Surviving Cheer Tryouts as a Coach

How to survive cheer tryouts as a coach.

Tryouts are an exciting, albeit stressful time of the year.  The athletes are excited, worried, and nervous.  For the coaches, it is all of those things plus the stress and pressure of assembling a team.  It is not easy to stand in front of someone or a group of new people and perform material that you are not familiar with.  If you are a coach, it is not easy to judge people on their abilities without hurting feelings.  Unfortunately, it is unavoidable.  The best way to get through the process is to remember the feelings of the tryout candidates and make it as easy on them as possible.  Make it easy on yourself by getting organized, writing out a checklist and staying on top of it. 

There are many ways to run your tryout.  Here are some ideas.

DVD-Tryout-Judges

Many cheer companies send try out material on a DVD and include music each year.  If you are not receiving these, you can go on to www.varsity.com and request them.  On these DVD’s are dances, cheers, and chants.  You can make copies of these and distribute them 1-2 weeks in advance of the tryouts.  Have the tryout packets available, when the candidate turns in their tryout packet they receive a DVD.  The sooner they get the packet, the more time they have to work on the material.  For the actual tryout, it can be 1 or 2 days depending on how much time you want to review with them.  Teach motions, jumps, tumbling, and review the material from the DVD.  At the end, of the 2^nd day have the cheerleaders perform for judges. 

Clinic-Tryout-Judges

Host a tryout clinic for 2-3 days.  During this time, teach all the material that the cheerleaders will need to know and perform on the Tryout day.  At the end of the clinic have a “mock” tryout where the cheerleaders get to practice trying out in front of their peers.  At the actual tryout, the athletes will perform in small groups in front of judges.

Coaches Evaluation

This is a lot like the Clinic-Tryout-Judge form for tryouts only at the end of the clinic the coaches make the decision on their team.  Bring in outgoing seniors or other helpers to teach the material so the coaches can watch and evaluate progress, performance, and attitude.  See how well they take direction and how quickly they learn.

Video Tryout

This is again like the Clinic-Tryout-Judge form for tryouts only at the end of the clinic the candidate’s tryout in front of a camera.  The coaches can then take the camera and review it with other coaches or by themselves to make their decision.

Clinic-Judges

A more difficult form of the tryout is one where you would host a cheer clinic for 1-2 days to teach all the skills and drills necessary to become a cheerleader.  You would also teach the candidates a dance, a few cheers, and chants.  They athletes would then have 1-2 weeks to make up their own original material to perform for judges at the tryout.  This tryout does not work well in areas where the cheer team has a high turnover rate.  It tends to scare away some newer athletes.  This works best in programs the draw quite a bit of talent each year, or in programs where the choreography is student-lead.  It does allow the coaches to test dedication and creativity. 

Once you have decided on how you want to select your team the planning starts.

About 8 weeks before set the date for the clinic and the tryouts and reserve all facilities.  Make sure that you check with your admin and the school calendar to avoid conflicts with exams, prom, spring break, etc.  Make considerations for those students who might also participate in other activities, sports, drama, and leadership.

At 6 weeks out, contact your judges.  Let them know the dates and times along with any requirements you have for them.  If you are issuing a check to them, check any requirements from your school and district.

4 weeks – publicize the dates and times for tryouts.  Post in the school newsletter, website, local paper.  Hang flyers in high traffic areas and on bulletin boards.  If it’s allowed, get the tryout information to your feeder middle schools.  Post signup sheets and packets in the office or at your classroom. 

With 2 weeks to go have a tryout meeting for anyone who is interested in trying out.  Invite parents to attend.  Review expectations, fundraising, fee requirements and what to expect at tryouts and during the season.  If you are using outgoing seniors, start assigning duties.  When delegating, be selective about the jobs you assign.  Possible jobs could be teaching the material, running warm-ups, playing music, and organizing groups.  Be aware of relationships between outgoing students and returning cheerleaders.

The week prior get all your forms in order and make copies of judging forms.  Send out copies of the forms to the judges so that they can familiarize themselves.  Give any directions or last minute requests to judges.

The week of tryouts, start gathering paperwork from the cheer candidates and verify eligibility.  Pick up the judges checks, or make final arrangements.  Check on the sound system and any other things that require set-up with the facility director.

On the first clinic day, review all requirements and expectations.  Take a picture of the candidatures to help remember them when you are reviewing your notes.  Take attendance and collect any medical releases. 

Each clinic day, take roll and monitor progress.  If you have a large group of candidates, assign numbers and take notes.  Be available to answer questions and make decisions.

On the day of tryouts, meet early with your seniors and helpers to give last minute direction.  Provide snacks and refreshments for your judges.  Meet with the judges and distribute score sheets, pencils, calculators, scratch paper, etc.

