Try-out Tips!

Try-outs are going to be here before we know it! They are quickly approaching and I want everyone to be as prepared as possible. This is a very stressful time for some kids so I am going to give you a few tips to try and ease the nerves.




1. Attend prep clinic if possible          Make sure that any open gym or clinics that your school has you are at! This shows that you are dedicated and that you really want to be part of the program. This also allows you to meet other people within the program. You will have a feel for how the program is run before you try out. It is also great because the coach will know you before the try out process begins!


2. Throw skills you have mastered
A coach never wants a try out athlete on their team. These are athletes that only throw skills at try outs. When trying out make sure you are only doing skills that you have mastered and can maintain through out the season. You also don’t want to get hurt before even making a team. When throwing a skill that you haven’t mastered yet you increase your chance of injury. If you have never tried a standing tuck before, try outs is not the best time to just go for it.


3. Look the part
No coach wants you to show up to try outs looking like you just rolled out of bed or you are coming back from the beach. You don’t need to look like you are going to prom though either. What you picture an All-American cheerleader to look like is probably how you should appear at try outs. A very clean look with natural make up, hair pulled back with a bow and an appropriate outfit. Putting on some red lipstick won’t hurt either :)


4. Have fun 
When you have fun doing something it shows on your face and makes it much more enjoyable for you and a coach to watch. Most teams that win national championships say that the performance that they won with was the most fun they every had. When ever a team has their best performance it tends to be when they have the most fun. The same will occur when trying out. If you have fun and do your best then there is nothing else you can do and it is up to the coaches if you want the team.


5. Be confident
It is a lot easier said then done I know, but the most important thing is to not be nervous and to be confident. You will be throwing skills that you have mastered so you shouldn’t be nervous about that. Right after learning the dance and cheer, make sure you practice it a lot! Memorize it and then practice, it will become muscle memory. Confidence shows in every step you take. Be so confident that you rub off onto others.




Remember you do cheerleading because it’s fun and you love it. Show the coach why you belong on the team and have fun! Smile big! I wish everyone the best of luck! If you have any questions or want more tips just ask! 

A parents guide to tryouts and what to do if your child doesn't make the team.

If your child has not already went through the tryout process for this years team I am sure it is quickly approaching. With this impending loom of “will I” or “won’t I” make this team there are some important guidelines to follow as the parent of an aspiring athlete.

When your child decides he or she wants to tryout for a team the biggest thing to remember is that ENCOURAGEMENT is key! You want your athlete to know that you support them in whatever they choose to do. Support them by being their biggest fan, not a second coach. The last thing your athlete wants or needs is someone to tell them that they are doing things wrong. Don’t be a PUSHER- a pusher parent makes their child feel like that have to tryout for a particular sport because the parent loves it or played it at some point in their life. Just because you loved participating in a sport does not mean that your child will as well.

So now your child going into tryouts confident and eager to please the coach. They put in 100% of their energy and effort, give it all that they have got and they don’t make the team. What now? What do you do as a parent in this situation? The way that you react is crucial so be sure to remember the following.

1. Let your child EXPERIENCE THEIR FEELINGS- While I know you want to take the pain and hurt away from your child at that exact moment that they tell you, let them have their feelings. In order to grow from this experience they must work through how they are feeling to move past it.
2. LISTEN DON’T SPEAK when your child wants to talk about what happened- Let your child explain how they are feelings and how tryouts went from their perspective. You do not want to put words in their mouth by letting your feelings about tryouts overshadow theirs.
3. BE EMPATHETIC- Telling your child that you are sorry that they are feeling sad and disappointed and that you are there for them if they want to talk is the best thing to do. This is not the time to give advice on what they should have or could have done.
4. TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE- While your child may not have received the news that they wanted to hear, it is your job to help them understand that not making a team does not make him or her a failure. Everyone fails, it is a large part of the learning process. Use this negative experience to form a positive one. When your child is ready find out what skills they need to work on to improve their chances of making the team next year, or maybe this allows an opportunity to explore a different sport that they may have never tried.

