Cheerleaders or those who want to be cheerleaders might overlook one of the most important qualities cheerleading coaches look for during tryouts and that is – are you coachable? 

What does it mean to be coachable?  Well, think about this for a moment.  If you were the coach, what kind of person do you think would be a pleasure to coach?  Here’s my list: 

1. Eager to learn
2. Open to learning
3. Willing to try new things
4. Actively looks for feedback
5. Takes in and uses feedback to improve
6. Accepts critiques graciously
7. Is always on time
8. Rarely complains
9. Never whines
10. Views mistakes as opportunities to learn
11. Pleasant to be with
12. A real team player
13. Supportive of others 

What would you add to this list?  Do you have the qualities on this list?  A coach will likely choose someone with these qualities who also has the potential to learn over someone who is highly skilled but who does not have these qualities. Something to think about! 

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Anxiety can be part of cheerleading tryouts and there are many reasons for that.  But one thing that happens when you’re anxious is that your focus is directed at yourself and you can get too caught up in it.  In other words, a healthy perspective can really help but this means being able to step back and take in the big picture. 

Here’s a tip that might help:  Put yourself in your prospective coach’s shoes. Really, try it!  Imagine you are the coach and you are trying to put together the best squad possible.  What are you looking for?  

Take out a piece of paper and write down all the qualities you would like to see in the cheerleaders you will be bringing onto your team. List as many as you can think of. 

Here’s a list to get you started: 

1. Competence/Skills
2. Attitude
3. Spirit
4. Personality
5. Leadership
6. Team player
7. Helpfulness 

Can you think of more? 

Once you have your list, consider if you have those qualities.  How might you demonstrate those traits during tryouts? 

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Yes, cheerleading tryouts are happening or are soon to happen for many cheerleaders out there. 

In looking at the forums on some of the other cheerleading sites, it seems that some of you have trouble learning and executing either a tumbling move or a jump.  Without going into some of the underlying reasons for that, here’s a tip that can help you learn a new move. 

One of the best ways to learn how to do anything is to watch another person do it.  From our earliest years, we learn by observing.  But this isn’t a passive process because each time you observe closely, your brain will be etching in new maps of what you are watching.  The key is to observe in a particular way. 

There are loads of videos on YouTube (of course they are of varying quality) but you can find a video of almost any move you want to learn or refine.  Or, buy a video or ask a cheerleader you admire if you can observe and film him or her executing the move you want to learn. 

Once you have your video, get yourself in a nice focused state by exhaling slowly several times.  Do this in a quiet space if possible.  Once you are calmly focused, watch the film and notice everything about it – what the cheerleader does just prior to the move, the expression on his or her face, and how he or she moves into it, and so forth.  Watch this over and over.  

Now, imagine how the cheerleader feels while he or she is doing the move. Imagine how confident or focused the cheerleader is.  Now imagine how you  might feel if you were that person.  Slowly imagine that you are becoming that cheerleader and it is you who is executing the move.  Do this over and over. 

Each time you do this, you will be training your brain.  Now, this doesn’t mean that this is all you have to do!  Of course you have to actually practice the move but this will boost your learning. 

Good luck! 

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Cheerleaders and those who want to be cheerleaders are getting ready for tryouts.  Here are a few more mistakes you should avoid! 

1. You get visibly upset when someone else nails a routine.
2. You act like you know it all (uppity and arrogant).
3. You don’t “hit the crowd” when you enter.
4. You look and act deflated after your routine.
5. You ignore the other people who are trying out.
6.  You cheer in a sing-song voice.
7. You say “whoo-whoo” instead of something like “Go team!”
8. You talk about other people in a nasty way.
9. You wear way too much makeup and glitter.
10. You look at the floor instead of the judges. 

Stay tuned for more about tryouts.  I’m working on a new product called: The Mental Game of Cheerleading: Training for Tryouts!  If you have any questions you’d like me to address please let me know. 

Readers – are you on Facebook?  If so, please become my friend and join my Facebook Group – Confident Cheerleading.

Cheerleaders everywhere are gearing up for cheerleading tryouts.  It’s an exciting and nerve-wracking time and unfortunately, some cheerleaders tend to undermine their chances of getting on a squad by making one or more of the following mistakes:  

• 1. You do not ask any questions of anyone about what is required; you just show up at the appointed time.
• 2. You wait until the last minute to work on your tumbling or jumps.
• 3. You come late to the pre-tryouts meeting or practice – or you don’t bother coming at all.
• 4. You come late to the tryouts.
• 5. You don’t bother practicing in front of a mirror or in front of a friend.
• 6. You are not realistic in terms of what your skills are.
• 7. You have a negative attitude.
• 8. You pout and make faces when you make a mistake.
• 9. You dress sloppily in ill-fitting clothes.
• 10. You maintain a serious expression and do not smile or connect with your audience (the judges). 

These are only some of the mistakes cheerleaders or wannabe cheerleaders make.  Look over the list carefully and see if you can identify with any of the item. 

If you have any mistakes you  would like to add, please write and let me know! 

Readers – are you on Facebook?  If yes, please be my friend and join my Facebook Group – Confident Cheerleading!