Takeaways:
- How to try out for cheerleading with no experience is based on the preparation and practice you conduct before tryout day.
- Omni Cheer recommends doing your research to understand what coaches expect during tryouts and developing your skills months in advance.
- How to make the cheer team with no experience still involves a ton of work mastering basic tumbling, posing, stunting, and facials.
- Take gymnastics and dance classes in your area or find a cheer camp running a short-term program ahead of tryouts.
How to Try Out for Cheerleading with No Experience
Trying out for cheer for the first time can be scary and nerve-racking, whether you’re trying out for your middle school squad or are trying out for the high school team. You must be prepared for tryouts in order to make the team!
Take a look at this overview from the experts at Omni Cheer to learn how to try out for cheerleading with no experience.
Know What to Expect
Before you can start preparing, you have to know how the tryout process works and what the coach will expect you to know. What’s the best way to find out? Ask!
Approach the cheer coach or a current cheerleader already on the squad, and ask about what you should know and how you can best prepare. Ask them how to make the cheer team with no experience, or what they did during their first tryout. They can give you the inside scoop, or at least a few pointers that will help out.
Start Stretching
Whether you’ve only just learned a cartwheel or you’re a master tumbler, stretching is one of the best ways to practice for tryouts. Stretching is the foundation of flexibility, which is needed for all stunts, tumbles, and jumps. How to try out for cheerleading with no experience is all about prep. You won’t be able to do a scorpion, back tuck, splits, or herkie without being flexible!
If you’re not flexible, start slow. The worst thing you can do is push yourself too hard. You can’t try out for cheer if you pull a muscle! A common mistake cheerleaders-in-training make is forcing the splits or trying to master the splits within a few days. While it can be frustrating to stretch daily for several months, you must be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the splits take time.
If you feel like you’re not increasing your flexibility, take out a ruler! Each week, measure how far you can reach or stretch. It will help you see that you are improving, even if it is inch by inch.
Master Basic Tumbling Motions
If you’ve never taken a tumbling or gymnastics class, your tumbling skills probably only include cartwheels and handstands. This doesn’t mean you can’t make the cheer squad! There are plenty of cheerleaders who didn’t know how to tumble when they first made the squad. A coach isn’t expecting you to be perfect; it’s all about potential and having the basic building blocks needed to learn stunts and tumbles.
How you make the cheer team with no experience is NOT by trying to learn back handsprings and other advanced tumbling on your own without a spotter or instructor of some sort! How you try out for cheerleading with no experience means familiarizing yourself with the basics. One great resource is our Guide to Tumbling. You’ll learn tips, tricks, and information on all the basic tumbling moves needed as a cheerleader.
Get in the Spirit
You can’t just move like a cheerleader; you need to cheer like one! A big part of being a cheerleader is getting the crowd excited with spirited cheers. It’s important to shout cheers loudly, but coherently. Practice enunciating and cheerfully shouting short cheers to learn how to try out for cheerleading with no experience.
Look the Part
How you try out for cheerleading with no experience is partially about looking the part. Now that you’ve got the moves and attitude of a cheerleader, it’s time to look like a cheerleader! Wear a form-fitting practice tank and shorts.
If possible, wear your school or cheer squad colors! Make sure your shoes are clean and white, and preferably specifically for cheer. If you really want to look spirited, wear a cheer bow in your school or team colors and matching makeup.
Just make sure that if you do wear makeup, keep it simple and natural.
Night-Before/Morning-Of Prep
Just because you’re learning how to make the cheer team with no experience doesn’t mean you should start your day tired. Go to bed early and get a full night’s rest. Pack your tryout clothing, accessories, and other necessities so you don’t forget anything the next day.
In the morning, eat a healthy breakfast and pack a water bottle and healthy, energy-boosting snacks, like granola bars, fruit, veggies, trail mix, or a sandwich. If you have time, do a few stretches. Don’t forget a notepad and pen to jot down any notes you may need to remember during tryouts.
Cheerleading Tryout FAQ
Can I learn how to try out for cheerleading with no experience?
Yes! You don’t need to know everything there is to know about cheerleading before attending your first tryout. There are many teams that welcome beginners who have the dedication and commitment to work hard and practice.
How far in advance should I prepare for cheer tryouts?
If you want to learn how to make the cheer team with no experience, preparation is key. You should start stretching and strength training several months in advance to give yourself as much time as possible to build a strong foundation.
What cheer skills should a beginner practice first?
To perform confidently during tryouts, you should prioritize these skills:
You should practice cartwheels, handstands, and walkovers for your tumbling essentials. The rest you can learn from your coach once you get on the team.
Should I take a cheer, dance, or tumbling class before tryouts?
If you don’t want to risk figuring out how to try out for cheerleading with no experience, some sort of class can be incredibly helpful before tryouts. Depending on the season and location, you may be able to find gymnastics and dance studios for single classes, as well as cheer camps that last for a few days.
What happens during a cheer tryout?
While each tryout is unique, you can expect a few standard activities, including:
- Learning and performing a dance routine
- Showcasing your stunt skills
- Leading a chant
Sometimes, coaches may provide you with feedback and make time for questions.
Ready, Set, Go!
Now that you know how to try out for cheerleading with no experience, the time has come to hit the floor and show the coach what you’ve got! Arrive early and stretch for at least 15 minutes before you try out. Make sure you’ve filled out any and all forms. Don’t concentrate on being perfect; it will only cause more stress. Instead, focus on smiling and acting spirited. If you mess up, smile and act as if nothing happened!
After your tryout, thank the coach and ask when decisions will be made. Once your tryout is over, breathe a sigh of relief and be proud of your accomplishment. You did it!
Reader Tips: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Cheer
We asked our readers to pass along the knowledge they gained from their cheer experiences. Whether you’re trying to learn how to try out for cheerleading with no experience or you want to stay up to date on new developments, keep these things in mind.
- Don’t underestimate the power cheer can have over your life! If you love it, which you probably will, you may find yourself going far like our reader Erica. She wishes she had known how far she would go, because she would have prepared her skills better by taking tumbling classes.
- Beverly warns that you need to have a grasp of how much time is involved. Unlike other sports that have seasons, cheer can be a year-round commitment. You don’t just attend practice either; you may be asked to take outside training like tumbling and dance.
- Miquelda wants to remind new cheerleaders that those stunts you see are actually harder than they look! Sure, the experienced stunt groups are making it LOOK easy, but they’ve been training and practicing for a long time!
Have more questions about how to try out for cheerleading with no experience? Omni Cheer is here to help. Check out all of our articles for more guides.
