On every peewee pep team and champion collegiate cheerleading squad, there undoubtedly exists those one or two individuals who stand out amongst the rest. Out of high regard and great respect, we often select these individuals to represent and guide us as our captains. However, it’s more than just their clear voices and their perfect pikes that have brought them to the forefront of our attention. Being the captain of a cheerleading squad is a multi-faceted responsibility and it takes “SPIRIT” to succeed. Do you have the “SPIRIT” ? Take our quiz and find out!!
1. Your varsity team is practicing their cheers before the game. Ten minutes into practice one of your girls sprains her ankle. You:
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A. Ice it and convince her to cheer for the game. After all, it’s not like it’s broken--it’s just a sprain.
B. Seek immediate medical attention. The rest of the team can continue practicing under the able eye of your co-captain.
C. Bench her and change formations to conceal her absence. Assure the rest of the squad that everything will be great.
2. Your co-captain has a new boyfriend. Unfortunately he has dropped her off late for the last five practices. You:
A. Ignore it. After all, she already knows all the cheers by heart.
B. Talk to her privately after practice. Remind her of the rules and give her one last warning.
C. Bench her for the next game. You hate to do it, but rules are rules. If the captains don’t follow them, why should anyone else?
3. During competition season, weight guidelines are put into effect. Two weeks before competition, a fellow cheerleader weighs in at five pounds over!! You:
A. Encourage her to lose the five pounds. You know from experience that a little help goes a long way.
B. Hate personal confrontations. After practice, you warn the whole squad that several people are overweight. Shape up or ship out!
C. Inform her that she cannot participate in this competition. You change all the formations-after all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
4. During a half-time performance, your pyramid collapses mid-cheer.
A. You bring the cheer to a halt and escort your team off the floor.
B. You retain your composure. You act as if nothing has happened and carry on with a big smile on your face!
C. You can’t help it-you finish off the cheer with a frown on your face.
5. At summer camp, a fellow teammate is selected from 200 young women as the camp’s overall “Outstanding Cheerleader” .
A. You are completely humiliated. There’s no way that a younger, inexperienced cheerleader from your own squad could outshine you!
B. Sure, you’re disappointed for yourself, but at the same time, you’re proud of her! >It’s an honor to have someone from your own team hand-picked from over 200 other cheerleaders!
C. You feel cheated but there’s no way you’re going to show it! At least you can relish the fact that you taught her almost everything she knows!
6. For the annual “dance-off” between the cheerleaders and the pom pon squad, you have selected a leotard for the squad to wear that undoubtedly will “wow” the judges. However, your junior captains have their reservations...
A. You tell them to deal with it. As senior captain you have the final say.
B. You conduct a private meeting with them and hear them out. Maybe a compromise can be reached.
C. You believe in democracy! You’re positive, with a little persuasion, the majority of the team will back you up in an all-squad election.
7. After demonstrating a new chant, you notice your fellow officer doing a step incorrectly. You:
A. Correct her mistakes publicly.
B. Ignore it-why embarrass her in front of the team?
C. Correct her when the two of you share a private moment.
8. Your director openly disagrees with you in front of the whole squad.
A. You argue with her in front of everyone. After all, she disrespected you first!
B. You wait until the two of you are alone to continue your ‘discussion’. At this time you tell her how uncomfortable the situation earlier had made you and ask her to respect your authority as you do hers.
C. You say nothing in return, but roll your eyes so all else can see!
9. During competition, your worst nightmare comes to life--thirty seconds into the cheer your skirt falls to the floor! You:
A. Keep smiling!! Sure, you’re embarrassed but this is your team’s one and only chance to make State!
B. Cannot cheer like this! You run to the sidelines, put your skirt back on, and attempt to jump back into formation.
C. Completely lose it! Everyone and their brothers are viewing you in your briefs!
10. At a party, you catch a senior cheerleader drinking a beer, while wearing her varsity jacket. You:
A. Ignore it. The season is almost over and she’ll soon be off the squad for good. Why make waves now?
B. Politely tell her to take off her jacket.
C. Politely tell her to take off her jacket and to stop drinking. Furthermore, you tell her to plan on discussing her actions and repercussions with you on Monday.
11. A co-captain makes up a cheer that requires you to do the Chinese splits. For the life of you, you just cannot do it!
