Cheer Tryout Information

The deadline to submit your Qualifying Video for tryout is April 1, at 11:59 p.m. Your video must be submitted in the form of a YouTube link and emailed to cheer@angelo.edu.

Video submissions will be evaluated within one week of submission.

Please note, this is NOT a tryout video. This video is for you to be invited to tryouts.

Your qualifying video must include the following:

• Brief Introduction
  • Name
  • Hometown
  • Number of years of cheer experience and what levels
  • Why you want to be a part of the ASU Cheer Team
• Cheer/Chant/fight song/band dance of your choice
  • We are wanting to see your motion placement so please pick a cheer/chant/fight song/band chant that you are confident in.
• Standing and Running Tumbling – on dead mat, grass, hardwood, or track. No spring floor.
  • Please perform a minimum of two different standing tumbling and two running tumbling skills. We want to see your BEST skills.
    • BEST = most well executed, cleanest, not necessarily most elite. We want to see sideline/performance ready skills that you can perform without a spot.
  • If you do not have tumbling you can either skip this section or perform a spotted skill(s). For run tumbling you may perform just a round-off.
  • Not performing tumbling does not mean that you will not qualify for the tryouts. We have placed members on our team without tumbling before that had very strong skills in other categories.
• Stunting
  • Please perform a minimum of two different stunts of your choice (preferably in more than one stunting position if possible).
• Game Day/Performance Material
  • We want to see you in action. Please send us as many clips/videos you would like of you performing on the sidelines/competition mat. We are looking to see your performance skills.

Should you qualify for tryouts from your qualifying video, tryout dates are as follows:

• Preliminary Round: April 16, 2021 | 6-9 p.m.
• Semi-Final Round: April 17, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Final Round: April 18, 2021 | 9 a.m. - Noon (mandatory new team meeting to follow)

Cuts may be made at the conclusion of each day. All three days are mandatory for qualifying candidates.

Ben Kelly Center for Human Performance

Due to the unknown COVID-19 situation and state/local regulations for April 2021, we ask all tryout candidates be prepared for the possibility of in-person, hybrid or virtual tryouts. We will continue to monitor and make best decisions as quickly as possible. We encourage all candidates to start collecting skill footage now in the event of a hybrid or virtual tryout.

• Fully-funded program with no out of pocket cost to join
• Scholarships of up to $1,000/year (waives out of state tuition)*
• Paid uniforms and accessories
• Compete in national competition
• Paid travel expenses for out-of-town games and competitions
• Meal per diems when traveling
• Travel to all away football, post-season volleyball, and post-season basketball games
• Access to an athletic trainer and athletic training facilities
• Cheer for NCAA DII Athletics
• Priority scheduling each semester

*The ASU Cheer Team has up to 30 scholarship positions, and potentially 3-5 non-scholarship positions. The Head Cheer Coach has the final call on the team size.

Current ASU Students

To qualify, current ASU students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of tryouts, be of academic full-time status in good standing with the university.

Incoming Transfer Students

Students transferring from another college or university must have been admitted to ASU at the time of tryouts and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

Incoming Freshmen

Incoming freshmen must have been admitted to ASU at the time of tryouts.

Credit and GPA Requirement For Team Members

All members who make the ASU Cheer Team must be enrolled in and complete at least 12 credit hours each semester. Each member is also expected to maintain a minimum accumulative GPA of 2.0 and be in good standing with the university while on the team. Only the ASU cheerleading head coach may grant exceptions to the course load requirement. Any member who fails to maintain these requirements is subject to dismissal from the team.

All forms below are required to be submitted by all candidates if you qualify for tryouts:

• ASU Cheer Team Tryout Application
  • Application if you are trying to join our team for the first time
• Returning Team Member Tryout Application
  • Application if you have already cheered at least one season at Angelo State.
• Tryout Release Form
  • Please complete the PDF and submit it at: ASU Cheer Tryout Release Form
• Two Character References
  • Please have your character references complete the following form and submit it online: ASU Cheer Character Reference Form
• Head Shot Photo - Should be a forward-facing photo. Does not have to be formal.
  • Please fill out the form and submit your photo at: ASU Cheer Tryout Head Shot Submission Form

Tryout Attire

Females: Plain black T-shirt (no words or graphics will be allowed), black spandex, calf-high white socks, athletic/cheer shoes, white bow, low pony tail parted to side of choice, and game-face ready

Males: Black T-shirt (no words or graphics will be allowed), black shorts, calf-high white socks, athletic/cheer shoes

Tryout Format

Preliminary Tryouts

April 16, 2021 | 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Game Day Spirit and Motion Technique

• Sideline Cheer - Posted in the video section
• ASU Fight Song - Posted in the video section
• Stunts - This time will be used to find stunt groups/partner stunts groups and to work on skills that will be showcased the next day.

