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Beth Miller our Junior coach and Choreographer, won several awards during the UCA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.  Congratulations Beth!!!

Congratulations!!!!

Elite Athletics Coach Beth Miller and former Elite Coach Jeremy Wise have been selected to be the featured speakers at the International Coaches Conference in Bogota, Colombia. We wish them well as they travel abroad to teach and share with coaches from all over the world!!! Way to go Beth and Jeremy!!

Many of you have heard of the controversy that surrounds school squads and all-star squads.  Hopefully I can help to put some of that controversy to rest.  Please understand that Elite Athletics is one of the largest supporters of school athletics.  The owners and coaches of Elite Athletics have helped to establish the nature of school cheerleading in the state of Missouri for the past 20 years.  They have coached many high school and junior high squads across the state.  We understand the benefits of school cheerleading as all of us were also involved in this activity.  Below will be the answers to a few questions you might have.

1.  Can I cheer at school and at Elite Athletics?

We would love for you to cheer at both school and in the All-Star program.  There are many things to factor in when asking this question.  Elite Athletics  is a very competitive program that has a goal of making the best cheerleaders in the nation.  We would love to see our kids in every college program in the country.  In order to do that, we must be successful.  Success in all-star cheerleading requires full participation.  School cheerleading for the most part does not. (ie. Cheering at basketball can be effective if a few people are absent.)   Elite Athletics would love for the schools to view cheerleading as a legitimate activity and support their students that excel in this activity.  Schools do not offer the training or attention that all-star programs do, so therefore, they must support those programs that help their kids to stand out nationally.  If your school understands the responsibility of all-star cheerleading and is willing to support you by working with Elite Athletics, you can easily do both.

2.  Which is better School Cheerleading or All-Star squads?

This depends on what you want to get out of cheerleading.  School cheerleading requires more time commitments than all-star.  The time spent at school cheerleading is usually not focused on skills.  Schools primary function is to support the athletic program.  They are not focused on making you better individually at cheerleading, but their concern is whether or not you lead the crowd properly.  While this is not the most popular idea for modern day cheerleaders, it is still a prevalent part of cheerleading.  Without basic knowledge and understanding of crowd leading techniques, many major universities will look you over.  Schools also do not employ trained cheerleading coaches that can teach you new skills and techniques.  On the other hand, All-Star cheerleading is focused totally on skill building.  Your skill level will increase as you go through the program.  All-Star cheerleading is also focused on getting the squads and individuals exposure that is not offered in the school environment.  All-Star coaches are highly trained and qualified to teach you every aspect of the sport.  These programs offer very different sides of cheerleading.  Both are important.

3.  Do I have a better chance of making it in college with a school squad or in an all-star program?

This is the simplest of all of the questions.  All-star cheerleaders have more skill training and more experience than any school program.  In many cases you will be competing with other cheerleaders for college positions that have been in All-Star cheerleading since in kindergarten.  Training time and trained coaches are elements that make you more successful.  All-Star cheerleading is for the more serious cheerleaders.  Those that wish to cheer in college, if they have to choose, should choose All-Stars.

4.  How do we solve the problem of school vs. All-Star cheerleading?

It is very important for schools to understand All-Star cheerleading.  If they understand the practice schedules and commitments early, it is easier for them to work out their schedules with Elite Athletics.  It is also important for schools to realize that All-Star cheerleading is responsible for many college scholarships to great institutions.  It would be against the primary function of any school to prohibit the ability for any student to receive such a prize.  Please explain to the administration the conflict and allow them to advise you on the steps to take in order to work the scheduling out.  Please also explain to the school administration that Elite Athletics is in support of their programs and will be willing to do what is best for each dual participant.

I hope this will help you to better understand the problems for All-Stars.  We cannot run a successful and respected program without full-participation, much like a basketball team would be hard pressed to practice or play while missing many members.  All-Stars cannot have a full practice when one person is absent.  If we allow everyone 4 absences that could make for 120 practice sessions that are incomplete.  That would be every practice in a full season.  Elite Athletics will continue to work our best to support the school squads and their programs, but we must also continue to prepare for the future of each of our students.