When you want to start off any sport, it can be daunting as you try to figure out the needed requirements. Cheerleading is not an exception. If you are thinking about how to try out for cheerleading with no experience at all, my simplest advice to you is to tell you to just start off.
A person can try out for cheerleading even if they lack experience, although this is inadvisable. An applicant should practice basic drills before applying, and most established teams have selection criteria that can be reviewed and prepared for before the tryout occurs.
You will be surprised that you will learn a lot along the way as long as you practice your skills continuously. So are you a newbie and would to learn the basics of cheerleading? In this article, we take you through everything you need to know.
Let’s start off immediately.
Can I be a cheerleader with no experience?
Yes. This however will depend on the requirement of your school, your fitness/sports background, the skill set possessed by your competitors auditioning for the same, and your motivations. All these factors help you adapt to this challenging activity faster. So if you really want to become a cheerleader without any experience, all these factors should not scare you.
In my experience attending cheerleader tryouts, I have encountered one or two girls that have never been part of a cheer team but make it to a team. They make it to the team because of the following reason.
It is because they know some basics. When going for cheerleading tryouts, you probably would need to know one or two basic vocabularies. For instance, you need to know vocabulary such as high B’s teas and hurdler pike and similar ones. If you have never come across such terminologies then you need to be aware of them. They will help you compete favorably with those that have some background in the activity.
What do you need to try out for cheerleading?
Cheerleading tryouts are intense and you also need to impress during this big day. The cheerleading position is usually coveted in your school or fitness/sports group.
So what do you need to try out for cheerleading?
• Practice jumping
• Tumbling
• Cheering
• Dance, and dance, and dance.
Practice jumping
During your cheerleading tryout, you will be expected to do a lot of jumps. Remember that flexibility and endurance is the ultimate goal you are looking for to be a perfect cheerleader. Therefore, some weeks or months before your big day you need to practice some unique jump moves that will earn you a position as a cheerleader.
The kinds of jumps that your sports group expects from you include toe touch, hurdlers- both side and front, and herkie among others. You may want to do a combination of two or more of the above jumps just to stand out and clinch that position. You can even advance to be a gymnast and practice some more advanced moves.
You need to be creative! There is no other way to go about this. Otherwise, how would you be at the forefront in leading a cheering squad for your team during high pressure?
Tumbling
During your tryouts, your school or your fitness/sports group would ask you to do a roundoff and a cartwheel.
I wouldn’t want to put you off but a little background in gymnastics will be a great boost for you to attain this effortlessly. So if you really want to land this coveted position as a cheerleader, few gymnastics wouldn’t be that bad. The more advanced gymnastics you go through, the easier it will become for you to elevate your overall score.
Dance, and dance, and dance a lot.
You may have probably seen that most cheerleading squads have dance routines as one of their characteristics. Therefore, during your tryouts, you might need to have basic dance skills. Some schools or fitness/sporting groups may have their specific dance moves. You may be taken through these moves before you start off your presentation.
So what this basically means is that you need to be a little bit apt and be able to learn very fast. By this, you will be able to beat your competitors and earn yourself that spot as a cheerleader. Finally, the most important thing that you need to have in mind is that you should practice smiling and elicit great enthusiasm. This must follow the body moves during the dancing session.
Cheering
When trying out for cheerleading, you will be required to showcase your cheering skills. Your teacher or the panel will probably teach you some specific cheers during the tryout. During your cheering routine, there are some precise movements that you need to showcase. Again, your timing must be top-notch. Remember, you will need a lot of energy during the process. You need to project your voice for your cheering to be audible enough.
How do you become a beginner cheerleader?
I am not trying to put you off, but it is fact that cheerleading requires some investment for you to become an expert. It requires an investment in work, a good attitude, and commitment. To become a beginner cheerleader, first, start off by practicing for tryouts for your school or your fitness/sporting group.
During such tryouts, you will be competing with many other aspiring candidates. So how do you stay a notch higher to become a beginning cheerleader? Here are a few things you need to consider.
Make friends
To become a beginner cheerleader, you need to try and make some new friends. This is your first step. You will want to do this to fit in into a group. Try as much as possible to talk to the group members just to have a feel of the group.
Be positive
This is another vital skill you need to have if you want to become a beginner cheerleader. Oftentimes, cheerleading involves setting up morale and you will need this when leading team members.
Therefore, you need to build a positive mentality as this will lighten up the group members around you.
Enhance your endurance
There is a lot of activity involved during cheerleading. You will be moving from one point to another as you lead your team in cheering.
Therefore, you may want to focus on strengthening yourself through activities that boost your endurance.
Such activities include biking, treadmills, hiking, and jogging among others. They help activate your heartbeat for the hard tasks that you will be doing as you lead your team.
Develop a strong voice
One thing that best cheerleaders do is beating the competitors during a cheering activity. You do this by having a better voice that is more audible and unique when compared to that of your competitors.
To do this, breath correctly- shallow breaths are not desirable. Take deep breaths that get your lungs enough oxygen.
Again, utilize a lot of energy when talking. You want to be persuasive in the process. You need to be commanding above your other competitors.
Do your research
Before anything else, research. You need to know the expectations of the team you will be leading. For instance, you may want to know the kind of things that can cheer your team. Or what turns them off so that you can avoid them.
You may want to ask other people that have auditioned for the same position you are going to take. By this, you may avoid any embarrassments that you couldn’t foresee on your own.
What age is too late to start cheerleading?
There is absolutely no late age for you to start cheerleading. You can take part in the sport at any age. Of course with other factors such as health and fitness remaining constant. All it takes is for you to just calm your nerves and be relaxed. If you start your cheerleading at a tender age, this will be a significant plus. This gives you a great foundation. Remember cheerleading is an activity that requires you to lead groups of people. To do this effectively, you will need to start off this practice from a young age.
This should however put you down. In my experience, I have seen elderly people even above 60 years starting their cheerleading skills. One factor that stands out for these people is their health and fitness. So you can start your cheerleading as late as over 60 years as long you as you have the necessary physical capabilities.
I am stressing on this aspect because you already know that cheerleading is a demanding sport that will involve many physical exercises such as dancing, stunting, and tumbling. Therefore, to become the best cheerleader, you need to flourish in those skills.
Conclusion
Becoming a cheerleader can be daunting especially for those that have no prior experience. But the bright side is that anybody can train to be a good cheerleader. It only takes practice and dedication. It is never too late to start cheerleading. You can start as early as 10 years or as old as over 60 years. For the elderly, however, your physical capabilities play a major role. All the best as you take this leap and start your cheerleading experience. Hurray!
