2008-09 Tryouts
When
are tryouts?
Spring tryouts will take place April 25-26, 2008.
Friday, April 25th
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
What: Registration & Clinic
Location: Beaman Student Life Center Rec Gym (please enter via the 1st
floor turnstile, left of the rock climbing wall)
Saturday, April 26th
Time: 8:30am – 12pm (break) 1:00pm – 4:00pm
What: Clinic Continued (break) Final Tryout
Location: Curb Event Center, BU’s main basketball arena
Friends and family are welcome to attend both clinics and the tryout.
Please stay seated and quite in the designated “friends and family”
area.
Download and mail in an application, located at the bottom of this page,
by April 1, 2008.
Requirements
Tumbling: All auditioning will be
asked to perform 1 running tumbling pass of their choice. All standing
tumbling skills will be performed individually and scored as able. No
back spots will be allowed for tumblers. Only single and double fulls
may be performed on the mat.
Additional Material: All will perform the school fight song and a cheer
taught at clinic.
Female Stunting Requirements
Acting as a flyer or side base, females will perform 1 transitional stunt
sequence. You will be allotted time during the clinic to work on your
sequence. For additional points, all flyers will have the opportunity
to show coed stunting skills.
Male Stunting Requirements
Returning males must perform a shoulder stand and one optional coed stunt
(minimum toss extension). No experience is required for new, incoming
males. However, please contact coach prior to tryouts to discuss how you
can best prepare.
Past Experience
All females trying out must have a minimum of high school, all-star, or
college cheerleading experience.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, alll cheerleaders will receive a partial scholarship. The amount
received is based on the years you have been on the squad. Scholarships
can range from $1,000 - $3,000. In addition, all uniforms, shoes, practice
clothes, warm ups, bags, traveling expenses, poms, megaphones, etc. are
covered.
What
do BU cheerleaders cheer for?
BU cheerleaders cheer at all home men’s and women’s basketball
games. All cheerleaders will travel to Atlantic Sun Conference and NCAA
tournaments and some regular season away games.
What is the practice schedule like?
During the months of September through mid November, all cheerleaders
are required to attend 2 night practices per week. Once basketball season
begins, cheerleaders will usually practice 1 night a week. All cheerleaders
work individually with our athletic trainer 2 times per week, and are
expected to meet specific cardiovascular goals in order to remain in good
shape throughout the season.
Must haves:
Dedication
Confidence / Personality
Crowd leading skills
Fun
How many spots are available each year?
All returning cheerleaders have to tryout again each year. About 10 females
and 6-8 males will complete the team.
Do I have to be a Belmont student in order to tryout?
Yes.
What if I have not received a letter of acceptance from
Belmont, but still wish to tryout?
You can still tryout. Just make sure you note this on your application.
What if I have a major conflict with the tryout date?
It is to your advantage to be at the tryout, and there are rarely any
exceptions. However, contact the coach immediately to discuss your options.
Do females have to be able to coed stunt to make the
team? 
No. However, it’s important that female bases have the skill and
ability to learn a purdue-up shoulder stand, in order to be a middle layer
in pyramids that are 2 ½ levels high.
How important is tumbling?
When cheering at the collegiate level you should be able to tumble. However,
if tumbling is not your strong point, be prepared to make up the points
elsewhere (crowd leading, coed stunting, etc.) as it will count against
you on your score sheet.
What is the proper attire for tryouts?
Females should wear cotton shorts, and a fitted athletic tank top or a
sleeveless polo shirt. Navy and Red colors are preferred. Females must
where cheerleading shoes. Please do not wear clothing with your high school
or college name, logo, or mascot on it for Saturday’s tryout. Appearance
is a part of your score, so please chose an outfit that compliments your
physique.
Males will need to wear athletic/basketball shorts, a presentable tee
shirt tucked in, and tennis shoes. Navy and Red colors are preferred.
Please do not wear clothing with your high school or college name, logo,
or mascot on it for Saturday’s tryout.
What do I need to do if I want to
tryout for the 2008-09 squad?
All who plan to attend tryouts need to download and mail in the application
below by April 1, 2008.
More Questions?
If you have additional questions or would like to set up a recruiting
visit, please contact Head Coach Lindsey Tonkin via e-mail at Tonka08@aol.com
or call (615) 415-3989.
Click here for the Belmont Cheerleader Application