Practice:   Start on time. Be there at least half an hour beforehand and encourage your cheerleaders to arrive early enough to be ready to start when you do.

Schedule:   Have a written plan for practice, 15 minutes for warm-ups and exercises, 10 minutes plyometrics, 20 minutes new chant, 20 minutes dance revision... etc. Keep a watch handy, and keep an eye on it.

Checklists:   Produce checklists, especially for all the equipment you take to games or pack for camp. It is a good idea to check everything the day before. Are your music cassettes rewound, batteries fresh, spare scrunchies?

Records:   Make a set of record cards for your cheerleaders, one for each, with full details including contact information and any medical requirements. Use a small Filofax or encapsulate them so should an emergency arise you have the card handy.

Goal setting:   Work out an achievable set of goals, with the ways you plan to achieve them. Allow for the unexpected and always have a contingency plan.

Log book:   Write everything down in partitioned sections, don't rely on memory. Use it to itemise your list of "Things to do". Attendance records, weekly subs, achievement awards, and goals set.

Information:   Organise your information into flyers or booklets. Squad constitution and rules, safety guidelines, tryout guide, health forms, parental consent forms, insurance etc. Make sure cheerleaders and parents know your rules and requirements to avoid possible disputes later.

Calendar:   Make up calendars with all your key dates, special events, games and practice sessions. Have your cheerleaders keep it handy at home to remind them.

Decisions:   Make decisions fairly and consistently. Do not become variable about where certain lines are drawn.

Budget:   List all your outgoings and break them down into essentials and desirables. Work within your budget for regular operating costs, and plan extras around fund-raising and other non-guaranteed income.

Know the Game:   If your cheer for a sport, make sure everyone knows the basic rules of the game. When and when not to cheer, leading good sportsmanship by example, and etiquette.

Prioritise:   Sort your tasks into an order of priorities, and set goal deadlines for each. Split larger tasks into manageable stages with clear targets and milestones.

Time:   Use your time efficiently, complete each stage thoroughly, and don't try to take on more than you can do well.

Training:   Do not forget yourself. Enrol for a First Aid course, or "Working With Children" run by local Sports Councils. Keep up to date with legal issues and the requirements for teaching children in your area. Seek out appropriate qualifications wherever possible.

Parents:   Your cheerleaders parents can be your greatest asset in helping you manage your group. Hold a Parents Night, with a display and short presentation. Motivate them and enlist their support.

Bonding:   Organise one or two non-cheerleading togetherness outings, maybe a trip to a theme park, seaside, or Bar-B-Que party.

Yearbook:   Decorate a large scrapbook, fill it with photo's and other special mementoes. Have squad members write cheerful fun words alongside each. Produced as a team effort they are wonderful to look back on.

Awards:   Encourage and reward progress with certificates, pins, ribbons, or other small spirit items. One idea is to have a soft toy dressed in squad colours with some mini-poms. Make a special presentation to someone to take it home for a week.

Traditions:   Establish traditions that are unique to your squad. Perhaps a Team Song or some other special thing that you all do together.

Good example:   Your attitude and example in your dealings with others sets the tone your squad will reflect, especially with other squads.

Have fun!   and so will they!

A COACHES C.V.   You will require the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of a Saint, the understanding of a Social Worker, clairvoyance, and the ability to do twelve things simultaneously. As a friend, a councillor, a taxi driver, a choreographer, a PR. officer, a diplomat and a secretary, you absolutely must have a little zip up bag for all those items of jewellery they were specifically told not to bring.