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How to Prepare for Coed Cheer Tryouts: A Guide for Aspiring College Cheerleaders

How to Prepare for Coed Cheer Tryouts A Guide for Aspiring College Cheerleaders

By Steve Pawlyk

Published March 20, 2024

Preparing for college cheer tryouts, especially for a coed team, can be both an exciting and daunting experience. If you’re in a similar situation as the one shared by a user on the r/cheerleading subreddit—having experience primarily in basing and back-spotting, with no tumbling skills—fret not! There are steps you can take to enhance your chances of making the team, even at a competitive school like UCF. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through this challenge and turn your dream into reality.

Understand the Team’s Requirements

Before you dive into preparations, it’s crucial to understand what the coed cheer team at your desired college looks for in its athletes. Coed teams often require a different set of skills compared to all-female teams, including stunting with male bases and potentially different tumbling and jump requirements. Reach out to the team’s coach or current members for specific tryout requirements and tailor your preparation accordingly.

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Focus on Your Strengths and Improve Weaknesses

Emphasize Basing and Back Spotting Skills: Given your experience in basing and back-spotting, continue to hone these skills. Coed cheerleading places a significant emphasis on stunts, and having strong basing skills can be a substantial advantage.

Develop Tumbling Skills: While you mentioned having no tumbling skills, it’s never too late to start. Begin with basic tumbling classes and gradually progress to more complex skills. Many cheerleading gyms offer classes specifically for beginners or those looking to improve their tumbling. Remember, consistency and practice are key.

Cross-Training and Fitness

Enhance Your Physical Fitness: Coed cheerleading can be physically demanding. Engage in a fitness regime that includes strength training, flexibility exercises, and cardio. This will not only improve your overall fitness but also help with stunts and reduce the risk of injury.

Cross-Training: Participate in other sports or fitness activities that can complement your cheerleading skills. Activities like gymnastics, dance, or even yoga can improve your flexibility, body awareness, and performance quality.

Seek Feedback and Practice Relentlessly

Practice With Others: If possible, find a local cheer team or group you can practice with. This will provide you with the opportunity to work on stunting and tumbling in a supportive environment and receive feedback.

Record Yourself: Recording your practice sessions can be incredibly beneficial. It allows you to visually critique your form and progress, giving you a clear direction on what to work on next.

Enhance Your Cheer Tryouts with Customized Tryout Music

A crucial yet often overlooked element in orchestrating successful cheer tryouts is the selection of the right cheer music. Properly chosen music does more than just play in the background; it sets the stage for a high-energy, cohesive tryout experience. At IPP Music, we understand the unique needs of cheer tryouts, which is why we offer Customized Tryout Mixes designed specifically for this purpose. These aren’t your ordinary cheer mixes; they all come with the option to integrate your team’s name through a voiceover included, adding a personalized flair that can significantly lift the spirits and foster unity among tryout participants.

Implementing a high-quality, dynamic Tryout Mix can closely mimic the competitive cheerleading atmosphere, enabling coaches and gym owners to evaluate candidates in a setting that mirrors actual performances. This approach is particularly beneficial for fine-tuning jumps, tumbling sequences, and stunt routines.

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Licensed Cheer Music for Competition Cheer Music

Mental Preparation

Stay Positive: Confidence and a positive attitude can greatly impact your performance. Visualize your success, and don’t let setbacks discourage you. Remember, every athlete has areas they can improve on.

Prepare for Tryouts: Familiarize yourself with the tryout process. This may include learning specific cheers, dances, or routines required for the audition. Practice these elements until you feel confident.

Explore Alternative Options

Consider the Club Team: You’ve already mentioned the option of joining the club team if you don’t make the coed team. This is an excellent opportunity to continue cheering while working on your skills. Club teams often offer a competitive environment that can prepare you for future tryouts.

Look for Workshops and Camps: Attend cheerleading camps or workshops. These can provide you with intensive training and expose you to higher levels of cheerleading, potentially offering feedback from experienced coaches.

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Making a coed cheer team, especially at a prestigious college like UCF, is a challenge that requires dedication, hard work, and a strategic approach. By focusing on your strengths, diligently working on your weaknesses, and maintaining a positive mindset, you can significantly improve your chances of success. Remember, the journey to becoming a college cheerleader is as rewarding as the destination. Good luck!

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Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
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SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix

Dance to Cheer | How to Prepare for Cheerleading Tryouts as a Complete Beginner: A 7-Month Plan

Dance to Cheer How to Prepare for Cheerleading Tryouts as a Complete Beginner A 7 Month Plan

By Steve Pawlyk

Published March 20, 2024

Starting cheer with no prior experience can be daunting. Whether your background is in dance, gymnastics, weightlifting, or you’re starting from scratch, the path to cheerleading success might seem filled with uncertainty—especially in the diverse and vibrant cheer scene of the UK. Inspired by a post from the subreddit, r/cheerleading, we’ve crafted a tailored 7-month plan to transform complete beginners into confident cheerleaders.vThis plan leverages the unique background of user u/noot_noot_betch (dope username btw lol), turning it into a powerful foundation for mastering the essentials of cheer.

