All-Star Mini 1

[Fionaelite]

this is for our youth 1 team, but it would still work for mini'sI think...
we have a rewards system where each stunt group have a colored jar, and each jar is a different color and decorated differently. on the outside of the jar there's stickers saying each girl in that stunt groups name, and when they do something well, either as a stunt group, or individually, they get to put a bead in the jar. Stuff that earns them a bead is if they hit a new tumble skill, their one leg sequence hits 3 times in a row (will increase to 5 later in the season I think) or if they are especially helpful, e.g. helping a younger teammate with their dance or something.
us coaches also pick out one girl who performed the routine best in each full out run through we do, and every time we drill jumps or condition, the girl who is seen to be putting in the most effort (not always best, just most effort) also gets a bead.
just before a big competition, we count up the beads in each jar, and the winners get a prize, e.g. personalised bows

we found that it changes the tone of training, to make it generally more positive, and it reinforces teamwork and group responsibility because its not only you who is affected by your actions, its the whole stuntgroup :)

 

[DannJMartin]

I also coach mini 1 we always say are we gonna do good listening!?!? And we say if they do a good jib and listen and don't talk they get rewarded at the end of practice with like candy or like princess stickers!! Then at the send the play a game or do a dance which they love the wobble. We always say so and so is being super tight then of course then they are like coach Dan look at me look how tight I am and I'm smiling!! Then they all do it and are ready to go. And just recently we do like a game while they practice they will be walking around and we say freeze and they stop and listen then say play and they get set

 

[juscheerthatisall]

The best way to work with mini is consistency. Set the standards day 1 and never change. I want to teach my kids to transition clean, they walk EVERYWHERE clean, the bathroom the water fountain, by the time we get to competition they don't have to think about it. From day 1 I tell my minis how to act when the blue mat is under their feet. We make a game out of it letting them run off the mat and act silly then run on the mat and stand attentive. They get it, trust me. It's also a lot easier if you have a tiny team because your minis will consider them the babies and they will work hard to be big kids. the hardest part is the period of time before the first competition once the kids see all the glitz an glam they know what they are working towards and it will be a lot easier to keep them focused

 

[cheer25mom]

The best way to work with mini is consistency. Set the standards day 1 and never change. I want to teach my kids to transition clean, they walk EVERYWHERE clean, the bathroom the water fountain, by the time we get to competition they don't have to think about it. From day 1 I tell my minis how to act when the blue mat is under their feet. We make a game out of it letting them run off the mat and act silly then run on the mat and stand attentive. They get it, trust me. It's also a lot easier if you have a tiny team because your minis will consider them the babies and they will work hard to be big kids. the hardest part is the period of time before the first competition once the kids see all the glitz an glam they know what they are working towards and it will be a lot easier to keep them focused

ITA with this. I have seen it with dance competitions. Once they get a taste of competition, it makes a HUGE difference!

 

[CheerMomNTx]

@lovescheer our mini coaches use a treasure box. It's filled with candy and all other kinds of litte trinkets and that little treasure box will get those kiddos settled down if they get 'threatened' with no treasure box. They also give an extra trip to the treasure box for those who do really well or really behaved well during practice, etc.

 

[Angelica]

I never thought of the treasure box idea. That's a good idea! && they are getting better with walking clean or as we say "walking using peanut butter" :P

 

[carlykayyy]

Last year, we had 18 TINY'S. Not minis, tinys. All under the age of 5. You'd be surprised, sparkly stickers go a long way!

 

[CheerMomNTx]

You might be able to find an actual treasure box at the halloween stores. It's really a cute idea.

 

[CheerMomNTx]

Last year, we had 18 TINY'S. Not minis, tinys. All under the age of 5. You'd be surprised, sparkly stickers go a long way!

Yes and stamping their little hands with a cute little design. When my youngest was a tiny it was all about getting that hand stamped!!

 

[Angelica]

Last year, we had 18 TINY'S. Not minis, tinys. All under the age of 5. You'd be surprised, sparkly stickers go a long way!

