During the 2023-2024 season, Angelo State University will hold tryouts for two cheer teams to better serve our campus. The groups will be known as the Gold Team and the Blue Team.
Gold Team
The gold team will attend all home football games, men’s basketball games, skill-related program events, and away and post-season games as requested. The team will be comprised of 20 members and will be the preferred team to compete at NCA College Nationals in April 2024.
The team will be required to practice six hours a week. This will include six skilled-focused team practices. Team members will also be required to attend two hours of study hall.
This team will have a more skills-focused setting. Team members will be expected to have at a minimum, a running or standing back handspring —unless they have a higher skill set in a needed area. Stunting skill level required for the team will depend on the skills displayed at tryouts in the stunting section.
Blue Team
The blue team will attend all home volleyball games, football games, and women’s basketball games. The team will also attend select Admissions, Office of Development, and San Angelo and campus community events.
The team will be comprised of twelve members and be campus spirit based. Team members will not be required to have tumbling experience. Members will be required to attend practice four hours a week and attend two hours of study hall every week.
If a student is selected for the Blue team and would like to transition to the Gold team, they can be considered for a spot based on availability and the coach’s discretion. Interested students can be placed on a waiting list that will be based on tryout scores. If a spot on the Gold team becomes available, the head cheer coach will evaluate the skill level of interested members.
Required Forms
Students interested in trying out for either team are required to submit the following documents to be eligible:
Females: Plain black T-shirt (no words or graphics will be allowed), black spandex or athletic shorts, white socks, cheer shoes, white bow, low ponytail parted to the side of choice, and game-face ready.
Males: Black T-shirt (no words or graphics will be allowed), black shorts, white socks, and cheer shoes.
Candidates will take part in a two-round format. Round One will be conducted via video tryout, and Round Two will be in person, by invitation only.
Round One
Video submissions will be due by Dec. 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Candidates selected to advance to Round Two will be notified via email by 5 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2023.
Note: December Tryouts will only be open to current ASU students and Spring Transfers.
Round Two
In-Person Evaluations
Blue Team – Dec. 7, 2023, from 5:45 – 8 a.m.
Gold Team – Dec. 8, 2023, from 5:45 – 8 a.m.
Team Meeting
Virtual Team Meeting – Dec. 13, 2023, at 6 p.m
Important dates: Move back in for the Spring Semester will occur on Jan. 3, 2024.
Round One
Video submissions will be due by April 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Candidates selected to advance to Round Two will be notified via email by 5 p.m. on May 1, 2024.
Note: Spring Tryouts are open to current ASU students, transfer students, and incoming students accepted to ASU.
Round Two
In-Person Evaluations
May 4, 2024, from 8 a.m. – noon.
Prospective team members will receive an email at 3 p.m. regarding final status of tryouts and meeting location.
Team Meeting
May 4, 2024, from 6–9 p.m.
6 p.m. – Doors Open
6:05 p.m. – Welcome and What to Expect
6:45 p.m. – Uniform Fitting
8 p.m. - Review Team Handbook
8:45 p.m. - Candidate Signings
Round One
All applicants are required to submit a tryout application and required paperwork to be considered.
Video submissions for Round One must be submitted by the deadlines outlined below:
December Tryouts: Dec. 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring Tryouts: April 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Video Format
Name
Age
Current high school, college, or gym
Note: Introductions should be filmed in an area away from loud environments. Distractions can impact the overall score.
Note: Participants are required to complete the outlined skills the order detailed below.
Game Day Spirit and Motion Technique
Perform sideline cheer
Perform ASU fight song
Perform ASU band chant
Note: Video examples of each routine can be found under the Additional Information tab.
Jumps and Jumps to Skill - Please perform the following skills:
Right Hurdler
Toe Touch
Left Hurdler
Pike
Double Toe Touch to Standing Tumbling Skill
Double Toe Touch to Back Handspring
Double Toe Touch to Multiple + Back Handsprings
Double Toe Touch to Back Tuck
Double Toe Touch Full
Double Toe Touch Back Handspring Layout/Full
Please perform as many of the skills listed below as you can.