Ok, let’s do it!

beginner cheerleader question from reddit
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Month 1-2: Foundation Building

Focus on Basic Cheer Motions and Jumps

  • Learn Basic Cheer Motions: Start with mastering the fundamental cheer motions such as High Vs, Low Vs, T motions, and more. Sharpness and precision in these movements are crucial, so practice in front of a mirror and record yourself to self-assess.
  • Introduction to Jumps: Begin with a “T” jump to familiarize yourself with the arm motions and timing. This drill is essential for progressing to more complex jumps like toe touches, Herkies, and pikes. Remember, correct form with straight legs and pointed toes is more important than height initially.

Strengthening and Flexibility

  • Weight Training and Pole Fitness: Continue your routine but focus on exercises that enhance your lower body strength, core stability, and flexibility—key components for successful jumps and stunts.
  • Flexibility Training: Focus on achieving your front splits and gradually introduce stretches for heel stretches, scorpions, needles, and scales. Ensure your muscles are warm before stretching to avoid injuries.

Month 3-4: Technique and Conditioning

Jumps and Stunts

  • Advanced Jump Techniques: Start incorporating the leg positions into your jumps, focusing on height, form, and proper landings. Use YouTube drills to improve.
  • Conditioning: Intensify your strength and conditioning workouts with a focus on leg muscles and core strength. This will significantly improve your jumps and stunts.

Flexibility and Balance

  • Deepen Flexibility Training: With your front splits nearly perfected, push for more advanced positions while maintaining a slow and consistent approach to avoid injury.
  • Balance Exercises: Incorporate balance exercises into your routine to aid in stunts like the scale and heel stretch.
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Licensed Cheer Music for Competition Cheer Music

Month 5-6: Refinement and Routine Practice

Routine and Choreography

  • Learn A Routine: Try learning a basic cheerleading routine from YouTube. This will help you understand how to string together motions, jumps, and possibly stunts into a seamless performance.
  • Practice with Music: Start practicing routines with music to get a feel for timing and rhythm, essential components of a competitive cheer performance.

Self-Assessment and Improvement

  • Record and Review: Continue recording your practices to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement. Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from experienced cheerleaders or coaches.

Month 7: Final Preparations and Mock Tryouts

Mock Tryouts

  • Organize a mock tryout session with friends or family acting as judges. This will help you get used to performing under pressure and receive constructive feedback.

Mental Preparation

  • Work on your confidence and mental strength. Visualization techniques and positive affirmations can be incredibly helpful.

Rest and Recovery

  • Ensure you’re well-rested and your muscles are fully recovered as the tryouts approach. Taper off intensive training and focus on maintaining your flexibility and sharpness in movements.
cheerleading tryout preparation

Additional Tips:

  • YouTube as a Resource: Leverage YouTube extensively for tutorials on jumps, motions, routines, and conditioning exercises.
  • Stay Consistent: Consistency in practice, stretching, and conditioning is key to progress. Make a schedule and stick to it.
  • Warm-Up Properly: Always start your training sessions with a thorough warm-up to prevent injuries and enhance performance. Dynamic stretches and light cardiovascular exercises like jogging or jumping jacks can prepare your muscles for the intense work ahead.
UK cheerleading tryouts tips

Nutrition and Hydration

  • Nutrition: Pay attention to your diet. A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals supports muscle recovery and energy levels.
  • Hydration: Keep yourself well-hydrated. Proper hydration is crucial for optimal performance and recovery, especially during intense training sessions.

Join a Cheer Community

  • Community Support: Engage with online cheerleading forums or local cheer communities. Sharing experiences, asking questions, and receiving encouragement can boost your morale and provide valuable insights.
  • Final Weeks Before Tryouts
  • Review and Polish: Focus on refining your technique, ensuring your jumps, stunts, and routines are as polished as possible.
  • Mental Rehearsal: Visualize your success. Mental rehearsal can improve performance by familiarizing your mind with the sequence and flow of your routine.
  • Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate relaxation techniques to manage stress. Practices such as yoga, meditation, or simply listening to music can help keep you calm and focused.

The Day Before

  • Equipment Check: Ensure your attire, shoes, and any necessary equipment are prepared and in good condition.
  • Rest Well: Get a good night’s sleep. Being well-rested will help you remain alert and energetic during tryouts.

Tryout Day

  • Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude. Confidence can greatly impact your performance.
  • Focus on Your Efforts: Concentrate on delivering your best performance rather than worrying about the competition.
  • Enjoy the Experience: Remember, tryouts are not just about making the team but also about enjoying the journey and learning from the experience.

Preparing for cheer tryouts as a complete beginner might seem like a monumental task, but with a structured plan, dedication, and the right mindset, it’s an achievable goal. The journey from beginner to real cheerleader is filled with challenges, learning, and personal growth. By following this 7-month plan, focusing on technique, strength, flexibility, and mental preparation, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle your tryouts with confidence. Every cheerleader started somewhere, so with perseverance and passion, you’ll find your place. Good luck, and stay loud!

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

Need Competition Music Blue

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
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