The tryout timeline
The all-star calendar resets in late spring: Worlds and The Summit close the season in April and early May, and tryouts for the new season follow almost immediately. Many gyms run optional clinics in the weeks before tryouts — worth attending, because athletes learn the gym’s expectations and coaches see them more than once.
After evaluations, gyms announce team placements — often within days — and summer training begins from there.
What evaluators actually look for
- Tumbling — performed cleanly and consistently, not thrown in desperation. A solid, executed skill beats a crashed harder one.
- Jumps and flexibility — height, form, and technique.
- Stunt experience — base, backspot, or flyer skills if the athlete has them; brand-new athletes are evaluated on body control and strength.
- Coachability — listening, applying corrections, effort, and attitude. Coaches weight this heavily because they will spend a year with the athlete.
- Age and eligibility — the USASF age grid determines which divisions an athlete can be placed in.
What to wear and bring
Fitted athletic wear the evaluators can see body positions in, cheer or clean athletic shoes, hair up and secured, no jewelry. Bring water and arrive early enough to warm up properly. Some gyms give specific tryout dress guidance — follow it exactly.
How placements work
All-star placement is about fit, not cuts: gyms field teams across multiple levels, and evaluators place each athlete where their current skills are legal and competitive. Being placed a level below the goal is normal and usually temporary — skills mature over the season, and gyms move athletes at the next tryout cycle. Ask the gym how mid-season skill growth is handled before signing.
More questions, answered
When are all-star cheer tryouts?
Typically April and May, right after the season ends. Gyms may hold supplemental placements over the summer if roster spots remain open.
Can a beginner with no experience try out for all-star cheer?
Yes. Most programs field entry-level teams, and Level 1 exists exactly for developing athletes. Evaluators place beginners by body control, strength, and coachability rather than existing skills.
Should an athlete throw their hardest skill at tryouts?
Only if it is consistent. Coaches place athletes on skills they can compete safely every week — a clean, executed pass reads far better than a crashed harder one.
What happens if you don’t make the team you wanted?
At most all-star gyms athletes are placed rather than cut — landing on a lower-level team means competing legal, confident skills now and moving up as skills mature. Talk to the coaches about what specific skills the next level requires.
Do returning athletes have to try out every year?
Generally yes — rosters rebuild every season and placements depend on current skills and the age grid, so returning athletes go through evaluations too.
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