Carly, I praise you! id go a tad bit insane ! haha

 

[kkinsley]

I have just got a few packs of cheer silly bands for our minis. We usually do a challenge that is set at the start of each class, staying the tightest, best listener and the like. For the last month or so we have been giving those cheap glow sticks they can make into bracelets but will be trying the silly bands this week. We also keep a chart with each name on it. When they do something good they get a good star on their section and once it's full they get a bow, just a home made one. At the start of each term they chart is cleared and they all start again.

 

[Emily]

We've got a "traffic light" (made out of cardboard) with a green, yellow, orange and red "light" on it. Then there is the name of each of out kids on a clothespin. At the beginning of practice they all start out at green and when they do things they are not supposed to do (talk while coaches explain things, tumble while not supposed to, etc.) they move down. Depending on how bad they interrupt practice they move down the lights. Red would be "distracts other kids and is severely interrupting practice". When they reach red they are not allowed to practice anymore but have to sit on the side and when they went down to red three times they are not allowed to compete at our next competition (and we only got a max of 2 per season, so this is a major punishment for them).
When they are moved down they can move back up by behaving better during practice. We write down who is at green at the end of practice. Everyone who is at green after every single practice for a month gets a little treat (we made a box with things girls that age like - silly bands, everything glitter from the dollar store, things in our team colours, candy, ...)
The girls have to move their clothespin down themselves so that they really notice they did something they were not supposed to. Before we had to tell them a lot of times to be ready, stand tight, to listen, etc. Now all we have to do is point towards our traffic light and they know exactly how to behave ;-) Its actually working really really well for us.

 

[hopskipandjump]

We've got a "traffic light" (made out of cardboard) with a green, yellow, orange and red "light" on it. Then there is the name of each of out kids on a clothespin. At the beginning of practice they all start out at green and when they do things they are not supposed to do (talk while coaches explain things, tumble while not supposed to, etc.) they move down. Depending on how bad they interrupt practice they move down the lights. Red would be "distracts other kids and is severely interrupting practice". When they reach red they are not allowed to practice anymore but have to sit on the side and when they went down to red three times they are not allowed to compete at our next competition (and we only got a max of 2 per season, so this is a major punishment for them).
When they are moved down they can move back up by behaving better during practice. We write down who is at green at the end of practice. Everyone who is at green after every single practice for a month gets a little treat (we made a box with things girls that age like - silly bands, everything glitter from the dollar store, things in our team colours, candy, ...)
The girls have to move their clothespin down themselves so that they really notice they did something they were not supposed to. Before we had to tell them a lot of times to be ready, stand tight, to listen, etc. Now all we have to do is point towards our traffic light and they know exactly how to behave ;-) Its actually working really really well for us.

The traffic light works great for me too. I also wanted to pass along something new I tried this year and works EVERY SINGLE TIME. You know that child that "ouch my arm, back, stomach, wrist, head, etc hurt"? Well, I calmly say, "your arm, back, stomach, wrist, head, etc hurt? No problem Suzie. You can go have a seat sweetie.....Oh everybody listen up! Its game time!!!! Want to play Red Rover??!" Almost immediately Suzie's arm, back, stomach, wrist, head, etc. does not hurt. You just have to tell them nicely if you are ok to play the game, you are ok to practice. I haven't had a child sit out yet. And if they were to sit out, I would really pay attention to whatever issue that child has because they really love Red Rover in my gym.

 

[cupieqt]

My mini 1 team is the most prepared team we have right now. They are doing their routine full out and all they need now is music, their ending dance and some sharpening up. It's my youth 1 that drives me crazy! A floor full of inexperienced little "coaches" that can't wait to correct each other (even when they can't execute their own skills!). Aaargh!

 

[TheRealAlishaD]

For my Mini's last year and my Tiny team this year, we have a crown, a boa and a light up crown that is given to the best 3 of the practice. It often goes to the girl that is able to stand in her spot, or gets a new skill, or one that is usually a tad talkative but was able to keep the mat talk to a minimum. My girls are such girlie girls that they go ABOVE and BEYOND to do what's right and get the crown. We also do little treats for them and if we have a REALLY GREAT practice, we'll have an ice cream sundae party after the next practice. For me, I like to show them that if you do what I'm asking WITHOUT mind numbing chatter, great things can happen and it works everytime. They WANT to please you, it's just training them to be able to set aside the need to talk, play and well....be a 5 year old for an hour and 30 minutes 3 times a week. I absolutely love my babies.