How to get Ready for Cheerleading Tryouts

Cheerleading is physically demanding and is not for the faint-hearted or the non-committed. Cheerleading hopefuls have a better chance of making it to the cheerleading squads if they're prepared for the tryouts. Be sure to attend the preliminary meeting that most squads hold before the actual tryout date. That and the following tips will help you get ready for cheerleading tryouts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Make sure you have the right mindset. Cheerleading requires 100 percent dedication. And it's very time consuming. You'll be required to perform at every game and competition and many practices, camps and any other school activity.
2. Increase your stamina well before the tryouts. Cheerleading involves a lot of running, cheering, yelling and acrobatics that can be exhausting. Jog, do aerobics or any activity that gets your heart rate up will increase your stamina and get you ready for cheerleading tryouts.
3. Work on your flexibility to prevent you from injuring yourself and will also allow you to do all the dancing and activities involved in cheerleading. Yoga and Pilates are great ways to increase your flexibility and build long, lean and strong muscles as well.
4. Take gymnastic classes and dance classes months before the cheerleading tryouts. This will help you polish your coordination and teach you skills like backflips and tumbling that most cheerleaders are required to do.
5. Learn the cheers and dances by going to all the practices and games before the tryouts. It also shows initiative, dedication and great team spirit, which are all qualities cheerleading squads are looking for in their members.
6. Record the music you plan to tryout to so that you can practice at home and perfect your moves to the beat. Learn to perform with a genuine smile on your face and practice looking confident at all times, even when you may not necessarily feel that way.
7. Learn to yell. No little shrill shrieking is acceptable. Practice bringing the sound from deep within your gut and projecting it out.