Expert: Nicole - 6/3/2009

Question
Hey, so my question is the following. I am a 4"11 - 100 pounds, 16 year old girl and I have never done any gymnastics before. I have done some Ballet for 4 years (10-14 years old)and I have decided to join my cheerleading squad next year. Although I have no background in any gymnastic moves, I can do my Scorpion pretty well, but with the wrong leg (I do it with my Right leg and apparently it's usually done with the Left). I have gone to the tryout and they have tied me as a base and as a Flyer. I am much more confident as a Flyer because I am not very strong and I am pretty stable. I wanted to know if it was too late for me too start cheerleading?

Answer
Elodie,

It is absolutely not too late to start! With backround as a dancer, you are already flexible and probably have good jumps, and of course the dance section of a tryout must come easier to you. You sound about the right size for a flyer, and it is great that you are so confident about it. Show a great attitude at tryouts and do your best to prove to the coaches that cheerleading is something you really want to do. Enroll in a basic backhandspring or beginner tumbling class at a local gymnastics center or all-star cheerleading gym, and let coaches know that you have taken the initiative to work on your tumbling. While tumbling is a big part of cheerleading today, it is not the only part. Not every cheerleader has to have perfect tumbling, if you do well in the other categories (cheer/motions, jumps, dancing, stunting) then you are good to go!

*Also, getting a scorpion and various stretched on one leg is 1000x easier if you have it perfected already on the other. Just stretch the splits alot on your left and keep working at it. Not every flyer has to fly on their right leg either, it is possible and somewhat common for flyers to fly standing on their left stretching the right.  

Good Luck and I hope you decide to cheer! It is such an enjoyable and fun sport to be involved in.

Cheers, Nicole.