs together for a “feet together” landing
with arms by your side.
5. Stand up with feet
together and hands
on hips or arms by
your side.
Herkie
The example below is for a
right herkie:
1. Arms in a High V and
feet together.
2. Swing arms around. Slightly bend your knees, placing
weight on the balls of your feet.
3. Swing right arm out to a T-motion, placing the left arm
on your hip while lifting the right leg out to the side as
high as it will go. Keep the left leg into a hurdle position
to the side and slightly behind your body.
4. Squeeze legs together for a “feet together” landing
with arms by your side.
5. Stand up with feet together and hands on hips.
24
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Cheers
It is time to get loud and to have some fun!
This section will provide you with a base of
cheers to use during the basketball season.
Squads are not required to use all cheers and
chants provided in this book. New cheers and
chants are also found in the Coach’s Sideline
(located at MyUpward.org). Remember that
all cheers are to remain positive and uplifting.
Refrain from using terms such as beat, kill,
fight or defeat.
When teaching cheers, follow these
guidelines:
ALL CHEERS,
CHANTS AND
POM ROUTINES
PROVIDED IN
THIS BOOK
ARE ALSO
DEMONSTRATED
ON YOUR CHEER
COACH DVD.
YOUR DVD HAS
ADDITIONAL CHEERS
AND CHANTS THAT ARE
NOT LISTED ON THE
FOLLOWING PAGES.
1. Teach the words first.
2. Have cheerleaders repeat the cheer or chant until
everyone is familiar with the words.
3. Teach the cheer, chant or pom routine.
4. Review slowly, but still focus on sharp and precise
motions.
5. Once everyone has the overall knowledge of the cheer
or chant, practice it at a full speed. Look for correct
motion placement and sharpness, while emphasizing
squad synchronization from the very beginning.
6. Do not move on to a new cheer or a chant without
perfecting technique first.
TEACH CHEERLEADERS TO END EACH CHEER, CHANT
AND POM ROUTINE BY SHOWING SPIRIT! ENCOURAGE
THEM TO YELL THINGS SUCH AS, “GO, UPWARD!”
“TOUCHDOWN!” “LET’S GO, RED AND BLACK!” AND
OTHER SIMILAR PHRASES. HAVE THEM PRACTICE THREE
TO FOUR SHORT PHRASES AFTER EVERY CHEER.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Claps are to be done in the CLASP position unless otherwise noted.
Keep On Yelling
Words
26
Motions
Blue
Clasp
Let’s Go
Right Diagonal
White
Clasp
Let’s Win
Left Diagonal
Keep On
Clasp
Yelling
Clasp
Until the very
Left hand on hip, look back on left shoulder,
right hand on the left shoulder
End
Right Low V
Blue
Right Punch
And
Right Dagger
White
Right Punch
Pause
Clasp
Blue
Left Punch
And
Left Dagger
White
Left Punch
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Go Blue Go White
Words
Motions
Fans
Low V
Pause
Clasp
Get on your
Step forward, dagger
Feet
Step together and hit a touchdown
Yell with
Clasp
Us
Clasp
And keep
Clasp above head
The
Clasp above head
Beat
Clasp above head
Go
Right T
Pause
Clasp
Blue
Right Punch
Pause
Clasp
Go
Right T
Pause
Clasp
Blue
Right Punch
Pause
Clasp
Go
Left T
Pause
Clasp
White
Left Punch
Go
Left T
Pause
Clasp
White
Left Punch
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Go Upward
Words
28
Motions
It’s Time
Low V and step forward with your right foot
To
Clasp and jump together
Get
Daggers and squat
Up
Touchdown and jump out
Pause
Clasp
It’s Time
Low V
To
Clasp
Get
Broken T
Loud
T Motion
Pause
Clasp
Yell
Clasp
With
Clasp
Us
Clasp
And Shout
Candle
It
Daggers
Out
Clean
Pause
Clasp
Go
Right Punch, Left hand on hip
Pause
Right Dagger, Left hand on hip
Upward
Right Punch, Left hand on hip
Pause
Clasp
Go
Left Punch, Right hand on hip
Pause
Left Dagger, Right hand on hip
Upward
Left Punch, Right hand on hip
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Chants:
Chants, also known as “sidelines” are so much fun to perform
on gameday. Chants are shorter then cheers and are recited
three times. However, the crowd is usually a good indicator
of when to end a chant. In the next few pages, you will find
some fun chants that are designed for all age divisions.
More chants are located on MyUpward.org and on your coach
DVD. Use the coach DVD for visual demonstration.
When learning and teaching chants:
› Learn the words first
› Repeat the chant until everyone is familiar with the
words and rhythm
› Learn the motions
› Practice it at a full speed and with sharpness
Always look for correct motion placement and sharpness,
while emphasizing team synchronization. Do not move on to
a new chant without perfecting technique. Insert your team
colors.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Yell
Words
Motions
Let’s
Prance, right leg forward
Hear you
Prance, the left leg forward
Yell for the
Clasp
Blue
Right High V
And
Clasp
White
Left High V
Go
Words
30
Motions
Go
Right Candlestick
Go
Left Candlestick
Up
Clasp
Ward
Clasp
Take
Low O Motion
It to the
Hold
Hoop
Take it up to the O Motion
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Hands Up
Words
Motions
Hands
Step forward with your hands ina dagger
Up
Jazz hands and in a touchdown
Pause
Clasp
Pause
Clasp
De
Cross right over left “x” in front of you
Fense
Arms go out to a T Motion
Pause
Clasp
Pause
Clasp
Down the Court
Words
Motions
Down
Right T Motion
The Court
Hold
Down
Left T Motion
The Court
Hold
Shoooot
Clasp
Two
Right Punch
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Let’s Go
(May consider modifying for K5)
Words
32
Motions
Up
Squat and hit a Right Side Low V
Ward
Stand, Clasp
Let’s
Sit Left, Left Side Low V
Go
Stand, Clasp
Shoot
Right Dagger
Two
Hold Up Two Fingers
Let’s
Break the Punch Back
Go
Right Punch
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Pom Routines
After your cheerleaders have learned enough cheers and
chants to provide a significant base to use during each game,
consider teaching them a pom routine that can be performed
at halftime or during the awards celebration. Here are some
points to consider as you prepare to teach pom routines:
· Be sure to teach the placement of each pom routine
motion.
