How to Become a Professional Cheerleader

Professional cheerleaders are typically associated with football and basketball in America and represent some of this country's most agile and outstanding athletes. If you want to become a professional cheerleader, you must dedicate yourself to a strict schedule of gymnastics, dance and physical fitness.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Extensive background in competitive cheerleading and/or dance

Train Your Way to the Top

1. Start gymnastics, dance and cheerleading experience as young as possible. For many professional cheerleaders, lessons begin as early as 2 years old.

2. Master modern, jazz and hip-hop dance techniques, as these methods are often incorporated into professional cheerleading routines.

3. Stand out amidst the dance competition by having a background in gymnastics as well. This added skill will often help you win a coveted squad spot over a dancer of equal ability.

Audition to Become a Professional Cheerleader

1. Prepare for your audition with intense physical fitness preparation. This includes weight lifting, endurance training and cardiovascular workouts.

2. Wear body-conscious dance attire to your audition that accentuates your figure without revealing too much. You should be able to move freely and look great at the same time.

3. Perform audition routines as instructed. Adding your own twist to structured routines will actually make you stand out in a bad way. Keep in mind that the goal of a professional cheerleading squad is to move as one cohesive unit with no members standing out.

Tips & Warnings

• Professional cheerleaders in the NFL and NBA do much more dancing than stunting, so focus 90 percent of your physical preparation on dance to become a viable candidate.

• Keep in mind that professional cheerleaders are not only required to attend home games, but also to participate in public appearances, coach at camps and fulfill many other year-round duties.

• Many professional cheerleader organizations, such as the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, require strict attention to your weight and appearance. Full hair, makeup and dance attire are typically expected at these tryouts, so be prepared.

• If you are not extremely physically disciplined, this sport may not be for you. While most professional cheerleading organizations will not impose a strict weight requirement on squad members, they will demand that you are height and weight appropriate and can cut you with no notice if you gain considerable weight after tryouts.

• Do not expect to make much money from this sport. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, the most highly respected and coveted squad in the nation, make only $50 a game.