Cheerleading?

clairibou1
clairibou1 Posts: 124
edited October 1 in Chit-Chat
Ok so for years and years I have wanted to be a cheerleader. I love everything about the sport- the tumbling, the involvement in sports, the level of fitness it helps you achieve, and yes, the big sparkly bows. :) However, in all of my years, I have never actually tried cheerleading. Suddenly, last night at around 10 PM, I had one of those crazy thoughts: I want to be a cheerleader when I go to college next year. Don't ask me why, but the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. My plans for now are to start a workout program specifically for cheerleading and enroll in tumbling classes at the local cheer and power tumbling academy. However, before I jump into this, I wanted to see if there are any present or former cheerleaders out there that could help me out. When do tryouts usually happen for college squads? Also, is there anything beyond my current plan that I should be doing? Finally (and most importantly) is this possible? Don't be afraid to tell me know- I already have a lot on my plate with school, and this may well push me over the edge. However, I am willing to give whatever it takes to make this dream a reality (yes, I know that sounded really cheesy). Anyways, thanks for your help! :)

Replies

  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I'm not a cheerleader. But I'll say this, don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Get some tough skin, your going into the viper den with those girls. Remember your better, you are going to try harder.

    I have a feeling if you don't go all out into this, your going to regret it for the rest of your life. That is worse than anything else.

    *edit* I should point out that I had a cheer leading coach for a roommate for 2 years. so yeah. I do know way more than I ever wanted to about it.
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    Take a dance class, while a lot of cheerleading is stunting a lot is also dance. You need to know rhythm, timing, how to hold your body and how to move in a dance as well as all the stunting. Cheer dance moves are eay but they're very fast and very powerful so either do cheer dance or pop helped me a lot...but I'm talking 90s pop here when you had very simple, very pwerful moves, not hip hop and gyrations....
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Real advice too. Do you play a musical instrument? I was able to help out, even though I know nothing about the moves, but if you understand music theory you will just know how on what beats your supposed to move on, they always do an 8 count for some reason that drives me nuts for a 4/4 song. Its all going to be pop songs, and just cheers that are yelling. I was able to tell if they were off, or if stuff wasn't right because of this. (doesn't mean I knew the right thing, just that it was wrong).

    1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8
    Just that will help you so much, cause you won't be counting and trying to remember the beat, so you can concentrate on the moves.
  • SkateboardFi
    SkateboardFi Posts: 1,322 Member
    i was a cheerleader for 4 years, i'd advise you to start doing cardio, dance classes, and plyometrics for jumping. you need to have stamina and good form when it comes to jumps. if you are enrolled in a tumbling class that is a definite plus, you may also want to get some practice in stunts. depending on your build you can either be a backspot, a flyer, or a base. if you are a back spot, you will need to focus on upperbody exercises because you will be bearing the weight of the flyer and balancing her on the hands of the bases. if you are a base, you will have to focus more on lower body exercises because you use your leg strength to lift up the flyer. if you are a flyer, you'll have to maintain a lean build to be aerodynamic and also work on being able to keep your body rigid while you are in stunts. overall, they had us doing wholebody conditioning, but because i was a backspot, i also focused on my upper body. feel free to message me about this, or ask questions in this thread, i'd be happy to help!
  • kdchick99
    kdchick99 Posts: 104 Member
    I was a cheerleader for four years and like other stated you have to know which position you are going to be. Flyer, Backspot, Base. I was a flyer and I had to maintain a very low body weight and had to be ready to be dropped for time to time.

    In college, I thought about doing cheerleading too. I contacted the coach and asked for information about try outs, what was required (standing tuck, back hand springs, etc.). You starting with tumbling classes and exercising will really help! Dance classes, flexiability, and learning the language of cheerleading will be helpful too, i.e.: how to do a Liberty, standing tuck, etc. The more you know the better you will be.

    Also, I think it's great you are pursuing your dream!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't make it, then keep trying! I didn't make it my freshman year of college and wish I would have tried out again! Keep me posted and feel free to add me/message me with any questions!
  • ieuanfw
    ieuanfw Posts: 19
    Remember, a life without a dream is like having no place to go and noone to share it with. Go for the dream, work for the dream and your dream will become reality.
  • Emilyas1
    Emilyas1 Posts: 9
    I have a feeling if you don't go all out into this, your going to regret it for the rest of your life. That is worse than anything else.

    What Bill said above. Good for you for following your dreams, I wanted to be a cheerleader too when I was in school, but for various reasons I wasn't able to do it. I should have tried harder, and now I regret that I didn't.

    All of the exercises and routines are going to be difficult, and it will be tough going up against girls who have cheered for 4 years in high school, but it sounds like you have the drive and dedication to get there and make it happen for you! :smile:
  • callmecorinne
    callmecorinne Posts: 19
    I wasn't a cheerleader until i went to college, and it was so much fun! Practices usually start right away at the beginning of the year. Most teams cheer for football, basketball and do competitions. It really is almost an all year thing. I absolutely loved it and there very rarely is a lot of cuts unless its a really competitive team because teams need a certain number of people to do stunts. I would definitely try and contact the coach before you join though because some teams have minimun tumbling requirements for the team. (Because in competition there must be a "team tumble" the harder the skill the whole team can do, the more points you get) so you should know what skills you'll have to get before you go to tryouts.

    I hope this helps a little!
  • clairibou1
    clairibou1 Posts: 124
    I wasn't a cheerleader until i went to college, and it was so much fun! Practices usually start right away at the beginning of the year. Most teams cheer for football, basketball and do competitions. It really is almost an all year thing. I absolutely loved it and there very rarely is a lot of cuts unless its a really competitive team because teams need a certain number of people to do stunts. I would definitely try and contact the coach before you join though because some teams have minimun tumbling requirements for the team. (Because in competition there must be a "team tumble" the harder the skill the whole team can do, the more points you get) so you should know what skills you'll have to get before you go to tryouts.

    I hope this helps a little!

    Great! Thanks! I was hoping someone would say that...honestly, I thought I was a little crazy for deciding to try this now, when most of the other girls will probably have a lot more experience than me.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Good for you for following your dreams, I wanted to be a cheerleader too when I was in school, but for various reasons I wasn't able to do it. I should have tried harder, and now I regret that I didn't.

    All of the exercises and routines are going to be difficult, and it will be tough going up against girls who have cheered for 4 years in high school, but it sounds like you have the drive and dedication to get there and make it happen for you! :smile:

    Emily, you should just sign up for a dance class or something. I know you wanted to be a cheerleader. :(
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