Many college cheer programs now require a video submission as part of their tryout process. Programs like Oklahoma use a hybrid tryout with video and in-person rounds, while Florida requires a virtual highlight reel as Round 1. Your video is your first impression — make it count.
Why Your Tryout Video Matters
Coaches review hundreds of tryout videos. They’re looking for athletes who stand out — not just in skill level, but in presentation, professionalism, and personality. A poorly filmed video can make a great cheerleader look average. A well-made video can elevate a good cheerleader to the top of the list.
Camera Setup and Equipment
You don’t need professional equipment, but you do need quality video. A smartphone camera is fine if used correctly.
- Camera: Use a smartphone from 2020 or newer, or a basic digital camera
- Tripod: Essential — shaky footage looks unprofessional. Use a cheap phone tripod or prop your phone against a stable surface
- Storage: Clear enough space for 5-10 minutes of video at 1080p
- Battery: Start at 80%+ charge
Lighting and Filming Location
Lighting can make or break your video. Bad lighting hides your skills and makes you look sloppy.
- Film indoors in a gymnasium or cheer gym with overhead lights
- Avoid filming outside on sunny days — shadows and glare ruin footage
- Never film with a window directly behind you — it creates a silhouette
- If filming at home, use the brightest room and add extra lamps if needed
- Make sure the entire floor area is visible for tumbling passes
Camera Angles and Positioning
The right angle shows your full body and complete skill execution. The wrong angle hides half your routine.
- Full body: Position the camera so your entire body is visible from head to toe at all times
- Distance: Place the camera 15-20 feet away for tumbling, 8-10 feet for stunting and motions
- Height: Camera at waist-to-chest height, angled straight — not looking up or down
- Orientation: Landscape (horizontal) for most skills; portrait only if the program specifically requests it
- Static camera: Don’t move the camera during skills. Let the action happen within the frame
What Skills to Showcase
Structure your video to show your strengths in a logical order. A typical tryout video includes:
- Introduction (10 seconds): State your name, school, grade, and position (flyer/base/back spot)
- Motions (30 seconds): Perform a cheer or chant showing sharp, clean motions
- Jumps (30 seconds): Toe touch, pike, herkie, hurdler — show height and pointed toes
- Standing tumbling (30 seconds): Best standing skills — back handspring, tuck, layout
- Running tumbling (30 seconds): Best running pass — round-off back handspring tuck/layout/full
- Stunting (60 seconds): If possible, show stunting with a group or partner stunts
- Dance (30 seconds): Short dance routine showing rhythm and performance quality
Keep the video under 3-4 minutes total. Coaches don’t have time to watch a 10-minute video.
Video Length and Format
- Ideal length: 2-4 minutes
- Resolution: 1080p minimum
- Format: MP4 or MOV
- File size: Under 500MB for easy uploading
- Platform: Upload to YouTube (unlisted), Google Drive, or Vimeo
Editing Tips
- Don’t over-edit — coaches want to see raw skills, not highlight reels with music and transitions
- Cut dead time between skills but don’t cut within a skill
- Add a text title at the start with your name and contact info
- Use natural sound — don’t add background music
- If you make a mistake, redo the skill rather than leaving it in
What Coaches Look For in Videos
- Skill level: Can you perform the required skills cleanly and consistently?
- Technique: Are your motions sharp? Is your tumbling form correct?
- Presentation: Do you smile? Do you perform with energy?
- Athleticism: Do you look fit and strong?
- Coachability: Does your video look like you followed instructions?
Common Video Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Filming in portrait mode when landscape is expected
- ❌ Camera too close — cuts off your feet during tumbling
- ❌ Poor lighting — skills are hard to see
- ❌ Shaky camera — looks unprofessional
- ❌ Too long — coaches stop watching after 4 minutes
- ❌ Including skills you can’t land — crashes look worse on video than in person
- ❌ No introduction — coaches don’t know who they’re watching
- ❌ Inappropriate attire — wear fitted cheer clothes, not pajamas
Uploading and Sharing Your Video
Once your video is ready, upload it to a shareable platform and send the link to the coach or tryout coordinator. Make sure the link is accessible without requiring a login or password.
- YouTube (unlisted): Best option — coaches can view on any device
- Google Drive: Set sharing to “Anyone with the link”
- Vimeo: Professional option with privacy controls
- Email: Only if the file is under 25MB
For more tryout preparation tips, check out our guide on how to stand out at cheer tryouts and browse our college cheerleading tryout directory for school-specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a cheer tryout video be?
Ideal length is 2-4 minutes. Include an introduction, motions, jumps, standing and running tumbling, stunting, and a short dance segment. Keep it concise — coaches review hundreds of videos.
Can I use my phone to film a tryout video?
Yes, a smartphone from 2020 or newer is perfectly fine. Use a tripod for stability, film in landscape mode at 1080p, and ensure good lighting. The quality of your skills matters more than the camera.
Should I include skills I can’t land in my video?
No. Only include skills you can perform cleanly and consistently. A crashed skill on video is worse than not attempting it. Coaches prefer seeing solid basics over sloppy advanced skills.
Last reviewed: July 2026 | CheerLeadersLife Editorial Team
