Cheerleading

No. Although, having experience may help, it is not required.  You must be a committed, hardworking individual who wants to be a part of a team, develop confidence and more importantly, acquire leadership skills.  If you do not have cheer experience, look for videos online about cheerleading, arm motions, jump techniques, and how to engage the crowd.  The more you practice, the better.

You must attend the cheer clinic all three days.  At the clinic, you will learn crowd engagement, a cheer, a chant, required jumps, and a dance.  On the day of the mock tryout, you will perform as you would on the date of the tryouts.  On the day of tryouts, you will be performing crowd engagement, a cheer, a chant, the dance, and the required jumps by yourself, in front of a panel of independent judges. You must show enthusiasm, remain respectful, pay close attention, listen carefully, and learn as much as you can during the clinic.  No horseplay is allowed.  You may be asked to leave and not be able to try out.  Remember, this is your time to learn, and the time for you to perfect your skills, so that you will be ready to perform in front of the judges.  Teacher recommendations/input will be considered part of your scoresheet.

Every day at the clinic, you must wear an FBMS t-shirt, school uniform t-shirt, or plain white t-shirt. (please do not wear any t-shirts that represent other schools), black shorts, athletic shoes, hair in a ponytail, a coordinating bow, if you have one.  During the clinic no jewelry, no food and no gum during the clinic. On all three days, you are required to dress appropriately.

FBMS will have a squad of 16 cheerleaders and one or two mascots.  This number is also contingent on the number of candidates.  Do not let this number stop you from trying out, nor, let the number of participants at the clinic intimidate you. All current FBMS cheerleaders must tryout again and qualify based on their previous performance to be on next year’s squad.  I will be looking for the most enthusiastic, coachable leaders.

Your grades are crucial to the process and it shows that you are responsible.  Teacher recommendations will be reviewed as well.  Once the 2025-2026 school year begins, per UIL and HISD Extracurricular Code of Conduct, your grades will be monitored and they do affect your eligibility to remain on the squad.  More information regarding this will be given if you make the squad.

The cost will be approximately $750, which includes the cost for cheer camp, basic cheer package (shell skirt, bows, cheer shoes, backpack, etc.), as well as practice wear.  Please know that it is your family’s responsibility to pay for you to be on the squad. Fundraising opportunities will be held to purchase additional items.

There is a mandatory time-commitment to be a part of the Frank Black Cheer Squad.  While joining other organizations and sports is acceptable, it is necessary that you balance your schedule wisely and do not miss out on any of the cheer activities. ***Any organization/sport outside of FBMS will not be an excuse to miss any FBMS Cheer activities (practices, games, events, etc.).   When you make the squad, more details will be provided.  You will also be required to attend all scheduled community events, school events, football games, and boys’ and girls’ basketball games.

Yes. As a member of the FBMS Cheer Squad, you are required to attend the overnight summer camp.  Failure to attend camp automatically dismisses you from the team. Details regarding the camp will be given when you make the squad.

Contact Coach Cornish.  You can call the school at 713.613.2505.  Or send an email to icornish@houstonisd.org

• Keep your grades up – schoolwork comes first and is a good indicator of your work ethic.
• Practice good rapport with your teachers and peers. Cheerleaders are role models in their communities.
• Introduce yourself to the coaches; this will help them get to know you.
• In the months leading up to tryouts, stretch and start training your technical skills. Work with private coaches or senior cheerleaders for helpful critiques.
• When the score sheets become available, be sure to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you practice and prepare for the big day.
• During the clinic: pay attention, have a positive attitude, cheer full-out and ask questions.
• Remember the coaches and administrators are always watching. Behave appropriately and be courteous to other candidates.
• If the coach allows, record the cheers on your cell phone so you can practice at home.
• Stretch after each clinic session and drink plenty of water to avoid sore muscles.
• Practice your tryout material full-out in front of your parents and friends to calm your nerves.
• On tryout day arrive early, eat a good meal, take a deep breath, relax and have fun!
• Keep in mind that being a member of the cheerleading team may come with financial obligation. Seek out the details of what will be required so you can be prepared.