6 Things You Must Do to Become a Professional Cheerleader in 2019 and Beyond

Photo source: dccheerleaders (Instagram)

Amidst the controversies surrounding professional cheerleading, still, a lot of women dream of joining a pro cheer team. It is and will always be a sport/career that’s sought after. If you love dancing, working out, and have an energetic personality, there’s a huge chance you’ll qualify for an NFL, NBA, or semi-pro cheer team.

Being a professional cheerleader is more than just looks. Behind that great dance performance and glamour is a lot of hard work. Thinking of auditioning for a dance team soon? Here’s a list of things you should do to prepare yourself well. Keep reading.

How to Become a Professional Cheerleader (Things You Must Do)

1. Wait until you’re at least 18 years old.

Being at least 18 years old is the minimum age requirement to audition. Of course, professional cheerleading teams want members who are mature, responsible and able to commit to what they’ve signed up for.

2. Take dance classes.

It’s no secret that pro cheerleaders are good at dancing. In fact, if you ask most members of a team, they’ll tell you that they’ve loved dancing since they were little. If this isn’t you, take dance classes! Dance skills can be taught, learned, and mastered over time. Start early. Common dance styles in pro cheerleading include Jazz and Hip Hop.

3. Be able to commit to practices three to four times a week.

All NFL and NBA dance teams need cheerleaders who can set aside time for practices. Most of the time, these practices happen after 5:00 PM on some weekdays and weekends. Even if you hold a full-time job, part-time job, or are a parent, you must be able to manage your time wisely as a pro cheerleader. Not to mention, you should also be available for all home games, community events, and travel.

4. Experiment with your looks.

Research the current “look” of your team and try to achieve that. Match your skin tone with that of a team member and pay attention to her makeup colors. Does she wear nude or dark lipstick? What’s her hair color? Does she curl it?

Read: How to Get "the Look" for the Professional Cheer Auditions

5. Learn more about the sport.

The judges expect you to have the kind of knowledge that a sports fan has. If you make it to the interview portion, you will be asked about the sport -- the rules, recent results, staff members, coaches, and more. Try to sit down with a family member to watch a typical game on tv. Check the sports team’s website.

6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

To be a professional cheerleader, you must be fit and strong. You must be able to endure long games, practices, and other team events without decreasing your performance. That said, eat a healthy diet. Workout -- don’t be scared to lift weights! Get enough sleep. Increase your flexibility.

Ready to Join a Pro Cheer Team? Want More Info?

Thank you for checking out this guide about becoming a pro cheerleader. I hope this post gave you a good idea of this amazing sport. Here are some more guides to get you on the right track:

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