Check out these readers’ most embarrassing tryout moments.
American Cheerleader March/April 2009
We’ve all had our fair share of horrifically embarrassing moments, and sometimes we wish we could just forget they ever happened. Lucky for us, these readers were more than happy to dish on their most cringe-worthy tryout memories!
“At my school you’re supposed to spirit/rally out to the middle of the floor at tryouts. I’m a pretty clumsy person and when I came out to perform, I tripped over my own foot and fell. I got up and smiled like nothing had happened, even though I was so embarrassed. I did end up making the team, though!” —Hannah
“The second time I tried out for varsity I was prepared, but super nervous. I was so scared that I was visibly shaking and kept a frozen smile plastered across my face the whole time. Halfway through my tryout the coach called me over and gave me a hug and encouraged me to calm down before performing again. I was so embarrassed that my coach had to give me a pep talk in the middle of my tryouts—but I ended up making the team and did much better at tryouts the following year!” —Domonique
“During tryouts one year, I accidentally punched the girl next to me in the nose. I apologized, but I felt so bad about it!” —Rebeca
“When I was in sixth grade, my friend and I were planning on trying out for our school squad together. We were in the gym showing the cheerleading coach the dance—she was pretty strict and expected us to show facials during tryouts. My friend went first and she ended up forgetting the dance! I couldn’t control myself and burst out laughing because it was so funny. Then, when it was my group’s turn to go, I was really nervous. So
nervous, in fact, that I turned bright red. We started to do the dance, but then I went completely blank, too. Everybody totally laughed at me!” —Savannah
“My best friend and I lost track of time and showed up 30 minutes late to tryouts and weren’t wearing the required outfits. Then I was so distracted that I freaked out while I was doing my round-off backhandspringtuck—and fell right on my face!” —Dierra
“One year we were doing our ‘mock tryouts’ (kind of like a dress rehearsal the day before actual tryouts), and I really needed to go to the bathroom. It was almost my turn, so I didn’t have time to run to the restroom. I ran to do a cartwheel and landed on my butt on the floor. Needless to say, I was a ‘wee’ bit embarrassed.” —Libby
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23 responses so far ↓
Lacey Mar 3, 2010 at 12:20 am
” At tryouts you had to find two people to tryout with at my school. I was looking for someone to tryout with and there was nobody left! I ended up trying out alone and was super nervous. As I walked out I knocked over the coach’s water bottle and was so emmbarrased! I said I was sorry and still made the team. I actually made captain!”
- Lacey
Michelle Mar 4, 2010 at 3:32 am
At tryouts we were learning a really difficult dance. I was getting it right every time i did it. When it was my groups turn everything was going great. When i was doing the dance we had to do a jump that landed into a squat. When i landed i happen to fart really loud. I stood up really quickly and said … “oops”.. innocently and the couch gave me a really weird look.
Holly Mar 5, 2010 at 1:27 am
“At tryouts we had to practice our toe touches with someone supporting our arms. There was this really hot student coach and he was supporting me. When i went up on one off my toe touches I let out a huge fart and it smelled… bad.I acted as if nothing had happened but he totally knew I farted. He walked away and told eveyone and now they call me ” fartastic Holly” I will never be the same” – Holly
Briannae Mar 6, 2010 at 1:01 am
when my friend and i were dancing and i went to hit a split i accidently farted and i turned bright red and i said it was my brothers friend doc
Breana Mar 6, 2010 at 10:01 pm
This actually happened YESTERDAY at tryouts. It was my turn to do my individual cheer and original so I went and spirited my way up there and then I clapped my hands, took a big gasp of air, and then..! Went totally blank! I forgot everything! I ended up just making something up, but hey I smiled the whole time! And I made it!
kendall Mar 6, 2010 at 10:43 pm
at the clinics before tryouts we were doing pike jumps and i went to do mine and i kicked my legs up to high and forgot to land on my feet…it made a really loud noise when i hit the ground, hard. :O everyone makes fun of me at practice now.
Fallon Mar 7, 2010 at 12:50 am
i was cheering, and i stepped forward to kick my leg up and accidentally stepped on my pom-poms. i fell right on my butt in front of everybody!!! i started laughing though ’cause my friend started laughing from the bleachers.:)
Madi Mar 9, 2010 at 12:45 am
I’ve been on my gym’s cheer team for three years. I was still really nervous about try-outs though. I was going for my tumbling pass, round-off four- back-handspring. I went and on the last back handspring I ran into one of the gymnastic bars and stubbed my toe, it really hurt and I was trying not to cry. I still made the team and now I’m captain.
karmesha Mar 15, 2010 at 6:23 pm
at my tryouts they told us to do a toe touch instead i really just bent down to touch my toes.
Haley Mar 16, 2010 at 8:49 pm
we just tried out for high school cheerleading on friday. we were warming up in the gym before the judges came and my crush came in and said, “good luck !”