Semi-Final Round

April 17, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Standing Tumbling on Dead Mat: Must Perform Two Different Skills - Tumbling is not required for males.

• Point Value and Skill

  • 1 Point: Spotted Back Handspring

  • 2 Points: Standing Back Handspring

  • 3 Points: Two Connected Back Handsprings

  • 4 Points: Three-plus Connected Back Handsprings

  • 5 Points: Standing Back Tuck

  • 6 Points: Standing Back Handspring Back Tuck

  • 7 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Back Tuck

  • 8 Points: Standing Back Handspring Layout

  • 9 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Layout

  • 10 Points: Standing Full

Running Tumbling on Dead Mat: Must Perform Two Different Skills - Tumbling is not required for males.

• Point Value and Skill
  • 1 Point: Round Off
  • 2 Points: Round Off Back Handspring
  • 3 Points: Round Off Two Back Handsprings
  • 4 Points: Round Off Three-plus Back Handsprings
  • 5 Points: Round Off Tuck
  • 6 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Back Tuck
  • 7 Points: Round Off Layout
  • 8 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Layout
  • 9 Points: Round Off Full
  • 10 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Full

Stunting

Males: No Experience Required

Female Flyers: Required to perform two group stunts and one partner stunt. The two group stunts must be two different stunts.

Female Non-Flyers: Required to perform three different group stunts in a minimum of two different positions.

Female Multiple Positions: Required to perform two group stunts and one partner stunt.

• Group Stunts
  • Point Value and Skill
    • 1 Point: Extension w/ Pop Off
    • 2 Points: Liberty w/ Pop Off
    • 3 Points: Extension Full Down
    • 4 Points: Liberty Full Down
    • 5 Points: Heel Stretch Full Down
    • 6 Points: Ground Up Extension w/ Full Down
    • 7 Points: Switch Up Liberty w/ Full Down
    • 8 Points: Full Up to Extension
    • 9 Points: Extension Double Down
    • 10 Points: Rewind to Extension
• Partner Stunts
  • Point Value and Skill
    • 1 Point: Toss Chair w/ Pop Off
    • 2 Points: Walk-in Hands w/ Pop Off
    • 3 Points: Walk-in Extension w/ Pop Off
    • 4 Points: Toss Hands w/ Pop Off
    • 5 Points: Toss Hands Press Extension
    • 6 Points: Toss Extension
    • 7 Points: Toss Hands Press Lib
    • 8 Points: Toss Extension Press Lib
    • 9 Points: Toss Lib
    • 10 Points: Toss Awesome

Traditions Interview

• Potential interview questions can be found under “Sample Interview Questions.”

Jumps and Jumps to Skill

• Right Hurdler
• Toe Touch
• Left Hurdler
• Pike
• Double Toe Touch to Skill - Males with no previous cheer experience will perform just a double toe touch. Females without tumbling will be asked to be spotted.
  • Double Toe Touch w/spotted skill = 1 Point + Execution Points
  • Double Toe Touch to Back Handspring = 3 Points + Execution Points
  • Double Toe Touch to Back Tuck = 5 Points + Execution Points

Final Round

April 20, 2021 | 9 a.m. - Noon

Game Day

• Candidates will perform the fight song and the sideline chant.

