2 Quick Cheerleading Tips

Cheerleading, just like any sport, requires that you take your time to learn skills and do it to the best of your abilities. If you do not practice your moves, then you will find that your skills either stay at the same level or they decline.

There are some things you can do to help you improve your cheer skills.

For cheer motions, you need to remember that your motions have to be sharp, snappy, and accurate. No matter what your motions are, whether they are high Vs or simple hands on your hips, your motions will make or break your cheers. For any cheer, there is a right way and a wrong way to get it done, consequently, take your time to do your motions the right way; don't learn them just because your coach said to, learn them because they will help your squad look good and help the team play better! After you have made the decision about what motions you will want to use, pair them up with the perfect words of the cheer and then get to practicing (if it helps to practice in front of a mirror, go for it!). Make sure your cheer and words flow together nicely and whether or not the cheer is awkward; if you feel it is awkward, think of ways to refine it or seek the help of your cheer coach. Don't be afraid to create something different, after all, you are a cheerleader!

When doing your cheers, your facial expressions and voice are key to making the cheer great and getting the crowd into. Think about it, if you have a great cheer but you are sounding sad and have lackluster motions, the crowd will not get into your cheer. This aspect of cheerleading can be easily overlooked. You want the crowd to hear you and see your facial expressions; your goal is to get the crowd excited and into the game or your cheer at competition. Now, while you don't want to whisper your cheers, you also don't want to scream your cheers. As far as your facial expressions, make sure to look cheerful and happy, that's how you want the crowd to be; don't be overly happy, that might scare people, just be naturally happy.

If you have any questions about cheerleading apparel, then visit Gear4Cheer. 

This Might be Why You Didn't Make the Cheer Squad

Trying out for the cheerleading squad is a dream for a lot of males and females, especially when you get to collegiate and professional levels. However, you got to the cheer tryout only to hear your name be called when they're announcing the cuts. You thought you did everything right and you tried really hard. So what did you do wrong that caused you to not make the squad?

Your attitude: The coaches look at your attitude and can tell whether or not you are being genuine. If you had a bad attitude and it showed or you were trying to hide it, then this would be a red flag for the cheer coaches. This goes along with your spirit; if your enthusiasm was not there, then the coaches will not choose you because they want that good enthusiasm.
Your personality: Were you hiding your personality or were you being you? Sure, you might have a great personality but if the coaches didn't get a chance to see it, then they didn't know it existed and that's a problem.
Your leadership skills: Taking control of situations or helping guide the pack is not something only the coaches do or the assigned captain, it's something everyone can contribute a bit to when the situation calls for it. Each cheerleader has a little captain duties, not just the one with the C on their cheerleader uniform. 
Your team work skills: Did you have conflict with another person at the tryouts? Were you showing that it's either your way or the highway? That's a problem. This also includes if you are helpful to the team or just let things become someone else's responsibility.
You ability to adapt and change: If you are someone who has a really hard time adjusting to different duties that may not be your own, then that sticks out to the coaches.

Don't worry, there is the next year's tryouts for you to go for. Consider these things and practice your moves!

How To Choose the Best Shoes for Cheerleading - 6 Tips

Cheerleading can be quite tough on the body, especially when you have a competition on top of a couple games that week; maybe those games even went into overtime. Bottom line is that you need shoes that look good but also have good support and keep your feet feeling good.

Here are some tips for finding the right kind of shoe for you. Bonus points for finding one that matches your cheerleading apparel and cheer uniform. 

• Grips. You want to find a shoe that has good finger grips in it, especially if you are a flyer. When your fellow cheer squad members hold you up and toss you, you want them to have the best grip on your shoes as they can get. Look for shoes that have finger grips that can fit almost all finger sizes so you don't have to worry about who can grip your shoe and who can't. 
• Insoles. You will want shoes that have a good amount of padding inside the shoe to cushion your foot from the stunts, especially for landing. If you can, try to find shoes that have interchangeable insoles or at least find a good pair of insoles that you can place inside the shoe in addition to what is built in. 
• Comfort. Consider the comfort of the shoe; this is perhaps the most important aspect of finding the right shoe because if it is not comfortable, no amount of padding will make you want to wear them. Find shoes that are flexible and even breathable. The lighter the shoe, the more comfortable it will likely be; heavier shoes tend to make your feet tired and then they will start to hurt. 
• Arch support. You will want shoes that have good arch support. The better the arch support, the more comfortable they will be because you won't develop flat feet, landing will be easier on the feet, stunts will feel better, and your feet will just feel better overall. 
• Color: The color is entirely up to you/your squad. Most cheerleading squads prefer a white shoe because the color is neutral and compliments any uniform color scheme. 
• Lining. Finding a shoe that has a good lining is important as well. With many athletic shoes, you can find ones that have anti-microbial linings to prevent stink from sweat and bacteria. The strength of the lining matters since you are doing a lot of work on your shoes and a weak lining can make your shoes difficult to wear. 

