Requirements (Girls):

Requirements (Guys):

Blue Squad
Responsibilities:

Requirements (Girls):

Requirements (Guys):

A typical week for all members of the UI cheerleading squad include:

Elite Squad Each year a Elite Squad will be selected from all members of the Illinois Cheerleading Team. An internal try out for this squad will be held during the first few weeks of the academic year. This group may be any combination of Blue and Orange members. All practices for this squad will be held on a seperate night from regular team practices. Depending on when the competition/performances are this squad may be required to practice over winter or spring break in order to prepare fully.

Responsibilities:

TRYOUTS

Tryouts for the 2007-2008 Cheerleading Team will be held on April 14-15, 2007.PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COINCIDES WITH MOM'S WEEKEND, MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS EARLY!!

ATTENDANCE AT ALL CLINICS IS MANDATORY. Video entries are not permitted.

Saturday, April 14th Events will be held at Kenney Gym, Room 312, 1402 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana, IL 61801

CLINIC AND FIRST CUT - Saturday, April 14th, 9 am - 12 p.m.

Girls: Tumbling skills and a cheer and fight song taught during the clinic will be evaluated. Tumbling skills are not taught at the clinics.

Guys: Basic stunt clinic and instructional clinic on cheer and fight song

CLINIC AND SECOND CUT - Saturday, April 14th, 1-4 p.m. Female applicants only, no new male candidates will attend this session. Basic stunts such as a walk-in torch, chair, extension, liberty, & stretch are taught during clinics.

CLINIC AND THIRD CUT- Saturday, April 14th, 6-9 p.m. Stunt clinic for all trying out, interviews for new candidates will be conducted

Sunday, April 15th Events will be held at Huff Hall, 1206 S Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820

FINAL CLINIC - Sunday, April 15th, 9-11 a.m. Mandatory review for all remaining tryout candidates

TRYOUTS - Sunday, April 15th, Warm ups 12:30 p.m.; Tryouts 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COINCIDES WITH MOM'S WEEKEND, MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS EARLY!!

If there are any changes in the tryout process (dates, times, location), we will let you know by email and we will post the changes on the website. Please include a current email address on your application! Details about the formal tryout process are outlined below.

What to wear:

All candidates must supply the following by April 6, 2007:

1. Proof of acceptance to or enrollment in the University of Illinois
2. A physical within the past year
3. Photocopy of current insurance card
4. Application
5. Signed Code of Conduct and Expectations Agreement from the 2007-2008 University of Illinois Cheerleading Rules & Policies
6. New applicants must also provide two letters of recommendation from current or former coaches and/or teachers. The letters should outline the applicant's most outstanding athletic and academic achievements (i.e. leadership, sportsmanship, commitment, work ethic, and responsibility). Letters should be submitted with the application in separate envelopes with the recommender's signature across the seal.

Tryouts for Illinois Cheerleading consist of performing the following:

1. Cheer
2. Fight song
3. 4 coed stunts:
   • Toss shoulders
   • Hands pump extension
     *Either the toss shoulders or hands pump extension must be performed with another candidate trying out. The other stunt and stretch may be performed with a veteran member who is also trying out.
   • Stretch with a full cradle.
   • Walk-in torch (new candidates), optional stunt (veteran members)
     *If you are unable to perform these stunts safely you can perform the most difficult stunt within your ability. These stunts will be judged and potential to improve will be considered.
4. Tumbling
   • Standing back handspring
   • Standing back tuck
   • Standing back handspring back tuck
   • One tumbling pass
     *If you are unable to perform all of these skills safely you can perform the skills within your ability. These skills will be judged and potential to improve will be considered.
5. Oral interview with the coaches

We will teach you almost everything you need to know to try out. You do not need to know how to coed stunt before you come to tryouts, but everyone must be able and willing to learn (we do not have any girl bases). During the cheer and fight song we are looking for crowd appeal, projection, enthusiasm, and the ability to get others involved. During the final try outs all candidates will need to know the words to the fight song. The words and music will be provided before the final try out.

Tumbling is not taught at tryouts. There will be people available for light spotting while you are warming up, but only on skills that you have experience with. We will not spot you on a skill you have never tried before. Also, when you perform your tumbling for the actual tryout, you cannot have a spot.

If you are interested in trying out for the 2007-2008 U of I Cheerleading squad, PLEASE EMAIL COACH RECORD FOR AN UPDATED APPLICATION AND AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE 2007-2008 RULES & POLICIES, THE LINKS BELOW ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING UPDATED.

Illinois Cheerleading rules and policies in PDF Format

The required information must be submitted by APRIL 6, 2007 to:

Stephanie Record, Head Cheerleading Coach
University of Illinois
1700 S. Fourth St.
Champaign, IL 61820

For additional try out or program info or to schedule a visit to campus please e-mail Coach Stephanie Record.

REQUIREMENTS

First and foremost, each student must be making progress towards a degree, with the same load (12 hours or more) required of student-athletes. Remember, your main purpose for attending the University of Illinois is to obtain an education. We require each student to carry and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Attendance at study tables (6 hours per week) is required for all first-year members and members with a semester GPA below 2.5 or cumulative GPA below 2.3.

NATIONALS

The University of Illinois cheerleaders may compete each year at the UCA College Nationals at the Wide World of Sports in DisneyWorld. During competition years this section will be dedicated to tracking their progress and results.

SERVICES, CLINICS, AND APPEARANCES

Tailgate Appearances:
Spice up your tailgate by inviting the Illinois Cheerleaders! This fifteen minute pep rally by six cheerleaders will be packed with cheers, chants, stunts, and picture opportunities. To invite the cheerleaders to your next tailgate please send the following information to Coach Stephanie Record: