So You Want to Be a Cheerleader?

Imagine yourself flying through the air in the signature cheer uniform while an adoring crowd roars their approval. You can inspire the spirit of your school or even win medals at national competitions. Plus, you will make lifelong friends with a group of people who are committed to doing something they love. All of these perks (and more) could be in store for you if you decide you want to join the cheer squad. But do you really understand everything else that is involved, and are you really ready to commit to a team?

The decision to be a cheerleader shouldn't be taken lightly. Underneath all the glamour that you may have seen from the stands, there is a lot of hard work and a huge time commitment involved with taking on this endeavor. You have to be ready to devote your entire self wholeheartedly to the cheer squad while at the same time balancing your schoolwork and all the other activities of a busy teenager. Will the experience be rewarding? Absolutely. But you will also need to make a lot of sacrifices. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when you are thinking about trying out for the cheer team.

• Why do you want to be a cheerleader? - You may not immediately have an answer to this question, especially if your dream to be a cheerleader was born a long time ago. Still, before you actually prepare to jump right in, you owe it to yourself to decide why you want to cheer. Have you always loved watching the sport and want to experience the thrill of competition? Maybe you have a lot of school spirit and want to feel involved? Or perhaps you just want to know what it feels like to be part of a close-knit team? No matter the reasons, you should realize that being a cheerleader is all about commitment. Yes, you will get to wear the iconic uniform and be the center of attention in front of a crowd, but you should remember that the social reasons for wanting to cheer aren't going to be enough to get your through the hard work that's involved. Make sure your motives are true because you're about to have a team counting on you.

• Are you willing to commit? - Cheerleading is a high-energy physical and mental activity. Not only do you need to be prepared to make practicing one of your top priorities, but you also have to be willing to adapt your lifestyle to that of an athlete. You will need to workout and eat healthily to get yourself into the necessary shape. You might have to miss out on certain social events because they conflict with practices, competitions, or games. You will also need to develop a pretty thick skin because things are not always going to go your way. You shouldn't just decide to try out for cheerleading on a whim—make sure you are ready to commit yourself 100%.

• What type of cheering do you want to do? - While many people who are new to cheerleading don't realize it, there are two different types of squads that do very different types of events. You'll need to choose whether you want to join an all-star team, whose main goals are to succeed at competitions, or whether you want to cheer for your school's squad, which will mean bringing spirit to athletic games and pep rallies. The two different types of squads attract very different personalities, and you will want to make sure you choose the right type of cheerleading for you.

• Are you prepared for the financial element? - Being a cheerleader can quickly become an expensive endeavor. Not only will you probably need to pay for lessons, competitions, and cheer camps, but you may also be responsible for buying your own uniform and purchasing other supplies. Financial assistance is often available for families who don't have the money to spare, but you will need to have a discussion with your parents about the financial commitment that is going to be involved. Be prepared to make some other sacrifices and possibly even get a job to help pay for cheerleading if joining the team is important enough to you.

• Are you ready? - When you decide to go out for the team, the first process you will have to go through is a grueling tryout. You need to take a look at yourself and decide if you are ready to start cheering. If you decide that you aren't currently flexible enough or in good enough shape to be able to make the team, that's okay. Simply start devoting yourself to training now, and try your best to prepare for the next rounds of tryouts, even if that means deferring your dream for a year. Maybe you aren't ready for some other reason. If your grades aren't where you want them to be, for instance, adding the huge time commitment of cheerleading right now probably isn't the best idea. The same holds true if you are busy with other activities. Don't jump into trying out until you can feel that the time is right. Not only will the perfect timing give you a better shot at making the team, but it will also give you a better chance at being able to make cheerleading a solid long-term activity.