Cheerleading Info Center

Cheerleading Fitness - How to Strengthen Your Core

Here is a super SIMPLE exercise that will improve your core ( your stomach and back muscles ) to help improve all of your cheer skills:

Leg crosses are a great exercise that will strengthen your core.  And yes, this one is an easy exercise to fit into your day as you can do this while you watch TV.  Here are all of the details:

• Lay on your back propped up on your elbows.
• Bring your legs out in front of you into a pike position and lift them off the ground.
• Now begin to switch your legs by bringing one over the other and point your toes.
• Try to do 1 set of 8 switches and work your way up to 3 sets of 8.

Here's to your strong core :-)

 

Save

Cheerleading Leadership Tips for Captains and Coaches - How to Gain Your Team's Respect

One easy way to help gain your team's respect is to have Confidence in yourself!  One way to show that is to speak clearly and confidently!  If you waiver or are unsure of yourself, your teammates will doubt your ability to lead.

Another easy way to gain your team's respect is to be Prepared!  Make sure you know what you are going to work on for your practice and have your team goals clearly set for everyone to see.

Save

Cheerleading Tryouts - How to Make Your Team! Part 3 - It's Tryout Day!

 Ok, its time, tryout day is here!!!!  Here are some things to remember:

· Be EARLY!

· Have FUN - that’s what this is all about anyway!

· BREATHE!  It will help you calm down.

· Warm up and stretch before you see the judges

· Wear appropriate clothing!  You should wear something that shows your team spirit.  Please do not wear shorts that are too short or roll them up!   A team shirt and solid color shorts always works best.

· Wear minimal makeup - you want people to notice your smile and great skills not your eye shadow.

· Always pull your hair back away from your face with LOTS of hairspray so it will not bother you during your tryout.

 

While in front of the judges

SMILE  SMILE  SMILE!  No one wants to watch someone with a frown on their face, even if they are the best cheerleader around!

· Be Confident in you and your skills - sell them!  Why should a judge be confident in your ability to be a cheerleader if you are not?

· Make eye contact with all of the judges - just not the one in front of you. 

· Never look down at the floor.  So many girls get in front of the judges and look down because they are nervous - looking down is a sure sign you are uncomfortable and the judges will feel this.

· Please do not play with your clothing or your hair.

· Do not talk to the other cheerleaders in your group.

· If you make a mistake - it is ok, just continue with your tryout.  Pretend that it did not even happen - DO NOT call attention to it.

· Technique matters.  Make sure your motions are sharp and you complete all of your skills.  For example, finish your jumps with a strong ending - Sell it!

 

To conclude, we hope that these tips will help make your tryout process easier.  Be confident in your skills.  Hopefully you have practiced enough and you are prepared so there is no reason to be nervous.  Do your best and enjoy the process. :-)

 

 

Save

 Ok, its time, tryout day is here!!!!  Here are some things to remember:

· Be EARLY!

· Have FUN - that’s what this is all about anyway!

· BREATHE!  It will help you calm down.

· Warm up and stretch before you see the judges

· Wear appropriate clothing!  You should wear something that shows your team spirit.  Please do not wear shorts that are too short or roll them up!   A team shirt and solid color shorts always works best.

· Wear minimal makeup - you want people to notice your smile and great skills not your eye shadow.

· Always pull your hair back away from your face with LOTS of hairspray so it will not bother you during your tryout.

 

While in front of the judges

SMILE  SMILE  SMILE!  No one wants to watch someone with a frown on their face, even if they are the best cheerleader around!

· Be Confident in you and your skills - sell them!  Why should a judge be confident in your ability to be a cheerleader if you are not?

· Make eye contact with all of the judges - just not the one in front of you. 

· Never look down at the floor.  So many girls get in front of the judges and look down because they are nervous - looking down is a sure sign you are uncomfortable and the judges will feel this.

· Please do not play with your clothing or your hair.

· Do not talk to the other cheerleaders in your group.

· If you make a mistake - it is ok, just continue with your tryout.  Pretend that it did not even happen - DO NOT call attention to it.

· Technique matters.  Make sure your motions are sharp and you complete all of your skills.  For example, finish your jumps with a strong ending - Sell it!

 

To conclude, we hope that these tips will help make your tryout process easier.  Be confident in your skills.  Hopefully you have practiced enough and you are prepared so there is no reason to be nervous.  Do your best and enjoy the process. :-)

Cheerleading Tryouts - How to Make Your Team - Part 2: What to do on the day of tryouts!

Ok, for the last few days you have practiced your material and you know all of the skills backwards and forwards.  Today is the day to relax.  Usually, if you do not know the skill or cheer by now, you won’t so this is why PRACTICE is so important!  Here are some tips for today:

· Eat a very healthy breakfast and lunch;  a good source of protein and some fruit is great.  Also, drink lots of water and avoid fast foods!

· Make sure you get a good night’s sleep.  I know that it is hard to sleep the night before because your are excited, but try. 

· Go over the tryout material in your head.  Visualize you performing all of your skills perfectly, you are calm, and thoroughly enjoying the process.  Yes, tryouts can be fun!

 

 

 

 

· Eat a very healthy breakfast and lunch;  a good source of protein and some fruit is great.  Also, drink lots of water and avoid fast foods!

· Make sure you get a good night’s sleep.  I know that it is hard to sleep the night before because your are excited, but try. 

· Go over the tryout material in your head.  Visualize you performing all of your skills perfectly, you are calm, and thoroughly enjoying the process.  Yes, tryouts can be fun!

 

 

 

 

Cheerleading Tryouts - How to Make Your Team! - Part 1 Getting Ready for Your Tryouts

So you want to be a cheerleader?  Well, here are some tips to help you make your favorite team.  There are 3 basic parts of the tryout process: 

1.  Prep-Time - how to get ready for tryouts

2.  What to do on the day of tryouts

3.  The actual Tryouts and being in front of the judges.

Per sure to check out our 3 part series on Cheerleading Tryouts to give you the edge! 

Now, let's get started with Getting Ready for Tryouts!

 

Prep- Time

Generally, each team will have some kid of clinic to teach you all of the materials you need for their tryout.  Usually, teams will have a hands on clinic where you actually go to the gym and learn from an instructor or previous cheerleader.  On occasion, some teams may give you the material on video to learn at home.  For the clinic type, here are some tips to remember:

 

· Be ON TIME:  On time means 15 minutes early - NEVER be late!

· Try to be in the front of the group so you can get a good view of the material.

· If someone next to you needs help and you think that you can, help them or find someone who can- remember this is a team sport!

· Bring a pad of paper and something to write with so you can take notes.  Write down your cheers and chants, dance moves, tryout partners name, and tryout times / details.

· Do NOT leave early or be the first out the door. 

· Ask questions if you need to - do not be shy, they expect you to ask for help.

· Always have a SMILE!!!!!  This should be fun and people want to see your smile - especially your new potential coach.

· Normally, your tryout score defines if you make the team or not.  However, the head coach can override the scores if they feel you would not be a good “fit” for their team.  For example they consider, your appearance;  yes your practice attire matters and this is not the place for your shortest shorts! Your attendance and  your ATTITUDE are both HUGE!  Think of the Clinic as your first tryout because you never know who is watching!

 

For school teams, most coaches consider your grades and references from your teachers - so keep up with your studies!

At this point, the next best advice is:

Practice, Practice, and Practice some more!

Practice like you are in front of the judges!  It is a known fact that the way you practice something is the way you will perform it.  So practice full out!

So you want to be a cheerleader?  Well, here are some tips to help you make your favorite team.  There are 3 basic parts of the tryout process: 

1.  Prep-Time - how to get ready for tryouts

2.  What to do on the day of tryouts

3.  The actual Tryouts and being in front of the judges.

Per sure to check out our 3 part series on Cheerleading Tryouts to give you the edge! 

Now, let's get started with Getting Ready for Tryouts!

How to be Great Cheerleading Flyer! Part 1

If you are a flyer or would like to be one, than this section is for you.   This section has a variety of tips and techniques for you to be the best Flyer you can be.

Flyer Positions:  There are a variety of positions for a Flyer.  Please CLICK HERE for a list of them.

Tips:

• Be Confident:  Confidence shows and lack of it can get you hurt.
• Smile
• Look Up at the crowd - do not look down.
• Always be "tight"
• Sell the stunt with your facial expressions and sharp motions.
• Always use proper climbing techniques (some listed below).
• PRACTICE in a mirror at home on the ground to make sure your posture is correct.
• NO LAUGHING while in your stunt.
• Use the word "DOWN" if you are falling
• NEVER try any stunt that you are not ready for.  For example, if you just mastered the Double Thigh Stand, you next stunt should not be the Ground Up Full.

Save

FREE CHANT EBOOK on CIC!

Do you need some new chants for your team?  Check out this FREE Chant E-book to get you started!

Save