Close your tryout except for judges and helpers.  Make sure there are no distractions.  If you are videotaping, make sure that the lighting is good and your groups are all visible.  Keep your groups to 2-4.  This is easier for the judges. 

Announcing the team

Announce the results as soon as possible to help avoid any concerns of unfair scoring.  When telling the students who made the team, do it in person or with an individual phone call.  They have just worked hard and performed for your approval you should at least tell them personally how they did and what they can work on for next time. 

During the process, remember what your goal is.  You are trying to assemble a group of cheerleaders that will BEST represent your school and program.  Sometimes kids just simply do not fit.  Do your best to keep a level head.  Once you have finalized your roster, enjoy your season!

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CW3

Ten Tips for Tryouts

Ten things the Cheer Coaches REALLY want to see.
Cheerleading is not a sport that you can just jump right into and be great.  It takes some time to learn the techniques and nuances.  Each coach and each program are different.  Use these tips to get to know the coach and program and to understand what will be expected of you.  

Take all the opportunities offered to you.

Coaches offer parent meetings, information meetings, and open gym time for you to be the best cheerleader you can be.  They do it so that you can be prepared for what is expected of you and have a great experience.  Take advantage of it.  While most of the coaches love working with their teams, it can be frustrating when only one or two students is participating.  Those that do participate will have the shown dedication that others did not.  Coaches will have the opportunity to get to know the participants that attend and they will have a better chance of making the team.

Ask questions.

When you attend a meeting or an open gym, ask questions.  The coaches would rather you ask and show an interest in what you are doing then have you wander lost.  If you are unsure of a rule, where to be, what to wear, how a skill is done, anything.  Really, they don’t mind the questions.

Know what is expected of you at Tryouts. 

This shouldn’t be a problem if you have read the handouts and asked questions at the meetings and open gyms.  If you are expected to dress a certain way, show up at a certain time or hand in paperwork on a certain day – do it.  Coaches have things they need to do to stay on track and keep the program running smooth.  If you forget your paperwork it means the coach cant do their job.  If you are late to tryouts or practice, you are holding up the rest of the team or you are missing out.  Coaches do not want to have to repeat announcements or instructions to people that were not prepared.

Dress for the part.

Cheerleaders are a highly visible group at any school.  Typically, they are seen at games, assemblies, open house, parent night, orientation, the list goes on.  Coaches do not what their team to be messy or look like they just rolled out of bed.  Before any tryout practice, make yourself look ‘game ready.’  

• Hair - do your hair how the coach prefers. Make sure that it is brushed and not just thrown up lazy style.
• Wear a little makeup – just a little.  Mascara, eye shadow, and lip-gloss are fine.  Coaches want you to look like your ready to participate.
• Neat and clean clothing – wear clothes that fit.  Your clothes should not be baggy.  It is distracting and unsafe when stunting and tumbling.  You also want to skip clothes that are too tight.  You need to look comfortable and be able to move freely.

Be on time.

This should be simple, but very important!  If you are supposed to be at practice at 3pm, be there.  Coaches probably want to start on time so that they can get the most out of practice.  Being late means that you are missing what the coach needs you to know or warm-up.  If you do have to be late, let the coach know. Call or send a text (if that is allowed). DO NOT tell your friend to tell the coach that you will be late.  It is not your friend’s job to be your messenger.

Good attitude, Help each other and be a role model.

This is probably one of the most important things coaches want to see.  Cheerleading is not easy for someone that is just starting out.  There is a lot to remember and they know that.  They want you to give it your best shot each practice and be positive.  If you don’t get it the first time, it will come.  If you see someone struggling, help him or her.  Work through it together.  Coaches want to see you off to the side helping and encouraging each other so when they ask you to perform something you don’t stare blankly at them.  If you are a returner, be a role model.  They know that you already know some of the material, don’t take that time to chat with your friends.  Chances are you could use the work too. 

Know the material.

You are taught material during tryouts that will be a sample of what you will do during the season.  You need to practice this material.  Don’t just expect that the time you spent at practice is sufficient to how well you know it.  You need to go home and practice.  You're going to get judged on how well you know the material and the progress you made from the first day to the last day.  Improvement will help in making the team.  Yes, returners are judged harder than newbies.  They are expected to know the basics so their mastery of the new cheers or dances should be better.

Athleticism/Fitness.

Cheerleaders are athletes.  They need stamina, conditioning, flexibility and timing.  High school coaches do not typically have weight requirements, but no one wants to see an unfit girl jumping up and down in a short skirt.  I do not mean that to be disrespectful, but you need to be healthy.  On my team, I do not care so much what your body image is.  I have tall, short, thin, heavy, strong, weak, etc.  However, all the girls on my team can display the athleticism and perform the requirements needed to be a cheerleader. 

