The Para Cheer division is having a name change but why???

Team England Para Cheer

Hi guys

BREAKING NEWS

This just in from the Para Cheer international

” As Cheerleading continues to move towards the Olympics and ParaCheer towards the Paralympics, the ICU has had to make a temporary name change to the ICU divisions at the World Championships from April 2019.

The ParaCheer divisions will temporarily be referred to as Adaptive Abilities due to a request from the US Paralympic Committee. This change is intended to only be for 1-2 years until Paralympic recognition is confirmed.

In case you haven’t heard already, there are also additional ParaCheer/Adaptive Abilities divisions at ICU Worlds 2019. We are excited to see the introduction of:

Unified Advanced All-girl Cheer
Unified Median Cheer (equivalent to Level 3).” ParaCheer.org 2019

Do you care about the name change or not, comment below?

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Our first Instagram take over for Team England Para Cheer try-outs

We are so excited to have Sophie mattes taking over @cheerfromheadtotoeuk Instagram stories today.

Sophie is profoundly deaf in both ears. Has a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Gastroparesis and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

We are going to following her journey at the Team England ParaCheer Tryouts.

Followed by Q& A on the “ask me anything “ button on the story.
So if you wanna get involved or find out how the day is going, go check out our instagram stories right now Www.instagram.com/cheerfromheadtotoeuk

This is so exciting

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Team England Para Cheer documentary : The Journey to Worlds

The Para Cheer division is something close to our hearts and that why we made this documentary. This division allows everyone a chance to be apart of this sport, to have a family like no other and to achieve something great. We would love if you share this video and support Team England Para because they deserve it and we know they are going to do us proud at ICU this Thursday.

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CFHTT interview with head Coach of Team England Para Cheer Hip Hop Sammi Coggans

Name: Sammi Coggans

Team: Team England ParaCheer Hip Hop

Role: Head Coach

Age: 27

Disability:N/A

Career Goal: Achieved it! Though I would also love one day to Judge Worlds

Instagram @sammi_coggs

Which Para Team are you most excited to see and why?

In addition to watching ours on the floor, I am looking forward to watching Team England ParaCheer Freestyle Pom. I was assistant coach for this team last year and have so much love for the athletes and coaches. I also had so much joy watching them perform at BCA Nationals on Easter weekend!

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How many years of experience do you have?

I have been coaching for 12 years, Judging for 4 and this is my second year coaching within Team England ParaCheer.

Which teams are you apart of or have you been part of in the past?

I run BPA Cheer and Dance – A Bristol based cheerleading and dance team. I began this at the age of 15. I also have coached workshops for numerous other teams including universities and All-star programme

Were you nervous about Try-outs day for Team England Para Hip Hop ?

It was incredible to see such an amazing turn out. I was a little nervous with it being the newest national team, but we had some great support with spreading the word and have some fantastic athletes from incredible teams being represented throughout our team.

Your favourite memory from being a part of Team England Para –

So far it HAS to be watching them perform at BCA Nationals. That showcase was something else – they truly came into their own, and the crowd really got behind them. They came off the floor a family rather than just a team. It was also great having all the other national Dance teams performing there too. Team England Hip Hop, Team England Pom, Team England ParaPom and us – Team England ParaCheer Hip Hop were all there supporting each other and it was great.

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Describe the funniest thing that’s happen to you while you were at training –

I probably can’t share all of the details as we always seem to be laughing – but its so nice watching new bonds form and that all those initial ‘meeting new people’ barriers are dropped. Everyone has let their true personalities out and that has resulted in too many memories to pin down!

Are there any stunt/technique adaptations you make which you find especially interesting?

If I’m honest, the group is so gifted we can look past any disabilities and just make what has become a spectacular routine. Most adaptations come in training where fatigue can sometimes be an issue, however this can effect everyone, not just those with a disability. Thats what I love about the ethos of ParaCheer, Cheer really IS for everyone.

What advice would you give to someone who was scared to try-out for Team England Para this year.

I would say you are more likely to regret the chances you don’t take than those you do. This opportunity isn’t only to represent your country, but to be a part of a movement.

What will you miss about Team England Para and why.

The team and the way it has bonded has been so unique. There’s a wide mix of ages and styles, but I can’t state too much, how much it feels like a family!

What are you most excited to experience at Worlds 2018?

We are training at Top Gun this season, so that will be really exciting… But other than that, of course the performance! It will be so amazing – you MUST watch!!!

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CFHTT interview with Team England Para Pom athlete Abi Mellor

Name Abi Mellor

Team : Team England ParaCheer Freestyle Pom

Age : 20

Disability: Scoliosis

Career Goal: Successful Cheer and Dance Coach

Share something that makes you happy

Family and friends definitely make me happy. They help me with everything in my life and what I do would not be possible without them! Also coaching my younger teams makes me very happy, seeing them progress week by week and enjoy what they’re doing is very rewarding.

