Tryout Information

Tryout Information

We are so happy you are interested in trying out for Kingsford High School cheerleading. Our program will provide you with an experience you cannot get anywhere else and helps teach important values to survive on a team and in life. Members of the Kingsford High School cheerleading program make memories and friendships which will last a lifetime.

Please remember that the following is merely the 'structure' of tryouts and that all of the following is not strictly required coming into the program. Most of the information on this sheet will be taught at tryout practice and all participants will be shown and taught how to excel in each of the areas listed. Please do not feel like you need to have previous knowledge or skills at all of the following to tryout.

Once again, welcome and get ready for an experience of a lifetime!

TRYOUTS FOR Kingsford CHEERLEADING HAPPEN TWICE A YEAR: IN MAY FOR THE FALL (FOOTBALL) SEASON AND IN NOVEMBER FOR THE WINTER (BASKETBALL/COMPETITIVE) SEASON. We encourage all interested participants (fall or winter season) to attend summer camp which is a wonderful as well as learning experience within the program.

FEEL FREE TO JOIN US FOR A FEW DAYS AT TRYOUTS TO SEE IF KINGSFORD CHEERLEADING IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

WE GUARANTEE YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

Tryout Practice Dates/Times/Locations:

Practices are required to learn the cheer material and are a part of the selection process. Practices will be held in the High School Gyms, or the Armory.
Watch the announcements during tryout week, and you will see where we are going to be.

Tryout Procedures:

Three only at a time on the floor (unless completely necessary due to number trying out)! All three do (unless tested out) chant (three times with individual voices), 8 counts, fight song (one time) and creative cheer together. Each cheerleader does voice & precision drill, jumps and gymnastics skills separately. After all three have performed, everyone shows posters.

Required Wear (Score - A):

Students should wear royal blue shorts and white KHS Cheerleading shirts. (If you do not have one, Logo Sportswear has all of our cheering apparel). T-shirts as opposed to sweatshirts should be worn so judges can see arm motions. Shirts should be neatly tucked in and APPROPRIATE. T-shirts advertising alcohol or tobacco products are not considered appropriate. Hair must be worn up. Jewelry is not permitted (including belly button, and nose rings) and will lower your score! Socks and shoes should be clean and white. No tattoos can be visible or showing.

Required Cheers (Score - FP/V/PN/PH/M/CF/CR/R):

Everyone is required to do a chant, 8 counts, and voice/precision drill. Ad Libs are strongly recommended in all cheers and chants. Creativity will be judged.

DANCE (Score- M/PN/FP/CF/R!!!!/T)

Everyone will be taught three eight counts of dance. This will be performed in your group of three.
This is usually the dance we learn at camp during the summer.

CHANT- Do three times!

(To be taught at tryouts - See handout for current chant words)

VOICE/FACIAL/ATTITUDE DRILL

(To be taught at tryouts)

Voice/Facial/Attitude Drill (Score - FP/V/PN/PH/CF):

The Voice/Facial/Attitude Drill will be an opportunity for each cheerleader to demonstrate voice, facial expression and the ability to sell a cheer. This is a VERY IMPORTANT and high scoring part of your tryout. Please work at this as much as, if not more than, you do other things. You must really SELL this to the audience. 

SCARE US WITH YOUR CRAZY FACIALS.
JUDGES SHOULD BE AFRAID TO LOOK AT YOU!!!

Jumps (Score - T/H/PN/PH/CF) :

Everyone must do a toe touch. Varsity must also do a Right Herkie and Pike. The last jump is your choice (some jumps - least to most difficult:

Tuck

T- jump

Jumping Jack

Popcorn

Spread Eagle

Kick

Double-Nine

Double Hook

Herkie

Hurdler

Toe Touch

Pike

Universal

Russian

Around the World

Gymnastics (Score - T/PN/PH/CF):

Everyone should do at least two gymnastic skills. Skills are your choice (following are some recommended stunts in order of least to most difficult/points). To make varsity you must do a heel stretch, switch split and attempt a back walkover or back handspring (can be spotted).

Cartwheel

Forward Roll

Side Splits

Backward Roll

Handstand

Round-off

One-handed cartwheel

Front walkover

Back walkover

Scorpion

Switch Splits

Middle Splits

Heel-stretches

Round-off Handspring

Round-off Tuck

Round-off Handspring Tuck

Round-off Layout

Round-off Handspring Layout

Round-off Full

Round-off Handspring Full

Other round-off Handspring/Tuck/Layout/Full Combos

Standing Back Handspring

Standing Back Tuck

Poster (Score - A/CR):

Bring one creative poster to tryouts which will become property of the KHS cheer team. The poster MUST be done on long freezer paper and should be simple, neat, clean, creative and dark (can be read from a distance). The Poster IS Optional BUT WILL help your score to make the team.  The posters are usually hung in the hallways during football season.

Fight Song (Score - M/PN/PH/V/FP/CF/R):

Each cheerleader must perform (and sing) Hail Sons of Kingsford. Words are included in the KHS agenda book (or see the coach if you need a copy of the words). We do go over it for new comers at tryouts.

Scoring Minimums/Other Requirements:

Cheerleaders must make 75% of the total points possible to make the Varsity squad and 50% for Junior Varsity or Freshman. Cheerleaders will not be chosen for a cheer team unless they obtain the minimum score even if uniforms allow for it. Attempts at stunting group libs and other mounts at practice for varsity teams will also be examined. Signed parental permission slips are required at tryouts. Turn them in to the coach on the last Thursday. You will not make a Kingsford cheer squad without them. You also need to have the back of the athletic handbook signed and returned to the KHS office. Failure to do this will result in benching, because you can't cheer unless the office has the handbook.

Testing Out:

Athletes can Test Out of the Fight Song, Gymnastic Skills, Chant and All Jumps Except the required Toe Touch. To test out, you must approach the coach during tryout practice at a time that she is NOT busy helping out with some other athlete. Your score sheet will be filled in at the time you "test out" in those particular categories. You CANNOT Test out of Voice/Precision Drill, and Cheer. If your other group members are testing out of items, please also do so to reserve time on final practice night (this must be done together).

Goal Statement/ Interview

Each cheerleader must write a short goal statement explaining why she would like to be a member of the team. It should include overall goals, personal goals for this cheerleading season and team goals for this season. They must also answer a few brief questions regarding their attitudes/opinions regarding cheerleading. The goal statement should include things that you like about cheerleading and some things that you might want to change about cheerleading. If you don't have a goal statement written, you will not get the points for it.

Cheerleading is a very difficult but extremely rewarding experience. We set a lot of guidelines, rules and expectations for our cheerleaders at KHS. Practice is required everyday and 100% dedication to the sport is a MUST. Bad behavior, attitudes and/or grades will not be accepted and do play a part in the selection process. Intimidation of other team members and causing havoc amongst the team will NOT be accepted and all of those issues MUST be resolved BEFORE trying out! Please consider all of this before you tryout. Cheerleading is a very rewarding experience and you learn a lot about the girls on your team. You make a lot of new friends when you join a team.

Scoring Key:

M Motions

PN Precision

PH Punch

V Voice

FP Floor Presence

CF Confidence

R Rythm

CR Creativity

T Technique

H Height