KU Cheerleading TryoutsTryouts for the 2008-2009 squad were held May 3/4, 2008 — check out the new roster! Information on the 2009 tryouts should be posted in spring of 2009. Last year's info is posted below to give you an idea of how our tryouts are run. For help improving your skills for tryouts, see the Clinics page. To receive email updates on our tryouts and clinics, see the Email Updates section of the Recruits page. Our SquadsSpring tryouts fill all the spots on our squads (ie, we don't have a Fall tryout). We take approximately 14 coed couples who are split into the Blue Squad and Red Squad some time in the summer, and coaches can move members between squads or to alternate positions at any time if they are not meeting squad expectations.
So far we've been able to send everyone to Bowl games, but we can't send everyone to regular-season away football games or post-season basketball games, so a squad vote determines who travels. In the fall, we select 9 males and 7 females (plus 2 alternates) to compete at UCA nationals in Disneyworld in mid-January. What to Wear at Tryouts
Selection Criteria / RequirementsCandidates will be selected based on who will create the best squad by the time our season starts. That means we'll consider more factors than just skill level; we'll consider potential, squad partnering, pyramid positions, physical fitness, work ethic, and attitude. For specific skills, it's hard to estimate what is needed to make the squad since we just take the best 14 couples that show up, but here's what we look for (and also note that we have 11 seniors this year so we'll have plenty of open spots, plus all returning squad members must try out every year): Ladies should have good stunting fundamentals and be easy to stunt with or show good potential. It helps (but isn't required) to have experience with elite stunts like full-ups, rewinds, and double-twisting cradles but make sure you only work on those if you're ready for them. For standing tumbling, we like to see a solid standing back handspring and back tuck (standing fulls are great, but rare). For pass tumbling, we hope to see fulls, but back handspring series to tuck or layout might be enough to make the squad if your stunting is strong. Guys skills at tryouts vary more than the ladies, so they're harder to predict. In general, we really like to see guys who can both stunt and tumble, but we also take guys who are stronger in one area. We may also take guys who have little to no cheer experience if they show potential by being strong and athletic. In 3 out of the last 5 years, we took every guy who tried out, so if you're worried about not making it you should just go ahead and try out! The 2008 Tryout FormatPrelims: Saturday MorningEveryone will be asked to perform the tumbling skills listed below and you'll be judged on how well you perform each. I don't expect people to have ALL of these skills so don't let the list scare you, but it will show me exactly what tumbling you can and can't do and how well you do each. All tumbling will be performed on non-spring mats.
After tumbling, you will do a fairly basic stunt (the stunt will not be announced until the day of tryouts) with one of several partners provided at tryouts. Female candidates' stunts will be judged by the male stunter on how easy it was for them to hit the stunt. Male candidates will be judged on solidness and technique. Once everyone is finished with their tumbling and stunt, we'll break and announce the semi-finalists. Semi-Finals: Saturday AfternoonCandidates will do three more stunts with three different partners provided at tryouts. The three stunts will not be announced until semis begin but the stunts I'll choose from are listed below.
The stunts will be judged in the same manner as in prelims. When everyone is finished, we'll announce the finalists. Saturday evening, finalists will be interviewed and will learn a 30-second fight song. Finals: Sunday MorningFinalists perform the following in groups of three for a judging panel:
Tryout AdviceHere are some random thoughts and tips on preparing for tryouts:
Summer ObligationsSquad members will need to be in Lawrence several times over the summer for practices, to teach our camps, and attend to UCA camp (in Milwaukee). It's helpful if squad members live in Lawrence over the summer so they can work on their skills together, but it's not required. The summer dates aren't finalized yet, but it looks like squad members will need to be in Lawrence:
Questions?If you have any questions about tryouts or KU Cheerleading, check the Recruits page. If you can't find the answer there, email me (Corey) at cheer4ku@ku.edu. Thanks! |
At both days of tryouts, ladies should wear a sports bra, athletic shorts or spandex, athletic shoes, no jewelry, and your hair should be pulled back out of your face. Men should wear a plain T-shirt, athletic shorts, and athletic shoes. Note that these requirements are for safety reasons, and also note that a small part of your score in finals is "Overall Image," so it's in your best interest to look game-ready.