· Evaluate your squad’s performance. If there is a step too
difficult for your group, simplify it before continuing. The
goal is to master clean and simple routines.
· Consider teaching two eight counts per practice. Review
each one until everyone has learned the routine and it
looks synchronized. Continue to teach the rest of the
routine at your next practice.
· Once the cheerleaders have learned the entire pom
routine, make necessary corrections to improve motions
and motion placement. The best way to do this is to
count aloud, “Five, six, seven, eight, one” and have
your squad freeze on count “one.” Make the necessary
corrections and repeat the drill for “one” again. Do
not go on to count “two” until everyone has correctly
performed count “one.” Repeat for count “two.” When
everyone has learned count “two,” add that to count
“one.” Repeat the process for the entire routine until it is
perfected.
· Allow half of your squad to
watch while the other half
performs the pom routine. This
is a great way to encourage
your cheerleaders. The
feedback from their own
teammates will inspire and
excite them for their big
performance.
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
GET CREATIVE AND
ADD SOME FUN TO
YOUR POM ROUTINE
BY USING A CREATIVE
FORMATION FROM THE
FORMATIONS PAGE ON
MYUPWARD.ORG.
33
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The pom routines listed on the following pages can be
performed to the music on your Cheertunes CD, located in
the inside of the front cover of this coach cheerbook. The
coach DVD (found on the inside back cover) includes visual
demonstrations of all pom routines listed below. It breaks
down how to perform each count, reviews the entire routine
without music and then shows how to perform each pom
routine with music.
The following instructions can be used as a guide while
watching the coach DVD. These pom routines are listed in
order of difficulty.
Joyful (Recommended K5 – 2nd)
Formation A:
X
X
X
Formation B:
Transition to:
X
X
X
First 8-count
Start in Formation A (see diagram above)
1. Cross and grab left
wrist with right hand
5. Right Dagger
2. Push straight down, still
holding left wrist
7. Right Dagger
3. High V
4. Roll into a Low V
34
6. Left Low Touchdown
8. High V Jazz Hands, Look
up
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Second 8-count
1. Cross and grab left
wrist with right hand
5. Right Dagger
2. Push straight down,
still holding left wrist
7. Right Dagger
3. High V
4. Roll into a Low V
6. Left Low Touchdown
8. High V Jazz Hands, Look
up
Third 8-Count
Transition to Formation B
1. Begin to move to a
vertical line, shake
poms in front of chest
2. Continue to move to
vertical line
3. Continue to move to
vertical line
4. Continue to move to
vertical line
5. Continue to move to
vertical line
6. Continue to move to
vertical line
7. Stand in vertical line and
shake poms
8. Continue to shake poms
Forth 8-Count
Next eight counts are side to side moves:
1. Every other row bends
to the right or left side
2.Switch
3.Switch
4.Switch
5.Switch
6.Switch
7.Switch
8.Switch
Ending sound effect: everyone drops, hands on the floor
and look down
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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John 3:16 (Recommended for 3rd-4th)
Formation A:
X X X
Formation B:
X
X
X
Formation C:
X
X
X
First 8-count
Start in Formation A (see above)
1.Hold
5. Low V
2.Hold
6.Clap
3. Low V
7. Low V
4.Clap
8.Clap
Second 8-count
1. Step forward on right,
cross right arm over left
in front, head down
2. Break into a T Motion,
Step Together
36
5. Wrap arms around your
head
6. Bring hands and chest
down to knees
3. Point to yourself
7. High V in Jazz hands
and jump out
4. Point to yourself
8.Hold
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Third 8-Count
1. Reach out with right
hand while left hand is
placed on right bicep,
step forward on right
foot
5. Look to the front
6.Hold
7. Box with both arms
(this is an opposite
group visual)
2. Bring left foot to the
right, bring right hand in
front of face
3. Take right palm and
face it outwards, look to
the right
a.Row 1: Step to the
right, and hit right
then left
4. Face to the left, palm
facing out
b.Row 2: Step to the
left, and hit left then
right
8. Box to the opposite side
Forth 8-Count
1. Box to same side
2. Cross and uncross to
the right
3. Cross and uncross to
the left
4. Right arm over left on
your chest and lean
back to the right
5. Extend the right arm
and point in front of you
6. Point to the right
7. Point to the left
8. Point to the right
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Sixth 8-Count
Move to Formation C
1. Front row and back row
switch
3. Continue to move
5. Continue to move
a.Front row shake poms
from a Low V to a
High V
b.Back row shake poms
from a High V to a
Low V
4. Continue to move
6. Continue to move
7. Continue to move
8. Continue to move
2. Continue to move
Seventh 8-Count
Move back to Formation B
1. Front row and back row
switch
3. Continue to move
5. Continue to move
a.Front row shake poms
from a Low V to a
High V
b.Back row shake poms
from a High V to a
Low V
4. Continue to move
6. Continue to move
7. Continue to move
8. Continue to move
2. Continue to move
Ending pose
1. Front row High V, back row Low V
38
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Obedience (Recommended for 5th-6th)
Formation A:
X
X
X
First 8-count
Start in Formation A
1.Hold
5. Jump apart
2.Hold
6.Hold
3.Hold
7.Hold
4.Hold
8.Hold
Second 8-Count
1. Right arm punches
forward, left arm in a
Dagger
And: Left arm punches
forward, right arm in a
Dagger
2. Right arm punches
forward, left arm in a
Dagger
3.Hold
4.Hold
5. Break arms into a Right
Diagonal (right arm is a
High V and left arm is in
a Low V)
6. Break arms into a Left
Diagonal (Left arm is a
High V and Right arm is
a Low V)
7. Broken Right Diagonal
8. Switch to a Broken Left
Diagonal
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Third 8-Count
This is a ripple.