If you are looking for good cheer apparel and cheer accessories then check us out! 

New Cheerleading Accessories in the Market

Cheerleading accessories are great to use in addition for cheerleaders to use in addition to their cheer uniforms since they can give your overall look a nice twist but also can make things easier in some ways. Cheerleaders wear makeup sometimes, it is no secret. However, just like any makeup, it can become a nuisance when you're on the court or field sidelines doing cheers because it starts to run.

So what can be done to fix this predicament? Waterproof makeup for cheerleading.

When you're on stage during a cheer competition or on the sidelines during a basketball or football game, your performance is also measured by your stage presence. Having makeup that gets runny and becomes a distraction can be a real problem for cheer squads.

You need a high quality makeup that has the ability to stand up to your demands. The quality, cost, and delivery of the makeup have to be things to consider when choosing the right makeup. Having waterproof makeup is not only a possibility, it is a must for cheerleaders. To keep up with demands and trends in the cheerleading world, Gear4Cheer has released waterproof makeup, such as waterproof mascara.

For more, checkout Gear4Cheer or contact us and see what we have to offer!

7 Tips to Prepare You for College Cheer Tryouts

Every year, girls and guys try out for their college cheer squad, whether they are seniors in high school trying to make the squad as an incoming freshman or they are already at the university or college and trying to make it as an current student. Regardless of where you are now, you have to focus on the future, the future of being at your college cheer tryouts and making the squad.

Here are 7 tips to increase your chances of making the squad.

1. Grades. It seems like it shouldn't matter what your grades are in order to be on the cheerleading squad. Well, technically it doesn't since many colleges and universities don't have a minimum GPA requirement to be on the squad; however, schools often have a minimum GPA for students to be enrolled, so if you want to be a student there (and thus be on the squad) then you will have to have a good GPA. In addition to that, your good grades can be something that gets you picked over another contender. 
2. Know the squad's background. Do your research on the squad and see what they're like, what they know, what they do, who's on the squad, etc. When you show up to the cheerleading tryout, you want to show the squad leader and coaches that you are interested in the squad. Look for the squad's requirements to become a member and what is expected of the cheerleaders. Why do you want to be on the squad? What does it mean to you? Know these answers. 
3. Don't skimp on the application. When filling out your cheer squad application, do not do anything less than thorough. Not every school will require this but some do. When doing your research, find out how the squad does their applications, if they do; some schools want photos or videos along with a written application before the tryouts start. 
4. Prepare your first impressions. Know what you will say to people that you meet, have a good smile and attitude. You only get one chance to make a first impression and a bad one is hard to repair. Be on time for the tryouts or prepare to not make the cut and be prepared with everything you will need. 
5. Shape up on your skills. College cheerleading squads want the best; they have hundreds of students trying out for the squad and so they don't have to settle for anyone. Indeed, practice makes perfect. The skills required to be on the squad are much higher than junior high and high school. 
6. Learn new skills. While you need to improve any lacking skills you used in the past, it is important to learn new skills for college. Look for what skills they expect on the squad that you do not know or do already and learn those. 
7. Be a role model. The cheerleading squads like to see that the applicants are people that will make the squad and the school look good. In addition to having good grades and recommendations, giving to charity is also good. Quite a few college cheer squads donate to charity in some way so if you have this done already, they will like to see that. 

So get ready and dominate the college cheerleading squad tryouts! Go into the tryout looking great with new cheerleading apparel, cheerleading uniforms, or even just cheerleading accessories. Contact Gear4Cheer for info or visit our site. 

Do You Have What it Takes To Be Cheer Captain?

Being on a cheerleading squad can be a lot of fun and very challenging. Being cheer captain for a cheer squad can be even more fun and even more challenging. Most, if not all, cheerleaders dream of being the cheer captain of their squad, especially for high school, college, and professional. However, there are responsibilities of being a cheerleader that one must recognize before becoming a cheer captain. In addition to the responsibilities one must know, a cheer captain must also possess to be effective in his or her leadership.

Characteristics:

• Communication: this includes more than just being able to speak and listen, it means being able to say everything that needs to be said and saying things in a timely manner. Do not leave out details when communicating something and do not tell people the night before if they need two nights to get something. 
• Mature: Being mature and responsible are not things you learn to do once you exit teenage years or once you become a parent, they are things you learn and do if you want to succeed at anything. Be dependable for the coach to count on you to handle things and be punctual. 
• Being a good role model is part of this as well. You are the leader of the group and consequently, the newcomers, and even some of the veterans, are going to look up to you to know what to do in situations.  
• Another aspect of being mature and responsible is being fair. If there is a problem between two of your cheerleaders, you can't be more partial to one over the other because you are buddies with one or the other. 
• Being friendly and approachable is something that a cheerleading captain has to be. If you are being watched by or even meeting prospective cheerleaders, you have to be nice to them or they will either choose another squad (if they can, ex: choosing colleges) or they will just not be on the squad until you leave. A cheer captain who is not friendly and approachable will not gain many squad members. 

