- Obviously, practice is key to succeeding, so draw up a comprehensive practice schedule to ensure that you set aside time each day to work on various aspects of the routines in the time leading up to the tryouts.
- Ask current and former cheerleaders questions to find out exactly what takes place during the tryouts. The best way to calm your nerves is to gather a clear idea of exactly what is going to happen. Then you can relax and focus on getting better.
- At the tryouts, be sure that you warm up. You may be so nervous or excited that you don't take the time to stretch properly or to get your blood pumping, but be sure you do so.
- Dress correctly. One option is to come dressed in your school colors, which is always a nice touch. If not, then consider black shorts and a white top (it makes it easier for the selection committee to see your basic form during routines).
- Be enthusiastic. Often, people can focus so much on remembering steps that they will look lost or introverted . . . not a good thing in cheerleading.
- Come with a few stock chants of your own. If you get nervous, you need something to fall back on, and yelling, "Go team! Defense! Defense!" can make you look spirited.
- Make eye contact with the judges. It's tempting to stare into the middle distance so that you are not distracted by external things, but again, cheerleading involves making a connection with the crowd. A great way to do that is to look people in the eye.
- Keep your hair out of your face. Tie it back in a ponytail if this is a potential problem.
- Smile. This is key and we shouldn't have to explain. You're trying to be a cheerleader for God's sake.
- Be loud. That doesn't mean shrieking or screaming, but project from your stomach. You'll have to be heard above a noisy crowd, so work on your projection.
- Don't "woo!" It's so tempting to walk in and just go "Wooooooooo!" for two hours, but it really gets judges annoyed. They'd much prefer to hear you actually say words of spirit and encouragement, or even some stock chants.
- Don't be afraid of looking dumb. A lot of people feel silly cheering away like a freak in front of a small tryout committee. Well, cheerleading involves a lot of acting (for instance, acting like you care who wins the big swim meet, or acting like the team is still in the football game, even when they're 60 points behind). The tryout committee will want to see that you can turn on the juice, no matter what the circumstances are. If you hold back because you're afraid of looking dumb, then you will look dumb. Just go for it.
- Have fun. It's contagious.
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW be a cheerleader?
