Next week are my high school cheer tryouts. Monday through Wednesday we have a cheer camp where we learn the cheers, and Thursday are tryouts. I am getting closer and closer to having a really good hurkey and toe touch (the two required jumps) but I'm not sure if they're good enough. I need some pointers....and fast. It's down to the wire and I am majorly stressed. I have never had previous cheerleading experience but all the other members of my family have. I know pretty much that I need to be loud and peppy but other than that I need some major help. Please...even if it is the littlest of things, tell me and I'll use it in preparation for tryouts. Thanks a load!!!!
2007-03-16 07:14:13 · 6 answers · asked by AngelaB 1 in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
It sounds as though you have been doing the advance work necessary before tryouts...I applaud you for that!!!
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.
Our 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 1/2 to 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! Since your tryouts are Thursday...I might forego this as you wouldn't want to be sore. Let your body tell you what is best here!
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.
On tryout day, eat a good breakfast...with complex carbs. Go to the tryouts with your hair up off of your face and in a ponytail, little or no makeup and no jewelry. Let them know that you are a serious contender and not there for a beauty contest!
For pics, help and cheers that you can learn, go to
cheerleading.about.com
hope that helps!
2007-03-19 00:54:51 · answer #1 · answered by coachls 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats pretty funny, b/c I am in the same postion. I have down my toe touch but my herkie is not the greatest still. How did you pefect yours? But to anwer your question, I would just get out there and work my butt of in front of the judges. Also it helps to have friends that are already on the team, b/c then during school, you can pratice a bit more. Good luck!
2007-03-17 11:38:45 · answer #2 · answered by cheercaptain_emg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Relax, you're on the right track. Just remember to be confident, smile, and show facial expressions. Practice will help your hurkey and toe touch. Judges look for personality and attitude once they see you have the ability to do the cheer.
2007-03-16 07:51:34 · answer #3 · answered by deej 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, when i tried out for cheerleading last year...i had ABSOLUTELY no experience. But all you have to do when you go out there is be confident in yourself! Dont worry about what the other girls think. Just believe in yourself and show them that you actually want to be there! I GUARANTEE that you'll make it if you show them that your worth being called a cheerleader! One more thing... PRACTICE< PRACTICE< PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!!!! that's all you got to remember!
2007-03-16 07:24:15 · answer #4 · answered by Seneca 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be effective to continuously smile and make your flips fairly tight don't be phony yet be friendly the cheerleaders love infants who do flips and powerful around offs and tight cart wheels stable luck
2016-10-01 00:43:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok wel for tryouts dont kill your self and always remember be very nervi because these judjes will give u a bad score because u suck so have low expectaions! have a great tryout :]]
2007-03-18 08:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by katy j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