Standing Tumbling on Gym/Hardwood Floor

• Point Value and Skill

  • 0 Points: No tumbling on hardwood

  • 1 Points: Standing Back Handspring

  • 2 Points: Two Connected Back Handsprings

  • 3 Points: Three-plus Connected Back Handsprings

  • 4 Points: Standing Back Tuck

  • 5 Points: Standing Back Handspring Back Tuck

  • 6 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Back Tuck

  • 7 Points: Standing Back Handspring Layout

  • 8 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Layout

Running Tumbling on Gym/Hardwood Floor

• Point Value and Skill
  • 1 Point: Round Off
  • 2 Points: Round Off Back Handspring
  • 3 Points: Round Off Two Back Handsprings
  • 4 Points: Round Off Three-plus Back Handsprings
  • 5 Points: Round Off Tuck
  • 6 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Back Tuck
  • 7 Points: Round Off Layout
  • 8 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Layout

Panel Interview

• Candidates will interview in front of a panel of judges with open-ended-type questions.

ASU Cheer Tryout Chant

ASU Cheer Band Chant

ASU Fight Song

ASU Fight Song Male Version

Video Submissions Due By April 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

A Request for Video Tryout Form must be submitted and approved prior to submitting a video tryout.

Video tryout applicants must fill out a tryout application and submit tryout video by 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2021, to be considered.

Please submit all video tryouts at: ASU Cheer Video Tryout Submission Form

All video applicants must fill out and submit all required paperwork to be considered.

Video Format

Video tryout attire

Females: Plain black shirt, black spandex, calf-high white socks, athletic/cheer shoes, white bow, low pony tail parted to side of choice, and game-face ready

Males: Black t-shirt, black shorts, calf-high white socks, athletic/cheer shoes

Introduction

• Name
• Age
• Current high school, college or gym

Skills

• Game Day Spirit and Motion Technique
  • Please perform the sideline cheer listed under the video tab.
  • Please perform the ASU Fight Song as shown in the video under the video tab
• Jumps and Jumps to Skill - Please perform the following skills:
  • Right Hurdler
  • Toe Touch
  • Left Hurdler
  • Pike
  • Double Toe Touch to Skill
    • 1 point: Double Toe Touch to Spotted Back Handspring
    • 3 points: Double Toe Touch to Back Handspring
    • 5 points: Double Toe Touch-plus Back Handsprings
    • 7 points: Double Toe Touch Back Tuck
    • 10 points: Double Toe Touch Back Handspring Back Tuck or higher
• Running Tumbling - Please perform two different skills on a mat.
  • 1 Point: Round Off
  • 2 Points: Round Off Back Handspring
  • 3 Points: Round off Two Back Handsprings
  • 4 Points: Round Off Three-plus Back Handsprings
  • 5 Points: Round Off Tuck
  • 6 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Back Tuck
  • 7 Points: Round Off Layout
  • 8 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Layout
  • 9 Points: Round Off Full
  • 10 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Full
• Standing Tumbling - Please perform two different skills on a mat.
  • 1 Point: Spotted Back Handspring
  • 2 Points: Standing Back Handspring
  • 3 Points: Two Connected Back Handsprings
  • 4 Points: Three-plus Connected Back Handsprings
  • 5 Points: Standing Back Tuck
  • 6 Points: Standing Back Handspring Back Tuck
  • 7 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Back Tuck
  • 8 Points: Standing Back Handspring Layout
  • 9 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Layout
  • 10 Points: Standing Full

STUNTING

Males: Required to perform two group stunts and one partner stunt. The two group stunts must be performed in two different positions.

Female Flyers: Required to perform two group stunts and one partner stunt. The two group stunts must be two different stunts.

Female Non-Flyers: Required to perform three different group stunts in a minimum of two different positions.

Female Multiple Positions: Required to perform two group stunts and one partner stunt.

• Group Stunts
  • Point Value and Skill
    • 1 Point: Extension w/ Pop Off
    • 2 Points: Liberty w/ Pop Off
    • 3 Points: Extension Full Down
    • 4 Points: Liberty Full Down
    • 5 Points: Heel Stretch Full Down
    • 6 Points: Ground Up Extension w/ Full Down
    • 7 Points: Switch Up Liberty w/ Full Down
    • 8 Points: Full Up to Extension
    • 9 Points: Extension Double Down
    • 10 Points: Rewind to Extension
• Partner Stunts
  • Point Value and Skill
    • 1 Point: Toss Chair w/ Pop Off
    • 2 Points: Walk-in Hands w/ Pop Off
    • 3 Points: Walk-in Extension w/ Pop Off
    • 4 Points: Toss Hands w/ Pop Off
    • 5 Points: Toss Hands Press Extension
    • 6 Points: Toss Extension
    • 7 Points: Toss Hands Press Lib
    • 8 Points: Toss Extension Press Lib
    • 9 Points: Toss Lib
    • 10 Points: Toss Awesome

Running Tumbling - Please perform two different skills on the hardwood floor.

