Cheerleading Tryout Tips: How to Stand Out and Make the Team

Cheerleading tryouts are one of the most nerve-wracking experiences for any athlete. You have just a few minutes to show coaches what you can do, and the competition is fierce. Whether you are trying out for your school team for the first time or aiming for a college cheer program, preparation and confidence are the keys to success. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to prepare for, perform at, and ace your cheerleading tryouts.

Before Tryouts: Preparation

Preparation begins weeks — not days — before tryouts. Here is your preparation timeline:

4-6 Weeks Before

• Start conditioning: Run, do jump conditioning, and build your stamina. Tryout day is physically demanding — you will be jumping, tumbling, and stunting for hours.
• Practice your skills: Identify your weakest skill and dedicate extra time to improving it. Check our tumbling tips for help.
• Learn the tryout material: If material is provided in advance, learn it perfectly. This is the single biggest advantage you can give yourself.
• Stretch daily: Flexibility takes time to improve. Follow our stretching guide for best results.

1 Week Before

• Perfect your material: Practice the tryout material until it is muscle memory. You should be able to perform it without thinking.
• Rest your body: Do not overtrain the week before. Light practice only — you want to be fresh, not fatigued.
• Prepare your outfit: Wear form-fitting athletic clothes that allow full range of motion. Avoid baggy clothes that hide your technique.
• Visualize success: Mental rehearsal is proven to improve performance. Close your eyes and visualize yourself performing perfectly.

The Night Before

• Pack your bag (see our cheer bag guide for the essentials)
• Eat a balanced dinner with complex carbs and lean protein
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep
• Do not practice new skills — stick to what you know

At Tryouts: What Coaches Are Looking For

Understanding what coaches evaluate helps you focus your energy on the right things:

• Technique over difficulty: A clean toe touch with pointed toes and proper hip rotation scores higher than a sloppy hyper-extended toe touch. Perfect your technique first.
• Spirit and energy: Coaches want athletes who look like they WANT to be there. Smile, be loud, and show enthusiasm throughout the entire tryout — even when you are tired.
• Loud, clear voice: Cheerleading is about leading the crowd. Project your voice from your diaphragm, not your throat. Practice calling cheers at full volume.
• Motion technique: Sharp, clean motions with proper placement. Every motion should hit its mark precisely — no sloppy arms or bent wrists.
• Jumps: Height, technique, and landing. Focus on clean technique and tight rotation over trying to get your legs too high.
• Tumbling: If you tumble, show only skills you can consistently land. One clean back handspring beats a sloppy tuck. See our back handspring guide.
• Coachability: If a coach gives you feedback or corrections, apply them immediately. This shows you are teachable and responsive.

Common Tryout Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too nervous to show personality: Coaches want athletes with spirit. Let your personality shine — smile, be energetic, and have fun.
• Comparing yourself to others: Focus on YOUR performance, not what the person next to you is doing. Everyone has different strengths.
• Trying skills you cannot do consistently: If your back handspring is 50/50, do not attempt it at tryouts. Show only your strongest skills.
• Giving up after a mistake: Everyone makes mistakes at tryouts. If you mess up, keep going with confidence. How you recover matters more than the mistake itself.
• Wearing inappropriate clothing: No jewelry, no baggy clothes, no loose hair. Look like a cheerleader from the moment you walk in.

University-Specific Tryout Guides

We have detailed tryout guides for specific universities. Check out our guides for:

• Iowa State University
• James Madison University
• Wake Forest University
• Florida International University

And many more in our Tryouts category!

Conclusion

Cheerleading tryouts are challenging, but with proper preparation and the right mindset, you can absolutely make the team. Start preparing early, focus on technique and spirit, and remember that confidence is your greatest asset. For more preparation tips, see our guides on improving jump height, strength training, and warm-up routines.

How to Use Official Tryout Sources

Because cheerleading tryout requirements change from season to season, every athlete should use general preparation advice together with official school sources. Start with the College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory, then open the guide for the specific program you are considering. Each school may set different deadlines, video-submission rules, clinic expectations, physical requirements, and academic eligibility standards.

A strong tryout plan should include both skill preparation and administrative preparation. That means practicing jumps, motions, tumbling, stunting, voice projection, and performance confidence while also tracking forms, medical paperwork, enrollment status, fees, and official communication from the program.

Final Tryout Preparation Checklist

• Confirm current tryout dates directly through the school or athletics program.
• Prepare a clean skills list that honestly reflects your current tumbling, jump, and stunt level.
• Record practice videos early so you can spot weak motions, timing issues, or performance habits.
• Review beginner and skill resources such as the Beginner Cheerleading Hub and Stunts and Tumbling Hub.
• Pack reliable practice gear, shoes, water, snacks, and any required paperwork before tryout day.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start preparing for cheer tryouts?

Ideally, start at least eight to twelve weeks before tryouts. This gives you time to improve conditioning, clean up motions, practice jumps, review material, and gather paperwork.

Do all cheer programs require tumbling?

No. Some programs strongly prefer tumbling, while others focus more on sideline presence, stunting, jumps, motions, and game-day performance. Always check the specific school guide and official program source.

What is the biggest mistake athletes make?

The biggest mistake is waiting until the tryout week to prepare. Strong candidates arrive already conditioned, organized, confident, and familiar with the style of the program they want to join.