Want to be an NFL cheerleader? NFL cheerleaders are important to the world of American football. Without them, football teams would not have the public image that they hold today as cheerleaders go out on the sidelines to entertain the audience, make appearances, and participate in charity events. However, getting into the NFL cheerleader squad is not an easy task as hundreds participate in the auditions each year to get one of the few coveted openings.

Preparation

If you're interested, the first thing you should do is to make a phone call or visit the homepage of the NFL cheerleaders squad. Keep track of when the audition is taking place. Auditions usually last a few days with preliminary rounds, semi-finals rounds, and final rounds. Find out what you will be doing on those days ie, what kind of dance, is there a freestyle dance, is there an interview session, other requirements.

Not all squads are the same. Some have different dancing styles so it would be handy to watch their moves in order to prepare for the audition. Watch their moves on TV or online on their website or Youtube.com. Some squads offer clinics or classes so make sure to take advantage of those to better prepare yourself. Also these clinics/classes can get you more exposure to the team which could work in your favor come audition time.

Looks

Try to anticipate what kind of "look" the squad is going for. Some may have a preferred look that they want to see in their cheerleaders. If you can note that, then try to achieve that look. Go to a good makeup artist and hair stylist and experiment over the year to see which one will get you the look you need so when it comes time, you can have that look ready for the auditioning process. Longer hair is usually better so try not to cut it short.

Work out consistently so you don't end up going out of shape towards the audition day. Plus you'll need that in-shape body to fit in the slim-fit NFL cheerleaders uniform.

A few days before audition, you may want to do a "dress rehearsal" to make sure your hair, makeup, and clothes are in good condition after a few dance routines.

Select your clothes a couple days before audition time. You may need interview attire in addition to your workout clothes. These clothes should fit you in a way that is comfortable and flattering. Nothing too revealing or else the judges will immediately discount you from semi-finals. Wear a color scheme that you will wear throughout the week. If you wear purple today, wear purple tomorrow. This way the judges can remember you which is important in a crowd of hundreds.

Dance

Dance skills are important because this is what NFL cheerleaders do on the sidelines. Learn what dances will be in the auditions. Some common ones are kickline, a jazz dance, and a freestyle dance. Also make sure you can pass the "Kick the Hat" test so if you can't do it now, start practicing so you can get it right. In addition, you'll have to do splits, high kicks, have good energy, and poise. It's a lot to think about and have to be able to do but if you can get this right in front of an audience, you will have a better chance than at least half the crowd. With freestyle dance, you'll just have to practice to random music and make stuff up on the spot. One way to go about this is to make a few moves before-hand and mix and match these moves on the spot. If you make a mistake, just smile and keep going like a true entertainer.

Interview, etc

When you've got your dance skills down, take the time to go over your interview skills. You want to make a good appearance so get a suit that has a professional and modern look. Prepare yourself to talk about the following topics: your history, why you want to be in the squad, are you willing to relocate, what is your availability, your knowledge of the NFL and its cheerleaders, and the squad specifically that your interested in. Think about some questions they might ask and prepare some answers ahead of time so you can feel more at ease talking during the interview. The last thing you want to do is stall for more than 10 seconds to answer a question. Go through a mock interview with a friend so you can get some candid feedback on how well you are doing.

During auditions, girls may get cut even though they did everything in their power to try to obtain a spot in the squad. They may even have done everything right. However, the fact of the matter is that there are only so many spots in a squad. Because of this, girls may audition over and over before making it as an NFL cheerleader. Hopefully, you can get in with the first audition you do but don't be discouraged if you can't. "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." Just have fun with the process and try to make some friends while you're at it.

Good luck!