Becoming a cheerleader requires a lot of work, commitment and a good predisposition. If this has always been your dream, read this article to grant your wish! In any case, remember that, to be a cheerleader, you have to be a cheerful and enthusiastic person. In short, you must have the right SPIRIT! Do you reflect yourself in this description? Follow our tips to give your best with pom poms and stunts!
Steps
Step 1. Decide what kind of cheerleading you aspire to
If you want to participate in competitions, you should practice stunts. If you prefer quieter cheerleading, join a local team. Have you never done an acrobatic jump in your life and don't have the faintest idea where to start? Take a course to learn the basics.
Step 2. Get in shape if you are not
Cheerleading requires grueling workouts.
- Become flexible and stretch when you wake up and before going to bed and, of course, before and after training. The back, legs and arms should be super flexible for acrobatic jumps. Also, the more elastic you are, the less likely you are to get hurt.
- Reinforced. Whether you are a flyer, base, back spotter or front spotter, you should lift weights at least three times a week, so you need strong abs, legs and arms. Do weights in the gym to tone and strengthen your arms. Good leg exercises are the squat, the calf raise, the mountain climber and the breaststroke jump.
- Run at least three miles three times a week or do aerobics at least four times a week. If you don't exercise your stamina, you will feel exhausted during your workouts.
- Strengthen the central area of your body. Do sit-ups every day, especially sit-ups and V-ups.
- Stick to your training regimen.
- Eat healthy but don't starve! In fact, if you do not take the amount of food expected from your needs, you will find yourself without energy, which is essential for a cheerleader.
Step 3. Learn the essential cheerleading techniques
- Jump correctly. Remember to keep your back straight and your arms and legs straight.
- Find out about the existence of cheerleading groups in the area where you live to learn how to do overturns, aerial acrobatics, front tucks and back tucks and, why not, to make new friends.
- You don't become a cheerleader overnight: you have to start from scratch and take lessons to learn the main techniques, such as, for example, backwards.
Step 4. Appearance also matters
Keep your hair neat and tidy and maybe make a ponytail. Get appropriate clothing items: shorts, t-shirts, tops, sports bras, etc. During training, make sure the shorts are not too small or too big. Don't wear clothes that are flashy, elegant or that make you sweat. The uniform should always be clean, ironed and made to measure.
Step 5. Speak loudly and clearly, but don't shout
Use the diaphragm to make yourself feel and not tire your vocal cords.
Step 6. Enter the auditions
Be punctual and enthusiastic. Prepare for the routine ahead of time and follow the instructions. If in doubt, ask other cheerleaders questions. Look at the people watching you and smile.
Step 7. Listen to the coach and / or captain and obey the team rules
When you arrive at the gym for the audition, smile and greet the coach, asking him how he is. Try to be nice to everyone and don't make fun of anyone.
Step 8. Train two to five times a week
Practice with your mates for better synchronization. During your free time, take advantage of this to keep practicing. Remember, perfection only comes with practice.
Step 9. Have a positive attitude and always smile
During competitions, be cheerful and cheerful, even if your team is losing. Remember that judges also evaluate facial expressions. If you have a friend on the team, ask her for help to improve and to make a good impression on the judges.
Step 10. Don't be afraid
If you feel intimidated, in fact, you will not be able to learn new skills and improve. Always give your best, both during practice and during the races, but, above all, put all the energy you have into it. Only in this way can you win.
Step 11. Trust your team
If you really believe they will catch you during the stunts, they will.
Step 12. Be confident and don't worry about what people think
Always smile and remember that it is the right spirit that makes a cheerleader special.
Advice
- Do not forget that you are one of the points of reference of your team and that everyone will look at you. When wearing the uniform, always be sociable and helpful and represent the team spirit well.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs. You could get a bad reputation, resulting in being kicked out of the team.
- Ask your friends or family to watch you practice for more opinions on your performance.
- Find friends who can help you with kickbacks and other complicated moves and watch you during your workouts.
- Never be late for rehearsals and races.
- Take part in all the competitions of your team. Try not to skip them because they bore you or because you think the routine is too hard - they could end up kicking you off the team.
- Bring water and a spare outfit in case yours gets stained or torn or some other girl needs something. Also pack a brush, deodorant and an extra pair of socks in the bag.
- If you are a flyer, remember to bend over when jumping down and never go down in a standing position. Keep the lower back taut to allow the bases not to lose position. Try not to move too much when you are in the air and, when you lower yourself down, keep your legs together. To avoid kicking, lift your big toe and keep the other toes down; in this way, the front of the foot will remain stable on the hands of the bases.
- If you are a base, try not to move, otherwise the flyer will lose its balance. During a stunt, stay still and do not move away from the base that is next to you.
- During workouts, don't wear clothing that is too elegant or that makes you sweat. Also avoid jewelry and makeup, and don't wear t-shirts that can flutter during stunts.
- Always stay straight when dancing, cheering, or doing stunts. Thus, the performance will seem more accurate.
- If you make a mistake, don't stop smiling and disguise the mistake. Don't get angry and don't get confused: carry on with the performance. For example, if you fall on your knees during a back kick, hit a high V and wink at the audience, behaving as if everything was foreseen!
- Bonding with your teammates is very important. If you have split into small groups, the results may not be satisfactory. Remember: in a TEAM there is not only room for the EGO.
- TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More, that is, unity is strength.
- Cheerleading is a sport that requires intense commitment. Be friendly during training, cheer on the words well but without shouting, smile and listen to the coach. Make sure your arms are strong and toned, train hard and give your best.
- In short, cheerleading is a difficult sport. If you expected it to be enough to move the pom poms, maybe this activity is not for you.
Warnings
- According to statistics, in 2002, 22,900 cases of cheerleading injuries in the emergency room were recorded in the USA. When you train or participate in a competition, be aware of your every single move. If you haven't trained enough for a certain stunt, don't do it. Practice under the supervision of an expert, especially at the beginning. Carelessness could harm not only you, but your female friends as well. NEVER be afraid to ask for help from those who are more experienced than you. In short, before a training or a competition, you must be 100% sure of your skills.
- If you're just working on your back-bends, don't expect to be able to do a standing back tuck right away. Back jumps are really complicated and it is not easy to learn them, especially if you are a beginner. Also, lying to others saying that you are close to learning this difficult technique will certainly not help you.
- Stretch before and after your workouts to avoid getting hurt. Before stretching, warm up the muscles with jogging or aerobics: stretching the muscles without first doing some movement is not a good idea.
- Avoid jewelry and clothing that is too loose, fluttering, or sweaty (you don't want to get dehydrated).
- In Italy, it is difficult to be a cheerleader for work: it could, however, be an interesting hobby to keep you fit and make new friends.
- The most experienced coaches and cheerleaders will decide your position. Always remember that, as you are part of a team, you have to adapt to the needs of the team.
- Avoid corrupt teams, which do not give importance to the actual talent of cheerleaders, relying instead on perceived social status or certain standards of popularity. Don't sell yourself or take it personally if you come across such teams.
- Wear cheerleading shoes during training. There have been cases of girls losing their toe nails because flyers fell on them while they were doing stunts.
- Pom poms are used only during games, never for stunts, because, at times, they can be slippery. Never be a back spotter or base if you have pom poms in hand.
- Prepare for auditions. You don't necessarily have to be able to do the back flip already, but you should know the basics.
- Cheerleading requires a lot of strength, flexibility, energy and a positive attitude.
