How to Become a Cheerleader Without Knowing Gymnastics

It's not always necessary to have gymnastic skills to be a cheerleader. Being exceptional at all your jumps, splits, kicks and having strong memorization skills can sometimes be enough. Learn other ways to become a cheerleader without knowing anything about gymnastics.

Instructions

1. Know the requirements of the team before trying out. Some teams may have restrictions that tell you whether they explicitly need cheerleaders with gymnastic skills. If this is the case don’t worry, you can get around this as well, which will be shared later. However, some teams have more relaxed requirements in which members can be taught gymnastics if they are good in all other areas. Be advised that teams with more prestige may have stricter requirements and less give when it comes to gymnastic abilities.

2. Try to see how the coaches are scoring cheerleaders at tryouts. Most coaches run tryouts on a point system. They give each requirement a point value. On the first day or the beginning of tryouts, the coaches will tell the prospective cheerleaders what they expect and the requirements for being considered to make the team. Find out exactly how much each of these requirements weighs. If gymnastics is not a major requirement for making the team then you stand a great chance.

3. Be exceptional at everything else. In order to mask the fact that you have no gymnastic skills, make sure all other components are PERFECT. Make sure whatever jumps they want you to do are on point. Be perky, actually be cheer-perky! Smile big, clap loud, be energetic, and land all of your stunts and moves better than expected. Make it hard for the coaches to refuse you. Make gymnastics your only negative.

4. Get to know the current cheerleaders and coaches. Let them put in a good word for you. Tell them your dilemma and gauge whether the team will work with you. Get an inside feel for the team and whether you really want to participate. Maybe the current members can even help you out with a couple of the gymnastic skills you need to know for tryouts.

5. Take a couple of gymnastic classes before tryouts. This will ensure that you are able to do a lot of the things that the coaches want you to do. Though you may not be as seasoned as some of the other cheerleaders, it at least looks like you’re taking the sport seriously.