1. Group 1: Step back to
a right angle arms in
Candle Sticks
4. Group 1: Hold
Group 2: Hold
5. Everyone step forward
to the right, cross and
uncross arms to the right
2. Group 1: Clean arms by
side and step together
Group 2: Hold
3. Group 1: Hold
Group 2: Step back to
a right angle, arms in
Candle Sticks
Group 2: Clean arms by
side and step together
6. Step to the left, cross
and uncross arms to the
left
7. Clean feet apart
8.Hold
Fourth 8-Count
1. Arms in a Dagger
2. Swing left to a Low
Touchdown
5. Right arm in a T, Left
arm cleans
6. T Motion
3. Swing left up to Daggers 7. Clasp straight above
head
4. Swing left to a Low
Touchdown
8. Bring straight down to
Clasp
Fifth 8-Count
1. High V
5.Hold
2. Cross in front of you
6.Hold
3. T Motion, Toe Touch
7. Hands and knees hit
the floor, look down
4. Land with feet together,
arms by your side
40
8.Hold
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Sixth 8-count
1. Right knee comes up,
right over left hands on
thigh
5. Lift left shoulder and
knee
2.Hold
6. Lift right shoulder and
knee
3. Stand, Clean
7. Step out, left Low V
4.Hold
8. Box arms, face right
and point up
Seventh 8-Count
1.Clean
2.Hold
3. Feet apart, Right arm
punches forward, left
arm in a Dagger
4. Right arm punches
forward, left arm in a
Dagger
5. Break arms into a Right
Diagonal (Right arm is
a High V and Left arm
is in a Low V)
6. Break arms into a Left
Diagonal (Left arm is a
High V and Right arm is
a Low V)
7. Broken Right Diagonal
8. Broken Right Diagonal
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Eighth 8-Count
1. Group 1: Step back to a
right angle with arms in
Candle Sticks
5. Everyone step to the
right, cross and uncross
to the right
2. Group 1: Clean arms by
side and step together
6. Step to the left, cross and
uncross to the left
3. Group 1: Hold
7.Clean
4. Group 1: Hold
8.Hold
Ending Pose
1. High V
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Mid-Practice Huddles (Devotions)
As an Upward Cheerleading Coach, you are not only teaching
skills for cheerleading but also values for life. The midpractice huddle, or devotion time, allows you to incorporate
biblical principles into the sports experience and help young
athletes grow spiritually. The chart on the next page shows
the virtues and verses for each group of practices and is
designed to assist you as your organize and prepare for your
mid-practice huddle.
Practice Number
Virtue
Practice 1
None (“Get
to Know
You” time)
Verse
None (Scripture learning begins
at Practice 2.)
Joy
Always be joyful because you
belong to the Lord. I will say it
again. Be joyful.
Philippians 4:4 (NIrV)
Practice 5-7
Initiative
None of you should look out
for your own good. You should
look out for the good of others.
Philippians 2:4 (NIrV)
Practice 8-10
Forgiveness
Forgive the things you are holding
against one another. Forgive,
just as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 (NIrV)
Virtue
Review/
Big Story
Preview
Built around John 3:16, this
devotion reviews the season’s
virtues while setting up a gospel
presentation at the awards
celebration through the Big
Story DVD. This devotion comes
standard in your coach resources.
Practice 2-4
Last practice
of the season
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Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 1
Instructions:
· Gather cheerleaders together in a circle and ask
everyone to share their names.
· You will pick several topics and encourage your team to
arrange themselves in order to create a continuum. The
purpose is to give your team a chance to get to know
one another by mingling about. Don’t choose topics that
reveal accomplishments. Have fun with this.
Let’s have some fun getting to know each other. I’m going to
give you a topic and then you must mingle (talk) with each
other to see how fast you can line up correctly each time.
Ready? Line up from:
· The lightest hair to the darkest.
· Shortest to the tallest.
· Lowest street number to the highest.
· Smallest to largest hand.
· The number of hours you watch television every week.
· The number of books you’ve read this week.
(Add more, as desired.)
That was terrific! It will be very helpful to know a little more
about each other as we work together as a squad in the
weeks ahead.
As you cheer during each game this season, you will be
rewarded afterward with different colored stars that each
means something special. Your actions, attitudes and words
on game day will determine what star you will get.
These are the game day stars and what they mean:
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· The blue star represents EFFORT: What does it mean to
show effort? It means working hard to try your best at all
times.
· The gold star represents SPIRIT: What does it mean
to show spirit? It means doing all your cheers with
excitement, eagerness and good voice inflection. You
show others on your squad respect and treat them the
way you want to be treated.
· The gray star represents CHEERS: How do you cheer
well? You work together well with the rest of the squad
while doing the motions and jumps and saying the
correct words along with the others.
· The red star represents LEADERSHIP: What does a
leader do? A good leader helps the squad stay focused
and calls cheers well before the rest of the squad does
them.
· The white star represents CHRISTLIKENESS: What
does it mean to be Christlike? Being Christlike means
to do your best to imitate Jesus in every way – through
words, attitude and actions. It means loving others and
following God’s Word in the Bible; choosing God over
the temptations in the world around you.
At each practice we will stop to have a Mid-Practice Huddle.
We will learn about God and learn a verse from the Bible
together. During this time you will have a chance to earn a
green star.
· The green star represents SCRIPTURE LEARNING: What
is a Scripture? Scriptures are verses from the Bible. How
can I learn scripture? At different practices this season
I will give you a practice card that has a Scripture verse
on it. Memorize it, think about it, and talk about it with
others. Come prepared to say it during practice and
learn more about it!
