Cheerleading Tryout Evaluation Form

A flyer trusts her bases to catch her. A base trusts his spotter to have his back. Finding great tumblers is only half the challenge. The real test is identifying athletes who trust each other when someone's ten feet in the air. Your evaluation form needs to capture both athletic ability and the intangibles that make stunt groups click.

This guide includes free printable forms for both competitive and sideline cheer programs. Scoring guides break down tumbling, stunts, jumps, and spirit—plus flyer, base, and backspot criteria for building balanced stunt groups. Whether you're running All-Star tryouts or selecting your high school sideline squad, these forms help you score consistently and build teams that trust each other.

Free Printable Cheerleading Evaluation Form

Score each athlete 1-5 across six categories. The definitions below spell out what separates a solid performer from a standout—so your coaching staff sees the same things and scores the same way. Print this form or copy it directly into Excel for digital scoring.

Skill Evaluation Table

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Tumbling	○	○	○	○	○
Stunts	○	○	○	○	○
Jumps	○	○	○	○	○
Dance/Motions	○	○	○	○	○
Spirit	○	○	○	○	○
Coachability	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 30

Rating Scale Definitions

Focus on what you actually see on the mat. An athlete who "holds positions reliably" earns higher marks than one who "struggles with cartwheels."

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Tumbling	No tumbling skills. Cannot perform forward roll safely.	Basic forward/backward rolls. Struggles with cartwheels. Limited body control.	Solid cartwheels and round-offs. Working on handstands. Consistent technique.	Clean back walkover or front walkover. Attempts back handspring with spot.	Standing back handspring or back tuck. Clean running tumbling passes.
Stunts	Unsafe in stunt groups. Cannot hold positions. Poor timing with partners.	Basic understanding of positions. Inconsistent timing. Needs constant guidance.	Holds positions reliably. Good timing with group. Follows counts accurately.	Strong in multiple stunt positions. Smooth transitions. Good communication.	Outstanding stunt execution. Handles advanced skills cleanly. Leads by example.
Jumps	Poor height and technique. Cannot land safely. No toe point or extension.	Basic jump form. Limited height. Inconsistent landings. Needs work on flexibility.	Solid toe touch or pike. Adequate height. Clean landings. Good arm placement.	Strong multiple jumps. Good height and flexibility. Sharp technique throughout.	Exceptional height and technique. Perfect pointed toes. Competition-ready.
Dance/Motions	Cannot follow choreography. Loose arm motions. No rhythm or timing.	Learns choreography slowly. Basic motion technique. Timing inconsistent.	Follows choreography well. Clean basic motions. Stays on count consistently.	Sharp motions with precision. Quick choreography pickup. Strong stage presence.	Polished technique with razor-sharp motions. Exceptional musicality. Commands the floor.
Spirit	No energy or enthusiasm. Quiet voice. Negative body language.	Low energy level. Voice lacks projection. Inconsistent effort.	Good energy and positive attitude. Adequate voice projection. Smiles naturally.	High energy performer. Strong voice projection. Engages crowd effectively.	Natural spirit leader. Commanding voice. Energizes entire team and audience.
Coachability	Resists feedback. Poor attitude. Distracts other athletes during practice.	Accepts feedback reluctantly. Slow to make corrections. Inconsistent focus.	Listens to coaches. Makes corrections when asked. Works well with teammates.	Actively seeks feedback. Quick to apply corrections. Encourages teammates.	Model athlete. Self-motivated learner. Natural leader. Elevates team culture.

How Cheerleading Tryouts Are Scored

Cheerleading tryout scoring varies by program, but most use a 1-5 rating scale across multiple categories. Judges evaluate each skill independently, then total the scores for an overall ranking. Understanding how scoring works helps athletes prepare and coaches communicate expectations clearly.

Typical Scoring Categories

Most cheer tryout score sheets evaluate athletes on tumbling, stunts, jumps, dance/motions, spirit, and coachability. Some programs add specific categories like flexibility, voice projection, or interview scores. Weight each category based on your program's priorities—a competitive All-Star team may weight tumbling heavily, while a sideline squad prioritizes crowd leading and spirit.

What Judges Look For

Cheer Theory explains(opens in new tab) that judges evaluate both difficulty and execution. A clean back walkover scores higher than a sloppy back handspring. Sharpness matters more than complexity—pointed toes, tight body positions, and confident presentation separate top scorers from the pack.

Spirit and attitude often break ties. When two athletes have similar skill levels, coaches choose the one who brings energy, encourages teammates, and responds positively to feedback. These qualities predict how well someone will fit into team culture.

Scoring Consistency Across Evaluators

Multiple judges scoring the same athlete should arrive at similar totals. Before tryouts, align your coaching staff on what each rating level means. What makes a "4" different from a "3" in tumbling? Shared definitions prevent one evaluator from scoring tough while another scores easy. Digital evaluation tools like Striveon help track inter-rater reliability and flag scoring inconsistencies automatically.

