im currently a freshman in high school right now and i REALLY want to be a cheerleader. Tryouts for next year is in a couple of days and i really want to make the squad. I have a lot of experience with dance class and im quite flexible too. I can only do simple flips like cartwheels, runoff, and one and cartwheels but im still half an inch away from doing the splits. im so nervous and scared about it. There's nothing in the world i would be more dedicated to than cheer right now. Any tips for me???
thanks!
2007-03-24 12:09:31 · 5 answers · asked by nikki 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Dancing
Hi, I'm a cheerleader and next week I am doing a second tryout to see if I can get placed on a higher level.
1.Smile all the time
2.Have spirit with the cheers. You must feel it.
3.Keep tight motions. Make sure your arms are straight.
4.When you do jumps make sure your toes are pointed.
If you have to do a dance, really feel it and make your body move.As for your splits, stretch your legs and keep practicing. Practice makes perfect.
Remember you can make it if you have faith in yourself. Tell yourself "I'm going to make it."
Have fun, smile(practice your facial expressions) and Good Luck!!! :)
2007-03-24 12:53:04 · answer #1 · answered by lildg2014 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't know if this will help you or not, but when I was younger.. much younger...
I went for cheer leading try outs.
I thought I knew my routine really well, but when it came to performing in front of those cheerleader judges, I was really nervous and forgot my routine, needless to say, I didn't make it.
So what I would recommend is be as natural as possible, don't let the fact that they are judging you become and intimidation on how you perform. make sure you know the routine that you are going to do. and practice it as much as possible before the tryouts.
If you have Natural form, and do your routine like it was born into you. I don't think that you will have any problem making cheerleader.
2007-03-24 19:20:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a past high school and college cheerleader, and current coach, I can tell you what we look for in tryouts.
Sounds like you have what it takes!!!
As a past high school and college cheerleader and current coach, here is what we look for in tryouts!
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. I always encourage my girls to take video of these lessons...they can then go home and work at their own pace to learn the moves. This saved me sooooo many times!!!
Tumbling/Gymnastics to include cartwheel, roundoff, and back hand spring. Girls who can do a tuck usually get extra points. Your school may not require this kind of tumbling....do what you do best and nail it!!! Remember to have lots of enthusiasm and spunk!
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. You can see examples of this a cheerleading.about.com
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 1/2-1 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 more pics, help and cheers that you can learn, go to
cheerleading.about.com
hope that helps! Good luck!
2007-03-25 19:04:57 · answer #3 · answered by coachls 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Become good friends with the current cheerleaders and keep practicing hard.
2007-03-24 19:13:35 · answer #4 · answered by mister 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Beleive and imagine you are a cheerleader and that you have already made the team. Also, work hard and try your best!
2007-03-24 19:16:17 · answer #5 · answered by Coco L 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