Respect your new leader. This is the most important rule. Whether it is a new coach or a new captain, an old friend or a stranger, they should be treated with respect.

Be accepting. This doesn’t apply only to your new leader, but also to their ideas. They may introduce new rules, regulations or structures for practice. Follow them. They may also decide to give people new roles on the team or within stunt groups. If you are reassigned, keep in mind that the new leader may see a different set of strengths and weaknesses in you, and that they have the best interest of the team in mind. Accept the changes that the new leader is making, and continue to work hard to make your team the best it can be.

Get to know your new leader. Even if it is someone that you knew previously, their new role will bring out a different side of them. As a team, get a feel for what your new leader expects and what their goals are. Through regular conversation, you’ll get a sense of who they are and how they lead, which can help ease initial tension during the transition.

Avoid cliques. It is never a good idea to break team unity with cliques. It is especially bad for the team, and for moral, during a change in leadership. If a team is already united, it will make it that much easier to weather any storms and pick up where they left off.

Revisit team-building exercises. Trust needs to be fostered not only between team members, but also between team members and leaders. Ask that time be put aside for the first couple practices with new leadership, or have a special practice, and revisit team-building exercises to reestablish the trust and confidence of the team’s relationships, which may have been shaken during the transition.

In the 1950s, the saddle shoe was popular with both boys and girls, but quickly became more of a wide spread fashion trend for girls. Saddle shoes were typically white leather shoes with a black saddle-shaped piece of leather sewn over the instep and featured a smooth bottom, hard rubber sole. Different leather color combinations were possible as well. At the time, cheerleaders were focused on raising school spirit with vocal cheers and chants to the crowd. The hard rubber sole didn’t allow for much foot flexibility or cushion but jumps, kicks and stunting were not part of a cheerleader’s typical duties. Saddle shoes typically weighed around 15 oz., but were mainly worn for looks, not performance. Nevertheless, the saddle shoes had become synonymous with the typical American cheerleader.

Once the 1980s and 1990s rolled around, canvas shoes like the Keds brand were popular not only with the general public, but also with all types of athletes. They were even often featured on the most popular television shows of the time. Not only were these shoes in style, but the soft-rubber sole and canvas fabric made it a much lighter and more flexible choice for cheerleaders. Cheerleading was growing rapidly, and modern day cheerleading began to devleop – advancing the use of jumps and stunts. The canvas shoes’ light weight allowed for easier movement.

Today, cheerleaders wear sneakers. Big players have gotten in the game too – Nike, Converse, Reebok and Adidas now produce shoes that are specifically for cheerleaders. There are also other brands that are known for their cheerleading shoes, including Chassé and Kaepa. What makes cheerleading shoes different from a typical sneaker, you ask? There are many unique features that stand out:

• Lightweight- Now typically between 4 oz. and 8 oz., cheer shoes continue to get lighter each season, so cheerleaders can jump even higher.
• Finger Grips- Bases need to be able to hold on to the flyer’s foot so finger grips allow for easy placement of the base’s hands and eliminate risk of the flyer’s foot slipping from the base’s hands.
• Smooth Rubber Sole- While flyers are held up during stunts, the shoe is constantly in contact with the base’s hands/chest so the sole is smooth to reduce uncomfortable rubbing.
• Padding- Cheerleaders are constantly moving, jumping, and tumbling so cheer shoes use EVA cushioning as a lightweight way to absorb the shock from all the movements.
• Breathable- As cheerleaders practice and perform arduous routines, their feet heat up and swell, causing discomfort. To eliminate that, cheer shoes are made of breathable material to increase comfort throughout practice and competition.
• Synthetic Leather- This allows for easy cleaning so cheerleaders can look neat, clean, and pristine down to their toes!

Just like the cheerleading uniforms and apparel have adapted to allow for greater ease of movement, shoes have also adapted to become lighter, be more shock-absorbent and are built with each stunt group position in mind.