A. You take out the splits. If you can’t do it, no can do!
B. You fake a torn ham-string at practice and plan on perfecting it in the privacy of your own home.
C. You ask a teammate to help you stretch out. Maybe she knows something that you don’t!
12. Before leaving for summer camp, you and your boyfriend get in a huge fight. He shows up at camp practice, after driving two long hours, to apologize. He asks if you can skip practice. You:
A. Regretfully tell him “no”. You have a prior commitment to your squad. (But you will call him later).
B. Cancel practice. The squad will just practice an extra hour tomorrow morning.
C. Ask the other captain to cover for you. You just need ten minutes to make up with him.
13. As captain of the graduating cheerleaders, the responsibility of selecting next year’s squad is bestowed upon you. At tryouts, you are impressed by an entrant’s finesse and pep. However, she can’t hide her dismay after making a mistake. You rate her:
A. High. Her precision and execution are excellent. After a few months on the team, the art of composure will become second nature to her.
B. Low. Sure, she’s got skills, but the key word in cheerleading is “cheer”--to keep a cheerful disposition when the going gets rough. Without a smile on her face, she can’t succeed.
C. A big fat ZERO!! You’re looking for perfection and won’t settle for anything less.
14. At competition, a judge approaches you when she recognizes you as captain of one of the contending teams. She tells you that there has been a screw-up with the scheduled performances. She offers your squad the opportunity to perform first versus your originally scheduled last performance.> The clincher is she needs to know your answer right this minute. You:
A. Decline her offer. There’s no way you can answer a question of that magnitude without consulting your team first.
B. Ask her if there’s a possibility that your team could cheer somewhere in the middle of the program. That way no one can accuse you of making drastic decisions without consulting them first.
C. Accept her offer wholeheartedly. You believe it’s in the team’s best interest to perform as soon as possible. You’re confident that your squad will perform just as well without that extra hour of practice.
KEY
1. A.-1 B.-3 C.-2
2. A.-1 B.-2 C.-3
4. A.-1 B.-3 C.-2
5. A.-1 B.-3 C.-2
6. A.-1 B.-3 C.-2
7. A.-2 B.-1 C.-3
8. A.-1 B.-3 C.-2
9. A.-3 B.-2 C.-1
10. A.-1 B.-2 C.-3
11. A.-1 B.-2 C.-3
12. A.-3 B.-1 C.-2
13. A.-2 B.-3 C.-1
14. A.-1 B.-2 C.-3
YOUR SCORE
Add up your points and analyze your “SPIRIT” !!
SPIRIT
Your score reflects the “SPIRIT” that you currently possess. “SPIRIT” consists of the following six qualities:
Spirit, spunk
Precision
Intercommunication Skills
Responsibility
Intuition
Teaching Ability
33-42:
Has anyone ever told you that you’re a natural born leader?? Congratulations!! You currently possess five, if not all six, of the qualities that define a well-developed leader. And if you’re lacking in one, with your undaunted determination, you’ll soon remedy that!
Being the captain of a cheerleading squad is a great honor, but an even greater responsibility. You’re responsible for yourself, your team, your team’s image, your teammates...the list goes on and on!! If you were in it just for the spotlight--you wouldn’t last very long! Being a captain is hard work--like they always say, “guts before glory”. And you’re up for the challenge!
As a cheerleader, your precision and spirit are impeccable!! Every move you make is solidly executed--intended and precise! Even when you make mistakes, they are often overlooked--your spunk and smile conceal them!! You never lose your composure -- whether your basketball team is losing or your squad’s pyramid comes crashing to the ground! The key word in cheerleader is “cheer” -- to keep a cheerful disposition when the going gets rough. If you can do that, you will indubitably succeed!
Believe it or not-your “cheering” skills are not the most significant part when it comes to being a captain. It’s the “leading” that really counts. Leading does not constitute telling everyone what to do and where to go. As a leader, you communicate with your squad and take the course of action that closely corresponds with their needs. So you’re disappointed that your squad isn’t as enthusiastic about the leotards as you are? What would you rather have? An uncomfortable squad unwilling to perform or a bunch of young women happy with themselves and thus eager to do their best?
Being aware of your team’s wants and needs however does not, by any means, signify that you are a pushover. You do not look for approval and consent before your every move. Your team, having chosen you as captain, is already committed to your sound decisions. They are confident that you will act in their best interests. When that competition judge asks for your immediate answer, you do not hesitate to reply in fear of your teammates’ condemnation. With experience and intuition as your guides, you make decisions quickly and react even quicker!
Your greatest gift is your ability to teach. Besides teaching the obvious-the new moves and new chants, you share your knowledge of the not-so-tangible qualities as well--integrity, excellence, responsibility. And how do you go about doing that? By example!!
As a leader, you are conscientious of the pedestal you are put up upon. At all times, whether in uniform or jeans, at school or at home, you carry yourself as you expect others to do. Your co-captain is late for five practices? You have no choice but to bench her. It may seem like the “disloyal” thing to do, but if the rest of the squad abides by the rules, so should you and your fellow officers. If you don’t, why should they?
