Dallas, TX – USA Cheer is proud to announce the hiring of Katelin Townsend as the new STUNT Operations Director. With an impressive background in program development, event management, and STUNT advocacy at all levels of the sport, Townsend brings a dynamic and seasoned perspective to the role. Her appointment signals an exciting new chapter [...]
Being a plant-based athlete can be complicated, but it’s a choice that many athletes have made. If you’re considering switching to a plant-based, vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian diet, there are a few things to consider, especially if your goal is peak athletic performance. “A plant-based diet is not inherently better or worse for health or [...]
Where do macronutrients come from? What role do they play in overall health and athletic performance? Here, TrueSport Expert Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD, the Director of Nutrition for the NWSL team, KC Current, is explaining macronutrients and breaking down the difference between fat, protein, and carbohydrates so you can help your athlete eat the right [...]
Deborah Gilboa, MD You may assume that student-athletes simply develop leadership ability by participating in sports, and it’s true that statistics suggest participation in youth sport is one of the top predictors of leadership capability. In fact, 94 percent of female CEOs were student-athletes. However, while youth sport is a great way for [...]
Deborah Gilboa, MD You’ve likely heard that sports are great for teaching life skills, but have you ever thought about how to actually apply skills like discipline, leadership, emotional regulation, or conflict resolution to your life outside of sport? Maybe you’re great at showing up to practice on time and ready to [...]
TrueSport expert Betsy Butterick If you've ever tried to do any goal setting or planning for the future with your athlete, you may have struggled to help them hone in on what really matters to them. This can happen whether they're simply trying to prepare for the upcoming softball season [...]
Kristen Ziesmer, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN Fueling during training as a young athlete can be difficult. Often, practices are short and intense, and don’t include much time for snack breaks. However, your athlete will play their best if they are properly fueled for the work required of them, and that [...]
TrueSport expert Betsy Butterick Think back to when you were in school: Is there something you remember a coach or teacher saying to you that's stuck with you for decades? Is it a positive or negative memory? Likely, that coach doesn't remember telling you that you were too lazy to [...]
TrueSport expert Betsy Butterick Setting goals can be fun—or it can be a big challenge. Should you set goals that you know you can achieve, or make a season goal that's going to be a huge stretch? As an athlete, you likely want to win games or excel in competitions, [...]
Deborah Gilboa, MD Setting boundaries as a student-athlete may seem impossible given that you're obligated to turn in that history report on the same day as playoffs while also juggling family commitments and college applications.Setting boundaries is tricky because you have so many projects, obligations, and goals that you're trying [...]
Deborah Gilboa, MD Boundary-setting is a tough topic for coaches, many of whom wear a lot of hats. However, learning how to set boundaries is critical to a coach’s personal well-being and their management of a team. Coaches also have the opportunity to lead by example, setting boundaries that reflect [...]
Kristen Ziesmer, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day, especially for busy athletes balancing sport, school, extracurriculars, and social activities. And unfortunately, breakfast is also an easy meal for athletes to skip, especially when the day starts with before-school practice or an early [...]
Dr. Charron Sumler, PhD, LPCC Social media is part of nearly every young athlete's life. It's how they connect with friends and teammates, see what other athletes are doing for training, and find like-minded communities that help them deepen their sense of self. These apps can be a positive force, [...]
Deborah Gilboa, MD Have you been wondering how to teach your student-athlete how to set smart boundaries that help them succeed in school, sport, and life? It’s tempting to simply give them specific boundaries that reflect your values (like always prioritizing homework over practice, or not texting after 8 p.m.). [...]
Designed for Class- and Studio-Based Sports, as Well as Sports Offering Camps, Lessons and Clinic, SportsEngine Motion Continues to Grow in Popularity, Currently Serving More Than 7,500 Sports Organizations Governing Body for Sport Cheering in the U.S. Touts SportsEngine Motion’s Ability to Meet Every Organizational Need for the Future Olympic Sport in One Comprehensive [...]
Dr. Melissa Streno Self-care is important for everyone, from coaches to athletes to caregivers. However, self-care can go too far, especially when an athlete is using it to strive for optimized performance. Here, TrueSport Expert and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Melissa Streno, is sharing the 'red flag' behaviors that can [...]
Dr. Charron Sumler, PhD, LPCC Are you worried about the amount of time your student-athlete spends on social media? Here, Dr. Charron Sumler, TrueSport Expert and Assistant Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness Services at The Ohio State University, shares the stats on social media, along with the pros and [...]
Kristen Ziesmer, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN Busy lives for caregivers and athletes can make healthy meal prep seem impossible. But it is possible to add more whole foods to breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and skip the fast-food stops after practice—with a bit of meal prep and some simple changes to avoid [...]
Dr. Melissa Streno As a busy coach, the idea of making time for self-care can seem overwhelming or even unimportant compared to the endless tasks on your list. But carving out time to take care of yourself will significantly help your body and mind, while also making you a better [...]
Dr. Melissa Streno Self-care is often misunderstood, and in the sports community, it can be viewed as lazy or as a way to justify obsessive behaviors. In reality, self-care should be about finding and intentionally practicing experiences that make you feel renewed. Here, Dr. Melissa Streno, TrueSport Expert and licensed [...]
USA Cheer is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) in commemorating National Youth Sports Week 2024. Together we celebrate the transformative power of youth sports. This week is dedicated to highlighting sports' positive impact on young people, advocating for their importance, and providing valuable resources to strengthen [...]
Nashville, TN – 9/17/2024 — The 2025 College STUNT National Championship, now in its 14th edition, will take place from April 24-27 at two prestigious Nashville institutions: Lipscomb University and Trevecca Nazarene University. The championship will feature five divisions: Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Club, bringing together the nation’s top collegiate [...]
DALLAS, TX. (Jun 26, 2024) – We are excited to announce our official partnership with Varsity Spirit – a division of Varsity Brands and a global leader in cheerleading, dance team, and band apparel, camps, competitions, and yearbook – as the "Official Partner of the US National Teams." This collaboration solidifies Varsity Spirit as the [...]
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport—better known as REDs or RED-S—can be hard to diagnose, but essentially, it happens to athletes when they’re consistently expending more energy than they’re taking in. For both boys and girls, this can take a serious physical toll on their bodies, resulting in decreased performance and an increased [...]
TrueSport Expert Kristen Ziesmer Tired of trying to reinvent your menu every night at dinnertime? You may be overthinking the types of meals that your athlete needs, which could cost you time and money along the way. The good news is that you can simplify your mealtime strategy and you [...]