Upward Basketball Cheerleading Coach Cheerbook
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Our squad is going to have a great season! Let’s pray and
then get back to practice. (Lead squad in short prayer as you
thank God for all the cheerleaders and a great season ahead.)
Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 2
Practice Card Reminder:
At the end of practice, remember to distribute the practice
cards entitled “Practice 2.”
Introduce:
›Virtue: JOY - Finding a way to be happy, even when
things don’t go your way.
›Scripture Verse: Always be joyful because you belong to
the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.
Philippians 4:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God sent his Son.
(Biblical Example)
Today, I’m going to read you a story. Maybe you’ve heard it
before. Maybe it’s your first time ever hearing it. But this story
is one of the most famous stories in all of history. Listen to
this:
(From Luke 2:1-7)
A long, long time ago, there lived a man named Caesar
Augustus. Caesar Augustus was in charge of the whole
Roman Empire, kind of like our president is in charge of
our country. And he wanted to know exactly who he was
in charge of. So he decided to make a list of every person
in the Roman Empire. In order to be officially put on Caesar
Augustus’ list, all the people in the Roman Empire had to go
back to the place they were born.
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That is why a man named Joseph and a woman named Mary
traveled to a town in Judea called Bethlehem—Joseph’s
hometown. Mary was engaged to Joseph and was expecting
a baby.
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came
for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It
was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she
placed him in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. They
were sharing a room with animals because space was tight.
The whole town was full of people who had come to be put
on Caesar Augustus’ list.
Okay, if you’ve heard this story before, raise your hand. (Pause
for responses.) Awesome. Now, can anyone tell me who the
Baby was who was born that night? (Pause for cheerleaders
to respond.) It was Jesus! And when do we usually talk about
Jesus’ birth? That’s right! We celebrate Jesus’ birthday on
Christmas.
So why in the world would I read the Christmas story to you
today? Well, for the next few practices, we’re going to talk
about what it means to have joy! Joy is finding a way to be
happy, even when things don’t go your way. Notice I said,
“when” not “if.” See, I can guarantee there will be times when
things don’t go your way. I guarantee there will be times
when you are the exact opposite of happy. But no matter
what happens, you can always choose how you respond. You
can always find a way to be happy. You can choose joy. Know
why?
Because over 2,000 years ago, God sent his Son Jesus to the
earth. So how does that make you happy when you aren’t
allowed to go to your friend’s house or when your iPod
breaks? Joy is about finding something to be happy about.
And the good news is, no matter what happens, whether you
mess up or something totally unfair and wrong happens to
you, God never changes. Two thousand years ago he already
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loved you enough to send Jesus. And because he sent Jesus,
you have the opportunity to talk to God, have a relationship
with God and live forever with God in Heaven. God loves
you so much. That’s a reason to be happy. Even when things
aren’t going your way, you can have joy because God sent his
Son because he loves you so much!
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. When is it hardest for you to choose joy and be
happy?
2. How does the story of Jesus help you find a way to
be happy when things aren’t going your way?
3. What is one way you could help yourself remember
this story about Jesus and think about it when you
are feeling unhappy?
Let’s pray and thank God for sending Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we love you. Thank you for reminding
us that we can always have joy because you sent Jesus
because you love us so much. This isn’t just a story to read at
Christmas time. Help us to remember to choose to be joyful,
even when things don’t go our way. We ask this in Jesus’
name. Amen.
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Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 3
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: JOY - Finding a way to be happy, even when
things don’t go your way.
›Scripture Verse: Always be joyful because you belong to
the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.
Philippians 4:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God has a way to make
things right.
(My World Example)
Do you ever wish you could see ahead of time how things
were going to work out? Wouldn’t it be so cool if you could
build a time machine to take you into the future so all your
questions could be answered? Questions like: Will we cheer
well at our game on Saturday? Am I going to get a good
grade on my math test? Will I be in the same class with my
best friend next year? When you have a situation that you are
unsure about, wouldn’t it be totally awesome to know how it
will all turn out?
What if I told you that I know Someone who does know the
future? What if I told you that he doesn’t even need a time
machine to tell us whether or not we’ll do great at our game
this week? Can anyone guess who I’m talking about? (Pause
as cheerleaders respond.) That’s right. I’m talking about God!
What if I could promise that even if we forget all of our cheers
on Saturday, or you get a bad grade in math or your best
friend isn’t your best friend next year, that everything would
still work out? What if you and I could still be joyful when
things don’t go our way?
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Well, the truth is, we can. We can choose to be happy even
when things don’t turn out the way we’d hoped because God
has a plan to make things right. You see, way back in the
beginning, when God first created the earth, it was a perfect
place. There was no disappointment or shame (like feeling
terrible about your bad grade) and no sadness (like losing
a best friend). When sin, or disobedience, entered the earth,
everything changed. We were all separated from God and
forced to face the consequences of our own disobedience.
But God had a plan and God made it right again.
When God chose to send Jesus, his one and only Son, to
earth, he made a way for us to have a relationship with
him again. Jesus paid the price for our disobedience. And
when we accept what he did on our behalf, we are no longer
separated from him. Isn’t that an amazing way to make things
right? But God isn’t done yet! He promises that Jesus will
come back again and that everyone who has accepted what
he did for us will be with God in the end. So, even though
there are bumps along the way and some things don’t go
our way, we can be happy because God has a way to make
things right.
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. What is happening in your life now that you wish
you knew how it would turn out?
2. What are some ways God can make something
good come out of a really bad situation?
3. Has anything ever happened differently than you
hoped, but it turned out for the better anyway? Tell
us about it.
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Let’s pray and thank God for the chance to choose joy.
Prayer
Dear God, thanks for reminding us that you are in control of
our future. When we get discouraged or scared about how
things will turn out, help us to trust you. Help us to remember
that you have a plan to make things right. We ask these
things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 4
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: JOY - Finding a way to be happy, even when
things don’t go your way.
›Scripture Verse: Always be joyful because you belong to
the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.
