-Dress neatly. Nothing baggy. Don't wear anything with holes in it. And
try to dress in the school colors the day you try-out.
-Be sure to pull your hair back. If you have short hair pull the front
back at least.
-Go for the natural look in make-up. Wear foundation to cover uneven
areas and mascara. No lipstick and if you have to pale eye shadow.
-Don't swear. Ever! No one wants to hear it, or be around it. This is
supposed to be a positive environment and you're responsible for keeping it that way.
-Take notes on any info you may need for the try-outs.
-Don't be afraid to ask questions. But make sure to ask the coach not
someone else.
-If the coach doesn't give out constitutions ask for a copy of one. Know
what you're getting into.
-If you have a problem with any of it talk to the coach. You want to
do this before you make the squad not after. It shows you're coach you're responsible and that you really read it thru. If
it's something you can't agree on you should leave immediately. You're taking a spot on the squad that could go to someone
who could better fulfill the obligations of the squad.
-Ask for how the coach will be judging you. How many points for what?
This will let you know what the coach finds most important to be on the squad.
-Pick up all the routines as fast as you can. Practice by yourself off
to the side, or while sitting down with your friends.
-Go over and over the words in your head. This will help the day of try-outs
when you are nervous.
-When imagining the routine in your head imagine you're doing
it in front of the judges at the real try-outs. This will make you better prepared to do the real thing when it happens.
- Be sure to ask your coach of who will be judging your tryouts. Some
schools are judged by the coach alone, teachers, and some even run judging in front of your entire school!
-Smile, smile, and then smile some more. At the try-out practices, while
doing it alone, even in your head. This will help you more than you know. While really at the try-outs it's more important
but practicing doing it will make it second nature to you. Just make sure you look sincere and are having fun doing it.
-No matter what you do keep going. Just get right back into it and don't
miss a beat if you can. When you mess up, your hair falls out, your partner messes up, you fall, ANYTHING. Keep going
no matter what. And keep smiling while you're at it. These are crucial at all times no matter what is going on around you.
It shows you're professional and already know what to do if it happens later in the year.
-Practice the routine until you feel you know it enough to show it off
in front of the entire school, or worse yet, in front of a panel of judges.
-Practice all the jumps until you have the basics of them down, and then
practice the height on them. It's better to have a girl who needs to work on height rather than to learn the technique
of the jump. Remember to point your toes and to smile while jumping.
-Remember to keep your moves sharp and clean looking. Put your muscles
into them.
-Do whatever tumbling you can do. A cartwheel, or round off are fine.
Don't try a back handspring if you've never done one. It's better to do no tumbling than to fall on your tumbling.
-Look at the judges as a group and individually. Especially when yelling
things a crowd should be yelling back at you. Be prepared for them not to yell back at you. Don't let it get you down. They're
not supposed to.
-Never look at the ground or down.
-Yell using your diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Never strain to use
your throat. Be sure to inhale deeply, and open your mouth wide to yell.
-Keep your chin and head up. Your back and shoulders straight. This opens
your windpipe and diaphragm.
-Be sure to enunciate each word you say. Never sing the words you're
saying. Keep them loud and clearly spoken.
-Drink lots of water before any yelling. It'll help keep your throat
from getting so dry and so you don't lose your voice.
-When yelling actually yell words. Not "Woo Hoo." Judges take points
off for this. Anything is better. "Try Go Team." " Beat Those Cats." " Go Fight Win."
-When coming in to take the court for your try-outs rush it and
yell phrases like " Go Big Blue," and "Go Indians." Tumble if you can
or want to.
-Be sure to have facials. Look excited at parts of your cheer, confident at others,
tough at some. Use head nods and tilts to accentuate parts even further. Use a mirror beforehand to make sure you have
them down.
-And last above least look happy to be there. If you're not really
then why are you there in the first place?
