Cheerleading Try-Out tips???

Question

I didn't make it last year, so I'm a little nervous. I really want to make it. Should I work out more? What should I work on? What are some possible requirements? My school colors are black and gold, so what should I wear to try-outs? I was thinking Soffe shorts and tank tops, but I don't know what brand carry those colors. The gold is a goldenrod yellow color or Vegas Gold. Any advice is helpful!

Answer 1

Do you remember any of the comments or feedback you received last year? If you can, think back to last year and try to remember everything that you had trouble with. Also, try to remember the auditions of the people who DID get in and what they did well, so that way you can figure out more easily what you need to work on.

When it comes to the cheer/dance routine, always practice, practice, practice! If you can, practice infront of your parents, siblings, neighbors, or friends, so you can get used to performing infront of others and doing the routine without watching the other girls around you. Remember to take a blank tape on the first day of practice so you can record the music that is used for the routine, so that way you can get familiar with the music while you're practicing at home. When you're not practicing physically, practice mentally. Think about you doing the routine perfectly in your head so you won't ever forget about the steps and the choreography. Practicing in general is probably the most important thing that you can do because then you won't even have to think about the routine on tryout day and it will be one less thing that you'll need to worry about. Your nerves won't be able to interfere with muscle memory and you can focus on doing other things like smiling and having fun, so always make it a priority to practice the main routine that they give you.

You'll definitely want to work on your cheerleading motions as much as possible too, so I would also recommend practicing those as well. Motions are easy to learn, but they're also easy to mess up if you don't have any practice executing them. Your motions should be sharp in all movements, so if you practice getting your motions down NOW before you try out then it will come more naturally to you when you are learning a tryout cheer. http://www.mspineapple.com/motions.html is a good link that shows all the motions. If you're not holding poms, your hands should be in a fist. It's kind of hard to see how to move from one motion to another from these diagrams, so if you can, get help from a coach or someone who is a cheerleader and have them teach you. Practice your motions in front of mirror too- it definitely helps!

Also, make sure that you take time to stretch. The more flexible you are, the better your kicks, jumps, and splits will be. It will also keep you from becoming sore from practicing too much. Always make it a priority to stretch for atleast an hour or so after school, and that should help a lot. If you're crunched for time then sit in a stretch while you're doing your homework or watching tv and that can help make it a little easier.

I wish you the best of luck!!

Answer 2

When I tried out, they told us to wear a plain white top and plain black shorts. Unless they told you what to wear, it probably doesn't matter. My school's colors were also black and gold. Make sure you're really stretched out. Eat a light breakfast that day. We were told not to eat any kind of bread product because it weighs you down. You should be able to do all the jumps well, esp. the toe touches. Make sure you yell loudly, smile, and show spirit. Keep practicing in the days leading up to try out day....know the cheer/dance or whatever they told you do well so that you don't mess up. It's always a plus if you can do gymnastics. Take some deep breaths before it's your turn and just do the best you can. The rest is up to the judges.

Since you didn't make it last year, one thing that might be helpful is to think back on the pep rallys this year and kind of remember what the cheerleaders did, how they cheered, etc and try to immitate that.

Answer 3

HI, OK first really work on your toe touches, an other jumps. Cartwheels, back walk overs and back hand springs are awesome to have, at least let the coach know that your working on them, and your splits. Soffe I'm pretty sure has gold, but any type of cheer shorts and a t-shirt not tank is good for tryouts. Wear your hair back and ribbons are always a plus. Go in being really positive and full of confidence and smiles and you'll do great.

Answer 4

Yeah you have to be confident and happy! Smile a lot and make eye contact if you want a challenge. Just go in with a clear mind and concentrate on what you're doing. It's not that bad, as you know, and after it's done, you want to be happy with yourself. Think about what you could do ahead of time to make yourself happy at the end! I think you should wear gold ribbon in your hair too.

Answer 5

black tank gold shorts but dont be nervous and DO smile and show spirit also if you dont get something DONT GIVE UP keep going until you catch on you can also put in extra work like by practicing at home and ask people you know to critique your technique be open-minded (im a cheerleader)

Answer 6

Look don't be nervous! You already have the advantage to the girls who have never tried out. Tell them it is so scary to make them nervous. Just make sure not to get so worked. Thats what usually gets people. I know it did me for pom tryouts.Just don't forget to smile NO MATTER WHAT. Even if you mess up, just keep going like nothing happend. Confidence can help you go far. Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

for toe touch first make sure you ahve the preparation and arm movements right
then stretch for the middle splits
the toe touch is like the 2nd position jump in dance except you go right into it
you dont have to exactally touch your toes or anything
work on the technique first
then the height and the split position in the air
once you get it down then you can go as high as you want

well here are the moves u need to know for cheer:
toe touch
hurdler(hurkey)side and front
high kick
star jump
tuck jump
splits
u could try looking in youtube for some videos that have to do with cheer
it might help
also gymnastics and tumbling and jazz would help too gymnastics is for your strength and tumbling is to learn flips
they are about the same
jazz is more fun and still have a little of the basic stuff and helps you with turns and jumps

u could do ballet for techniques but u dont really need to because cheer and ballet are really different

just in case u didnt know:
toe touch is when u do the middle splits in the air with hards in a horizontal line

hurdler is when one leg is bent and the other leg is straight in front or side while jumping
your arms are parellel in front

a high of course is kicking one leg up

a star jump is when your arms are up in a V shape
and your legs are in a middle split position but more like an upside down V so it makes a star kind of shape while jumping

a tuck jump is when u have both legs tucked in and bent while jumping

and the splits of course and one leg in front one in back and going to the ground


also u might want to know how to do some front flips and back flips and cartwheel

splits stretches:

side split stretches:
1st stretch:take a thick book and put it down on the ground then put one of your feet on it and go down into the splits position as far as u can and hold it there for like 2 minutes and switch legs.then do it without the book.
2nd stretch:put one leg straight in front and the other leg fully bended and try to touch your foot that is straight and hold it for like 1 min then switch legs.
3rd stretch do the splits as far as u can down and hold it for 1 or 2 mins and switch legs.
4th stretch:if u can do the splits then hold your front foot for 30sec-1min then sit straight and bend your back and extend your arms backwards and do it with the other leg.
5th stretch: do lunges

middle splits:
stretch:do it as far down as u can and hold it there for 1 or 2min and rest for a few minutes and do it again.

when u cheer u have to smile
and when landing the jumps always land in plea or with 2 bent legs

have strong arms and sharp movements
dont forget to have fun tho

Answer 8

always smile try 2 b nice 2 everyone on da team show a lot of spirit always b easy 2 get a long with umm write down all the cheers u learn cause u can pratice always b LOUDdont be shy umm i think thats about it oh yeah always be up 2 learn new things. (if u r new do not b mean to the old girls or u wont get on their good side)

Answer 9

I know this is probbably somthing you already know but it never hurts to go over it again.

1,breath
2, don't panic
3, have no fear of what others think
4, Stretch so much that you can't stretch any more.

Answer 10

It doesn't matter what you wear, but DO wear a SMILE !!!