Cheerleading, for me, has always held an extremely special place in my heart. Despite the countless job opportunities I have received through cheerleading, I can genuinely say that I feel as though I have never “worked” a day in my life. Thanks to the opportunities I’ve been granted, I have been able to blossom into the athlete, leader, and human being I am today. 

My experience with Rah Rah Routines began a few years ago. My senior year of high school I was named captain of my team alongside my current coworker Sasha Higgs. Together we worked to choreograph our halftime routine for football games, as all of my high school’s captains have in the past. This time, however, our coach was so thri...

The world of cheerleading has brought a lot to my life over the years. It has brought me some of my closest friends, it has pushed me to challenge myself more than I ever thought I could, it has led to my biggest heartbreaks, and has also led to some of the proudest moments in my life.

When Coach Christina asked me to work for Rah Rah Routines I jumped at the chance to not only continue my cheerleading journey, but also to learn and evolve within that world. I had already learned so much working with Christina, and knew I would learn so much more.

The first camp I worked alongside Christina, I learned about putting her theories of safety, progression, and teamwork into action. In three short...

Many people hear the word cheerleading, and automatically think of football games, waving pom poms, and megaphones. But, it is so much more. Cheerleading has become a highly competitive and demanding sport featuring intense athletic ability with intricate skill sets that can sometimes be dangerous. 

Cheerleading has more to offer than athleticism. It promotes teamwork, leadership, and a strong work ethic. But, it does come with its risks. Injuries, some more serious than others, are a threat to athletes, especially in stunting - where 4 to 5 individuals lift one person above their heads in a variety of positions. Such maneuvers performed with a lack of technique can cause damage to joints - k...

Rah Rah Routines hosted its first stunt camp of the 2016-2017 cheer season on June 4, and what a great SUCCESS it was! It was a six-and-a half-hour day with a new client who booked two-hour clinics for each of their four squads (combining the two youngest levels), varying in age and cheer experience. 

It is imperative that we incorporate educational elements when teaching structure and behavior during our stunt camps to ensure all athletes fully understand the concepts of performing basic to advanced stunts. OUR THEORY: if the mind doesn’t get it, the body can’t perform it. 

So, at the start of every stunt camp we host a competitive, multiple-choice-type of game that explains the stunt c...

Our motto is “perfection before progression” when it comes to cheerleading. When teaching athletes how to stunt, tumble and jump it is important that coaches and industry leaders give them the knowledge and fundamentals to properly and safely perform novice to elite skills. In doing so will prevent injuries, build trust and relationships and increase confidence. 

It is all too common to hear coaches instruct from afar, and yell out phrases like “chuck it” and “just do it” without providing athletes a thorough explanation of the basics and profound constructive criticism. My company, Rah Rah Routines, promotes a more hands-on, visual approach that promotes consistency and structure when teachi...

Competition season is winding down, and coaches are more focused than ever on seeking new talent, retaining existing members and locking down choreography dates. The only way to start checking off these items on next season’s laundry list is to prep for the tryout because this, is where it all starts.

The tryout can attract the talented and fierce athletes coaches want and need to become a championship team — it is a necessity. Coaches run a tryout to evaluate the talent pool — even if there’s a no-cut policy. This allows them to establish a baseline on how the next season’s squad will rate on difficulty, experience and diligence. 

The tryout also provides coaches a chance to connect their tea...

There are many key elements to make a back handspring successful: stretched shoulders, fast feet over, open-to-closed hips, a neutral head position — and the list goes on. There is no silver-bullet solution on how to achieve a back handspring. All of these elements are necessary to accomplish the skill, but through my experience as a tumble instructor, I believe there’s one element tumblers struggle with the most: the jump.

I was taught to teach tumbling with progressions, which is having a tumbler perfect simpler versions of a more advanced skill. For example, an instructor will teach the backward roll and the handstand as two separate components before teaching a back extension roll. The ju...

A month ago we were hired as a consultant for a recreation squad in New Jersey that was preparing to compete at a regional competition. The all-girl squad ranged between the ages of 8 and 10, and the routine was in no way up to par with the competitors they were going to face — but it was clean.

When we recommended to the coaches that the routine be slightly more difficult as well as suggested some minor changes (preps/elevators rather than thigh stands), they immediately rejected all ideas. The coaches claimed their cheerleaders could not attempt more difficult stunts because "it just did not work." (NOTE: The squad had been working together since August.)

As the night continued, we noticed w...