How are Axtell Cheerleaders Selected?

Prospective cheerleaders at all levels must first fill out a tryout application and must attend at least one of the 3 tryout clinics.

All applicants are scores are based on data from a variety of sources. The scoring rubric is 400 possible points in total, with 200 points being derived from character-based teachers and coaches evaluations and 200 points being derived from their physical cheer abilities displayed during tryouts. The top scoring candidates (total tryout score) with no disqualifying factors are placed on a team. An example of our total scoring rubric and judges score sheets are displayed below.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the scoring:

  • Teacher Input: 100 possible points, 25% of the candidate's score
    • Anonymous teacher input forms are sent electronically to each of the applicant's teachers. These input forms ask teachers character-based questions about the behaviors that they observe in their classroom. (i.e- Is the candidate on task in class? Is the candidate respectful to teachers? Is the candidate respectful to peers?). The teacher responds by selecting All of the time, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, or Never for each of the 10 questions.
    • Scores from ALL teacher input forms are averaged together to generate one teacher evaluation average score.
    • Because scores are averaged, a single low teacher input score will not ruin a candidate's overall average. We tell all cheer candidates this good rule of thumb:
      • If one teacher doesn't speak highly of you, that could be a personality conflict.
      • If most or all of your teachers don't speak highly of you, that's a pattern of behavior.
    • Teacher input forms are electronic and completely anonymous. There is no way for the cheer coaches to know which teacher scored a candidate in any particular way. We only know that we sent the form to all teachers and, wholistically, this was their average score across all teachers.
  • Coaches Evaluations: 100 possible points, 25% of the candidate's score
    • Evaluations are completed by two of the student's coaches/P.E. teachers. This is important in determining whether the student is currently successful in the athletic program, or if they are likely to be successful in the athletic program upon making the cheer team.
    • The scores from the two coaches are averaged together to result in one coaches input score average of up to 100 possible points.
    • Coaches input scores are based on factual information regarding the student's current or former participation and observed behaviors in the athletic program or P.E. classes, and are NOT based on the coach's personal opinion of the candidate's personality.
  • Tryout Scores from 3rd Party Judges: 200 possible points, 50% of the candidate's score
    • Tryouts are judged by impartial, 3rd party judges from Lone Star Cheerleading Association. LSCA is a nationwide company and is not local to the Axtell/Waco area. Their judges are experts in the field and judge based on the same criteria as the judges at our competitions at the state and national level. Most LSCA judges have coached or choreographed multiple state championship winning teams, state finalists, and/or state medalists.
    • Judges from LSCA have no ties to local families, cheer coaches, or staff members. Their scoring is factual and completely impartial.
    • Candidates are indicated by a randomly generated number, and their names are not shared with LSCA tryout judges.
    • Candidates can earn up to 5 bonus points on their tryout score for demonstrating specific standing tumbling skills. A perfectly executed standing back handspring is worth 2.5 points, while a perfectly executed standing back tuck is worth 5 points. These two skills are the only ones that we are allowed to use in our competition division, therefore they are the only ones that earn a candidate bonus points.
Tryout Rubric Example
Tryout Rubric Example
Tryout Score Sheet
Tryout Score Sheet

We will receive one of these score sheets from each judge. There will be 2 judges judging all candidates. Although the second jump is marked as "optional" on the score sheet, it is not optional. All of our candidates must do a toe touch and a second jump of choice.