Handle the Results with Grace.

Tryouts are stressful.  Coaches know that.  Do your best to stay calm and keep the nerves down.  The more you practice, the less nervous you will be.  When it comes time for the team announcement you need to handle it with respect and pride.  If you made the team, do not immediately call all your friends and brag or gloat.  You may have some friends that didn’t make it.  If you were not chosen for the team, there was a reason, and it was probably a good one.  Don’t get mad, don’t yell at the coach don’t blast negativity on your social media.  If you can, find out what you need to work on and try again next time.

Commitment.

Being a cheerleader is time-consuming and hard work.  It requires a lot of time in the gym and on the field.  You are not going to have much time for friends and hanging out.  Time management is key.  Make sure that you know what is expected of you so that you can make the commitment and stick to it.  Go to the open gyms to see if cheerleading is something that you like enough to give up half your summer for and most Friday nights.

These things WILL make the difference between cheering from the sidelines and cheering from the bleachers.  Coaches are not scary they just have high expectations.  They are willing to work with you, but they are trying to build a successful program.  Also, remember that cheerleading is an extra curricular activity, you are not required to participate and they don’t have to put you on the team.  They are going to choose participants that fit into their program, not going to change the program and expectations for you.

I hope this incite helps you at your tryouts.

CHEERS!

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CW3

Making the Team

Being a cheerleader is a privilege.  Not everyone gets to do it.  If you think you are up to the challenge and have what it takes here are a few tips that will help you make the team.

Know The Details

Talk to the coach and read the paperwork and know where and when to be at practices and tryouts.  If there are clothing requirements, follow them.  Make sure that your hair is up and out of your face.  Bring water and a snack.  Sometimes practices can last 3-4 hours.  If you have a hard time remembering things, bring a notepad to write down notes.

Talk to some of the cheerleaders that have already been on the team.  Ask them what practices are like and what to expect from the coach and at games.  See if they will practice with you and help you in any areas that they see you need to work on.  They will know what the coach is looking for and how hard you need to work to make it.

Get In Shape

I cannot stress this enough.  Coaches want athletes not couch potatoes.  Weight doesn’t matter as much as being able to do the material, however, if you cant see your toes, you probably wont be able to touch them.  Start working out now.  Work out at least 30 minutes per day 5-6 days per week.  Alternate between aerobic exercises and strength training.

I will also post a workout so that you can have a road map of what to do.

Stretching

Cheerleaders are flexible. Period.  You need to be able to do the splits, or come close.  Everyday after your workout stretch out every muscle.  In just a few weeks you will be well on your way to gumpy!

Know The Basics

You can go online and find all of the cheerleading motions and jumps that you will need for tryouts.  It will really impress the coaches if you take the initiative and know these before they have to teach them to you.  How great will you look when the coach calls out a High V and you already know what it is and how to do it!  Brownie points!  I have posted a blog already about Jumps and here is a link to some cheerleading motions. 

http://nca.varsity.com/pdfs/Motions.pdf

Gymnastics

If you have time enroll in some tumbling classes at a local gym.  Let them know you are working on cheer tumbling.  Some schools require tumbling at tryouts, some do not.  For the teams that don’t, it certainly wont hurt you to have a back handspring!

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to say I don’t know, I don’t understand, or can you show me.  This shows the coaches that you are willing to learn and make an effort to give your best.  Make good use of the Internet and Youtube.  There are tons of great ideas to be found.  Just don’t walk into tryouts acting like a know-it-all.  Each school may be different in how they teach material.

The Big Day

Here are a few things to remember the day of your tryout.

·         Get plenty of sleep the night before.

·         Be confident. If you've practiced and worked hard up to this point, then you should be ready. Believe in yourself.

·         Keep your hair away from your face.

·         Don't wear jewelry. Don't chew gum.

·         Don't wear a lot of makeup.

·         Wear your school colors or follow the clothing requirements.

·         Take slow, deep breaths to calm and relax yourself.

·         Drink plenty of water.

·         Have a good attitude. Help others. Don't play around with your friends or talk too much.

·         Smile. Smile. Smile.

·         Be peppy and energetic. Show your enthusiasm.

·         Use facial expressions.

·         Look up. Never look down or at the floor. Make eye contact with the judges.

·         Make your motions sharp and snappy.

·         Don't sing your cheers. Use a loud, clear voice. Be careful not to rush them. Take your time.

·         Point your toes.

·         Land with your feet together.

·         If you make a mistake, go on. Don't stop and stress over it. Use the opportunity to show you can recover from a mistake.

·         Have fun and let it show.

GOOD LUCK!

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CW3