Philippians 4:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God has a way to make
things right.
(Peer Example)
Check this out. In Philippians 4:4 (NIrV) it says, “Always be
joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be
joyful.” Wait, did you hear the first part? Did it say, “Be joyful
sometimes”? Did it say, “Be joyful only on your birthday, or
when you’re at Disney World”?
No way! This verse says we can be joyful always. And then
it says it again—be joyful! But how is it even possible to be
happy all the time? The answer is right there in the verse. You
can be joyful—always—because if you have accepted what
Jesus did for you, you belong to God! You see, real joy is a
choice. Real joy happens when you understand that God loves
you so much he sent Jesus so that you can belong to God.
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God made the WHOLE world—creeks and oceans, ants and
elephants, molehills and mountains. But of all the things he
made, he loves you the most. The Bible says that you are his
most prized creation. But when we disobeyed God and sin
entered the world, we were separated from our holy, perfect
God. And there wasn’t anything we could do about it.
But God loved all of us so much that he sent Jesus, his one
and only Son, to pay the price for our sin. God sent Jesus to
make a way for us—all of us—to have a relationship with him.
God didn’t just send Jesus for nice people. He didn’t send
Jesus just for smart people. Or popular people. Or rich people.
He didn’t send Jesus just for you and your best friend or the
people that are nice to you. God sent Jesus for everyone.
On the night Jesus was born, did you know that God got
a whole choir of angels together to share the good news?
Guess who the angels announced this good news to first?
A king? Someone famous or powerful? No way. The angels
filled the skies over a field full of a bunch of smelly shepherds.
The first people to hear God’s heavenly birth announcement
were some of the most common, unknown, average people
around. Because this good news wasn’t just for some people,
it was for everyone!
That good news is for you. It’s for me. It’s for everyone. God
loves us so much that He sent Jesus to pay the price of sin
for everyone. And that’s a huge reason to find joy, every day,
in any situation. You can have joy because God’s message is
for everyone.
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3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Who first told you about God’s story?
2. Why do you think it’s important for everyone to
hear God’s story?
3. Is there anyone in your life who might not know the
story of God?
Let’s pray.
Prayer
God, thanks for helping us see today that you sent Jesus for
everyone. Thanks that we can choose to have joy because
of that. Thanks for loving us so much that you would send
Jesus to be our Savior. We love you and we pray these things
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 5
Practice Card Reminder: At the end of practice, remember
to distribute the practice cards entitled “Practice 5.”
Introduce:
›Virtue: INITIATIVE - Seeing what needs to be done and
doing it.
›Scripture Verse: None of you should look out just for
your own good. You should also look out for the good of
others. Philippians 2:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: When there’s a job to be done, first you have
to see it.
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(My World Example)
Today I want to talk to you about something that’s really
important when it comes to cheerleading. Actually, it’s pretty
important in real life, too. I’m talking about showing initiative.
Without it, no one would ever get to accomplish anything
on the court—or in life! Initiative is seeing what needs to be
done and doing it.
But to get the job done, there’s something pretty important
that has to happen first. You need to see the problem. If you
can’t see the job ahead of you, then you’ll never do anything
about it. Because when there’s a job to be done, first you
have to see it.
Now I know I don’t live in your house, but I would guess that
at least once a day your mom or dad says something like . . .
“Can you please clean up this mess? I can’t see the floor of
your room!”
“Your brother is struggling with his coat. Could you help him,
please?”
“Hey, can you give me a hand with these leaves? I’ll never get
them all picked up without some help.”
“My arms are full with all these groceries. Think you could
lend me a hand?”
Sometimes, it’s easy to ignore a big job or to think that
someone else will do it. After all, your mom already has all the
bags in her hands right? And your dad, well, how did all those
leaves get picked up before you were big enough to help?
And what about your brother? I mean, he wasn’t around to
help you when you were little, right?
But how would that attitude work for us? If no one took
initiative to go out and do our jumps or motions, we’d never
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get anywhere. If we spent the entire game thinking that
someone else would do all of the cheers.
Showing initiative means you take responsibility when there’s
a job to be done. Initiative doesn’t mean you ignore it or
wait for someone else to do it. So this week, practice taking
the time to see what needs to be done—at home, at school
and at practices and games. Then, follow through and do
something about it.
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Is there a job that needs to be done right now in
your home or at school? What is it?
2. When you see someone who needs help or a mess
that needs to be cleaned up, what is your first
reaction?
3. Take a look around you. Is there anything you see
that needs to be done?
Why don’t we pray and ask God to help us with that this
week?
Prayer
God, you are awesome. Thanks for helping us understand
today how important it is to show initiative. We don’t want to
wait for someone else to do what needs to be done. Help us
to see the problem first and then to lend a hand. Thanks for
loving us. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 6
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: INITIATIVE - Seeing what needs to be done and
doing it.
›Scripture Verse: None of you should look out just for
your own good. You should also look out for the good of
others. Philippians 2:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: When you see there’s a job to be done, don’t
wait for someone else to do it.
(Biblical Example)
Does anyone remember what we talked about at our last
practice? I’ll give you a hint. It rhymes with “vinitiative.” I
know. Hilarious, right? We talked about initiative, which is:
seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
Today I want to tell you about a guy from the Bible named
Nehemiah who definitely knew how to get the job done.
Nehemiah worked for the King of Persia but he was Jewish.
Some of his people had moved back from Persia to Jerusalem,
the capital of the land God had given them, and Nehemiah
got word that Jerusalem was in trouble. Back then, cities
were surrounded by thick, high walls. These walls protected
and guarded the city. But the walls around Jerusalem were
broken down. It was a big mess.
Now, Nehemiah wasn’t an engineer. He didn’t have any
construction experience. He didn’t even live in Jerusalem.
And he had a pretty cushy job, working as a cupbearer to
a king. But Nehemiah knew that he could help. He knew he
had to help. And he figured that he might be the only person
willing to get the job done. So he did.
