Question by kari: does anyone have any quick tips for cheerleading tryouts?
im trying out for my highschools cheerleading squad in about a week, and im getting realy really nervous. ive never cheered before so i probably wont make it, but i did do competitive gymnastics for a while… is there any tips or advice anyone can give me?? i need as moch help as i can get!
thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by biggyt74
put on alot of make up, and act really dumb. you will do fine
What do you think? Answer below!
Act overly cheerful and stupid. Maybe dye your hair beach blond.
be really sharp and clean with your moves. dont be sloppy. smile and have passion in your routines. the facials you make tell alot about who you are.
judges grade you on how u motivate the crowd and neatness.
BE LOUD!!!!!!
haha for the first person to answer..don’t wear too much make up! the judges don’t like that and actually for out try outs, we can’t wear make up. so its good that you do gymnastics so you can tumble pretty good. that’s a good thing.
you will have to do a cheer and a dance. make sure your motions are tight and that you are loud…but aren;t screaming. yell from your stomach not throat.
they you will have to do a jump. maybe 2. you can to things like a toe Touch..http://z.about.com/d/cheerleading/1/0/K/_/core_meg_toetouch.jpg
herkie…http://www.active.com/Assets/Cheerleading/a2+migration/a2+temp/nts_cheerleading/cheer_hurdle.jpg
front hurdler…http://cheerleading.about.com/library/graphics/jumps/antoinette_fronthurdler_m.jpg
pike…http://www.takkle.com/thumbs/scale/max/468×351/photofiles/2007/03/0911/28118.jpg
those are all high and very good…so the first time you do them don’t expect them to look exactly like that haha.
i would recommend doing a toe touch and a herkie. for me those are the easiest.
make sure you smile too!!! and make eye contact with the judges. something that i do when im nervous is let it all out by doing extra good. you just have to let all your energy out when you are performing.
good luck! and hope this helps!! 🙂
I’ve been a high school cheerleader for 4 years now. I’ve been on varsity for 3 years and I was captian this year. You have an advantage that you were a gymnast! Don’t be nervious! smile and have fun! puch your motions and be tight. for jumps make sure you dont drop your chest thats a big no no! but just make sure you have spirit and look like your having fun even though you might be terrified!
Good Luck
PS.
don’t go in there with a negative attitude thinking you wont make it!
Just as long as you strut your stuff (ello, suprise em with a double hurkey and a back flip…that’s what I did..)
And google a good cheer. Keep a good rythum, and smile.
Best of luck!
hey i am a cheerleading coach and when i first tried out for cheerleading i didn’t think i was gonna make it either cuz i had no experience and i made it and eventually became captain but i have many tips for you when u r in tryouts make sure you hit all your moves tightly and clean and when you do your jumps jump as high as you can and point your toes also make them clean/sharp the most important thing to do is to pay attention to every word the judge has to say and make sure you understand everything just go in and act like you have cheered before!!! e very energetic !!
Hi there.
First of all good luck! lol and now the advice. Did you find out lots about ur schools squad? Because that would definately be the first step. Make sure to find out if its a Cheer and Dance or a Cheer and Stunt. In a Cheer and Dance squad you mainly focus on cheering and dancing you may have some stunts. In a cheer and stunt squad you do lots of stunts and some dancing.
Also you definately want to find out if it is a Varsity or Junior Varsity, if its Co-ed or not. If you have both kinds of teams at your school you should try out for Junior Varsity, because if you’re good enough they will put you in Senior Varsity.
Now, you say you were a gymnast, if you tumble thats great! Be sure to inform you coaches. You will probably get a sheet that you would have to fill out and you can write down all the things you can do.
Also, are you small or tall?strong or not so strong? skinny or not so skinny?
That will make a huge difference in your stunting section of cheerleading. If you;re small and flexible then you will most likely will be a flyer. If you;re tall you’re probly gonna backspot, if you’re strong you will base.
For tryouts you will have to do a cheer, a dance and some jumps.
Your coaches would probably teach you a cheer and a dance that everyone will have to perform in groups of 3 or 4. The jumps they will show you.
They will show you a toe touch and a pike for sure as those are basic cheerleading jumps. They might show you jumps like a front hurdler, herkie, double nine or other more complex jumps.
To have great toe touches really stretch your straddles and middle splits as that is veryy important. For pikes stretch your pike position on the floor or standing up. What I always tell my girls is to bring their feet up to ther arms when the jump and not the other way around so it doesnt look like your leaning down.
For the cheer be sure to be really loud. REALLY PROJECT you voice:) make you motions tight and sharp, sqeeze all your muscles.
For your dance just show lots of attitude becuase attitude is the number one thing in cheerleading.
As long as you;re positive and happy and have lots of attitude your coaches will see that and they;ll be sure to give you a spot on the team
ignore the answers that tell you to act stupid they’re just jealous of the eliteness of cheerleading. So:
have fun
be yourself
pay attention
be sharp
smile
Practice your jumps! Practice toe touch, pike, right and left kick jump, right and left herky, and double toe touch. If you don’t know what they are look them up online. Point your toes. keep your chest up. (bring your legs up not your torso down.)The higher and cleaner the better.
Yell loudly but DO NOT SCREAM. Be tight in the cheer and dance.
be confident even if your not. dont let them know that you dont know what your doing. smile and do facials during the routines. make eye contact with the judges.
I’m guessing you have never stunted and that might be a small problem if they test that in tryouts so ask for help, listen, take their advice and criticism. If they see you making progress they will take it into consideration.
Another aspect is tumbling. They might ask for your best standing skill and then best running skill.
do what you can land but then ask if you can attempt the next level pass your working on. even if you dont land it right eat mat it will show that you are confident, hard working, and fearless. They will appreciate those things.
Remember that little things like toes pointed or attempting a skill you no you might not land might be what pushes you to varsity over another girl or make the difference between not making it and getting JV.
Good luck