Responsibilities:

• Starting and sometimes even leading practices is a responsibility of a cheer captain (co-captains are included in this). 
• Call the cheers during games and competitions. You will have to know what cheers are going to be used during the games and competitions, then, you will be asked to call them out so the other cheerleaders know what to do as well. 
• Be in charge of sign production and other accessories. 
• Be an ambassador.As the cheer captain, you are supposed to be an ambassador. You will be the first to greet and welcome other squads, talk to prospective squad members, etc. 
• Be a mediator and handle conflict. As the cheer captain, if there is a problem between two of your squad members, you will be the first one to handle it; only if it gets out of your control will it really be brought to the coach, or if it involves you. 
• Be a liaison. The coach will ask you to relay information to your squad members and vise versa. 

Go forth and be the best cheer captain you can be! If you are looking for new cheerleading gear or cheerleading apparel, then you need to check out Gear4Cheer - a Chicago cheerleading company. 

How to really make that Cheerleading Squad!

So you made the decision to try out for the Cheerleading Team!  First things first. . . .  Talk to the coach(s)!   He knows what the judges will be looking for.     You will want to be prepared with the appropriate athletics as well as proper cheerleading apparel.   Your coach can prepare you for the motions and jumps you will need to display and some exciting cheerleading clothing and accessories will make you look fantastic for those important tryouts!   Before any of this can begin, the basics have to be covered.

You will need to have your parent(s) or another trusted adult complete the waivers and permission forms so you can turn them in to the coach when requested.

If this is a school team, make sure your grades are good enough to allow you to tryout.    Pay careful attention to academics since great grades are your ticket to being considered.   After all, that’s the goal, right?

If you are a bit nervous to perform in front of an audience, definitely practice in front of your family or friends – people you are comfortable with.     On tryout day, you can imagine them as your audience and feel instantly at ease for your routine.

You will want to look great at your tryout too.    The image you project will be the first thing a judge sees.     These first impressions are critical.    You can certainly put your best foot forward by wearing terrific cheer apparel.    There is a vast selection of cheerleading gear available on Internet sites.     Also look for the wide assortment of cheerleading accessories on the market to complete your look.

You should portray a very ‘clean’ image.   If your hair is long (past shoulder length), style it in a ponytail or braid.   Comfortable athletic shoes, socks and a tank or tee shirt are basics that can be found on Internet sites that sell cheer apparel or cheerleading gear.   Keep makeup light because this will give you a fresh, young look.

Lastly, a winning contender will have a great attitude and a spirit that is infectious!    That means smile, smile, smile and do your routine with energy and enthusiasm.

This combination of tactics will certainly help you achieve your goal of making the cheerleading team!   Good Luck!

Cheerleading Tips for Competitions From the Judges!

Cheerleading competitions can be fierce and hard to do well. What does the judge want? Will they notice this or that? Well, fortunately for you, I have several tips that will help you with your competition composure because you will know exactly what the judges will want from your squad.

Knowing what the judges want will help you greatly and relieve your stress levels when gearing up for competition. The secret to impressing the judges is actually just not over-thinking things.

1. The judges want to see better synchronization because a lot of schools don't apparently put as much emphasis on this aspect of cheerleading as they could. The thought is there and the desire to do good synchronization is not enough; you have to be able to have great synchronization. The lack of synchronization accuracy is actually more distracting than one would think, even if the cheerleaders are only a fraction of a second off. The judges don't like to see the timing differences because these take away from the impact of the stunt and the overall routine. A car doesn't look so great if one of the headlights doesn't shine as bright as the other. 
2. Work on avoiding the falls. Judges hate seeing someone fall during a routine. For one thing, it makes them cringe because the person could be hurt but it also just detracts from the greatness of the routine. 
3. Make more use of the "role players" and don't let them just hang out in the back or the side doing something simple. Put them to work and make them part of the center of the show just as much as your other cheerleaders. 
4. Cover the score sheet. The judges can't give you any points for doing stunts if you do not do the stunts. It just makes sense. 
5. Have emotion but not EMOTION. Yeah, you're excited you finally landed the intense, new stunt and you know that you rocked the house but acting insane will not bode well. See, the judges look at how you react to things and if you act like landing the stunt was the first time doing so, they will see it and not be as impressed. Act like things were supposed to happen and you are composed. Even if you messed something up, act like it was part of the show and move on. 
6. Use your space. You have an entire performance area so use it. Keeping to one spot doesn't look aesthetically pleasing to the judges and the crowd. 
7. Be good sports. So you didn't win the competition? Well, as unfortunate as that is, still go and congratulate the other team(s) that did do better. Even if you don't know who won or lost, be good sports. 

At Gear4Cheer, we love the sport of cheerleading and want to see all cheerleaders succeed. We are a Chicago cheerleading apparel company and want to make your squad look fantastic! You will love our cheerleading clothes, cheerleading apparel, and cheer accessories. We always have great deals and give free shipping to any order $75 and over.