Frequently Asked Scoring Questions
  1. What does my child's score need to be to make the team?
    1. There is no set score. The highest scoring candidates overall with no disqualifying factors are awarded a spot on the team.
      1. As a general rule for all teams, if you have mid-range to low scores in either teacher/coaches evaluations or tryout scores, you must score EXTREMELY HIGHLY in the other area in order to outscore the competition and make a team. Although not impossible, mid-range scores in both areas as compared to the competition do not usually result in a total score high enough to make the team.
      2. Candidates earning a spot on the varsity team usually have perfect or near perfect scores in one area or the other (average of 98-100 on teacher/coaches eval combined, or on the judges tryout scores) OR have high scores (average of 90 or above) in all areas. Typically, those with very low scores in any one area do not make the varsity team. The candidates who have earned a spot on the varsity team in the last two years have typically scored 90 and above on their teacher and coaches evaluation averages, and earn a total tryout score of 180 or above from the judges.
  2. What are considered "disqualifying factors?"
    1. The following disqualifying factors are considered of all applicants:
      1. Because cheer is part of our athletic program, if you are not permitted to enroll in athletics due to athletic department rules or the athletic director's discretion, then you may not be on the cheer team.
      2. If you have lost UIL eligibility due to grades for 2 or more grading periods in the calendar year before tryouts, you may not be on the cheer team.
      3. Average scores below 70 points in any area may disqualify you from being placed on the varsity team, however, you may still be able to earn a spot on a sub-varsity team. Varsity team members must be at the highest levels of trustworthiness and character to ensure positive team chemistry and positive representation of our school at the state and national levels.
Common Misconceptions
  • Myth: The cheer coaches just choose their favorites, their friends children, the students they personally like, or "rig" the tryouts in some way.
    • FACT: Our scoring rubric was carefully developed in order to eliminate bias and remove the cheer coaches from the selection process as much as possible. Tryout scores are derived from a variety of sources, which includes input from a panel of up to 12 people (up to 8 teachers, 2 athletic coaches/PE teachers, and 2 tryout judges). All scores are entered into a spreadsheet that averages, totals, and calculates the scores electronically. The spreadsheet is then sorted electronically by the computer from highest to lowest total scores to indicate who makes the teams. There is no place in our scoring rubric for "favorites" or to give special consideration of any type to any candidate.
  • Myth: Once I'm put on the team, my position is permanent.
    • FACT: You earn your position on the team every single day in practice and in athletics. Cheerleaders who don't show up for workouts or morning lifts must perform make-up workouts in order to be permitted to cheer at the football game and/or pep rally that week. Cheerleaders who don't exhibit a good work ethic or attitude can be replaced or removed from the mat or the sideline at the coaches discretion. We want to be represented by our best team at all times, not just athletically, but in attitude and work-ethic as well. Our cheerleaders must try-out and re-earn their position on the team each year and are not guaranteed a position from one year to the next.
  • Myth: I can't tumble so I can't make cheerleader.
    • FACT: Some of our cheerleaders have no current tumbling skills. We participate in game day divisions for our competitions, therefore the only tumbling skills that we may use in our competition sets are standing back handsprings and standing back tucks. Tumbling is definitely an asset, but it is certainly not a requirement of our team members at this time.
  • Myth: I didn't make cheerleader because the coaches don't like me.
    • FACT: The coaches get just as nervous about tryouts as you do! We develop relationships with the candidates during tryout week and hate to have to say goodbye to some of them when they do not score high enough to make the team! We see how hard everyone works, and it crushes us to disappoint any candidate or their parents when their name does not appear on the new team list after tryouts. Please understand that your hard work was seen and appreciated, whether you earned a position on the team or not. We want to put the best team on the sideline and the mat, and we are rooting for all of you! We still care about you and want you to say "hi" when you see us, and if cheer is still your dream, we want you to keep working hard so that you might earn a position on the team in the future!
What if I want to know why my child didn't make the team?

FIRST- Read ALL of the information on this page to understand how your child was scored.

If you are still dissatisfied, after the posting of results, there is a one week cooling-off period before you may contact cheer coaches regarding results.

Beginning Monday, March 16, you may e-mail cheercoaches@axtellisd.net and request an appointment to come and view your child's scores and/or discuss what areas your child needs to improve upon for future tryouts.

We can only show you YOUR child's scores, not the scores of any other candidates. We cannot discuss any other candidates with you. We can only discuss your child.

As with all other sports, if you are dissatisfied after meeting with the cheer coaches, you may appeal to the girls' athletic coordinator, and then the athletic director.