• 1 Point: Round Off
• 2 Points: Round Off Back Handspring
• 3 Points: Round off Two Back Handsprings
• 4 Points: Round Off Three-plus Back Handsprings
• 5 Points: Round Off Tuck
• 6 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Back Tuck
• 7 Points: Round Off Layout
• 8 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Layout
• 9 Points: Round Off Full
• 10 Points: Round Off Back Handspring Full

Standing Tumbling - Please perform two different skills on the hardwood floor.

• 1 Point: Spotted Back Handspring
• 2 Points: Standing Back Handspring
• 3 Points: Two Connected Back Handsprings
• 4 Points: Three-plus Connected Back Handsprings
• 5 Points: Standing Back Tuck
• 6 Points: Standing Back Handspring Back Tuck
• 7 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Back Tuck
• 8 Points: Standing Back Handspring Layout
• 9 Points: Two-plus Back Handsprings to Layout
• 10 Points: Standing Full

Interview

Please read and answer the following questions:

• What is your cheerleading history?
• Why do you want to be an Angelo State University cheerleader?
• If you were asked to prioritize the responsibilities you feel you will have in college, what order would they go in?
• How do you plan to balance cheerleading and academics?
• What do you feel is the primary role of an Angelo State cheerleader?
• Why do you feel you would make a positive addition to our program?
• Social media is a huge part of society today. What kind of impact can using social media have on you personally as an ASU cheerleader? (Negative or positive)
• Tell us about a time you had to show leadership while being a cheerleader.
• Tell us how you would handle a conflict with another teammate.
• If you had an issue with your coach, how would you go about handling it?
• You begin to feel overwhelmed by school and cheer during your first semester here at ASU - how do you handle this?
• Your parents have told you that you have to work while you are attending college. How will you handle work and cheer?

Below are sample interview questions. Any combination of these questions could be used during the interview process.

Tradition Questions

What is the name of the purebred ram that is present at the ASU Ring Ceremony, and what do graduating students do with him at the ceremony? Dominic - Rub their rings for good luck

What is the name of the ASU Alma Mater? In Time to Come

What motto is displayed on the university seal? Fiat Lux

What is the name of the university president? President Ronnie Hawkins Jr.

What is the name of the tailgate that takes place prior to all home football games, and where is it located? Ram Jam - LeGrand Alumni Center

What are the official colors of the university? Blue and Gold

What tradition is held the night before the homecoming game each year? Bonfire

What are the names of our two costumed mascots? Roscoe and Bella

What is the sticky tradition that students believe will bring them good luck on campus? Gum Tree

What statues are featured in front of the Junell Center/Stephens Arena? Ram and Ewe Statues

What is the hand symbol for Angelo State? Ram’s Head

At the start of the second half of all home football games, the crowd is invited to join in forming what? The Victory Line

Cheerleading and Athletics Questions

What is the purpose of the ASU Co-Ed Cheer Team? Support ASU athletics, be an ambassador of the university, and represent ASU at college nationals

Which sporting events do the ASU cheerleaders attend? Football, volleyball and basketball

During the summer, what events are the ASU cheerleaders required to attend? Orientation, cheer camp and work week

What is the name of the stadium where all home football games take place? LeGrand Stadium

Where are all of the home volleyball and basketball games held? Junell Center/Stephens Arena

What do we call our female sports teams at Angelo State? Rambelles or Belles

Who is the Angelo State University athletic director? James Reid

What campus department does the ASU cheer program fall under? Student Life

What are the core covenants of the ASU cheer program? Dedication, Family and Integrity

What college nationals does the ASU cheer team attend, and where is it located? USA College Nationals in Anaheim, California

In what years does ASU Cheer have National Championships? 2018, 2019 and 2020