It really depends on where you live, where you want to cheer, and how competitive your school's cheer program is. Some schools all you need is a cartwheel while other schools have a team full of level 9, 10, and sometimes former elite level gymnasts. Find out the official or unofficial prerequisites for the team next year. It's a safe bet you need a toe touch, a back handspring, and a round off. You also need to be able to pick up choreography quickly. You can practice by learning cheer routines from youtube. Work on flexibility, strength, and stamina. There may be a cheer camp your school offers in the summer that you can join. If not, find a local summer cheer camp. Take tumbling classes at a cheer gym, dance studio, or gymnastics gym. Try tumbling and trampoline class since it is easier to get tricks on the trampoline first. You may benefit from doing private lessons over class if your parents are willing to pay for it. If you don't have money for classes you or your parent's might have a skill or service to barter. However, cheer can also be very expensive particularly if it's a competitive squad that travels. Be sure you will have the funds to participate or that fundraising is available. If you are in shape, willing to work hard, and your family is able and willing to support your interest... You can probably train enough in the summer to make a squad in high school!
Its never to late. I started last year, and I was 13 lol. I had some gymnastics experience but I lost all of it so I was in the same boat as you. Basically if you want to all star cheer (which is what I did) your gonna be put on the bottom. Which in a way is not bad, but it's a little embarrassing for me at least. Cuz everyone who I go school with are gonna be professional cheerleaders like not joking. Anyway, just stretch, practice your splits, look up how to do jumps, and look up all the motions. Because they have names and you need to know them. And then practice being tight. Being tight is probs the most important part of cheer. So yeah. And try to do squats and push ups. Try to build as much muscle. Because cheer is a very physical sport. AND ITS SO MUCH FUN OMG. LOL And smile. That's the best part.
I joined when I was your age too for my middle school and I couldn't even do a cartwheel, jump or dance. I was the worst on the team, but I practiced like crazy and worked as hard as a could and I got my standing and running handspring. Then I learned multiple handsprings. Now I have roundoff handspring tuck, round off tuck, handspring handspring tuck and standing tuck. I tried out for my high school competition team as a freshman and made it. It is very hard to make, 50 people tryout and only 20 make it. Just practice as hard as you can. Start with basic tumbling and work your way up. watch yourself dance and fix what looks bad. Go through motions and learn the basic jumps. Conditioning is very important!! You need to be in shape to be able to stunt and do all the skills. I hope I inspired you :) Good luck!!!
I personally started cheerleading when I was 4 because my mom and aunts were cheerleaders and I when to there practices but I have made close friends with girls in your same situation but its never to late to start cheerleading maybe when you start you will find that its your passion and that you love it like I do!!
If cheerleading doesn't work out, I would recommend checking in and seeing if there are any synchronized swimming clubs in your area. It has come a long long way since the days of water ballet.
what you do is start slow and do skills at your level and then work your way up I know because I am a gymnast myself I am training for a level 8 out of 10 levels and then the Olympics!
The cheerleaders are a tight clique. Be ready for everything.
Should have started in kindergarten. Could have gotten on MTV.
