Trying out for cheerleading?

Question

I'm trying out for my high school cheer team soon and I was wondering if you had any tips for me. I'm a high level gymnast and I can tumble well aswell as do many jumps. What can I do to prepare??

Answer 1

Sounds like you have what it takes to be on the squad!
As a past high school and college cheerleader, and current coach, I can tell you 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!

Answer 2

since you're already a high level gymnast, you have a greater chance of making the team.

to prepare, you should :

*know the basics of stunting, the different stunts, what position you think you're qualified for (base, backspot, flyer)

*smile =)
cheerleaders are there to cheer others. it wouldn't be a good thing to have a sad, boring, or tired person cheer you on.

*know about the sport. for example, if you're cheering football players, you should know how the game works, what a touchdown is, a punt, etc.

*be able to dance. dancing lessons can be very useful. especially when you need a routine to perform during halftime.

*know the proper way to stretch.


there's many more things you can do to prepare.

Answer 3

are you cute...good luck..I like cheerleaders..in the 7th grade there some cheerleaders in the 9th grade and I had crushes on them all...so hot..have fun ...go team...

Answer 4

Practice,practice,and practice and make sure that you dont over do it