With the birth of college football came college cheerleading. However, while it is a female-dominated activity these days, it was initially male-driven with an all-male pep club at Princeton University in the 1880s. Women were first allowed to cheer in 1923 at the University of Minnesota, and it has become a highly competitive sport since then. What's required of cheerleaders varies by the college, but certain skills increase chances of making a university squad.
Tumbling
University cheerleaders are also gymnasts, but each school requires a different set of tumbling skills. At University of Kansas, potential cheerleaders are asked to perform a large set of tumbling moves, such as a standing back handspring, back tuck, back handspring back tuck, back handspring full, roundoff back handspring series, roundoff back handspring tuck (layout or full), roundoff back handspring whip back handspring, roundoff back handspring full back handspring full, roundoff Arabian stepout roundoff back handspring and a roundoff back handspring 1.5xfull stepout roundoff back handspring. While each move is not required to earn a spot on the squad, the coach requests to see as many of these tumbling skills, all performed on nonspring mats, as possible. However, at the University of Texas, the only required tumbling skill is a standing back tuck, as well as a roundoff back handspring and tuck, layout or full.
Stunts
Stunting ability is judged differently for men and women, and as with tumbling, different colleges have varying stunting requirements. At Boston College, potential female cheerleaders are required to know how to do a walk-in/toss-hands extension, a walk-in/toss-hands heel stretch, a full twist cradle from all stunts and a transitional stunt, such as a cradle reload to extension. At University of Kansas, tryouts require two attempts at a "basic" stunt and two advanced stunts with a partner. Potential stunts you could be asked to do include toss chair, toss shoulders, or single or double-twisting cradle from heel-stretch or arabesque.
Spirit and Attributes
Cheerleaders are the embodiment of school spirit. Therefore, you should know how to sing the school's fight school and the alma mater --- or official school song --- as well as what the school's mascot is. Universities also look for men and women that have certain personality characteristics. At the University of Texas, the head coach wants cheerleaders that know how to be leader, as well as those who are charismatic, confident, independent and enthusiastic. Because cheerleading is a team effort, you should also know how to get along with other people and work as a group.
Time Management
While it might seem as if college cheerleading and college schoolwork at separate entities, being able to juggle the two is extremely important. Both your coursework and the cheerleading squad take dedication, so you should know how to balance your time to succeed in both. Many schools have a course-load requirement, as well as a minimum GPA requirement. For example, Indiana University requires cheerleaders to take 12 hours of undergraduate courses each semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
References
- KU Cheerleading: KU Cheerleading Tryouts
- Cheerleading.org: The History of Cheerleading
- Texas Spirit Program: Cheer Tryout Information
- Boston College: Cheer Tryout Information
- Sideline Star: Cheerleading in College -- How Different is it from High School Cheer?
- Indiana Hoosiers Spirit Squads: Cheerleading - Rules
Member Comments