”
later try-outs started..i was number 3 and i started my try-out. i was in the middle of my cheer then i saw a head pop out of the bleachers and then go back. after i got in the holding room i texted my crush and said, “are you under the bleachers ?” and he said, “yep
i was so embarrassed. but at least i made it.
Alexis Mar 16, 2010 at 11:55 pm
My seventh grade year, i was trying out and they called us in by pairs. Well, the girl i had went in with wasn’t as nervous as i was and she was so much more flexible! The judges asked us to do the school song which i hadn’t learned yet and when i attempted it the other girl landed in the splits and i didn’t even get through the whole dance. I was totally nervous but later on, the coach called me herself and told me i made the squad!
Dominique Mar 20, 2010 at 12:03 am
When I tried out for cheerleading at my middle school I was really nervous. So when she called my name to do my tryout cheer I just went blank. Then when I remembered the words to the cheer I sort of squeaked/screamed the frist line , and everyone started to laugh!!!
Erika Mar 20, 2010 at 8:58 am
for tryouts this year i was showing everyone the choreography and in the dance there was a high kick which i kicked too high and ended up kicking my head really hard and fell down holding my head in pain! i got up smiling though and no-one has put me down, only to say ‘how can you kick your leg so high!?!’-Erika from Aussie
Chelsea Mar 25, 2010 at 1:35 am
Okk this didn’t happen to me but at the cheer clinic my best friend was doing the dance we had learned and did a high kick with socks on and her but landed on a Capri sun and everyone thought she peed on herself!!
Renee Mar 26, 2010 at 3:53 pm
My freshmen year I was trying out for varsity and we had to tryout in couples. Of course knowing my luck I was paired with the girl that would make captain, but anyways we started doing the dance and I was really nervous so I looked over and I was on the wrong count so I just stopped and said “crap” really really loud on accident. I covered my mouth and just stood there for the rest of the dance. I was so embarrassed; and I didn’t make it that year.
But I did the next, and tryouts are in a few weeks, I’m so excited!!!
Darbi Mar 27, 2010 at 12:27 am
Yesterday, I had my try-outs for my high school. I was number 21, and my best friend Demi was 22, so we were going together, in pairs. The judge said “Number 21, lets see your side-hurdler.” I jumped and what I did I am not sure! My arms we like all over and my legs were…I don’t know but it was pretty awful!! Then to top it off, Demi did a beautiful, perfect side-hurdler! I ended up making Varsity a a freshman! For anyone who is going to tryout soon, SMILE, do your best, spirit, and if you mess up; don’t sweat it! I hope this helps
-From a present cheerleader to all the future ones!
savanna Apr 7, 2010 at 2:31 am
At Tryouts last year i was so nervous trying out for my cheer gym wanting to make a level 5 team. We had to go in the middle of the mat when it came our turn.I was so nervous in memorizing what the girls in front of me did when it came my turn they ask me my name and i told them Mckayla,the girl that went before me. woow how in embarrassing:(
Michelle Apr 10, 2010 at 9:51 pm
This year in tryouts we had to instroduce ourself to the judges and say why we wanted to be a cheerleader. the judges didn’t give me very long in between spiriting in and asking me to introduce myself. I was so out of breath and nervous that I studdered…BAD the judges just looked at me and laughed. I managed to keep a smile on my faces the whole time though =]
Tammy Apr 15, 2010 at 5:28 pm
My school had a “Mock Tryout” the day before the actual tryouts and when it was time to do my cartwheel, for some stupid reason I started on my left side, when I usually do them from the right side. I fell in front of every girl who was trying out……and they laughed soooooo hard! Fortunately they allowed me to do it again, the right way and it was fine then. Unfortunately, I did not make the squad and I cried for 3 days straight!!
Nicole Apr 28, 2010 at 10:37 pm
In my squad I was trying out for flyer so I was making sure to keep my body really tight so it would look pretty. Right as I went up I let out a HUGE fart because I was squeezing so hard. I was so embarrassed but I kept a smile plastered on my face and ended up making it as a flyer!
val May 1, 2010 at 1:40 am
This week we had clinic for cheerleading tryouts and I was up in the middle of a hurdler and I swung my arms around to hard and when i kicked up i kicked myself in the face and ended up falling straight on my face and the next day I had a nasty bruise on my right rib!! I ended up making the squad though and I’m very excited for the upcoming season =v) btw my cuz made up the smiliey isn’t it cute!
Jessica May 1, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Last year i tried out for our schools middle school squad. During tryouts we had to be we 2 other people and i was really nervous. I had a plastered on smile and during the cheer the other girls were going to fast and i knew the cheer and forgot the motions. It turned out i didn’t make it and cried so hard my friends were hugging me. But this i trying out for the varsity squad. I’ve been training really hard so i’m positive i will make it!
sam Jan 1, 2012 at 8:58 pm
for my freshman tryouts i ran for a roundoff back handspring but the roundoff was awkward so i moonwalked back to the beginning michael jackson style and tried again. i ended up making it (:
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