One aspect of being an MVC is that we strive to maintain a strong and healthy fitness level all season long.
It is imperative for every cheerleader to be in excellent physical condition to endure a typical game day schedule. With on-field practice before kickoff, a pregame performance, two end zone performances and continuous sideline dancing, game days are extensive and require the highest caliber of strength and endurance to perform at our best!
As athletes, we take great pride in challenging and pushing ourselves to the next level. One way in which we achieve this is by devoting four practice nights throughout the season to Power Team testing. Our amazing Life Time trainers facilitate these Power Team nights with a series of fitness testing stations as listed below with accompanying requirements:
- 5K: completed in under 30 minutes
- 40-yard dash: completed in under 5.98 seconds
- Killer sprints: 120 yards in under 25 seconds
- Pull-ups: 4 reps
- Sit Ups: 40 reps in 60 seconds
- Release hand push-ups: 30 reps in 60 seconds
- 2-minute plank
- Splits: 2 out of 3 splits (right, left, and center splits)
- Broad jump: cheerleader's height + 6 inches
- Beast Mode Challenge: 100 yards of walking lunges in under 2 minutes
If you pass all of the above exercises with proper form, you make Power Team! Additionally, with each new Power Team night, you must improve your speed or the number of repetitions in one of the exercises in order to make Power Team again. This requirement motivates us to continually push ourselves and avoid hitting a plateau.
Power Team nights bring our bond as a team closer than ever, and they are always some of my favorite practice nights of the year – it is so inspiring to see my teammates challenge themselves in new ways and push themselves past their limits. The environment throughout each Power Team night is full of positive energy and support. The constant words of encouragement and motivation from each other is truly what helps us all push through each exercise!
After a tough Power Team testing night, we traditionally treat ourselves to post-practice ice cream. It's a blast to wind down together and celebrate what we all just accomplished. We've already successfully completed two Power Team tests. Power Team Test #1, 17 MVC made it and Power Team Test #2, 23 MVC made it. It is exciting to see my strong and fearless teammates work so hard to achieve their goal of making MVC Power Team!
MVC Alex, 2nd Year Veteran
