1. Complacency
Self-satisfaction and overconfidence is what makes us lose awareness of dangers and focus even though we are proficient in what we do. Just like workers are always encouraged not to work from memory, cheerleaders should not think that hitting a rewind cupie once allows you to lose focus on basics like keeping tight in the stunt.
2. Distraction
This is anything that takes your mind off the job at hand even for an instant. Our mind works
much quicker than our hands, and thus we are always anticipating. Any distraction can cause us to think we are further ahead than we actually are. Cheerleaders should note that once we are on the mats, all worries and stress should be left out of it in order to ensure safety for your fellow team mate and a better learning environment for advancements in cheerleading skills.
3. Fatigue
This is considered the number one contributor to human error. It is insidious, and the person will
fail to realize just how much his/her judgment is impaired until it’s too late. As athletes, we would want to be in the right physical and mental state in order to constantly progress while ensuring safety.
4. Norms
Leaving a tool strewn in the apron would seem 'normal' since Jack ALWAYS does this for the last 3 years, but will be disastrous if sucked into the aircraft engine. Likewise, if one has learnt an inappropriate technique for a stunt from somewhere somehow but do not relearn to a more correct method, progression cannot be ensured. "Norms" do not make things "Right".
5. Pressure
We all experience tight timelines and insane goals, but what defines good and bad pressure is management. Pressure will ensure things get done, but a good worker/cheerleader will be proactive, ask for help when in need and putting the extra effort to achieve a target.
6. Stress
If you do not manage stress, it will gladly manage you. One should stop burning emotional energy but instead to look rationally at the problem and aim to cure the cause, not the symptoms. Some stress-helpers can include target setting ("I must hit a full-up cupie by December 2010!") can greatly help. Don't expect miracles, just keep trying
7. Lack of Assertiveness
Assertiveness is that middle ground between being passive and aggressive. Doing only what is expect of oneself and nothing more will not have an impact of anything you do (our favourite "comfort zone").
8. Lack of Awareness
This usually occurs with very experienced persons who fail to reason out possible consequences to what may normally be a good practice. A good practice is for team-mates to constantly remind one another of where everyone stands in the cheer community.
9. Lack of Communication
You have 2 ears, 2 eyes and 1 mouth. Use them in that order! One should learn to listen to one another for any concerns or issues and clarify if need to.
10. Lack of Knowledge
With constantly changing technology, this contributor to an error is more common than we think. Add to that the fact that the average human only retains about 20 percent of what they learn, unless they use it often. Training is one of the best method we have to help avoid human error.
11. Lack of Resources
That much is obvious in aviation, but cheerleading requires equipment and locations including gymnastics training ground. The complete cheerleading coach should always ensure that resources are adequate (this is not easy btw and we all should be grateful for nice venues and performance offers at our disposal due to the hard work of the committee) and feasible for a cheer team to grow and flourish
12. Lack of teamwork
The larger an organization becomes, the more common this contributing factor is. Always communicate with your team mate effectively in a routine or during practice (see point 9). Bonding activities like outing will help the well-being of the cheerleader. Teamwork is hard to gain but very easy to lose.
Hope the above 12 pointers will help one and all to be a better cheerleader.
p.s I miss the times where we trained so hard for what we all deserve :)
No comments:
Post a Comment