NEW COACH TOOLBOX

Setting program goals is the most important part of the planning process. Developed correctly, your program goals should influence your planning process. Below are some questions to guide you through the goal-setting process.  

Choose Your Why

• Are you planning to provide an avenue for teens to participate in something positive?
• Do you see a need for dancers in your school or community to perform?
• Are you interested in taking a group of athletes to competition?
• Are you being asked to start a team by the school administration?
• Are you looking to start a small business with an all-star program?

Define your experience

• Do you hope the athletes will become more responsible?
• Do you expect them to learn to work with others in a team situation?
• Do you plan for them to develop the skills necessary to be selected for a high school, college, or professional team?

Focus

• Are you planning to have a team where having fun is the main goal?
• Are you planning to compete and therefore will be expecting a high level of commitment for practice and performance?

Once you have brainstormed the answers to the questions above, create a statement or list articulating your goals for the program. Use these goals as the foundation for the remainder of your program planning. Determining your personal goals and intentions as a coach will also help to influence your decisions made as a coach. Go back to these when you may be struggling with some of the more challenging aspects of coaching. 

Having guidelines and expectations outlined for your team in a handbook or constitution format can make your job as a coach much easier. When expectations and rules are laid out for your athletes to follow there is no question about why things are done a certain way. It is important to have these expectations completed for dancers to read over either as soon as they are named a team member or prior to the start of tryouts. 

Topics to include in your constitution:  

• Team structure  
• Member requirements  
• Tryout process  
• Rules and Consequences  
• Expectations of Athletes  
• Social media policy (optional) 

Constitution Checklist

It is no secret that the dance program can be overlooked within a school, but creating a line of communication with important key leaders within your school can change that. Communication with your administration is crucial to the success of a new coach and an effective program. There are a few key individuals you need to communicate with to find program success. 

• Athletic Director 
• Principal 
• Band Director 
• Teachers 
• Team Coaches 

Importance of a Spirit Program

Tryout Process
Tryouts should be organized before you announce the tryout date. You can use a couple of graduating athletes (senior or 8th grade) to teach the material to the participants trying out. Make your tryout order. Depending on how many kids tryout, you should have 2 to 4 kids per group. After all of the participants have finished, scores will be tallied. 

Communicate the Results
Electing how you would like to announce the results of the tryout is entirely your preference. There is no right way or wrong way!

It’s time to design your team’s uniform, and don’t forget the poms and shoes! View the 2022 Varsity Spirit Fashion Dance Catalog in your colors. Create your wish list and submit it right to your rep – It’s that easy!

Contact your Varsity Spirit Fashion Rep. They can help you with all your cheerleading needs. From reserving space for your squad at camp to ordering your new uniforms, practice-wear, footwear and accessories, they are your local expert!

What Your Rep Can Do For You:

YOUR CONSULTANT
They are your full-time partner for just about every project you have from camp selection to tryouts to uniform decisions. They’ll guide you through the ordering process, design your apparel and personally size your athletes.

YOUR GAMEDAY ASSISTANT
They have all you need for a crowd-effective game day.

YOUR STYLIST
Set up a Varsity Design Studio session with them to see your uniform and accessories come to life. They will ensure your colors and brand are consistent throughout all your fashion pieces so that you can mix-and-match for more looks all year.

YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER
They can help you set up a successful fundraiser to offset out-of-pocket expenses. Ask them about Team Shops to outfit your fans and help raise money while you raise the spirit! They also offer multiple payment options.

YOUR TRAINER
They have unlimited access to the top resources available and valuable training tools you’ll need as a coach to ensure the success of your team.

Summer Camp is the best way to kick start your season! Varsity Spirit summer camps provide an environment for your athletes to learn and grow, while you are able to gain certifications for the season. At camp your dancers will bond, connect with other teams, learn new material, improve technique, strengthen memorization skills and prepare for the upcoming season! 

• NDA Camps
• UDA Camps
• USA Camps

Cheer camp is another important event that marks the kick-off of your season! The memories made and knowledge gained at camp will stay with athletes far beyond their time within your program. As your plan for your Summer camp, whether overnight or a home camp, here are couple of items to guide you:

Mark Your Calendar for Registration Opening Dates

• To make sure you get your top choice of camp brand, location and type, be on the lookout for important planning dates such as camp registration at the beginning of each calendar year.

