Preparing for Tryouts

It's never to early to start getting yourself ready for new season tryouts. Here are some key tips:

BE REALISTIC

In terms of your goals. If you really want to make a certain team you NEED to have leveled tumble both standing and running plus the ability to stunt at that level as a MINIMUM. This doesn't mean you have one janky BHS for L2. You should be able to perform elite tumble skills even when tired without issue.

If you haven't had the opportunity to stunt at the level you're going for - ensure that your work at your current lower level shows gorgeous technique. Work on your strength on your own to support your stunting when you get the chance to work with other. Rep the physical moves you will need to do with weights, visualisation and excellent technique.

JUMPS

L1 up should be aiming for hyper extended, stunning jumps. If you are maybe lacking in one area of maxing out a level ... but have incredible jumps - a coach my decide you can add to the team in this way and forgive your lack of tumble for example.

PERFORMANCE

Cheer is a performance sport so if being that superstar performer isn't natural to you (or you get self-conscious in front of others you NEED to practice that side of the sport until it becomes natural. To start with - give yourself a new persona to become when you perform. She/he isn't you - they are someone you can pretend to be to help you perform. Give them a name, a backstory, a job, whatever. Have fun with it. Be inspired by others. Whether its Worlds or Summit performances of others - or even Lip Sync Battle on Drag Race - command that floor.

CLEAN DANCE

Practice learning and executing short, sharp and clean dance sequences. Just watch any one athlete in any great cheer routine online (age appropriate) and learn what they do. Start with 4 counts, then 8, then 16 up to 32. As you learn and execute the moves focus on hitting each position as if you were a beautiful robot rather than how fast you can learn it as this gets better over time - but precision doesn't unless you focus on it.

AGES

We know it's hard but don't get hung up on age categories. Your coach will put you where you are in the best position to succeed. Beyond that - it shouldn't matter. You will make great friends in whichever team you're in. If you and a great friend from last season aren't together this year - that's ok. You'll still get together, chat and hang out beyond the gym. Your relationship will evolve and you'll make new friends. If you care more about being around 1 person than taking part in the sport - it might not be for you.

LEVELS

If you have your heart set on a certain level and you are placed on a different one - trust your coach. They do know best. If your placement seems very confusing based on your skills (e.g. you have maxed L4 tumbles/stunts but are placed on L1 or L2) it may be worth requesting a brief feedback meeting with your coach so you can understand their decision making (if they are happy to do this). They may give you things you need to work on or explain wider factors you weren't aware of.

GENES

Sometimes its just genetics. You could be a killer base - but if you are massively shorter than everyone else on a certain team - you may not be a good fit. Same goes for ANY stunt position. The best solution to this long term is to try to find a perfect height match partner to base with and then ensure the both of you develop together so you can always show a coach that you have someone your height to work with.

FLYING

If you want to FLY - you have to earn it. It's rare that someone who can't hold any weight says they want to be a base - but it's incredibly common for someone who can't stand on one leg and stretch to say they want to be a flyer. If you go to a tryout as a flyer but can't demonstrate great flexibility, balance, strength, body tension, performance and skill rep conditioning - what you are actually saying to the coach is 'I don't know or care what being a good flyer means. I want to put myself and what I want before the other 3 people who would be working hard to hold me up.' Respect the role you want and your potential team mates by arriving prepared. You also need to accept that there simply is MORE PRESSURE on the flyer than the other athletes in a stunt group. You are the performance of 3-5 people while you are in the air. You have to trust others more quickly. You also have to overcome fear over and over again. You'll be asked to do things that seem crazy to a human - go up there and twist, flip then twist again - but you have to get past fear and rely on trust. The tradeoff is that you get the best photos on the floor. You become the face of that stunt group. But you have to be able to handle it. Know what you're getting yourself in for.

THE RIGHT PROGRAM

Ensure you've picked the right program to be a part of. If you have - it won't matter which team you spent the season on - you'll have an amazing and rewarding experience either way. Make sure your programs' values align with your own, that you can afford the costs, can handle the travel, can manage the timetable and like and respect the coaches. If these things are in place - everything else can be handled.

Good luck with your training and even better luck with your TRYOUTS.