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The Bible tells us that because of Nehemiah, the wall around
Jerusalem was completely rebuilt in 52 days. Isn’t that
amazing? Nehemiah saw the job that needed to be done. He
didn’t wait for someone else to do it.
And guess what? You and I can learn a lesson from Nehemiah,
too. It’s easy to make excuses when there’s a job to be done.
We’re all tempted to think that someone else will do it. But
that’s not showing initiative.
Philippians 2:4 (NIrV) says, “None of you should look out for
your own good. You should look out for the good of others.”
That’s what we do when we cheer together as a team. We
look out for each other. That’s what Nehemiah did for all of
those people in Jerusalem. He cared more about them and
their needs than his own.
Remember, when you see there’s a job to be done, don’t wait
for someone else to do it. You are the person who could
make a difference when you look out for the good of others
and show initiative this week.
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3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Who usually takes care of these jobs in your house:
Loading and unloading the dishwasher?
Putting away your clean clothes?
Taking the trash to the curb?
Picking up the toys you played with?
Making your bed?
Unloading the groceries?
Putting a new roll of toilet paper on the holder?
Taking care of family pets?
2. What are some other jobs you know about outside
of your home—like trash in the lunchroom at school
or an untied shoe at church?
3. What do you think might happen if your mom, dad
or lunchroom lady decided not to do anything about
the jobs they saw needed to be done?
Let’s pray and thank God for Nehemiah’s example to us today.
Prayer
Dear God, you are an awesome, holy God. Thanks for the
story of Nehemiah and how he was willing to tackle such a
big job himself instead of waiting for someone else to do it.
Help us to show that same kind of initiative this week. We
love you and we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 7
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: INITIATIVE - Seeing what needs to be done and
doing it.
›Scripture Verse: None of you should look out just for
your own good. You should also look out for the good of
others. Philippians 2:4 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: When you see there’s a job to be done, don’t
wait for someone else to do it.
(Biblical Example)
Did you all follow through and show initiative this week?
Would someone be willing to share with the team what you
did and what happened?
(Allow a cheerleader to answer. If no one volunteers, be
prepared to share an example.)
Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it. We’ve
talked a little bit about what that looks like both on and off
the court. But I want to see how well you’ve been listening.
So I have a little multiple-choice quiz for you. If you know the
answer, raise your hand. Ready? Okay, here we go.
1. A girl from your grade comes into the lunchroom with
her tray full of food, and just as she’s about to find a
seat, she trips and everything goes flying. You:
a. Ignore it. After all, you don’t want to lose your place
in line.
b. Help her clean it up and then offer to share your
lunch with her.
c. Go find a teacher so she can clean it up.
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2. There’s an older lady who lives down the street. You
don’t see her outside much but you notice her trashcan
hasn’t been taken to the street and garbage day is
tomorrow. You:
a. Knock on the door to remind her it needs to go out
to the street.
b. Act as if you never saw it, assuring yourself that
she’ll remember before tomorrow.
c. Run over to her house and pull it out to the curb
after you take out the trash at your house.
3. Your mom is working on dinner in the kitchen and you
see that the table hasn’t been set yet. You:
a. Grab the stack of placemats and get busy.
b. Tell your little brother to do it.
c. Figure that once your mom gets supper in the oven,
then she can do it.
4. At the end of P.E., all the balls and cones are out all
over the gym. You:
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a. Head outside to play for free time with the rest of
the class.
b. Assume your teacher prefers the mess and decide
to leave it that way.
c. Stay behind to help your teacher quickly put things
away.
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5. At church, you hear about a village in Africa that
doesn’t have clean water. Your church is collecting
money to build the village a well. You:
a. Feel badly that there are people in the world who
don’t have clean water and feel lucky that you can
get it whenever you want.
b. Figure that all the adults at church will pitch in.
c. Tell your mom that instead of presents for your
birthday next week, you want to collect money to
help build the well.
Okay, okay. That was like the easiest test ever right? I mean,
we can all pick out the answer that sounds the best. But
here’s the hard part. In real life, if we’re really honest, most
of us would rather wait to see if someone else will help first.
Instead of showing initiative, many times we make excuses or
assume that someone else will do something about it.
But the Bible says that we should look out for the interest
of others first. That means when we see a problem, we’re
supposed to do something about it. This is especially true
when it comes to people in need.
We all have way more than we need and definitely more than
we deserve. When you see someone in need, don’t wait for
someone else to fix it. Figure out what part you can play
to get the job done. And as you show initiative, you never
know the good you can do for someone else. When there
are people in need, don’t wait for someone else to help them.
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3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Do you know of anyone in need? Without naming
names, what is one thing you could do for someone
in need?
2. Tell us about a time you helped someone in need.
How did it feel?
3. Tell us about a time someone helped you when you
were in need. How did it feel?
Let’s pray and ask God to help us follow through with that
this week.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and care for us. We
are so grateful for every good thing because we know they
come from you. Help us to see the needs around us this week
and to do something. We don’t want to wait for someone
else when we could be the ones to help. We love you, God.
And we ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 8
Practice Card Reminder: At the end of practice, remember
to distribute the practice cards entitled “Practice 8.”
Introduce:
›Virtue: FORGIVENESS - Deciding that someone who has
wronged you doesn’t have to pay.
›Scripture Verse: Forgive the things you are holding
against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave
you. Colossians 3:13 (NIrV)
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Bottom Line: Everyone needs to be forgiven, even me.
(Biblical Example)
While Jesus was on earth, he was known for preaching and
telling stories to large crowds. One of the most famous stories
Jesus told is about a father and his two sons. The younger
son decided he wanted to leave home and see the world. But
he needed money to do that. He knew that when his father
died, he would get part of his father’s money. So he went to
his dad and said, “Give me my share of the inheritance now.”
This request hurt the father very much because the son was
acting as if he wanted him dead.
