What separates the cheerleaders who make the team from those who get cut? It’s not always the best tumbler or the highest jumper. We’ve analyzed tryout processes at programs like Auburn, Clemson, Ole Miss, and Tennessee to identify what coaches actually evaluate — and the answers might surprise you.

1. Attitude Over Skill

Every coach we’ve researched emphasizes the same thing: attitude matters more than skill. Auburn’s tryout process spans three days — not just to evaluate skills, but to see how candidates handle pressure, feedback, and fatigue. A coachable athlete with solid fundamentals will always beat a talented athlete with a bad attitude.

Coaches ask themselves: “Can I work with this person every day for a year?” If the answer is no, it doesn’t matter how good your full is.

2. Coachability

During tryouts, coaches teach material — cheers, dances, stunt sequences. They’re not just testing whether you can perform; they’re testing whether you can learn. When a coach corrects your motion or adjusts your stunt technique, they’re watching to see:

• Do you listen to the correction?
• Do you apply it immediately?
• Do you ask for clarification if you don’t understand?
• Do you get frustrated or stay positive?

The athletes who apply feedback instantly and visibly improve during tryouts are the ones coaches remember.

3. Energy and Enthusiasm

Cheerleading is spirit. It’s in the name. Coaches at programs like Clemson require “game-day ready” hair and makeup because presentation matters. They want athletes who bring energy to every rep, every chant, every stunt.

This doesn’t mean being loud and obnoxious. It means:

• Smiling genuinely throughout tryouts
• Clapping and chanting with intensity
• Encouraging other candidates
• Performing with personality, not just going through the motions

4. Teamwork and Stunt Group Chemistry

During tryouts, coaches often mix candidates into random stunt groups. They’re not just evaluating individual technique — they’re watching how you work with people you’ve never met before. Mississippi State uses clinics to evaluate recruits over months, partly to see how they interact with current team members.

Coaches look for:

• Bases who communicate clearly with their group
• Flyers who trust their bases and stay tight
• Back spots who take leadership in the stunt group
• Athletes who help reset after a failed stunt instead of blaming

5. Crowd-Leading Ability

College cheerleading isn’t all-star cheer. The primary job is leading crowds at football and basketball games. Coaches want athletes who can:

• Project their voice during chants
• Perform motions that are visible from the stands
• Maintain energy through long games
• Engage with the crowd, not just perform for themselves

As one cheer recruitment expert noted: “An all-star athlete who has never cheered on the sideline has a disadvantage.” If you’ve only done all-star cheer, practice your sideline skills before tryouts.

6. Game-Day Readiness

Programs like Clemson explicitly require “game-day ready” appearance. This means:

• Proper tryout attire (fitted, clean, appropriate colors)
• Hair pulled back neatly with no flyaways
• No jewelry
• Athletic, fit appearance
• Confident body language

Coaches want to picture you on the sideline representing their university. If you don’t look the part, they’ll hesitate.

7. Consistency Under Pressure

Tryouts are high-pressure environments. Coaches know that nerves affect performance, but they’re also watching how you handle mistakes. If you crash a tumbling pass, do you:

• Get back up and try again with confidence?
• Let it rattle you for the rest of tryouts?
• Make excuses?
• Smile it off and keep going?

Tennessee’s cheer team competes at UCA College Nationals — one of the highest-pressure environments in cheerleading. Coaches need athletes who perform under pressure, not just in practice.

8. Skill Level (Yes, It Still Matters)

Skills are the baseline. Without the required tumbling, stunting, and jump abilities, attitude alone won’t get you on the team. But skills are the floor, not the ceiling. Auburn’s official FAQ lists specific required skills: back handspring, toss extension, liberty, cupie, torch, back tuck, and a tumbling pass.

The formula for making a college cheer team:

Required Skills + Coachable Attitude + Game-Day Energy + Teamwork = Team Selection

Insights from Real Programs

• Auburn: 3-day tryout process to evaluate consistency over time
• Mississippi State: Invite-only tryouts based on clinic performance — coaches evaluate over months
• Tennessee: 31-member squad selected through a months-long recruitment process
• Oklahoma: Hybrid tryout with video submission to evaluate presentation before in-person
• Clemson: Closed tryouts — coaches evaluate without audience pressure

For more tryout preparation, check our guides on how to stand out at tryouts, our $500 cheerleading scholarship, and our complete college cheerleading tryout directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do cheer coaches look for most at tryouts?

Coaches prioritize attitude, coachability, and energy over pure skill. While you need the required tumbling and stunting abilities, coaches are building a team — they want athletes who are positive, hardworking, and able to take feedback.

How do cheer coaches evaluate attitude at tryouts?

Coaches watch how you interact with other candidates, how you respond to corrections, whether you maintain energy throughout the process, and how you handle mistakes. Programs like Auburn use multi-day tryouts specifically to evaluate consistency and attitude over time.

Can you make a college cheer team with a good attitude but average skills?

It depends on the program. Less competitive programs may select athletes with strong attitudes over slightly more skilled but difficult athletes. However, at competitive programs, you still need to meet the minimum skill requirements. Aim for both.

Last reviewed: July 2026 | CheerLeadersLife Editorial Team