What Does 2.1 Mean in Cheer?

In All-Star cheerleading, "2.1" is a split-level format. The first number indicates the stunting level, and the second number indicates the tumbling level. So "2.1" means Level 2 stunts with Level 1 tumbling—allowing teams to perform more advanced building skills while keeping tumbling at a more accessible level. This format appears in Prep divisions designed for developing programs.

All-Star Level System Explained

All-Star cheerleading uses a six-level system based on allowed skills. Higher levels permit more difficult tumbling, stunts, and pyramids. Here's what each level typically includes:

Level	Skills Allowed
Level 1	Prep-level stunts, tumbling up to walkovers (cartwheels, round-offs, back walkovers)
Level 2	Extension prep stunts, standing back handspring, straight-ride basket tosses
Level 3	Extended one-legs (braced), round-off tucks, front tucks, single basket skill
Level 4	Extended one-legs (unbraced), standing tuck, layouts, two basket skills
Level 5	Advanced one-legs, running tumbling with full twist, three basket skills
Level 6	Standing fulls, double fulls, kick doubles, most advanced pyramids

Source: USASF Official Cheer Rules(opens in new tab)

Division Breakdown

Within each level, divisions separate teams by age group: Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Senior, and Open. USASF determines eligibility by birth year rather than current age—check the official USASF age grid(opens in new tab) for exact cutoffs, as they update annually. Size categories like Small, Medium, Large, and XL further divide teams by roster count.

You'll also see D1 and D2 at competitions—but these refer to program size, not skill level. Gyms with 126 or more registered athletes compete in Division 1 (D1), while smaller programs (125 or fewer) compete in Division 2 (D2). A D2 team can be just as skilled as a D1 team; the distinction only affects which gyms they compete against.

Tryout Scoring vs. Competition Scoring

Tryout evaluations and competition scoresheets serve different purposes. Tryout forms identify individual talent for team selection. Competition scoresheets—like the United Scoring System(opens in new tab)—evaluate team routines on difficulty, execution, and performance. Understanding both helps coaches prepare athletes for tryouts and competition success.

Sideline Cheer Tryout Score Sheet

Sideline cheerleaders perform at games rather than competitions. Their primary job is engaging the crowd, leading cheers, and supporting the team. Sideline tryout evaluation focuses on different skills than competitive cheer—voice projection and crowd leading matter more than tumbling passes.

Sideline vs. Competitive Cheer

Competitive cheer emphasizes tumbling difficulty, stunt complexity, and choreographed routines. GHSA's Competition Cheerleading Guide(opens in new tab) details the specific skills evaluated at each level. Sideline cheer, by contrast, emphasizes spirit, leadership, and game-day performance. Both require athleticism, but the emphasis shifts significantly.

Sideline-Specific Evaluation Criteria

When evaluating sideline cheerleaders, prioritize these skills: voice projection (can they be heard across a gym or stadium?), crowd leading (do they engage fans and get responses?), school spirit (do they embody team pride?), and game awareness (do they read the game and respond appropriately?).

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Voice Projection	○	○	○	○	○
Crowd Leading	○	○	○	○	○
Motions	○	○	○	○	○
School Spirit	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 20

How to Pass Cheer Tryouts

Preparation beats natural talent at tryouts. Athletes who practice consistently, stay positive, and present themselves confidently outperform more talented athletes who show up unprepared. Here's what coaches actually look for—and what you can do to stand out.

Before Tryouts: Preparation Tips

Practice the basics until they're automatic. Clean jumps, sharp motions, and solid tumbling fundamentals matter more than attempting skills beyond your level. Work on flexibility daily—heel stretches, splits, and back flexibility take weeks to develop. Arrive at tryouts with skills you can execute confidently, not skills you're still learning.

Build your endurance. Tryouts are physically demanding, and fatigue shows in your performance. If you're gasping after one tumbling pass, you won't perform your best in later rounds. Conditioning gives you energy to smile and stay sharp when others are fading.

What Coaches Look For

According to experienced cheer coaches, the five most important qualities at tryouts are:

Ability and technique: Clean execution of skills appropriate to your level
Sharpness: Crisp motions, pointed toes, tight body positions
Jumps: Height, technique, and clean landings
Enthusiasm: Genuine energy and positive attitude
Confidence: Performing like you belong on the team

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't attempt skills you haven't mastered. A sloppy back tuck scores worse than a clean back walkover. Judges notice when athletes reach beyond their ability—and they also notice when fear shows in your face.

