The University has two cheerleading squads. The Blue squad, composed of eight to ten females and eight to ten males, cheers for football and men’s basketball; the Blue squad also makes regular appearances representing the University at alumni, athletic, charitable and public relations activities. The White squad, also composed of eight to ten females and eight to ten males, cheers for some home football games and women’s basketball. Members from both the Blue and White Squads are eligible and are considered when selecting a squad to represent the University in cheerleading competition. The program also includes two mascots, and two or three individuals wear those suits.
The spring tryouts will be held April 17-20, 2003. The main purpose of the tryout process is to select the best overall individuals for the University of Kentucky cheerleading squads. Slightly different criteria are used for each squad. When selecting the Blue squad we are looking for individuals that demonstrate proper technical skills, ability to communicate, excellent athletic abilities, noteworthy cheerleading experience and poise, in accordance with the Blue squad criteria score scale. Generally, these are individuals who will be ready and prepared to contribute to the program immediately. When selecting the White squad, which is a feeder squad to the Blue squad, we are looking for incoming freshman and sophomores who demonstrate proper technical skills, ability to communicate, poise, athletic ability and most importantly potential to contribute to the Blue squad, probably in the future. These individuals may not always be the most experienced at this time, but show the most potential to contribute to the program in the near future.
The tryout process includes three days of clinics during which you will learn new material and we will evaluate your partner stunt and gymnastic skills, as well as your performance of the newly learned material. During the clinics elimination of participants (cuts) will be made by the coaches and advisor, as they deem appropriate. The final day will include an interview process and a formal tryout judged by a panel of experts. The judges will select the Blue squad members using the Blue Squad Criteria Score Scale. Each candidate will also be given a “future potential” score. The coach and the advisor will select the members of the White squad by using the judges’ “future potential” score along with the evaluations they made over the entire tryout process.
To try out in the Spring:
One must be included in one of the following categories:
(1) attended the University of Kentucky, a community college or another college or university for at least one semester and have earned twelve hours of credit and have attained a college GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or
(2) been a member of a coed all-star or coed high school cheerleading squad, or have had adequate coed stunting experience and have attained a high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 22 or above on your ACT (or an equivalent score on the SAT) or
(3) been selected by the coach and/or the advisor as a result of (1) a videotape entry, (2) a campus visit, or (3) the spring clinic. Since this category of potential candidates includes a significant number of females (and a substantially lesser number of males), it should be noted that to be selected, a female must demonstrate sufficient skills in the required partner stunts and gymnastics, as shown on the tryout judging scale sheet. However, the coach and the advisor will select only the top candidates who show the most significant experience and skills and who will probably far exceed the minimum requirements. Any female interested in being a candidate under this category must do one of the following: submit videotape, arrange for a campus visit through the coach, or attend the spring clinic. One or more of these actions must be taken by April 14, 2003.
General Information:
You will need to bring proof of medical insurance including the policy number.
The final day (Sunday) of tryouts will be in Memorial Coliseum. All other sessions will be in the Seaton Center in the Gymnastics Room.
The proper attire for the final day is as follows: for the males tennis shorts or warm-up pants and a polo-style collared shirt and for the females a leotard and skirt or tennis style outfit. For all other sessions T-shirts and shorts will be appropriate. There is a judging category on appearance; thus, you should consider clothing that is appropriate and appealing. Absolutely no jewelry.
Requirements:
Stunts: You are required to do a toss shoulder stand, a toss heel-stretch and a stunt combination of your choice. This stunt combination may consist of any two stunts with only one transition. For example you could do a toss liberty, hands, heel-stretch or a toss liberty, double take to an arabesque.
Cheer: You are to make up your own cheer. It may only include two stunts and one gymnastics skill. It must include some motions.
Gymnastics: You are required to do a back tuck, a back handspring back tuck and two other gymnastics skills.
Fight Song: We will teach you a fight song.
Dance: We will teach you a dance (females only).
2003 Schedule:
Depending on the number of participants, we may have a cut after any session. We will announce at the beginning of the session that we will be making a cut at the end.
These sessions are considered mandatory; you may be excused only with permission of the coach
Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. – We will begin with an informational meeting, then begin teaching the fight song and dance. We will also have free time to start evaluating partner stunt and gymnastics skills.
Friday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. – We will have the gym open for practice.
Friday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. – We will help with choreographing cheers and we will continue to evaluate partner’s stunt and gymnastics skills.
Saturday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. and at 6:00 p.m. – Everyone will be given time to master material and to practice her/his skills.
Sunday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m. – Final day of tryouts. We will begin with the interview process and then continue immediately afterward with the actual tryout process. An expert-judging panel not including the coach and advisor will evaluate these processes.
Scholarships:
Everyone who makes the 2003-2004 Blue Squad will receive a scholarship equivalent to the amount of in-state tuition and a portion of the out-of-state fee will be paid. Also all Blue and all White squad members who attain over a 3.0 GPA during the fall semester will receive a small academic scholarship at the end of the spring semester.
There are additional funds that may be available on a financial need basis. Please call for more information.
