Questions about high school cheerleading

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

Hey! I have a question for a coach OR high school cheerleader. I am in 8th grade in a private school. next year i am going to a public school for high school. i do cheerleading and basketball. I was thinking of maybe not trying out for cheerleading because i didn't compete this year because there were only 3 girls on the squad, and i didn't really have the feel for cheerleading that i did last year when we won. but last night i was at my jv cheerleaders competion that i would normally be competing in and i realized how much i love cheerleading. i can't do all those crazy flips and tumbles all i can do is a cartwheel, a summersault, and a pretty good round-off. i can't really do a pike but i have a really good toe touch. i don't know what i should do. can i get some help from you on that? another question i have is also for coaches and high school cheerleaders... what do you require for your squad? what jumps, tumbles, and stunts?

thanks for all your help!

Very Happy

Mag

coachB · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:42 am Post subject:

Great questions! You should definately tryout, expecially since you realizejust how much you love it! Not all squads require those crazy flips either. What you should do is get in touch with someone who works with the highshool team. Call one of the coaches or the advisor and find out what that squad requires at tryouts. Some coaches can recognize too that if a girl can't do something now, maybe she can be taught to do it later!

To make my squad, the one I coach, I require 2 jumps, one a toe touch, strong motions, ability to dance, good attitude and muscle tone. They've got to be strong, no really skinny girls here. If they are flyers they usually can't hold their own weight, and too skinny doesn't really work as a base.

I don't require tumbling this year, but as the girls get better I will soon. If the girls can tumble that definately puts them ahead, but it's not needed at this point.

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

thanks soo much for your advice i will seriously take that into consideration being that i really want to cheer next year!

coachB · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 1:56 pm Post subject:

thanks! Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

i will definatly tell you how i do but it wont be until early november because i don't go to the district middle school so i can't try out in may for fall cheerleeading

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

i also have some more questions. i have pretty good grades (i got the "shcolar athlete" award all 3 times i have been old enough to get it), i have made all-stars all three times i have been eligible but as i said in an earlier post, i can't tumble!! since the closest gym is only about 25 minutes away i was wondering how much the gyms usually charge for summer sessions. now that i know this is what i want to do, i think my mom will pay for the classes. what tumbles are very helpful (point-wise) when trying-out? what tumbles should be standard? what jumps? should you be able to have a pike perfect? i can't rele do one of those very well. i think i am pretty loud (even my coach said that i need to be a little less loud because the other girls on the squad listen to me and if i make a mistake or stop cheerig, they stop too). I didn't go into competion this year because there weren't enough girls on the squad... we would have, but we had 4 and one quit #Mad

but as i told you ppl in early posts, i didn't rele take this into consideration until about 2 weeks ago when i went to a competion with the jv squd at my school... we got 2nd Rolling Eyes

but last weekend was when i made my big decision... i was skiing and i was thinking about it all weekend... when i found out the jv won their competion #Smile_colors

it reminded me of 2 years ago, my last competion w. my current school... i had so much fun with that squad and i would miss it way to much if i didn't try out... so now, i know i have 7 months until try-outs but i am afraid that i won't get what i need to get done. so if any one has any advice for me (or constructive critism-- i can take it--- thats all my coach did last year!! she is the best at it too) for try-outs i would love to hear from you! and coaches having try-outs between now and october please let me know some of the absolute best things you saw so i can work on doing that and some of the worst things you saw so i can work on NOT doing that i would really apprecitate it!!!!

~Mags~

coachB · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:29 pm Post subject:

I'll be able to let you know about how my tryouts go next week after Friday. Ask the coach of the team that you will be trying out for what you need for tryouts. You probably wont need a pike, but you will need a toe touch. That seems to be the common standard. Not all teams require tumbling. You may not need it, but it's great to have it. It's becoming more and more popular. You would need to call the gyms near you and ask them how much sessions are and investigate that yourself. That would be the best advice I can give you now. Good luck and that's great that you are starting now for tryouts after the summer.

coachB · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:12 pm Post subject:

Tip #1 from a coach. Tryouts haven't even started yet either! Your first tip is: Do not ask if you will make the team. Tryouts haven't even started, and don't put the coach under that kind of pressure.

Tip#2: Tryouts still haven't begun yet, DO NOT ask questions about the team next year. Wait until you have actually made the team.

Those are just things to pass on from a coach to the cheerleader. Trust me on these girls. The coach will remember you, but probably not in a good way.

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

Thanks!! i also have a friend who goes to vcms (the public middle school) and it trying out in june for fall cheerleading... so hopefully if she makes it she can let me know what they are looking for... also i say the thing for what to wear in a different forum... my colors are blue and white so would the blue cotton shirt w. white spandex and white tee work?

coachB · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 2:42 pm Post subject:

i think you meant blue cotton shorts...if you did, that outfit is perfect! It's such a clean look! I love it! For a hairbow, if you want one, does your school have a different color too? If it's just blue and white, find a blue ribbon that's close to the same color as your shorts, not a shiny ribbon either.

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

yeah i did sorry about that!

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

my friend wants to try out for JV cheerleading at our new high school. she has NEVER cheered before... can you give her some advice?

coachB · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:39 pm Post subject:

tell her to be confident. I have taken girls who have never cheered before and they have become great cheerleaders! Tell her that she really should. Even if she doens't make it this year, what a great experience and she knows what to do for the following year. Tell her to tryout! And tell her good luck!

Mcheer11 · Tadpole Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 22

[color=violet]Are there any tips or pointers you can give her to help her out a little?[/color]

coachB · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 8:26 am Post subject:

tell her to smile and be confident!