Don't forget your face. Facial expression and energy are part of your performance. Athletes who look bored, scared, or frustrated hurt their scores even when their skills are solid. Practice performing with a genuine smile—not a forced grin, but real energy that reaches your eyes.

Stunt Role Evaluation: Flyer, Base, and Spotter

A standard stunt group has four positions: one flyer in the air, two bases providing the foundation, and one backspot ensuring safety. Each role demands different physical attributes and mental qualities. Identifying where each athlete excels helps you build balanced stunt groups.

Flyer Evaluation

Flyers need exceptional body control, flexibility, and trust in their bases. Watch for tight body positions in the air—a flyer who stays hollow and controlled makes stunts look effortless. Flexibility enables impressive positions like heel stretches, scorpions, and scales. Most importantly, evaluate trust: can the flyer commit fully to dismounts without hesitation?

Base Evaluation

Bases require strength, timing, and communication. Raw strength matters, but technique and timing matter more. Watch how bases coordinate with partners—do they dip at the same time? Do they call out counts? Strong bases communicate constantly, adjusting grip and position as needed. They save stunts that start to wobble through small corrections rather than muscle.

Backspot Evaluation

Backspots are the safety anchor. They need exceptional awareness of the flyer's position and lightning-fast reactions to catches. Watch where backspots position their hands—experienced backspots anticipate where support will be needed. Communication skills matter here too: backspots call adjustments to bases and provide verbal confidence to nervous flyers.

Flyer Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Body Control	○	○	○	○	○
Flexibility	○	○	○	○	○
Trust/Confidence	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Flyer Total	_______ / 15

Base Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Strength	○	○	○	○	○
Timing	○	○	○	○	○
Communication	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Base Total	_______ / 15

Backspot Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Awareness	○	○	○	○	○
Quick Reactions	○	○	○	○	○
Communication	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Backspot Total	_______ / 15

Role-Specific Rating Definitions

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Flyer: Body Control	Cannot hold body tight. Floppy in the air. Poor balance on one leg.	Basic body control. Struggles to stay tight in transitions. Needs frequent corrections.	Holds positions adequately. Maintains balance in basic stunts. Consistent effort.	Excellent body control. Stays tight through transitions. Adjusts balance smoothly.	Flawless body control. Rock-solid positions. Makes difficult stunts look effortless.
Flyer: Flexibility	Limited flexibility. Cannot pull basic stretches. Stiff in positions.	Below average flexibility. Basic heel stretch with struggle. Limited extension.	Adequate flexibility. Clean heel stretch. Working on scorpion or scale.	Above average flexibility. Strong scorpion or bow and arrow. Clean lines.	Exceptional flexibility. Full scorpion, scale, and needle. Competition-level extensions.
Flyer: Trust/Confidence	Fearful in stunts. Grabs bases inappropriately. Cannot commit to dismounts.	Hesitant in new stunts. Some fear visible. Inconsistent confidence level.	Trusts bases in familiar stunts. Attempts new skills with encouragement.	Confident in most stunts. Trusts bases fully. Clean dismount commitment.	Fearless performer. Complete trust in stunt group. Leads confidence-building.
Base: Strength	Cannot support flyer weight safely. Poor grip strength. Fatigues quickly.	Basic strength for simple stunts. Struggles with extended positions. Inconsistent.	Adequate strength for program level. Holds positions reliably. Good endurance.	Strong and consistent. Handles extended stunts well. Rarely fatigues.	Rock-solid strength. Makes difficult stunts look easy. Anchor for stunt groups.
Base: Timing	Cannot follow counts. Late on catches. Inconsistent with partner.	Knows counts but timing off. Catches slightly late. Needs visual cues.	Good timing on basic stunts. Follows counts accurately. Works with partner.	Excellent timing. Anticipates transitions. Smooth coordination with flyer.	Perfect synchronization on every count. Elevates entire stunt group performance.
Base: Communication	Silent during stunts. No calls or signals. Leaves partners guessing.	Minimal communication. Inconsistent calls. Responds slowly to problems.	Communicates basic calls. Alerts group to issues. Works cooperatively.	Strong communicator. Clear calls throughout stunts. Leads group effectively.	Runs stunt group with confidence. Prevents problems before they happen.
Backspot: Awareness	No awareness of flyer position. Late reactions. Does not anticipate problems.	Basic awareness. Slow to recognize issues. Misses positioning sometimes.	Good awareness of flyer. Positioned correctly most of the time.	Excellent awareness. Anticipates adjustments needed. Always in right position.	Reads stunts perfectly. Sees problems developing. Prevents falls before they happen.
Backspot: Quick Reactions	Cannot react to catches. Slow reflexes. Unsafe as backspot.	Slow reactions. Catches late occasionally. Needs improvement for safety.	Adequate reactions. Makes most catches. Reliable in familiar stunts.	Quick reactions. Catches confidently. Saves difficult situations consistently.	Lightning-fast reflexes. Never misses a catch. Ultimate safety anchor for group.

