cheer training?

Question

im tryin out for my juniour high cheerleading squad. i have absolutly no expirence with gynastics or flexibility and i can't get into any classes like yoga,gymnastics...etc. I was in ballet for 2 years and hip-hop for 2 also so i have some of the choreographing under controll. also,i can ALMOST do the forward splits. i understand and know what the jumps/stunts are thanks to the internet. i need to know how to do the scorpian,heelstretch,bow'n'arrow and i need to be able to do toetouches,hurkie(hurdle)and i think thats it. but the worst thing is i have absolutly no idea how to train safely at home by myself. please give me tips/daily routines to do. i have 3 months ('till june) untill the coach comes seeing whos interested in trying out and to see what they can do...like a mini tryout. PLEASE HELP ASAP!!

!!!!!...thanks so much...xo...!!!!

Answer 1

Good for you....starting early is always the best way!!!
If you can't get into any gymnastics classes, maybe your PE teacher can help you with form and possibly spotting. Do not try to "train" yourself to do any tumbling at home. This could be potential dangerous or even deadly. You need a professional spotter to help you with that. As far as the other concerns, as a current 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. Again, if you can't do this....don't try to learn by yourself. If you can do a cartwheel and roundoff that will be good enough...just nail them with lots of energy!

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. Look at cheerleading.about.com for pictures of girls doing these and try to mimic them while watching yourself in the mirror. Be sure to stretch adequately before attempting.

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.

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! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

You can stretch at home no problem. See the site below for workout ideas.

Also, be working on doing handstands against a wall if you can't do them freestanding. Keep your arms very straight and covering your ears, fingers facing forward. Your head should be neutral. If you tuck it in to your chest you'll roll out of the handstand. If you throw it back you will arch and have terrible alignment. Keep every muscle squeezed tight, especially in the tummy and hips, and streeeetch those legs and toes up toward the ceiling. http://www.gymnasticsrevolution.com/GymInteractive-Floor-Handstand.htm

Do bridges as well. Keep your feet together and work to get your hands and arms directly beneath your shoulders. http://www.gymnasticsrevolution.com/GymInteractive-Floor-Bridge.htm

Working on both of those skills will help you when it comes time to learn cartwheels, round offs, and back handsprings with a coach.

Good luck!

Answer 3

go to wikihow.com and search cheerleading. it'll tell you everything you need 2 know. there are a lot of different atricles on different cheerleading things. you can also search for gymnastics or tumbling and see whats there. good luck!!!=]