3. BE SURE YOU'RE QUALIFIED
Once you've prepared your body for the rigors of a tryout and a long cheerleading season - which can last from September until April - you'll want to make sure you satisfy all the other requirements too. Many schools require that cheerleaders, like all other students who perform in school activities, maintain certain grade point averages. While you may not see a connection between doing well in school and being a good cheerleader, it doesn't matter. Your school says that you need a certain GPA to participate, and if you don't make the grade, you won't be doing any cheerleading. How's that for a connection!
As well as good grades, most schools and clubs will require you to meet a few technical requirements too. The two most prevalent involve getting your parents' permission if you're under eighteen, and signing a waiver that releases your cheerleading organization from any liability if you get hurt while practicing or performing.
We've provided an example of a Parental Permission Form and a Waiver. Now you can check them out here to know what's coming. In fact, it may be a good idea to let your parents know about these requirements before the season begins, just to prepare them, since you'll need their signatures on these forms.
Finally, you have to make sure that you have the time to participate. While cheerleaders in teen movies seem to have the most exciting social lives on the planet, actual cheerleading squads often have to give up 25+ hours a week to practice . . . not to mention going to the actual games to do the cheerleading. It's a huge time commitment, so be 100% sure that you have the time to devote to it.
