Independent Component 2

LITERAL

I, Dominic Zavala, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) The people that helped me complete this independent component were my wonderful coaches Jason Brandt and Brady Aguirre. 

(c)IC log

(d) In this independent component I accomplished what my team and coaches have set out to accomplish this entire season. We have been approaching each competition hoping to do the very best we can and for no one to get injured while doing so. We had a marvelous season of being undefeated until this last weekend May 4th through the 6th. This competition is called the Summit and it is one of the most prestigious competitions next to Worlds. Over the nation there are only 36 competitions that offer a bid to The Summit, and my team received an at large bid at the very first competition to offer the bids in Vegas. With a perfection score of 95% and scores that were higher than some of the level five teams competing. To be invited to The Summit is the greatest honor our team could have hoped for this season besides winning NCA Dallas. This weekend was one of the greatest time I have had at a competition because it was a new experience for me, being in Florida and competing with the best of the nation. First day my team had a few mistakes with a bobble in a stunt and what is considered a drop on the score sheet. We were all nervous and scared especially when our coaches told us it was our worst performance of the season. At the reveals, which is where you find out if you made it to finals or not, we all thought it was over and that we didn't make it. So when our name was called we all screamed and cried because we were so happy and lucky to get another chance. We practiced that night for 2 hours making sure everything was going to hit and that it was all cleaned up. Every single person on the team had the fire in their eyes so we knew that when we hit the stage that next day we would hit a perfect routine. Hitting that floor with a renewed sense of readiness and a confidence that we were going to hit was quite invigorating. The amount of dedication and focus we all had helped us hit an absolutely perfect routine which we were all proud of. Sadly we came home with third, and the teams that won told us we should have beat them, so the team was sad and conflicted. Leaving that competition with third and having gyms we never would have seen know our names is what we took away from the competition and that in itself is a huge honor.

INTERPRETIVE

In the two weeks leading up to the trip to Florida we practiced for 14 days, with 3 hours of practice each day, so I have a total of 42 hours for this independent component which will also count as my mentorship hours since my project is focused on what the individual athlete can do to improve safety.




Evidence: Summit Performances Team Photos

APPLIED

In the process of completing this component in these 42 hours I spent practicing and competing, each of my answers was apparent every practice. Our practices are structured as follows, we warm up, stretch, work out, run the routine and perfect skills. Every practice I see all of my answers coming in to play, which is quite surreal. Who would have guessed that what I have been studying is legitimate in applying it to my sport. It is extremely evident in how we added new difficulty to our stunt sequences and even changed certain choreography throughout the routine to better attack the score sheets. We added what is called a switch up to opposite tap to over stretch intro to our elite stunt section. The flyer sets in with the opposite foot, switches legs, land in an opposite lip, is brought down controlled to tap the floor with her foot before being tossed back to the top in an immediate overstretch. It took us almost one practice to get this move down before it was set into the routine for sure. We were thought the proper way to do it, with correct technique and given time to practice it so that we did it safely. Another example of how the answers were prevalent was that our coaches were gone the week before we left for competition. They left us to our own devices and supervision by the other coaches in the gym. They trusted us to take care of ourselves and make sure we stay safe and do what we need to do. It was interesting to have them gone and it caused some of the members of my team including myself to step up and manage the team so that we all stayed motivated and ready for The Summit.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval (Updated)

(1) For this second independent study component I plan on working with the team I am on while we work hard to be where we need to skillwise for the Summit. With the aid of not only my coach, but the various coaches in my gym; my team and I will learn the proper technique and ways to do what we have to to win. We will need to learn proper technique in all their skills, what to do if something goes wrong, and how to make sure everything can go right. The outcome of this study would hopefully be coming home with the title of Small Senior 4.2 champions and a ring!

(2) This endeavor will easily surpass the 30 hour requirement, because we have 10 practices nearly back to back until we leave for Florida, then two practices in Florida. As always practice will be 3 hours every time.

(3) This study directly relates to my EQ as I will be helping my team, as well as myself understand how to prevent injury as an allstar cheerleader. It will provide me with hopefully justifying my two EQ answers and an insight on how to handle any future teams I coach.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

LITERAL
(a) I, Dominic Zavala, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

(b) Grace Contreras: (626)-333-1145 or email: starliteallstar1@aol.com

(c) Logged from December 12th, 2012 to January 24th, 2013. Independent component hours.

(d) I spent 30 hours coaching to put towards the 250+ hours I need to become USASF certified. I'm not sure if I will be able to achieve that amount this year, and if I can't I will have to save up to get some other safety certification. Hopefully it will be easier once I'm 18.

INTERPRETIVE
Attached are pictures of my team at Jamz Nationals in Vegas January 26th. This is proof I reflected in my 30 hours. I wish I could have gone to support them but sadly I couldn't. I worked very hard with these girls to help them be the best they could. I also helped some girls from team black work on their back handspring and helped Priscilla on that team get it by herself on the tumble trak. I'm very proud of her and hopefully I can record
it and put it up on my blog.

