Hi all

I was Just wondering if it is possible to become a cheerleader without being able to tumble. I am starting uni soon and think it would be fun to join the cheerleading squad as it would be a great to to keep fit and make friends (not to mention i love cheerleading)
the only problem is i can't tumble, with the exception of being able to do cartwheels, roundoffs and front handsprings(which aren't that good anyway)
i was just wondering if someone who cant tumble can be a cheerleader, i can do all the jumps like toe touches and hurkies and i can dance but the tumbling is a big problem.

anyway let me know what you all think

jono xo

When you're looking at college-level, It really depends on your school. My school's cheer program is only a year old, so it would be easy for you to become a cheerleader because they need more people and can't be as selective with technique.

However, there are other cheer teams where intermediate tumbling would be a requirement. I trained with some of the cheerleaders in my high school, who were working on standing back tucks and a bunch of tricks to end a back handspring combo so that they could audition for the schools they were going to and have a chance to make the team.

The best thing you can do is look at the team you want to try out for and see what they can do. It can't hurt to ask, but you have to realize that there is a wide variety of possibilities here...not all of them favorable.

First off, I would start taking some classes or privates to get the hang of it. At the tryouts let the coach know that you're working on it and let her know about your dancing background. Make sure she knows how well your jumps are, too. If you've stunted before, make sure she knows how good a base/backspot/flyer you are. that will help. I was a cheerleader and never tumbled because of my other skills.

hey thanks for the advice guys, i think the squad has been going a while but looking at some videos, they don't look very advanced. here's some vids

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i might email the coach and see what she thinks, i don't start until september to i have time to brush up on things and i might try to find somewhere to learn tumbling, the only problem is im quite large so i know some people would hesitate to teach a larger person tumbling, oh well i'll give it a go any way

Based on those videos it doesn't look like you need to be able to tumble beyond what you can already do. It's worth a shot to contact the coach and try out.

Try out!

Show that you are willing to learn. If you have a good fundamental skills such as a roundoff you may learn more advanced tumbling skills faster than you think. When I first started cheerleading I didn't have any advanced tumbling skills but still made the team and was coached how to.

Good Luck!

thanks for the advice everyone.
i spoke to the coach the other day and she said she would love for me to try out, as they need more guys and she thinks that with having dancing (i only do irish dancing but she said its still a plus)that i should pick things up quickl;y and not to worry about tumbling too much as i would learn them there

Aww I used to compete against the Ravens back when I was at university...they are SUCH lovely, sweet people.

I'd say you are in a great position - university cheerleading in England isn't quite as gymnastic as it is in the states. If you can tumble, you have a HUGE advantage, but if you can't, it's not the end of the world. I only had a roundoff and a walkover when I went to uni, and I got on the squad all 3 years. Now I compete allstar, and I have more tumbling, but honestly, at uni I was one of the better tumblers.

Go for it!