Question by kissaboo06: How do you make it on the varsity cheerleading squad???
I am in the 10th grade and I am planning on trying out for the varsity cheerleading squad next year. I dont want to be on J.V. and in junior year of high school. I want to know details on everything so I can prepare myself during the summer. I want to know workouts, what it takes to get on the team. EVERYTHING!!!!
Best answer:
Answer by lfchockey97
Sleep with the quarterback of the football team
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
It is tough these days! Now, you are required to be extremely athletic and a capable gymnast and dancer.
You need to concentrate on three areas:
Appearance (nice hair, good skin, good figure, nice smile – good teeth – people will braces are not disqualified). Learn to smile all the time and look like you are enjoying yourself;
Gymnastic ability. If you are not offered comprehensive gymnastics in school PE, take outside lessons with a good coach. You’ll need to learn to do aerial flips as well as cartwheels and handstands. You need poise, balance and agility so daily workouts on the balance beam are probably a must.
Dance. Take ballet definitely – also jazz and modern dance, but only in addition to ballet, not in place of it.
Be the best that you can be but always remember that a cheerleading squad is a TEAM, so teamwork, cooperation and comraderie with your fellow cheerleaders is necessary for you to achieve your goal.
flexibility is a must..stretch everyday make sure you get your jumps good
take everything the coaches say into considoration..pointed toes in jumps, make sure you concentrate on your wrists being good. it will show your coaches youve been listening
learn how to be sharp and still have fun with your dances…think but dont over think….that way you wont have to worry about the smile youll be having so much fun it will already be there
as for workout…cheerleading requires alot of endurace and stamina..2 minutes and 30 seconds of running and jumping constantly takes alot out of you. go running ( or find a tredmill ) 4-5 times a week while yelling out a cheer..or even singing whatever makes you comfortable because you need to keep up a good voice while moving so you dont get winded
concentrate alot of arms&abs as well…tons of pushups and core exercizes like v-ups,tuck ups& strattle ups- lay flat hands over head. come up like a sit up but bring your legs up too so your body is either in a pike position (v-up) or a toe touch position (strattle up) or tuck your knees to your chest ( tuck up). squeeze your abs. come back down into a flat body but hold your abs so your feet never touch the floor, hold them about an inch away. usually do do a set of 10 each.
as far as gymnastics just getting into a tumbling class shows how bad you want it, try to focus on getting roundoffs out of the way so you can get to backhandsprings thsoe are what counts.
be sweet, even when you know you have it dont get cocky. at the try out step to the front as much as you can, make them look at you, be in thier face. you gotta shine to get where you want. for the workout i suggest blaring “how bad do you want it” by tim mcgraw. it will make you push yourself
good luck
You ned to try out,you also need to have your own unique cheer that you have created…something that will wow them at your tryout,and remember smile smile smile…a little vaseline on your teeth doesn’t hurt,it helps when your mouth is all dried out to keep that brilliant smile going.
As far as I know with tumbling skills you HAVE to know how to do a backhand spring. Most likely a standing backhand spring.
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.
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 because of their inability to start in the middle of a routine.
Tumbling/Gymnastics to include cartwheel, roundoff, and back hand spring at the minimum. 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.
Judges always look for personality and smiles. Be sure to let yours shine through on try out day!
Keep your movements sharp and in proper form! No sloppy arms, wrists etc. You can lose lots of points in this area.
Remember to be personable. Smile, show a little attitude, even wink at the judges during certain movements.
If you are able, demonstrate as many tumbling techniques as you have. Ditto for jumps. This is where you can out-shine the competition. If you don’t have these abilities, enroll in your local gymnastics facility.
Attend as many sport functions as you can to “check out the cheerleaders”. I even suggest taking a video camera so that you can go back home and replay what you have seen and learn the cheers and chants so that you will be ready when the time comes.
On try out day, wear your hair in a pony tail, off of your face. Not too much make-up and no jewelry. Let them know that you are a serious contender, not there for a beauty contest.
Best of wishes to you!