how can i practice to be a cheerleader?

Question

okay the last week of april is cheer tryouts. ive never done cheer before but ive wanted to do it since sixth grade (im gonna be a freshman) so ive been practicing motions and stuff. i know all the jumps and motions and a lot of tosses so i know what im doing. but how should i prepare for the tryouts? also how can you practice and prepare to be a flyer? all help is appreciated.

Answer 1

As a current high school cheer coach, I can tell you what we expect from our girls.

First and foremost we stress academics. Being a good cheerleader requires a great deal of practice, and this can sometimes hurt your grade point average. We always stress that you can't go on in life to make a living at cheerleading....you have to have an education to do that. Girls must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point average or risk being dropped from the squad for a season. If the grade point average is not raised, she is dropped for the year.

As for the actual requirements:

Knowledge of routines, cheers and chants: Know them backwards and forwards....well enough to begin them anywhere in the middle of the cheer. I have seen many good candidates dropped due to the inability to start a cheer at any point in the routine. We teach one cheer, one chant and a pretty complex 1 minute dance routine. The girls are given 3 days to learn this with tryouts on day 4.

Tumbling/Gymnastics to include cartwheel, roundoff, and back hand spring. Girls who can do a tuck usually get extra points.

Flexibility and Posture: Be able to do splits and heal stretch. In a Liberty or heal stretch position, hold your balance for 20 seconds. Extra points are given for girls who can do arabesques or scorpions.

Judges always look for personality and smiles as well as how well the contender keeps their movements sharp and in proper form! No sloppy arms, wrists etc. You can lose lots of points in this area.

The girls must do 3 jumps: herkie, toe touch, 1 other. You can work on these first on the floor....stretching yourself just a little bit more everyday until you have proper form. Then work on taking it to the air. When you have your prep and jump perfected, put 1 pound weights on each ankle and jump with them on from that point on. When it comes time for tryouts, take the weights off...you'll jump higher than ever because you have become used to jumping with more weight!

Most of all, the judges are looking for girls who have the ability to work as a team and engage the crowd to cheer on their school! make the judges feel like cheering with you by engaging them every time you get a chance.

For pics, help and cheers that you can learn, go to
cheerleading.about.com

hope that helps and good luck!

Answer 2

i'd say stretch and work on your strength/cardio because all parts of cheer require flexibility and good fitness. specifically work on jumps and maybe take a tumbling class because tumbling is a big part in cheer. look up flyer positions and try practicing these on a soup can to try and improve your balance. good luck :)

Answer 3

just keep doing stretches and jumps
and if possible tumbling because that helps make it... umm the more stretched you are the more you can do so yea then maybe if youre small enough you can be a flyer if you are flexible
you should be able to do a heel stretch atleast

Answer 4

Try joining in cheerleading.Especially in High School

Answer 5

Be happy and lively all the time and never stop talking

Answer 6

to be a cheerleader 1) be brave2) love everyone