The most important lesson you have to offer stems from your willingness to admit and correct your mistakes. Your squad is only as strong as it’s weakest link, and as the strongest link, you show all others that everyone can better themselves--including you!! Sharing your weaknesses with others can only help strengthen others’ faith in you!
Be proud of yourself, how far you’ve come and how far you’re going! Remember to reach for the stars--they’re attainable to only those who dare to fly!!
24-32:
You’re halfway there!! With a little work and a lot of commitment, you can become a fabulous captain. With your heart in the right place, you have but little choice to succeed!!
Anyone can be a cheerleader, but it takes a certain someone to be a leader. A leader possesses definitive qualities that separates her from others. What qualities are those?? “SPIRIT”!! And how do you perfect your “SPIRIT”?? Read on to find out!
1) As a cheerleader, you’re loyal to your team and its mission. You’re never low on spunk and you work extremely hard to perfect every move and every chant. As a captain, you need to channel that very same energy to support others. In other words, you are now responsible for their success as well as your own! Sure, learning and perfecting new moves and chants comes easy for you, but for some, it’s a struggle. Well, now their struggles are yours to face and overcome! On the same token, their achievements belong to you as well!! No, it’s not a crime to be disappointed when you’re not chosen for certain honors, but it would be a crime, if you weren’t proud of the fellow teammate who was. And besides, doesn’t her performance indirectly reflect your ability as a captain? There’s some food for thought!
2) You genuinely care for your teammates-as cheerleaders and as individuals. You always make time to listen to their concerns and tribulations, whether about cheerleading or not--a quality that endears you to each and every one of them. To you, there is no greater truth than the old maxim, “the whole is no greater than the sum of its parts”. In relation to cheerleading, it translates, “the team is only as satisfied as its least satisfied member”--you personally make it your mission to make sure everyone is as happy as they can be. Kudos to you! But do not let this stand in your way of being an effective leader!! Know when to be an advocate and when to be a disciplinarian. Sure, you understand how exciting it is to have a new boyfriend--but you can’t be empathetic when that new boyfriend is the reason your co-captain is late for five practices in a row!! Your co-captain needs to follow the rules and it’s your responsibility to make sure she does.
3) Trust your judgment. You’ve no doubt been cheering for years--you have experience and knowledge in your corner. If you lack confidence, your squad will adversely sense this and fall prey as well. So you’ve got two weeks until competition and someone’s overweight?? No time to stress--muster all the encouragement and help you can give!! Why would you want to perform without a valuable asset to your team? If you broke a leg on a chair, you wouldn’t toss it, you’d fix it! Be sure to give everyone the same respect -- whether a lowly freshman or a senior cheerleader. If a freshman makes a mistake, approach her as if she were your equal--positively correct her with constructive criticism. This way you acknowledge both the error and her ability to correct it! Remember the best way to teach anything is by example. Accept criticism graciously--you lose nothing from acknowledging the errs of your ways, you can only gain the rightful knowledge to succeed.
Fine-tune your leadership skills and you’ll make a fine leader!! Words to live by: A leader does not gain respect by positional power alone; a leader needs to prove that she is worthy of that power and respect. Have confidence in yourself and others, and the rest will fall in place!
23 and below:
Inherent to being an effective leader is “SPIRIT”. “SPIRIT” as defined in the dictionary, is “enthusiastic loyalty”. Are you loyal to your team? Or does your loyalty lie, first and foremost, with yourself? Before considering any further whether you should set your goals on becoming a cheerleading captain, you need to answer honestly. Do you come before the team or does the team come before you?
If you look deep within yourself, and find that your motives are self-serving, read no further. Your quest inevitably will end in failure. But, if you can truly say that you want to lead your team because you genuinely have something to offer, then there is still some hope. Maybe we can give you some helpful tips to head you in the right direction!
There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it, you have a lot more room for improvement than the other categories mentioned. For a start, read the two score analyses above to learn just what it takes to be a great officer. Then after committing to memory the six qualities that make up “SPIRIT”, learn to live and breathe by them. Once again, as an overview:
Spirit refers to your loyalty. You never lose faith in your team and its mission. You show your spirit with finesse and pep.
Precision--you work hard towards perfection. Every move you make is solidly executed.
Intercommunication skills--without these, there is no team, period. It is a captain’s obligation to be communicative, and empathetic with her team’s wants and needs.
Responsibility is the most important quality of effective leadership. You are responsible for everything, and for everyone. You never shirk it.
Intuition--every leader’s guardian angel. Born from experience and knowledge, intuition can get you through anything.
Teaching Ability--your team is only as good as your teaching skills. Teach not only the cheers and moves, but also the ever so important values of excellence, integrity, responsibility, and respect. You do that primarily by example!! >
Good luck!! Remember being a captain is about serving your team--what you can do for them, not what they can do for you!!!
Copyright 1998, Sue Ann Kawecki
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