Get Ready For Tryouts

For most high schools, the winter sports season has come to an end; which means so has the cheerleading season for all high school cheerleaders, unless your school competes. With the 2010-2011 cheerleading season coming to an end, it's time to think about tryouts for next year. Whether you're trying out for your high school squad again this year or moving up to the next level and trying out for a college squad, here are some helpful tips to make your tryout experience better and less stressful.

• If the squad you are trying out for holds clinics to teach the material before the actual tryouts make sure to be at every single one, even if they are optional. Remember practice makes perfect.
• If you are given the option to have a copy of the music for your tryout dance, go ahead and get one. Practicing at home with the music will help you with the dance more than just doing it to counts. Maybe even try having a mock-tryout, ask your parents or some friends to act like judges and judge you on how well you know your dance.
• If you are taught a cheer at tryouts, remember to write down the words to the cheer. Trust me, after learning that much in one night even the simplest words are hard to remember.
• Stretch every night, after all that dancing and motion drills your body is going to be very sore. Stretching can help make the pain less painful. Also, you have the added bonus of improving your jumps.
• Even if you do not have tumbling, do not let that discourage you. Work extra hard on the other aspects, "wow" the judges, and ask if there is a tumbling class available. This will let the judges know you're serious about wanting to be on the squad and willing to improve.
• Remember to not overdo it on tryout day. Even though cheerleading is a very glittery sport, the judges want to see the real you without all that make-up on. Also a tucked-in shirt and not so short, shorts can go a long way. Think of it as a job interview, you wouldn't hire someone who looks like a slob.
• Don't stress on tryout day, there are lots of other people in the same boat as you.  Even if you mess up, most judges will let you start again. So take a deep breath in, get rid of all those negative thoughts, put your best smile on, and try again. The judges are not only looking for people with talent but ones who are not willing to give up.

And remember, even if you do not make the cut, there is always next year. Also maybe consider trying out for an All-Star squad, that way you can continue cheering and fine tuning your skills so you can do better at tryouts the next year.