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DT CHEER TRYOUTS 2024-2025

IMPORTANT CHEERLEADING TRYOUT DATES:AND INFORMATION​

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Please read all information and PDFs linked below before completing the tryout registration Google Form

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TRYOUT REGISTRATION GOOGLE FORM

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Please also review the following documents PRIOR to tryouts

2024-2025 Dallastown Student-Athlete Code of Conduct

2024-2025 DT High School (9-12) Cheerleading Tryout Information

2024-2025 DT Junior High (7 -8) Cheerleading Tryout Information

2024-2025 DT Cheerleading Contract

2024-2025 Financial Responsibility

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CHEERLEADING TRYOUT REGISTRATION

  • Tryout Registration Google Form MUST be completed before Friday, May 3rd, 2024​. This form MUST be completed with a parent.

    • It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to be learning & mastering tryout material BEFORE the in-person tryouts. We encourage everyone to also attend as many open gym practices as possible before tryouts! If entering grades 7 and 8, learn the JUNIOR HIGH material. If entering grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, learn the HIGH SCHOOL material

 

CHEERLEADING OPEN GYM PRACTICES

Please wear athletic clothing and sneakers! It is preferred that you wear cheerleading sneakers, but if you don't have any-  athletic sneakers are fine! This is a "first impression" for the upcoming season, please arrive on time, ready to practice, and eager to work hard!

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  • Tuesday, April 18th - Open Gym for RETURNING ATHLETES ONLY (23-24 season) from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM in the DAIS Gym
     

  • Thursday, April 25th- Open Gym from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM in the DAIS Gym
     

  • Tuesday, April 30th - Open Gym from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM in the DAIS Gym
     

  • Thursday, May 2nd - Open Gym from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM in the DAIS Gym


CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS

Participation in all tryouts dates is mandatory!Various evaluations will take place throughout tryouts.(Fitness + Tumbling + Jumping + Stunting + Material) Evaluation scores will determine team placement.

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TRYOUT LOCATION:

Dallastown Area Intermediate School Gym

94 Beck Road, York, PA  17403

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  • Sunday, May 5th

    • 8:00 AM- 9:30 AM: Varsity Competition Tryouts​

    • 9:30 AM-12:00 PM: High School Tryouts

    • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM: Junior High Tryouts

  • Tuesday, May 7th

    • ​5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: EVERYONE (incoming 7th-12th grade)

      • Bring running sneakers!

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*** If you make a team, there are some mandatory dates:

MANDATORY PRACTICE ON Tuesday, May 14th

  • 5:30 PM-7:30 PM: For all teams at DHS

MANDATORY ATHLETE & PARENT MEETING & APPAREL FITTING ON Monday, May 20th in HS Cafeteria

  • 5:30 PM-8:30 PM: This meeting must include the student-athlete AND a parent. You will be getting sized for uniforms, other apparel, and getting more information about the upcoming seasons.

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TRYOUT SCORING CRITERIA

The information below shows the criteria judges will use to evaluate your tryout

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  • Sideline Chant: voice, correct motion technique, memorization, and confidence

  • Cheer: voice, correct motion technique, memorization, and confidence

  • Dance: motion sharpness, correct motion placement, rhythm, and confidence

  • Jumps: height, arm placement, leg placement, pointed toes

  • Motion Technique: arm levels, motion sharpness, motion placement

  • Tumbling: see tumbling breakdown grid below- candidates should be able to independently execute their best standing AND running skills (no spots)

  • Stunting: see stunting grid below

  • Fitness: push-ups (30 secs.), squats (30 secs.), pull-ups/hang (30 secs.), flexibility (sit and reach), and 1 mile timed run

  • Quiz: basic knowledge of cheerleading, ourr program, and football related questions

  • Appearance and Readiness: white top (tucked in), black/navy athletic bottoms, sneakers (cheer preferred and bring running sneakers on the fitness eval day of tryouts), and hair in a neat ponytail (absolutely no jewelry or spacers)

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VARSITY CHEERLEADING

Our varsity level teams reflect the very best of our program! To earn a position on the varsity team, we have a few additional expectations and requirements.

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  • Material- PERFORMANCE :) We should be able to put you in the demo video and enthusiasm should show what is expected in a Game Day routine

  • Jumps- at least be level, if not hyper extended

  • Tumbling- minimum of a standing back handspring​​

  • Stunting- straight up extended level stunts and lib (flyers should have flexibility to hit a variety of body positions like an arabesque, heel stretch, scale, or bow & arrow) 

     

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STUNT POSITION BREAKDOWN

Top Person 

• Body control 

• Uniform flexibility 

• Motion placement 

• Legs straight/locked and toes pointed

 

Bases/Spotters 

• Stability of the stunt 

• Solid stance 

• Positioned shoulder-width apart 

• Feet stationary

 

Transitions 

• Entries 

• Dismounts 

• Speed/control/flow from skill to skill

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THE ROLES OF THE CHEERLEADER

Cheerleaders have the honor and responsibility of creating a strong sense of school pride and elevating spirit within their school and community through five key roles - Crowd Leader, Spirit Raiser, Ambassador, Athlete and Entertainer.

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Crowd Leaders: The title cheerleader says it all, leading the crowd through cheers. They can do this by using a combination of crowd-effective chants and skills to rally the crowd and together, support the athletes on the field or court. Signs, poms, megaphones and flags are vital tools to get the crowd’s attention and communicate loudly and clearly how they should participate. This should strengthen unity among the fans, encourage sportsmanship and foster pride and loyalty for the school and community.

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Spirit Raisers: When cheerleaders spread a sense of pride for their school both on and off the field, they are helping others build a connection to their place of learning and the community within it. Spirit raising is taking the pride cheerleaders have for their school and sharing it with others. Whether it means making signs and encouraging their peers to attend the big game, planning and hosting pep rallies, organizing spirit weeks or keeping the positivity up in and out of the classroom, spirit starts with the cheerleading team.

 

Ambassadors: As some of the most visible students on campus, it is important for cheerleaders to be positive role models for others both inside the classroom and out in the community. As examples for other students, cheerleaders can help raise the bar for academics, school spirit and behavior. At games, the cheerleader’s primary role is to support the success of others. How many other athletes can say that? Cheerleaders celebrate other team’s victories just like it’s their own. Win, lose or tie, cheerleaders understand the value of sportsmanship and the importance of supporting others, teaching them to be better role models both on and off the field.

 

Athletes: Just like all athletes, cheerleaders have the natural drive to perfect their skills and progress to new ones. Cheerleading requires strength and flexibility to perform stunts, jumps and tumbling. Technique creates a strong foundation for hitting skills and learning new ones. Physical endurance is required to cheer throughout an entire game, during practices and at competition. Competition is an opportunity for recognition for the incredible job cheerleaders do throughout the year. While it does showcase great athleticism, it should not be the team’s primary focus.

 

Entertainers: Not only do cheerleaders support the athletes on the field, they entertain the crowd in the stands in between plays, during timeouts or halftimes and during other spirit raising events. By performing visual dances, partner stunts and tumbling, cheerleaders create a visual interest to supplements the in-game entertainment never distracting what is happening on the field. If the crowd is engaged with what the cheerleaders are performing on the sidelines, they are more likely to yell for the athletes on the field or court.

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Adapted from Varsity Spirit

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