But his father gave him the money anyway. The younger son
left home, headed for the big city. It wasn’t long before he’d
completely wasted every bit of money his father had given
him. Hungry and alone, he took a job working for a farmer,
feeding pigs. He was so hungry that even the slop the pigs
were eating began to look tasty to him. He wanted to go
home again. But what would his father say? That’s when the
son got the idea to go home. He would beg his father to hire
him as a servant because even the servants in his father’s
house had food to eat and a place to sleep.
The whole walk home, the son practiced his “I’m sorry”
speech. He had no idea whether or not his father would
forgive him, but he knew he had to try. As he got closer to
home but was still a long way from his front door, he saw a
figure running toward him. It was his father! His father threw
his arms around him in a big hug.
“Father, forgive me,” the son began. “I have sinned against
heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called
your son.” (Luke 15:21)
The father called for his servants and said, “Quick! Kill the
calf we’ve been fattening. Let’s have a celebration! Because
my son was dead but now he’s alive. And he has come back
home!”
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Did the son deserve to be forgiven? No way. But his father
forgave him anyway. Forgiveness is deciding that someone
who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay. Just like the son
in this story, we don’t deserve to be forgiven. But just like the
father in this story, your heavenly Father is ready and willing
to forgive you. But the first thing you have to do is be willing
to admit when you’re wrong.
That’s what the son did. Standing there alone among the
pigs, the son knew he had seriously messed up. He needed
to be forgiven. We’ve messed up, too. You and I need to be
forgiven. Everyone needs forgiveness.
I’m so thankful Jesus told this story to show us how much
God loves us. He is always ready to forgive us. But it’s up to
you and me to admit when we’re wrong. Because everyone
needs to be forgiven . . . even you.
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Forgiveness is deciding that someone who has
wronged you doesn’t have to pay. What does that
mean to you, in your own words?
2. What makes it so hard for us to admit when we
have messed up and need forgiveness?
3. What do you do when you know you need
forgiveness for something?
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Let’s pray and ask God to help us realize when we’ve messed
up and need forgiveness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you
would choose to forgive us all the time—especially when we
don’t deserve it. Help us to recognize when we’ve messed
up and to accept the forgiveness you offer. We ask this in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 9
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: FORGIVENESS - Deciding that someone who has
wronged you doesn’t have to pay.
›Scripture Verse: Forgive the things you are holding
against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave
you. Colossians 3:13 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: Since God forgave you, you should forgive
others.
(My World Example)
Let’s say you have a friend named Emma who asks to borrow
your bike. Your bike is brand new and you’re really not sure
you want to let her borrow it, but you do. When Emma
returns the bike, it’s completely scratched and the brakes
won’t work. Emma tells you she’s so sorry and that she’ll work
hard to earn the money to buy you a new one. She begs you
to forgive him. You see the scratches on her arm where she
fell and feel badly for her. So you pat Emma on the shoulder
and tell her, “I’m just glad you’re okay. Don’t worry about the
bike.”
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Emma is so relieved. As she’s walking home, Emma runs into
Megan, another friend from down the street. As soon as he
sees Megan, she grabs her by the collar and says, “Where’s
the CD you borrowed? It’s my favorite one and I want it back
now!”
Megan looks back sheepishly and says, “I’m so sorry Emma,
but I accidentally left it out where my little brother could
reach it and it got scratched. I tried to play it, but it won’t
work. I promise I’ll give you my allowance for the next two
months to buy you a new one.”
Emma steps back in anger and yells, “I can’t believe you
would be so careless. I let you borrow my favorite CD and
you broke it? We aren’t friends anymore. I don’t want to see
you ever again.”
Whoa. What are your thoughts on that story? (Pause for some
responses.) You might be thinking, “That’s kind of a harsh
reaction, Emma.” After all, didn’t Emma receive forgiveness
for a much, much bigger mistake: breaking your bike? Looks
like Emma forgot about the forgiveness you gave her.
You all remember what forgiveness is, right? Forgiveness is
deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to
pay. And guess what? While you might think you would never
be like Emma, I should probably remind you of something
super important. God has forgiven you big time. You see, the
Bible says that everyone has sinned or messed up. Sin is any
thought or action that goes against how God wants us to live.
Because God is perfect and we’re not, our sin separates us
from him. But God is a loving and forgiving God, so his own
innocent Son Jesus came and paid the price for our sins. And
through him, God offers us forgiveness. It may seem extreme
that God wants us to always forgive each other. It may seem
surprising that God wants us to decide that someone who
has wronged us doesn’t have to pay. But God is not asking
us to do anything that He hasn’t done Himself.
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So the next time someone hurts or disappoints you and you
feel like holding a grudge or making them pay, remember:
since God forgave you, you should forgive others. Don’t be
like Emma who was forgiven one minute then walked away
and refused to forgive someone else. Remember this week,
since God forgave you, you should forgive others! That’s
super-easy to talk about but not easy to do.
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever needed forgiveness?
2. Tell us about a time you forgave someone else.
3. Is there someone in your life right now who you
could forgive?
So let’s ask God to help us this week.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for always, always offering
forgiveness—for big things and little things. Help us to do
the same. When someone hurts us, help us to forgive them
just like you have forgiven us. We ask these things in Jesus’
name. Amen.
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Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 10
Coach: Do NOT distribute practice cards at this practice
Review:
›Virtue: FORGIVENESS - Deciding that someone who has
wronged you doesn’t have to pay.
›Scripture Verse: Forgive the things you are holding
against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave
you. Colossians 3:13 (NIrV)
Bottom Line: Be careful not to judge others when you’ve
been wrong, too.
(Peer Example)
“He’s mean all the time!”
“You have to share your toys.”
“How come you always get your way?”
“No, you’re not doing it right. Give it to me!”
Sometimes getting along with others is just plain hard. I bet
all of us have said something like this to our friends at some
point. It’s super-easy to point out when someone else is
wrong.