Which Para Team are you most excited to see and why?

I am looking forward to seeing all the ParaCheer teams however I’m really looking forward to see all of Team USA’s ParaCheer Teams.

How many years of experience do you have?

I have 11 years of cheerleading and dance experience.

Which teams are you currently a part of or have been part of in the past

I am currently apart of Rayz All-Stars Cheerleading Team as well as Team England ParaCheer Freestyle Pom.

What was it like when you attended try-outs for Team England Para Pom ?

The standard of talent at tryouts was amazing, I remember stood there thinking was out of my depth. I have experience in Cheer and dance but I had never actually been on a Pom team!

Everyone was really lovely and was working together to practice and remember choreography which was nice and made me feel more at ease. It gave me a good idea of what training was going to be like if I was successful too, hard work but still fun.

Your favourite memory from being a part of Team England Para Pom

My favourite memory with the team would be our first showcase which was at BCA Nationals. It was our first time showing the rest of the UK our routine and we were all nervous but we pulled it off as a team and the feeling at the end of that routine was something I can’t describe!

Describe the funniest thing that’s happen to you while you were at training

Since I’ve met the team we’ve always been laughing and joking and doing silly stuff. From bringing odd shoes or falling over and I’m pretty sure they’ll be more to come when were at worlds too!

What advice would you give to someone who was scared to try-out for Team England Para this

My advice to anyone that is scared to tryout, don’t be!

Everyone is so welcoming and the whole team is just like a family, everyone supports you whether you have a disability or not and your not treated any differently.

The amount of fun we have at training as well as hard work is not something to be missed!

After Worlds, what will you miss about Team England Para and why

I will miss the coaches and the team as whole. Over the months running up to worlds we have all become so close and formed real friendships, that I hope will last. It’s going to be very strange not seeing them!

What are you most excited to experience at Worlds 2018?

I am most excited about representing my country at worlds with my amazing team, from being a little girl I never thought I would see the day I would be there actually competing!

Im excited to actually be there and watch all the teams I am usually watching on my laptop screen.

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CFHTT interview with Team England Para Hip Hop Athlete Rebecca Fowler

Name Rebecca Fowler

Team: Team England ParaCheer Hip Hop

Role: Athlete

Age: 34

Disability: Multiple Sclerosis

Share something that makes you happy:

My two wonderful children make me very happy

Which Para Team are you most excited to see and why?

I’m excited to see Team England ParaCheer perform as I haven’t seen any of their routine yet and am interested to see the wheelchair partner stunts.

How many years of experience do you have? Less than a year.

Which teams are you apart of or have you been part of in the past?

None. I am a member of FreeWheelin Dance Group in Birmingham which is where I started to learn to dance.

What was it like when you attended try-outs for Team England Para?

I wasn’t really sure what to expect, having never been to anything like it before so I was a bit nervous, but the coaches were friendly and made it fun.

Your favourite memory from being a part of Team England Para

My favourite memory is of the first time we performed our routine to an audience at BCA Nationals on 1st April. The atmosphere was amazing, the whole team gave absolutely everything and the feeling of knowing the routine went well was incredible.

Describe the funniest thing that’s happen to you while you were at training

– We were practising an assisted backwards lean with Sophie tipping my wheelchair on to the back wheels. I wasn’t completely sure what count we were doing the lean on so when Sophie tipped my wheelchair backwards it came as a massive surprise and I was terrified I was going to fall out. The look of terror on my face had all of my team mates in hysterics. Thankfully we now have that skill and the timing sorted.

Are there any stunt/technique adaptations you make which you find especially interesting? I love the assisted backwards lean and the assisted side tilt that I do with my team mates. I love that my wheelchair has become a positive focus of our routine and the way my team mates are so willing to try out new ways of integrating it. It has been wonderful to develop such close and trusting relationships with my team mates that enable us to try things out in that way.

What advice would you give to someone who was scared to try-out for Team England Para this year

– GO FOR IT! I had virtually no experience when I went to try outs and have made unbelievable progress this year. The coaches support and belief in my ability has motivated me to push myself harder and rise to the challenge. Being part of Team England has changed my life and I am so glad I have been able to be part of it.

What will you miss about Team England Para and why

– I will really miss the friends I have made, the fun we have at training sessions and the shared experience of working for something bigger than yourself. We have grown together so much and I really don’t want it to end.

What are you most excited to experience at Worlds 2018?

I’m ridiculously excited about performing our routine on the Worlds stage. BCA was amazing so I think performing at Worlds is going to blow my mind!