1. Dreaming About Being a Cheerleader
Many young women believe that being on the high school cheerleading squad will make all their dreams come true. However, there's a little more to it than that. Cheerleaders on a school-sponsored squad are very visible persons in the school. These young women and men represent their school anytime they wear their cheerleading uniform at school, sporting and community events. They are expected to promote school spirit, energize the student body and support school athletic teams. The school-sponsored cheerleading squads are in high schools, junior highs, private schools, colleges and universities.
2. Understand the Commitment Before Trying Out
Tryouts for school-sponsored cheerleading are usually held once a year. It's a requirement that tryout candidates must be a current student in good standing. Schools will require that cheerleading candidates have a good grade point average or GPA and they cannot be on school suspension. The tryout process will vary from school to school, but most will have a workshop prior to the tryout to inform the candidates of how the tryout will work, financial requirements to expect, how many open spots there are and what type of jumps, cheers, chants, stunts and dances they'll be judged on. Most tryouts are in front of judges that may be the cheerleading sponsor, coaches, school principal or others involved in the cheerleading program.
3. Practice Makes Perfect Cheerleaders
Once someone makes the cheerleading program, they'll start regular practice with the squad. These mandatory practices are on school property and many times are a class within the school day. Cheerleaders learn, practice and perfect the cheers, routines and dances that are new or long-time school traditions. Members of the cheerleading squad are required to keep up their skills, keep up their grade requirements, be present at scheduled practices and monitor their own behavior whether at school or not. Cheerleaders often prepare spirit signs for games, pep rallies or decorate the school to promote school spirit, so they stay busy and committed to the school-sponsored cheerleading program.
4. Have to Pay the Price to Wear the Uniform
School sponsored cheerleading does not come without financial requirements. The cost of these expenses should be disclosed at the tryout phase. These can include the cost and care of uniforms, cost of cheerleading camps, gymnastic lessons, cheerleading competition fees and travel expenses. To cover these expenses, most school sponsored cheerleading programs require that the cheerleaders participate in fund raising projects to offset the costs.
5. Ready, Set, Cheer
Cheerleading at school-sponsored events is the fun part of being on a school sponsored cheerleading squad. Cheering at the football and basketball games, running with the teams to enter the field or court, performing at pep rallies and competing against other school sponsored cheer squads is exciting and what many cheerleaders remember most about being a cheerleader.
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