Organize Camp Payments and Invoices

• Make sure to keep your MyVarsity account up to date with your contact information to stay in the loop on your team’s registration. For questions regarding your team’s account, contact your state director for assistance!

Plan Your Teams Camp wear and Packing List

• Your Varsity Spirit Rep can help create custom looks for your teams to rep their schools at Summer Camp! This outfits are also great to have for community events and practice as the year goes on.

Create a Camp Foundation

• While the staff instructors are highly-skilled in building your team’s confidence and skill set, it always helps to go into camp with a strong foundation to learn off of. We recommend reviewing basic motions, jump technique and stunting terminology to make sure your athletes feel prepared and ready for camp. This is also a great chance to add in team bonding opportunities!

Flip through the 2022 Varsity Spirit Fashion Dance Catalog in your colors and pick out your favorite campwear Create your wish list and submit it right to your rep – It’s that easy! Keep in mind these outfits can also double as practice-wear and coordinating looks for community events throughout your season.

Spirit teams do more than just perform at games and competitions, they are also spirit leaders on campus and in the community. Collaborate with the cheerleading team and band program to make sure that each team is doing what they can to keep the school full of spirit. Keep in mind some of the following ideas to help raise spirit around your school and community.  

School Decorations and Signs
Keep the student body involved with signs and decorations posted around the school. Not only does this inform students about dates, times, and locations of events but it also gives the school a more spirited feeling! Always check with your administration before hanging anything throughout the school.  

Pep Rallies
Pep Rallies are a great chance to get the students involved with your team and the athletic teams. Many teams perform upbeat and fun routines at pep rallies that get the crowd pumped up and excited for upcoming games or events. At many schools, the cheerleading team is in charge of organizing the pep rally so it is important to collaborate with them or offer to help with planning and preparation. Some schools even incorporate games during the rally to involve all students.  

Community Involvement
If possible, get your team involved in the community whether it be volunteering or marching in parades. Take advantage of these opportunities to create school spirit in the community to help build a positive reputation for your school and team’s program.

School Spirit Guide

We’ve got you covered with fashion-forward game day styles and outerwear featured in the 2022 Varsity Spirit Fashion Catalog!

When deciding on the right competition(s) for your team, research the competition and take into account time and location. Find out as much information as you can about the competition and present it to the parents. Most competitions take place on the weekend. Give your dancers and parents advanced notice regarding the dates of competitions so that everyone can attend. Competition season usually begins around October and lasts until around April.

Varsity Spirit Competitions

Some coaches choreograph their own routines while others choose to hire outside help. If you choreograph your own routine, research previous competitions or try to attend competitions in your area to ensure you understand all the elements that go into a routine. Most companies supply copies of blank score sheets so that choreographers know what the judges will be looking for. Make your routine unique, dynamic, and entertaining! Incorporate technical skills, difficulty and visuals into your routine. If you hire an outside choreographer, make them aware of the competition you are attending and discuss your dancers’ strengths and weakness when they are first hired so the routine is on your dance team’s level.

EnVision Choreography

Many coaches begin the routine creation process with music selection. Consider what style of music matches your team’s strengths best. For example, if you are choreographing a jazz routine, does an upbeat and strong routine match your team’s movement quality or are they better suited for a smooth flowing style? Music should match the movement. Before you compete, read through the competition rules to ensure your choreography, music, costumes and other elements comply with the rules and regulations. Breaking competition rules can result in disqualification or point deductions.

Varsity Spirit Music Guidelines

Many teams add a competition uniform to their Varsity Spirit Fashion wardrobe, if you want to explore catering a uniform to your competitive side sit down with your Varsity Spirit Fashion Rep and the 2022 Varsity Spirit Fashion Dance Catalog to design something custom for your team. At this point in the season your athletes need a fresh pair of shoes to take the mat in. Don’t forget to order your team some fresh poms!

After you’ve taken some time to celebrate a successful season, take inventory of your team’s Varsity Spirit Fashion wardrobe. Give the garments a good washing and make note of any pieces that will need to be replaced for next season.