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Step 1
Establish the criteria before tryouts begin. Professional cheerleading squads require cheerleaders to be proportionate with their weight and height. Other cheerleading squads focus more on athletic ability, coordination, enthusiasm and energy.
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Step 2
Attend the tryouts and tape them if possible. The more people trying out for the team, the harder it is to review each one. Taping the tryouts allows you to review the candidates and pause so you can evaluate as you watch. If you can't tape them, make sure you walk around so you clearly see each candidate.
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Step 3
Evaluate each candidate as a member of the group and as an individual. Watch for coordination and precise movements as the group performs. When the individual performs, listen for volume and judge how well the candidate performs the required elements like tumbling, dancing, kicks or extensions.
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Step 4
Use a rating system with numbers 1 through 10. Use 1 as the worst and 10 as the best. Each judge should fill out their own score card per candidate.
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Step 5
Average the score cards and take the highest rated candidate first. Continue down the line until you fill all available positions.
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Step 6
Look at recommendations from other members of the cheerleading squad. How the group gets along plays an important part in team spirit. Look at the recommendations after you determine the high scores. If several candidates tie, you can use the recommendations to help make the final decision.
