The Do’s and Don’ts of Cheerleading Tryouts

A huge aspect of any McMicholas football and basketball game is always the school spirit. The responsibility of getting the crowd involved and the players motivated falls on the shoulders of the McNick cheerleaders. From the cheer “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y” to the crowd favorite “Dynamite,” the cheer squad knows how to get the fans pumped up.

Clinics for next year’s squad will be May 7, 8, and 10 from 4 – 6 p.m., followed by tryouts on May 11 at 3:30 p.m. Here’s a quick look at some do’s and don’ts for the tryouts based on tips from Head Cheerleading Coach Amanda Miller and current senior cheerleaders.

DOs	DON’Ts
Be confident, loud, and smile! Cheerleaders are supposed to bring positive attitudes to the game.	“Don’t have excessive makeup, jewelry, or clothing stains; look put together and polished,” senior cheerleader Veronica Lopreato said.
“Point your toes! You can have a sloppy jump but if your toes are pointed, it will still look all right to the coaches,” senior cheerleader Sammie Diedrichs said.	Don’t be shy or afraid to ask questions.
Make eye contact with the judges, because that’s what you should do when you are in a gym full of fans.	“Don’t assume that because you have cheered before that you know it all; it is very important to listen to instructions,” Miller said.
“Practice at home in front of a mirror. This allows you to fix your mistakes because sometimes you don’t realize you are doing it wrong until you watch yourself,” cheerleading coach Amanda Miller said.	“Don’t have bad attitudes; cheerleaders are supposed to be team players and have positive attitudes,” Miller said.