Check out what Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:3-5 (NIrV):
“You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you
pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. How
can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take the bit of sawdust out
of your eye’? How can you say this while there is a piece of
wood in your own eye?
“You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own
eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of
sawdust out of your friend’s eye.”
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Jesus was basically saying this: How in the world can you
point a finger at someone else when you’ve been wrong, too?
In fact, let me show you. Everyone stick out your index finger
and point at your neighbor like I’m doing. (Show them what
you mean by pointing at one of the kids.) When you point at
someone else to tell them they’re wrong, guess what? Look
at the three fingers underneath your own index finger. Who
are they pointing at?
That’s right. You! When you point at someone to tell him
he’s wrong, you’re really pointing at yourself. We should all
be careful not to judge others when we’ve been wrong, too.
Those verses from the Bible are clear. The wrongs that other
people do—the ones we’re so quick to point out—are like tiny
bits of dust. But the wrongs that we do, well, the Bible says
those are like great big pieces of wood!
So the next time you’re tempted to point at others and tell
them how wrong they are, think about those fingers pointing
back at you. Take a look at your own heart and remember
that you need forgiveness, too. Be careful not to judge others
when you’ve been wrong, too.
3rd GRADE AND UP ONLY: INTERACTION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever been the only one to get in trouble
when others were wrong, too? How did it make you
feel?
2. Remember Jesus’ words about the sawdust and the
piece of wood? What was Jesus saying? Explain it
to me in your own words.
3. Why do you think it is easier to see when someone
else does something wrong than it is to admit when
you’ve done something wrong?
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Let’s pray about that today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, it’s really easy to point at others and tell
them they’re wrong. It’s a whole lot harder to take a look
in the mirror and realize we’ve been wrong, too. Help us to
forgive others when they hurt us by remembering that we’ve
been forgiven, too. We ask these things in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Mid-Practice Huddle – Last Practice of the
Season
Practice Card Reminder: At the end of this practice,
remember to distribute the last practice card to your
players.
Bottom Line: God sent Jesus to forgive us of our sins.
INTRODUCE:
›You are part of God’s Big Story!
›Scripture Verse: For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
Introduction:
We’ve had a GREAT season! It’s been so much fun watching
each of you become better cheerleaders and better friends
with each other! We’ve learned a lot about cheerleading…but
we’ve also learned a lot about ourselves and about others.
Think about the things that we’ve learned during our huddle
time this year. Do you remember the three virtues we’ve
discussed? What were they?
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(Allow cheerleaders to answer the question.)
› First we learned about Joy. We learned that joy is finding
a way to be happy, even when things don’t go your way.
That’s not always easy to do, but we know that God has
a PERFECT plan for each one of us and he is ALWAYS in
control…even when we don’t realize it.
›Then we learned about Initiative, which is seeing what
needs to be done and doing it. This involves being
able to see what needs to be done and not waiting for
someone else to do it. This is especially true when we
have the opportunity to help someone in need.
› Finally, we learned about Forgiveness. Forgiveness is
deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t
have to pay. Now that may be the most difficult one of
all! When you decide that someone who has wronged
you doesn’t have to pay, it can draw that person closer
to you. In fact, the Bible says that you should forgive as
the Lord forgives you. Today’s verse tells us that God
loved us so much that he sent Jesus to forgive us of our
wrong doing so we can live forever with him in heaven!
Listen to this week’s verse, “For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
We have all made mistakes. The Bible tells us that because of
sin, we are separated from God. But because God loves us so
much, he provides a way back to him. Our verse teaches us
that this way is through his son, Jesus. He sent His only Son,
Jesus, to live a perfect life on earth and then pay the price
for all of our sins on the cross. And because of that act of
forgiveness, we can be with God forever.
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I’ve got something else to tell you. Did you know that you are
part of God’s BIG STORY? That’s right…he has a BIG STORY
and each one of you are in it! You will learn more about that
BIG STORY at the Award’s Celebration. It’s gonna be great!
Let’s pray to God and thank him for all he’s done for us.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for an awesome season! Thank you for
teaching us about Joy, Initiative and Forgiveness. Thank you
for sending your son Jesus for each one of us. And thank
you for reminding us today that You will always forgive us
when we mess up. You are incredible! In Jesus’ name, we
pray, amen.
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Game Day
Game day for Upward Cheerleaders is an exciting time. They
have learned and practiced their fundamentals and are now
ready to put on their uniforms to cheer in front of all the
spectators, players and coaches. As a coach, you should be
ready as well. Here are a few key points to remember on
game day:
· Include your squad in the pre-game prayer huddle with
players, coaches and referees.
· Cheerleaders are allowed to perform during timeouts
and at halftimes. Games consist of six six-minute
segments with an eight-minute halftime period. The
clock stops briefly at the end of each segment. This can
be a great time for cheerleaders to do a quick chant, a
cheer or a jump.
· Cheerleaders need to be alert to the action on the court
to protect themselves from an out-of-bounds ball or
player.
· If cheerleaders will be standing on the sidelines during
games, instruct them to place their poms on the floor as
a marker for their position in the lineup.
· If you have only one cheerleading squad per hour when
two games are being played, have cheerleaders switch
courts at halftime. This allows your cheerleaders to cheer
for all teams on the court.
· Be prepared each game with a list of all cheers and
chants that have been learned. You can also make a
poster with all the cheers, chants and pom routines as a
visual reminder to all cheerleaders.
USE SIGNS AND POSTERS TO GET THE CROWD INVOLVED
WITH YOUR CHEERLEADERS WHEN PERFORMING CHEERS
AND CHANTS OR A HALFTIME ROUTINE.
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Game Day Cheer List
Use the following pages on game day to make a list of the
cheers your squad knows and can perform during the game.
You may also want to use this form to keep track of what cheers
have been done so you do not often repeat the same cheers
Game 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Game 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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Game 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Game 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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Game 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Game 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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Game 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Game 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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