Running Tumbling
Round Off Back Handspring
Round Off Three + Back Handsprings
Round Off Back Handspring Back Tuck
Round Off Back Handspring Layout
Round Off Back Handspring Full
Standing Tumbling
Back handspring
Back handspring series (two or more connected)
Back Tuck (with or without back handspring)
Layout (with or without back handspring)
Standing full (with or without back handspring)
Males: Required to perform each of the group stunts listed and partner stunt. Two of the group stunts must be performed in two different positions.
Female Flyers: Required to perform each of the group stunts listed and partner stunt.
Female Non-Flyers: Required to perform each of the group stunts listed in a minimum of two different positions.
Female Multiple Positions: Required to perform each group stunts listed and partner stunts listed for female positions.
Note: If a candidate is unable to perform a skill that is listed, they will not receive points toward their overall score for the stunts that were not showcased. Skills need to be performed at an extension level if possible.
Group Stunts (Bold)
Set One
Extension Pop Off
Extension full down / double down
Walk-in extension from the front pop off
Extension front flip
Full up to extension full down / double down
Set Two — One-leg Stunts
Liberty
Heel Stretch
Arabesque / front flip
Full Up Liberty Double Down
Set Three — Baskets
Straight ride
Toe touch
Twist/kick twist
Tuck/x out
Partner Stunts
Coed Partner Stunts
Shoulder stand
Chair sit
Assisted hands pop off
Assisted hands press extension pop off
Toss hands pop off
Toss hands press extension
All Girl Partner Stunts
Shoulder stand
Assisted hands pop off
Assisted hands press extension pop off
To review point breakdown for each stunt, visit the point breakdown.
Please read the question out loud before answering and follow the order of questions as listed below.
Cultural fit
What does the ideal team culture look like to you?
How do you think you can contribute to our current team culture?
What does it mean to be a representative of Angelo State University?
Social skills
Which personality traits do you value on your team
What type of attitudes or behaviors do you think are beneficial to a team?
Please describe a conflict you had with a previous teammate and the ways in which you worked to resolve it.
Teamwork
How can a cheerleader showcase to their team that they are a team player?
How do you build a positive rapport with your teammate? How about your coaches?
Describe what being a part of a team means to you.
Self-awareness
Describe your biggest strengths and how you think they will be beneficial to the program.
Describe your biggest weakness and how you plan to improve upon them.
Please prioritize the following from most important to least important and explain why, work, school, family, cheer, and friends.
Interpersonal skills
Describe a past situation where you had to interact with “difficult people” and how you handled it.
Please describe your communication style between you and your teammates.
Please describe your communication style between you and your coach
Dependability/Accountability
Discuss your understanding of the word dependable and how it pertains to cheerleading.
How can a team member showcase that they are dependable to their coach?
When you make a mistake, how do you go about taking accountability for your actions?
Overall
What are your overall goals for the team for the season
What are your personal goals for the season?
Why should we choose you to be a member of our program?
Round Two (In Person)
Candidates will take part in an open practice-style format where they will review the Sideline Cheer, ASU Fight Song, and Band Chant with the current team members.
Videos are posted in the Additional Information section.
Dates
In-person tryouts will be held on the dates outlined below:
December Tryouts:
Blue Team – Dec. 7, 2023
Gold Team – Dec. 8, 2023
Spring Tryouts
May 4, 2024
Schedule
Practice starts/warmups (dynamic warm-up, tumbling, jumps)
Perform fight song, cheer and band dance
Begin stunt open gym with team
Open skill work with team
Closing remarks
Along with the above categories, candidates can anticipate being evaluated on their intra/interpersonal skills, including but not limited to adaptability, self-management, verbal communication, non-verbal communication, listening skills, and program fit.
Additional Information
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
National competition opportunities
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 32 scholarship positions and potentially 5-10 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 and be of full-time academic 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.
