CHEERLEADING! Tryouts!?

Question

Tryouts for cheer leading don't start until like a couple months in all but do you have any tips for trying out? I didn't try out last year because I was too scared.....any tips..I am pretty flexible but I cant do a back flip or the slips but I can do alot of other stuff, do you think I will make it?? I am scared and I know its stupid but I dont want to look like an idiot at tryouts? HELLLPPP PLEAASSSEE!!

Answer 1

don't feel like an idiot just look at other people and point out their flaws and compare yourself to other people but don't make fun of them just say it it in your head and do your best  

Answer 2

I have been cheering for my school for about three years now, and tryouts can be kinda scary, but you just have to not be nervous. Make sure you are really loud, and you smile the whole time! Stretch a lot before tryouts, and if they are months away, you will probably be able to do splits and stuff before tryouts. Just do your best, and if you dont make it, there is always next year!

Hope this helped. :)  

Answer 3

this is my first year cheering for my school.i can't do any backflips and i'm definately not the most flexible on the squad. i am the tallest though, so i make a great backspot.

when i tried out, i was a little nervous, but just smile the whole time and have lots of spirit and make it look like you know what your doing even if u don't. don't worry if u mess up, jsut keep on going and you'll do fine!

GOOD LUCK!! :)

Answer 4

Most schools use a standard judging form to rate you on a variety of different skills.  They usually look something like this:

Entrance/Smile - 5 pts

Crowd appeal (neat, pleasant appearance) - 5 pts

Spirit (being peppy) - 5 pts

Voice Projection (being loud but not screechy) - 5 pts

Motions (being sharp) - 10 pts

Memory/Recall (ability to learn the cheer) - 10 pts

Jumps (height and technique) - 15 pts

Tumbling (difficulty and form) - 10-15 pts

Dance ability - 5-10 pts

Grades - 10 pts

Citizenship - 20 pts

Total Possible points - 100 pts

Each girl's scores are totaled, and the top scorers will make the squad.  You can't control what the other girls can do, but you can control what you do.  And since you have a couple months, you have plenty of time to prepare yourself the best you can!  Here are a few tips:

Jumps: There are three main jumps that the judges will want to see; the toe touch, hurdler, and pike jump.  You can search the web or Youtube for examples, but it's best to have a coach teach you how to do them, so you can be certain you're doing them the right way.  Sign up for a cheer class or clinic, or take a few private lessons, so you can learn the proper technique.  Then go home and practice, practice, practice!  Every day!  And remember: it's better to have a lower jump with great form than a high jump that looks sloppy.

Tumbling: This is usually worth a lot of points, so the girls who can tumble will have an advantage. You should start RIGHT NOW with some tumbling classes.  Since you have a few months, you may be able to learn a back handspring.  Go more than once a week if you can.  But don't worry if you don't get it by tryouts.  If you can do a decent roundoff, you'll get at least some points for tumbling.

Motions: You'll probably be taught a cheer to perform at tryouts, and the judges will want to see tight, sharp motions.  It can take some practice to get your motions sharp, so see if you can learn a cheer beforehand, just to practice your motions.  Do it in front of a mirror and make sure your arms are tight and you hit each position precisely.

Voice Projection:  Having a loud, clear voice is important.  That might sound pretty easy, but it's actually pretty hard to keep shouting loudly while you're jumping around through a cheer.  If you're not used to it, you can lose your breathe!  So practice yelling a cheer while you're doing something active - jumping jacks, or jogging in place, for example.  This will help build up your voice's endurance.

Crowd Appeal: This is where they judge your appearance.  But don't worry - it really doesn't mean how "cute" or "hot" you are.  It simply means looking neat, tidy and wholesome.  The judges will want to see your hair pulled back neatly in a high ponytail (tied with a ribbon to match your shirt or shorts); natural looking makeup; a clean, unwrinkled shirt that's neatly tucked in (pin it to the inside of your shorts so it won't come untucked); and clean white shoes.  

Oh yeah... and SMILE!  Whenever you practice anything - jumps, cheers, or even just standing before the judges - do it with a smile.  If you practive everything while smiling, it will become a habit and you won't have to concentrate on it during tryouts.

Before tryouts, ask a friend or teacher how the tryout process works.  When you go before the judges, will they tell you what to do, or will they just watch you?  What order should do your skills - tumbling, cheer, jumps, etc.  Then practice the whole thing in order, just as you'll do on tryout day.

I hope this helps some!  Good luck!  And if you don't make it, that's okay.  If you keep up your tumbling classes and keep practicing your jumps, you'll have an even better chance of making it next year!  And the experience you'll get from trying out will make you that much more prepared!  My best friend tried out every year, and finally made it her senior year of high school.  So don't give up!