Which shoes do you recommend for cheerleading? Let us know in the comments!

You may also know some of these moves by different names, since cheerleading teams might refer to a move by a unique, regional name.

Review our other cheer motion articles to get tips to you help you perfect all your motions and strengthen your arms!

Left or Right S

For a Right S, pull your right arm straight up (into a Touchdown motion), then bend your elbow so your forearm moves in toward your head and rests diagonally in front of your forehead. Your hand will be in a fist, and your fingers will be facing out and away from your face. Drop your left arm straight down (into a Low Touchdown) then bend your elbow so your forearm moves in toward your body and rests diagonally in front of your stomach. Your hand will be in a fist with your fingers facing in toward your body. For a Left S, your left arm goes up, your right goes down.

High and Low O

For a High O, pull both arms straight up into a Touchdown, then bend your elbows so that both forearms angle in toward your body, above your head. Cross your left arm in front of your right arm at the wrists, then open your right fist and wrap your fingers around the back of your left wrist. Keep your left hand in a fist, with your fingers facing out. Make sure to hold your motion at your wrists to keep it tight. For a Low O, you’ll pull your arms down and your right fingers will wrap around the front of your left wrist. Your left hand will be in a fist with your fingers facing in toward your body.

High and Low X

For a High X, pull both arms straight up into a Touchdown, then bend your elbows so that both forearms angle in toward your body, above your head. Cross your right arm in front of your left arm at the wrists. Keep your hands in fists, with your fingers facing out. Make sure to hold your motion at your wrists to keep it tight.

For a Low X, you’ll pull your arms down and cross your right wrist in front of your left wrist. Your hands will be in fists with your fingers facing in toward your body.

Left and Right Low L

Extend one arm into a Low Touchdown motion, and the other arm into a T motion. When the right arm is in a T, it is a Right Low L. When the left arm is in a T, it is a Left Low L.

If your team experiences a shake-up at anytime during the cheer season that requires a change in leadership and you become the new captain, one of your main goals should be to keep spirits on the squad high.

Depending on the size of your team, and how it is organized, there are a couple scenarios that could happen: (1) you were already a co-captain or held a leadership position on the team, (2) you are completely new to a leadership role on the team.

Here are some tips to help incoming captains balance their new role and pass along the mindset that change can bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas and breathe new life into the team.

A meeting of the minds. As the incoming captain, make sure that you sit down with the coach to go over goals and responsibilities, and to establish a co-leader relationship. This shouldn’t be a one-time occurrence either – the coach and the captain should have regularly scheduled weekly or monthly meetings set up to keep communication lines open.

Manage expectations. Have a clear understanding of what will be expected from you during the rest of the season, and what will be expected of the team. After you are selected, try making a list of personal things that you want to accomplish as captain. Come up with specific and realistic ways that you will help the team in your new role. Also, evaluate the current goals of the team and decide if they need to be revised for the remainder of the season. If you feel as though you might need help meeting the responsibilities of captain, talk to your coach about assigning an assistant or co-captain.

Revisit team-building exercises. Trust needs to be fostered not only between team members, but also between team members and leaders. Put aside time for the first couple practices, or have a special practice, to revisit team-building exercises and reestablish the trust and confidence or the team’s relationships, which may have been shaken during the transition.

Work as a leader, not as a boss. Yes, there is a difference. You have what it takes, but you need to keep your attitude in control to be able to properly control the team. By being a role model and a good example, you won’t have to demand respect, because you will have earned it. You can’t be a buddy in the same way that you were before you were captain – this means staying out of cliques and avoiding and stopping gossip. Follow the rules since it is your job to enforce them. Be on time and show up ready to work hard with a positive attitude.

Have your own tips for our readers? Post in our comments!

Didn’t get your letter in but feeling inspired by these messages? Write your love note to cheerleading, your coach, your team, your captain, your supportive family or whatever inspires you most in cheerleading in our comments below!