How to Judge Junior High Cheerleading Tryouts

Junior High School is typically the first introduction to cheerleading. The way you conduct cheerleading tryouts depends on how competitive you want your team to be; different schools judge on different levels. Some schools are strictly about school spirit, while other schools look at cheerleading as a competitive sport. Either way, you'll want to make certain that you have the right team to lead your school to victory.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Practice with your students one week prior to tryouts. Teach participants four cheers, a five-minute dance routine and various jumps.
2. Get to know each student's personality. Look for kids who demonstrate progression throughout the course of the week and play well with others.
3. Pick a panel of 3 to 5 judges. Judges can be a combination of former cheerleaders, parents and teachers.
4. Make a scoring sheet. Leave a space for the student's name at the top of the page.
   List categories along the left column and write numbers 1 through 5 next to each category. Categories may include tumbling, cheers, dance, jumps and spirit. Tell your judges to circle a number in each category for each student.
5. Assign numbers to students and call them into tryouts individually or in small groups. They should enter the audition yelling, tumbling and jumping.
6. Ask participants to perform two of the four cheers from practice, the five-minute dance routine and three jumps. When you're circling numbers in your categories, think about execution, timing, sharpness, enthusiasm, facials, vocals and confidence.
7. Total up each student's combined score between all of the judges and put together your school's cheerleading squad.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes a student may not have the best physical skill requirements, but instead has an outstanding personality. Consider this trait during the judging process.