KEEP IT POSITIVE & FUN!

Focus on creating a FUN, positive, healthy and competitive environment to show parents that you really are there to better their kids in all areas of life.

	Maureen Williams -  Spirit Factory (NJ)
	Listen to your families and have an open line of communication. Keep your staff very approachable. Listening and handling the parents concerns has become and remains a priority. The Spirit Factory is celebrating 15 years of success. Our strongest secret of success is the long-term kids and families that have been loyal to our program.
	Caryn Hale, Wanda Whipkey, Laura Dudley  - American Elite (OH)
	Feature athletes in the monthly newsletter Have a New Skill Bell – any athlete rings this bell when a new skill is attained.  Everyone in the gym stops and claps, and the athlete performs their skill for everyone. Each team has a board in the gym that the team mom decorates with pictures and sayings, etc. Have a theme for their teams that they work into their team t-shirts and team board.
	Robbi Messer - Orlando All Stars (FL)
	Educate your kids and parents - Don't pretend you’re something that you’re not. Be honest with your kids and parents on expectations of the team and what they can do to become stronger.   Keep your parents and kids expectations realistic. If you overpromise and under deliver, they are going to be looking for someone to blame….and it will probably be you!
	Jeff Miller – Pro Spirit (TX)
	Kids are way more important than trophy – know every kid personally, make sure kids feel important. Anytime I walk by a kid, I give the kid a high five! On the worst days – you need to focus on the kids that are there!  Don’t focus on a kid that left. Philanthropy – keeps people positive with a positive focus Green planet is the focus this year – each year has a different focus Hero’s for Kids walk – raise money for kids in hospitals
	Karrie Tumelson - Spirit Elite (MO)
	Spirit Elite Bucks –  give as rewards to kids so they can use for snacks, ice cream, private lessons Sign-making party for parents in October (adults only, BYOB!) Do community service as a group – ex: Toys for Tots Host a family picnic - Just had one with 250 people and the cheerleaders had a blast and so did the parents! Have coaches do fun activities at practice that are not cheer related. EX: Water gun fight with Y3 team (kids had a BLAST and got them excited)
	Bill Yeates & Nicky Terrase - Spirit Professionals (LA)
	Make main focus at the gym FUN Free t-shirt to each kid that has some play on the word “FUN” on it Family Field day Big sister program – watch out for little sis notes/gifts Pep rally to perform in front of parents
	Morton Bergue - Cheergyms.com (CA)
	Picnics, gym lockdowns, Cheergyms.com days at local parks and amusement parks, cheerleader of the month, themes for teams, etc.  Do charity work: Special Olympics, Walk for Hope for Breast Cancer, Pennies for Jenn (a local, private organization).  These things are important!
	Aaron and Joelle Scott - Universal Kentucky Cheer (KY)
	Make sure the staff is acting as good role models and always have positive attitude Find interactive things for the teams to do together Sleepovers Scavenger hunts Crafts to make for parents to use at events Host a year-end banquet Every athlete gets trophies and have specialty awards Great way to end the year and keeps kids/parents excited for the following year
	Lea Hebert - Elite Cheer Michigan (MI)
	Year Books - Hand out lists of team members to everyone on the team and each member must write down something nice/positive about every person.  Use these to put together a “year book” for each member - include competition schedule, team members and photos. Have a gym picnic at a local park for all members - over 200 people attended our recent picnic!
	Jamie Bennett-Bailey/Cathy Bennett - Ohio Valley All Stars (WV)
	Have contests among kids or teams in gym School supply or food drive - winner receives prize party After hard practice, will do fun games with older kids instead of conditioning (thigh stand race for example). The kids laugh every time and leave with a smile on their face. Have a sign contest. Parents went crazy with the idea (lights, etc.). Parents loved it.
	Jason Mitchell – Arizona Heat (AZ)
	We have created a book called the ‘Flame Winners Manual.’  In the book, there are positive quotes, poems, schedules, expectations, parent etiquette, character building skills, etc.  At the 2nd practice of each week, the kids bring their notebooks and we take 10-15 minutes of practice to discuss character building skills and different messages in the book. (We also have people buy ads in the notebooks, so it is completely paid for and not an out of pocket cost!)
	Todd Becnel, Tiger Elite (LA)
	Teach Personal growth!  Be your personal best! Hold parties for everyone’s birthday on the team - Parents always bring cake or cookies to practice Have Christmas parties and Halloween party for young kids – wear costumes, cookies, candy, etc. Close the gym for the week of Mardi Gras for families to enjoy this time Do fundraisers as a group
	Kevin Hooker - Elite Cheer Nebraska (NE)
	Have a P.P.E.P. Rally - Parents only - BYOB  and cook out in the parking lot Initiate team bonding - every team does once a month activity with squad moms (L5 does a little more - video scavenger hunt, camping, paintball, coaches tie to others)