Youth Cheerleading Evaluation (Ages 6-14)

Youth cheerleading tryouts require age-appropriate expectations. A 7-year-old attempting a back handspring faces different challenges than a 14-year-old with years of tumbling experience. Adjust your evaluation criteria and category weights based on developmental stage.

Ages 6-10: Focus on Attitude and Safety

Young athletes are still developing coordination and body awareness. At this age, prioritize coachability, positive attitude, and safety awareness over technical skills. Watch how they listen to instructions, how they treat teammates, and whether they understand basic safety concepts. A cheerful 8-year-old who tries hard will develop faster than a talented athlete who doesn't pay attention.

Keep tumbling expectations realistic. IHSA's definitions(opens in new tab) outline appropriate skill progressions by age. Forward rolls, cartwheels, and bridges are appropriate goals for this age group. Pushing advanced tumbling too early creates fear and bad habits.

Ages 11-14: Add Technical Expectations

Middle school athletes can handle more technical evaluation. Tumbling skills, jump technique, and stunt positions become meaningful differentiators. You can start identifying natural flyers versus bases based on body type and preferences. Balance current skill assessment with growth potential—a tall, strong 12-year-old may become your best base even if stunting is new to them.

Recommended Category Weighting by Age

Age Group	Athletic Skills	Spirit/Energy	Character
6U-8U	15%	35%	50%
10U-12U	30%	35%	35%
14U	40%	35%	25%
High School	50%	30%	20%

Green highlights show the highest priority category for each age group. Character matters most at younger ages; athletic skills become more important at the high school level.

Cheerleading Tryout Drills and Station Schedule

Organized tryouts reveal more about athletes than chaotic ones. When athletes wait in long lines or stand around confused, you miss opportunities to evaluate them under controlled conditions. Station rotations keep everyone moving and give evaluators focused time with each skill area.

Before Tryouts

Meet with your coaching staff to align on rating standards. What does a "4" look like for jumps? What separates a "3" tumbler from a "2"? Shared definitions mean consistent scoring across evaluators.

Prepare your space. Set up tumbling lanes, mark stunt areas, and test your sound system if you're evaluating choreography. A smooth-running tryout reflects well on your program and helps nervous athletes perform their best.

Sample Tryout Drills

These drills reveal cheerleading skills efficiently. Each targets specific abilities you need to evaluate.

Drill	Duration	Purpose	What to Watch
Toe Touch Progression	5 min	Jump technique, flexibility, height	Start with approach only, add arm swing, then full jump. Watch for pointed toes, straight legs, and clean landing.
Trust Falls & Catches	8 min	Stunt group trust, base catching, communication	Flyers fall backward from low height into base arms. Reveals who trusts partners and who communicates during catches.
Motion Drill to Counts	6 min	Motion sharpness, timing, following choreography	Call basic motions (high V, low V, T, touchdown) to 8-counts. Watch for sharp angles, clean stops, and timing precision.
Voice Projection Circle	5 min	Voice strength, confidence, spirit	Athletes stand in circle and lead simple chant one at a time. Reveals natural leaders and voice projection ability.

During Tryouts

Assign specific evaluators to specific stations. One evaluator watches tumbling, another tracks jumps, a third focuses on spirit and attitude. Each evaluator sees every athlete on that specific skill, creating consistency that roaming evaluators cannot match.

Watch how athletes interact between stations. Who encourages teammates? Who complains? Who stays focused when they're not being directly evaluated? These observations predict team chemistry better than skill scores alone.

After Tryouts

Compare scores across evaluators. Where do you agree? Where do you disagree? Disagreements often highlight athletes worth discussing further. Digital tools like Striveon compile scores instantly, letting you sort by category, compare evaluator ratings, and identify outliers in minutes instead of hours.

Provide feedback to athletes who request it. Specific criteria give them clear development paths. "Your jumps scored well but work on your voice projection" helps more than "keep practicing." Track athlete development beyond tryouts with Striveon's progress monitoring.

Sample Station Schedule

Example schedule for evaluating 40 athletes in 2 hours with 4 evaluators and adequate floor space.

Station	Duration	Athletes/Group	Skills Tested
Check-in & Warm-up	15 min	All	Registration, dynamic stretching, basic jumps
Tumbling Assessment	20 min	8 at a time	Standing tumbling, running passes, flexibility
Jump Evaluation	15 min	6 at a time	Toe touch, pike, herkie, approach technique
Stunt Groups	25 min	Groups of 4	Basic stunts, role identification, trust exercises
Cheer/Dance	20 min	All	Learn choreography, motion technique, spirit
Performance Round	25 min	Groups of 5	Perform learned material, voice projection, presence