APPLIED
This component helped me understand the dynamics of managing a team and making sure they know how to keep each other safe. It was getting into the mindset of an athlete that helped me understand how to teach these kids to keep each other safe. I had to teach Priscilla proper technique in her handspring when she was trying it on the tumble trak. It was such a rewarding feeling to have her progress in such a short amount of time from bad technique and a sketchy handspring to proper technique and a very clean handspring.  Overall it has helped me understand safety and how to manage a team and successfully teach a pupil new skills.

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours check

1. I am doing my mentorship hours at Starlite All-Stars Cheer and Dance Company in the city of Industry.
2. My contact is Grace Contreras, owner of the gym.
3. I have a total of 45 hours, with more to come as the season goes on. I will make more of a dedication to go, I missed 4 weeks due to work and other engagements with school.
4. The last 10 hours of service I did, I helped the girls clean up their motions, choreographed a dance for the boys on our team, I helped a stunt group learn and understand how to do a show and go, and I helped a girl on team black make progress in her back-handspring. I learned from my coaches that you have to be stern with the athletes to get things through their head, but you also have to be compassionate, supportive and relentless. Effective coaches never give up on their athletes, they possess an undying love for each and every one of them, as well as a huge amount of trust for them. These traits make an effective team atmosphere and a potentially successful outcome.
Mentorship Log

Blog 10 Senior Project Update

(1) Currently I am doing the only thing I can do for my independent component and that is continuing my mentorship and coaching a team. I have been looking up courses I can take along with my mentorship to become safety certified and they are very expensive. The one I need is $110 and it it only 3 and a half hours long. I found another course that is 45 dollars and it is a certification through the National Federation of State High School Associations. It too is online and only requires a couple hours. I need some consulting, I'll set up a meeting with Pittman this week.

(2) (Sticks and Stones Will Break That Bone! - Activity - www.TeachEngineering.org) I found this project and it interested me quite a bit, I might add this to my science fair to test bones. I'll go to a butcher's shop and ask for some pig bones since their physiology is closest to a human's. I will apply pressure and test the bones to their breaking points and record the amount of force it took. This lesson as given me new ideas of how to use the force plate to get even more data. I am very excited to begin my procedures.

(3) This is my team, Starz Pink. I coach them nearly every Friday and Saturday for about 2-3 hours. This team has improved so much since they started and we got two boys! I'm very excited for the rest of the season and I already love every one of them. I have learned ways to connect with the team and communicate with them properly. Through my research I have become a better coach and I have actually helped some of them!

Senior Project Update.

MENTORSHIP
I have been looking into the way my coaches have been coaching and seeing the different ways to deal with athletes. I missed about three weeks of practice due to illness and various other things that took precedence. However, I was with the team before and on their first competition day November 17th. I was with the girls and two boys who are knew for the whole day. The competition lasted 8 hours. When it was time to warm up Anthony(teammate and fellow coach) took the team to go stretch and warm up before going on stage. The athletes were really nervous so we had numerous huddles with them to calm them down and pep them up. It was exciting to be a coach waiting for my team to go out there and leave everything on the mat. They got third place which the coaching staff knew would happen since we didn't push them to learn harder skills. After that day we decided they were ready for harder stunts and tougher handling.

INDEPENDENT COMPONENT

After talking with one of my mentors, I have found out that the number of hours required before you can apply for USASF certification is well over 250 and I won't be able to complete that during this year. I will continue my mentorship which will help me work towards it and do whatever I can to get closer to being certified like first aid certification and possibly going through other companies to get certified to coach a highschool team by chance.

SCIENCE FAIR

I am going to begin conducting my experiment soon to start retrieving data and begin writing out my lab report. I will receive the Vernier force plate and all requirements from Pittman this week.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

(1) For my first independent component I plan on getting certified as a cheer-leading coach by either USASF or AACCA, this will allow me to be a coach different teams whether it be all-star or high school. The certification will show that I am capable of protecting my students and providing medical response for the athlete upon injury until the paramedics arrive(If needed).  If I cannot be certified by these organizations then I plan on getting First Aid and CPR certified through the Red Cross for the same reason.
(2) This feat will definitely meet the 30 hours if not more. It will require countless hours studying rules and different safety protocols as well as actually going to take a written test, getting different forms signed by my gym owner and taking a hands on test. I might not be able to receive the accreditation because the companies can only do it so often. The next USASF one that is close is October 28th and I won't be able to come up with the money. It is $15 per type per level. So for levels 1-4 in stunting, tumbling and tosses would be about $180. Not only will I be able to meet the time by preparing for the test, I will exceed it when I apply this certification into the team I coach.
(3) This plan relates to my EQ because it will help me understand injury and how to intervene if it does occur. Knowing the possible injuries that can occur will help me train the athletes to use a technique that reduces the chances of injury. If I am unable to get the USASF certification, when I do it will only improve my ability to teach.

Hopefully I will find a way to afford the process and find out the best way to do so. I will talk to my mentor about the best way to go about it, since he is certified and will be for 3 years.