Kristen Perri is Cheer360’s Co-Founder and Director of Mental Fitness.  She holds a masters degree in Sport Psychology, is a certified Mental Game Coach, Sport Hypnotist and Personal Trainer.  With over 8 years of cheer coaching experience, Kristen has coached all skill levels including middle school and junior varsity. Currently, Kristen is the Head Varsity Coach of a major Long Island Cheerleading Program. 

Will You Be Mentally Prepared Like Overall #1 NFL Draft Pick Eric Fisher?

If you did not know the NFL 2013 Draft started last Thursday and ended on Saturday.  As I sat watching these young NFL hopefuls wait patiently to hear their name called, I couldn’t help but think about how the selection process of any sport, regardless of level, is a nerve-wracking experience.  However, with both physical and mental preparation this selection process can be a less stressful experience. 

I came across a great article  from www.sportpsychologyfootball.com on Eric Fisher who was the overall #1 draft pick going to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Fisher is an outstanding athlete who pushed himself physically everyday.  But what is even more interesting is that he also took the time to work on his mental toughness which helped him to keep focus on his goal of one day playing in the NFL.  Fisher explains that his “mental preparation for football provided the ability to maintain focus on goals and improvement.  This mental focus allowed for great success both in the weight room, and on the football field.”

Soon tryouts will be upon us and just like Eric Fisher you will be waiting patiently to hear if you have been selected for your team.  Take the time to build up your mental toughness so you will be 100% prepared for the tryout process.  The coaches and judges like to see a confident athlete standing before them. 

If you are looking to increase your confidence and become more mentally prepared before tryouts Cheer360 can help!  Don’t let your nerves get the best of you when it matters the most, start a mental training regimen today!

Kristen Perri is Cheer360’s Co-Founder and Director of Mental Fitness.  She holds a masters degree in Sport Psychology, is a certified Mental Game Coach, Sport Hypnotist and Personal Trainer.  With over 8 years of cheer coaching experience, Kristen has coached all skill levels including middle school and junior varsity. Currently, Kristen is the Head Varsity Coach of a major Long Island Cheerleading Program. 

Behind the judges table: 3 tips to get you ready for tryouts

Cheerleading tryouts for some athletes can be an intimidating and nerve-wracking experience.  Many cheerleaders tend to focus their energy on major skills that coaches often look for (stunts and tumbling) but forget about the basic components that can improve your score tremendously. 

Tip 1: Show up to tryouts with a competitive mindset.  Showing a tremendous amount of spirit, no matter what you’re doing, can set you apart from your competitors.  This begins by arriving to tryouts every day at least ten minutes before the practice is set to begin.  This will allow you time to put your stuff away, put your sneakers on, and begin to mentally prepare for what the day is about to bring.  “Looking the part” is extremely important as well.  Make sure you are wearing the designated clothing required for tryouts, your hair is pulled back neatly with a bow, you have removed all jewelry from your body, and your nails are cut short.  All of this shows the coaches and the judges that you are invested in becoming a part of their team and ready to meet any challenges that await you.

Tip 2: Work on improving basic technique and skill level during your off-season.  As a coach at the high school level, I expect all cheerleaders to show up to try-outs with perfect jumps.  This does not mean that you have to have the highest jumps, but what it does imply is that you should have perfect technique in your approach to your jumps and throughout the skill.  As a cheerleader, the only way to improve on this fundamental skill is by practicing them every day on your own!  Setting aside at least 30 minutes a day to work on stretching and your jumps in front of a mirror can help you obtain the flawless jumps that you have been working towards, impressing everyone that is watching you.

Tip 3: Take care of your body when you are away from the mat.  Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet to ensure you are gaining proper nutrition.  This will allow you to have enough energy to get through anything that tryouts may bring.  Getting enough rest each night is equally important because it helps your mind and body recover from all the stressors that tryouts brings, helping you to prepare for the upcoming days.  Lastly, make sure that your aerobic and anaerobic endurance is at its peak performance.  This comes from implementing an aerobic and anaerobic training program at least 6 weeks prior to tryouts.

 

 

Shari Tarburton is Cheer360’s Co-Founder and Director of Educational Programming.  She is a New York State Certified Health and Physical Education Teacher, a certified Personal Trainer and Mental Game Coach, and a Varsity cheerleading coach.