How to Make a College Cheerleading Team

For many high school and competitive (also known as all-star) cheerleaders, becoming a collegiate cheerleader is the next step. But the transition from high school and all-star cheerleading to college cheerleading is difficult, because of the different requirements asked of the cheerleader. In this article, find out exactly what to do before and during try-outs to make a college cheerleading squad.

Before Try-Outs

Find Out What's Required at Try-Outs

What's the point in going to try-out if the try-out material isn't known? Most college cheerleading teams have a website in conjunction to the college or university's sports page or their own site. This page will offer hopefuls the information needed to know for trying out. Sometimes the cheerleading coaches or athletic director will send out informational packets to hopefuls as well.

Here are skills usually required at any college cheerleading try-out:

Standing tumbling

Running tumbling

Jump sequence

All-girl or partner stunting

Optional skills to showcase

Learned dance

Learned cheer

Here is the information usually required to bring at any college cheerleading try-out:

Proof of school acceptance

Birth certificate or known SSN

Height and weight

Clothing and shoe sizes

Position trying out for (i.e. base, flyer, tumbler, etc.)

Proof of physical

Any prior cheerleading experience

Many coaches also want you to bring in a headshot for reference when going over scores.

Call or E-mail the Cheerleading Coaches

Introducing yourself to the coach or coaches gives you an advantage for several reasons. First off, it shows you are committed to becoming a collegiate cheerleader. Secondly, it shows you are outgoing and like to make a great impression, two characteristics cheerleading coaches look for when choosing members for their teams. A call is more personal, but sending a short, introductory e-mail works just as well. Ask them any questions you might have and be sure to include any cheerleading experience you have as well as a short overview of your best skills. Selling yourself is a large part of the process of trying out.

Practice and Perfect Your Skills

If you have a skill that is perfect, keep it up to par, and work on a few new ones as well. You can either show these skills off at try-outs (if they are polished enough), or state that you are working on them. This gives them the option to see the skill-in-progress if desired. It also shows the coaches you are always working on improving on existing moves, stunts, and/or tumbling passes. Never try-out with a new or even fairly new skill if you aren't sure you will hit it. This makes the cheerleading coaches think you are either sloppy or insecure under pressure, neither of which are assets to a collegiate cheerleading squad.

Get to Know the Other Cheerleaders

As intimidating as it might be, attempting to get to know the current members on a collegiate cheerleading team is a large part on scoring a coveted spot on the squad. It depends on what university you try-out for, but lots of times the coaches take input from existing cheerleaders. Since some part of the try-out process has to do with politics, make sure to befriend all the cheerleaders you can, especially current ones. Also talk to other hopefuls, but remember that half of them will probably not make the cut. You can meet current college cheerleaders for your school of choice at their cheerleading clinics or on Facebook and MySpace.

At Try-Outs

Introduce Yourself to Everyone

This goes along with getting to know the other cheerleaders, as just mentioned above. Be friendly, but don't forget it is a serious setting, and the coaches also want to know you aren't just there to make friends. You are there to try-out and become a student athlete.

Go Over Your Skills

When time is given to go over the skills learned at the try-out or clinic (like a taught cheer or dance), take advantage and practice until you're comfortable. Even if you are confident with yourself, practice at least once during the allotted time or during a water/snack break. This is a great time to show you are a team player and able to work well with the other prospective and current cheerleaders. Grab a few of your newfound friends and go over the material. You can even ask them to stunt with you or throw standing back-tucks to counts.

Make Sure You're Prepared

If you show up at the try-out wearing the wrong outfit (usually a sports bra and cheerleading shorts void of school mascots or mottoes on them), you will definitely stand out, but not in a good way. Make sure you're prepared for the try-out, that you have the correct attire on, that you brought all the right paperwork with you, and you have a water bottle and snack if needed. Make sure you're also prepared skill-wise.

Stay Positive, No Matter What

During the try-out you may mess up, but don't let it show on your face. Plenty of hopefuls will fall or forget an eight-count; but the ones that cry or stress over these little mistakes will be the ones to get cut. If you get up and smile or try to spirit until you find a place to start again, it will be noted. The coaches aren't expecting you to be perfect; in fact, they look at potential more than anything. Staying positive during your college cheerleading team try-out will show you can handle pressure and know how to bounce back from a blunder. These are two attributes most all college cheerleaders have.

Look Like a Collegiate Cheerleader

Lastly, you need to look like a collegiate cheerleader to be seen as one by the judges. Wear your hair half-up or in a very high, but polished ponytail if it is long or down and neat if short. You also need to be in full make-up. Don't show up as if you just rolled out of bed; this shows you don't care about your appearance, which is something most college cheerleaders do consider important (as well as the coaches). You will eventually be performing in front of peers and thousands of other people, so you want to look your best at all times, even during try-outs. Wear classy, not gaudy, make-up. Also, collegiate cheerleading is more about spirit and smiles than attitude. If you are a high school cheerleader, you will be more familiar with this style of cheerleading. However, if you were in competitive, all-star cheerleading, don't do any crazy facials.