Why “The Hit” Should Be Every Cheer Team’s Priority

It’s no doubt that you’ve heard the industry all chattering that “technique” is the buzzword for the season, and rightly so! With the widening of the technique ranges on the scoring systems. It is more important than ever that teams focus on hitting their routines at competition.

Are you in the cool club? Yes, every team always wants to hit their routine. But I hope you’re making this a priority for you and your team. Will you make it into “Club Zero”? It’s the hot trend! Instead of focusing on winning each competition—which is ultimately in the judge’s hands—focus on zero deductions and hitting your routine. Teams with zero deductions get to be a part of Club Zero and often give themselves the best chance at winning, too. Zero deductions is a victory in itself! Not only do deductions take points off your total score, but they also take away from the strong technique and visuals you were intending to show. Deductions can even hurt a judge’s overall impression of your routine.

“A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.” – Chuck Noll (Steelers Coach)

So, how do you find the hit? It most likely comes with proper preparation, both physically and mentally. Athletes need to be in top physical shape, so don’t skimp on the conditioning at practice! They need cardio, plyo, and strength training. Their bodies should be ready to handle the nerves and adrenaline of competition day. Athletes must be able to perform their routines with effortless confidence—even after a long warmup and walk to their arena.

“Nothing will work unless you do.” – John Wooden (Basketball Coach)

Technique! Technique! Technique! If “perfect practice makes perfect,” then strong technique should be established in the gym long before competition. Once athletes are physically prepared to learn skills, every rep should emphasize technique. This leads not only to better performance at competition but also to increased safety, faster proper progression, and stronger visual appeal to judges.

“I figure practice puts your brains in your muscles.” – Sam Snead (Professional Golfer)

Believe it to achieve it. Even if your athletes are physically capable of hitting in practice, will they be able to pull it off on competition day? Help them prepare mentally. Get to know your athletes and their individual strengths and weaknesses. Adjust your coaching style when needed to help each athlete grow. Visualization is a powerful tool that builds confidence.

“Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body.” – Lynn Jennings (Long Distance Runner)

Fake it til you make it. Make smart content choices for your routine. Know your team. Choose skills that showcase strengths and hide weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain if that’s what best suits your athletes. Non-traditional skills can add to creativity, uniqueness, and visual appeal. Challenge your team, but balance that with the confidence that comes from consistency.

“Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.” – Phil Jackson (NBA Coach)

And, don’t forget the fun! Team bonding helps athletes enjoy the hard work and builds trust. Once you’ve prepared them mentally and physically, it’s their time to execute. You’ve become their guide.

“The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Track and Field Legend)

When in doubt, take it out! Don’t fall into the trap of chasing difficulty alone. Years ago, some teams packed in the hardest skills, regardless of execution. Avoid that outdated mindset. It’s easy to get swept up in exciting new skills or pressure from others—parents, social media, or competitors. Make decisions based on your athletes’ readiness and technique, not external pressure.

“Know yourself and you will win all battles.” – Lao Tzu (Chinese Philosopher)

Clean to win! The numbers favor a strong hit. In capped categories like jumps and tosses—where most teams hit the max difficulty—technique becomes the differentiator. If everyone is throwing a quad jump, yours should be the sharpest. If every team shows a squad toss and one additional toss, yours need to be cleaner and more impressive.

Even in uncapped categories, difficulty often only accounts for a one-point spread. Technique, however, can be worth two points—twice as much! Hitting routines with exceptional technique will always stand out.

“Sometimes, as in a game of chess, we must strategically regress so that we might progress toward our ultimate objective.” – Crystal Woods (Author)

Use judges’ feedback to supplement your own impressions. If multiple judges compliment a strength—like top girl flexibility—highlight that more. If they point out issues—like timing on a tumbling pass—even if you thought it was fine, consider their neutral perspective.

“If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win.” – Vince Lombardi (Legendary Football Coach)