Summit Cheer Try-Out Information

TRY-OUT DATES FOR SPRING 2023!!!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can my athlete participate in cheer and another sport?

A student can participate in one sport per season.  Cheer is a sport for Fall and Winter seasons, which means that if your student cheers during Fall Season they would not be eligible to play volleyball, cross country or dance team or vice versa.  During Winter Season, basketball, dance team, and cheer fall the same season so a student would need to choose which sport/activity they would like to go out for.

Can a student cheer Fall or Winter Season instead of both seasons?

Absolutely!  At the time of try-outs, a student will select what season(s) they are trying out for.   Many cheerleaders have cheered Fall (Football season) and played basketball during Winter Season (Basketball season).

My athlete is involved in outside clubs or sports....can they still participate in Summit Cheer? 
Yes, we permit athletes to also be involved in outside sports and clubs.  However, per the school handbook, Summit athletics takes precedence over outside clubs/sports and must come first to those outside clubs/sports.  Summit cheerleaders are expected to be at all required practices/games just as all other Summit athletes are expected to be.  

Do Summit Cheerleaders participate in Cheer Competitions?  If so, when are they?

Yes!  This is one of the most exciting parts for our cheerleaders to shine and show the many talents they have.  Our competition season falls during Football Season (Fall).  All our Football Season Cheerleaders are also our competition squad.  Our competitions typically fall on Saturdays at the end of September and through the month of October.  We typically participate in 4 to 5 a year.


What skill(s) are needed to be considered for Summit's Competitive Cheer Squad?

The student should have a solid back handspring and solid roundoff back handspring but it is not always required.  We also are looking for students that have a positive attitude and are team players.  A competition routine requires everyone doing their part and working together as a team.  Competition squad members are also required to attend weekly squad tumbling/stunting session as a squad.

What skill(s) does a student need to have to make sideline cheerleading for the Summit Cheer Squad?

This is the most frequently asked question I get.  We prefer all cheerleaders have a back handspring but it isn't a requirement for sideline.  To make the Summit Cheer Squad we look at several areas to see if the student overall fits what we are looking for.  These are areas the students are evaluated on for both sideline and competition at try-outs:

+Attitude - I can't emphasize this enough...a positive attitude makes a huge difference.  Is the student a team player?
+Commitment - Showing up on time and prepared, being dependable and dedicated
+Spirit - Is the student peppy, smiling, getting others around them excited
+Voice - Is the student saying the words loudly and clearly. 
+Jumps -  What are the students jumps like?  Pointed toes, technique, height
+Motions - Motions tight, sharp and punched out.  Are arms in proper placement?  Thumbs tucked in.
+Dance - Does the student pick up quickly on the dance or do they go home and work hard until they have it?  We dance a lot in cheer.
+Tumbling - What standing tumbling and running tumbling skills does the student have?  Body awareness.
+Commitment - Is the student showing up and on time for try-outs.  Are they following guidelines...no jewelry, no gum, cell phones put away.

Is there Expenses involved with Summit Cheer?

Yes.  Do to the nature of cheer and the type of uniforms we wear, there are more than many sports that need to be purchased by the individual cheerleader/parents.  Unifits are a compression-type top that is not shared athlete to athlete...the same for a few pairs of compression shorts (aka spanks) that the athletes wear under their uniforms and for practices.  Due to hygiene, these items are never shared or passed down.  A complete list of required items is included along with pricing in the cheer try-out packet.  

When does Summit Cheer start and finish?  What do the seasons look like?

Great question!  For students that choose to cheer both Fall and Winter Seasons, our squad tumbling/stunting starts meeting once a week in April.  We won't have regular practices until the end of July besides this weekly tumbling class.  Typically, Stunt Camp is in May or June and Choreography in July. 

Football games runs typically from the end of August to mid-October with one game a week. During football season, we also have competition season. Football season cheerleaders will have 3 to 4 practices a week.    We get about a 2 week window after football Season for Basketball Season.  The 2-3 weeks before Basketball we learn Basketball Season material and transition to our Basketball Season Squad. 

Basketball Season runs mid-November to the end of January.  During basketball season, we cheer for both boys and girls HOME basketball games.  Usually, we have 2 games a week.  Once games start, we typically do not have practices.  

What grades are eligible for Summit Cheer?

Currently, students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade are eligible to try out for cheerleading.

*Note all Handbook policies are in effect for Summit Cheer.  Students also need to meet academic guidelines in the Handbook to participate in cheer.

If you have further questions, please call or text Coach Carrie at (260)416-1771.