While the NCAA does not recognize cheerleading as a sport, cheerleading still requires the hardcore athleticism and dedication many other sports do. To prepare your body for cheerleading, you'll need at least a month of training and workouts to ensure your body is in top form for the tumbling, stunting and dance technique necessary for an effective cheerleader. Train hard and you'll have a better chance at making the squad after tryouts.
Step 1
Start at least a month in advance. You cannot prepare your body and get into shape overnight, and you'll need at least a month to condition your body to the various techniques and moves necessary to impress the judges at tryouts.
Step 2
Eat a healthy diet made up of nutritious, low-calorie and low-fat foods. While some of your friends may spend the summer indulging in fast food favorites, if you want to be quick, have longer endurance and a fit body, you'll need to make healthier choices. Still, you should never consume less than 1,200 calories per day. Instead of starving yourself, simply choose foods that are packed with nutrients to make the most of your calories.
Step 3
Engage in regular cardiovascular training for athletic endurance, such as jogging, dancing or biking. Then, add activities for muscular endurance and flexibility, such as yoga, pilates and resistance training. This ensures that your body functions well, so you're not left out of breath at tryouts. It will also help to tone your body to show coaches that you take care of your appearance and are in the best shape possible.
Step 4
Enlist the help of a current or past squad member, if possible. A squad member will be able to show you the various gymnastics, tumbling and dance moves that are typically covered in a tryout, as well as alert you to any requirements, such as the ability to do a handspring or know a certain dance sequence. Training with another cheerleader won't only help you hone your skills, but also keep your body in shape for the upcoming tryout.
Step 5
Attend cheer camp, if possible. Cheer camp is an ideal way to create unity with squad members and hone your skills. The constant practices, drills and activities at cheer camp help keep you active so that when the time comes, you can show your skill to the coaches and judges for a better chance at making the squad.
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