Spirit Squad 2019 Tryout Information
Thank you for your interest in Arkansas Tech University's Spirit Squads! Please see the information below regarding Round 1- Video Tryouts or attendance at the Spirit Interest Clinic and Round 2 Final Tryouts. Should you have any questions, please contact Spirit Squad staff, at 479.968.0276 or spiritsquads@atu.edu
As you review our website, please be aware of the time commitments that are required as a member of Arkansas Tech University's Spirit Squads. Spirit Squad members are representatives of the University and are asked to be in attendance at a variety of events.
Time Commitments:
- All home football games. (Tech Cheer travels to select away games.)
- All home women's and men's basketball games. (Both teams travel to any tournament games.)
- All volleyball conference home games. (Golden Girls attend select games.)
- Practices: 4 to 5 days a week for 2 hours
- Conditioning: 2 to 3 times a week. These can be held outside of practice.
- Study Hall: 4 hours a week
- Special Events: Orientation events, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Homecoming events, parades, University events, public appearances, etc.
- Community Service
All interested participants should either attend the Spirit Interest Clinic OR submit the following with their Round 1 Video Tryout. See below for details regarding Round 1 Video Tryouts.
- Submit Spirit Squad Application online through the website
- Copy of current primary insurance and policy number
- Current Physical Examination (Additional physical exam will be required if selected before camp begins.)
- 5x7 headshot picture of participant only
- Have a 2.0 GPA or meet the university entry requirements (Please send a copy of transcript.)
Freshmen/Transfer Requirements:
- Proof of intent to enroll (letter of acceptance)
Current Student Requirements:
- Must be full-time student (enrolled in at least 12 hours)
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University
After Round 1 video submissions are reviewed or the interested participant has attended the Spirit Interest Clinic, the Arkansas Tech Spirit Squad staff will contact you regarding Round 2 Final Tryouts. If invited, a tryout fee of $30.00 (nonrefundable) is due on the first day of clinics, May 9, 2019. Make checks payable to Arkansas Tech University. All tryout travel is at the personal expense of the participant.
*Videos and tryout packets are due Wednesday, April 24, 2019 by 5 pm. Please send tryout information along with video link to spiritsquads@atu.edu by
this date.
Tryout Application
.
Round 1: Attend the Spirit Interest Clinic on March 30, 2019.
OR
Round 1: Video Tryouts
All interested participants, who are not attending the Spirit Interest Clinic, should submit a video to Arkansas Tech Spirit Squad staff via YouTube showcasing their skills and technique.
What should the video include?
- On the video, please include your name, high school, the squad in which you are interested, and why you want to be a Golden Girl or a Tech Cheerleader.
- See below for the skills and technique that should be showcased on the video for each squad. All skills listed should be included on video and should be filmed facing the camera. Please feel free to showcase skills that may be more advanced that are not listed below. Skills can be in any order.
- All videos should be uploaded to YouTube. The link to the video must be sent with the required tryout information to spiritsquads@atu.edu at one time. Please use participant's name as the subject of the e-mail.
*When uploading video to YouTube, under privacy settings choose the unlisted setting. Please use participants name as the title of the video. Copy and paste the URL of the video to the e-mail being sent to spiritsquads@atu.edu.
Performance: (Females only)
- Your School's Fight Song (One time through, do not repeat.)(Design own routine if not previously on a squad.)
- Your School's Sideline Chant (One)
Tumbling: (No use of spotters.)
- Females
- Standing Back Handspring
- Standing Back Tuck
- Running Tumbling Pass-Minimum of Back Handspring Series
- Males (optional but preferred)
- Standing Back Handspring and/or Tuck
- Running Tumbling
Stunting: (Males required. Females preferred.)
- Toss Hands
- Solid Stunts from toss hands-extensions, liberties, etc. (preferred)
*Females feel free to include all girl and/or coed stunting in your video, but it is not required.
Clothing:
- Females: Please wear black spandex shorts with a black sports bra and solid white cheer shoes. Please wear hair up and off the face.
- Males: Please wear black athletic shorts, a white t-shirt, and solid white cheer shoes.
*Note: Tech Cheer does have midriff tops that are worn throughout year.
Performance:
- Your School's Fight Song (One time through, do not repeat. Design own routine if not previously on a squad.)
- Original Choreography (20 seconds in length)
Technique:
- Triple Turn (both legs)
- At least three fouettes in a la seconde/straight leg
- Calypso
- Right Leg Splits
- Left Leg Splits
- Center Splits
- 2 Eight Counts of High Kicks
- Right and Left Leg Split Leaps
- Center Leap
- Tilt Jump
- Switch Leap
- Turning Disc
Clothing:
- Females: Please wear black spandex shorts with a black sports bra, jazz shoes or tennis shoes are accepted.
*Note: Golden Girls do have midriff tops that are worn throughout the year.
General Information:
- Clinic: May 9, 2019 from 9:00 am-12:30 pm in Hull 111 and 112 (Dance Studio and Double Gym)
- Open Gym/PracticeTime/Interviews to follow until approximately 4:30 pm
- Tryouts: May 10, 2019 from 9:00am-12:00 pm in Hull 111 and 112 (Dance Studio and Double Gym)
- Selection: Team will be announced shortly following the last group to tryout.
- Team Meeting: If participant makes the squad, one must stay following the announcement for team meeting, including fittings for uniforms and important paperwork.
*All interviews, clinics, and tryouts are closed to the public.
Performance Evaluation:
Females only. (Motion Technique, Sharpness, Memorization, Voice Projection, Enthusiasm/Spirit, Collegiate Appearance)
- Fight Song: Taught at Clinic (Must Have Back Handspring)
- Sideline Chant: Participants will learn and perform chant at tryout
Tumbling: (Spotters will not be available.)
- Females
- Standing Back Handspring
- Standing Back Tuck (preferred)
- Running Tumbling Pass-Minimum of Back Handspring Series
- Males (optional but preferred)
- Standing Back Handspring and/or Tuck
- Running Tumbling
Stunting:
- Single
- Base
- Fly
- Back-spot
- Group
- Heel-stretch
- Full Down
- Partner
- Toss to Hands
- Toss to Hands Extension
- Toss Chair
Clothing:
- Females: Please wear black spandex shorts with a black sports bra and solid white cheer shoes. Please wear hair half up with a white bow along with game day makeup. Absolutely no jewelry should be worn. Any tattoos must be covered.
- Males: Please wear black athletic shorts, a white t-shirt, and solid white cheer shoes. Absolutely no jewelry should be worn. Any tattoos must be covered.
*Note: Tech Cheer does have midriff tops that are worn throughout year.
Performance Evaluation:
(Motion Technique, Sharpness, Memorization, Voice Projection, Enthusiasm/Spirit)
- Fight Song- Taught at Clinic
- Jazz/Hip Hop Routine-Taught at Clinic
Technique:
- Triple Turn (Both legs)
- At least three fouettes in a la seconde/straight leg
- Calypso
- Right Leg Splits
- Left Leg Splits
- Center Splits
- 2 Eight Counts of High Kicks
- Right and Left Leg Split Leaps
- Center Leap
- Tilt Jump
- Switch Leap
- Turning Disc
Clothing:
- Females: Please wear black spandex shorts with a black sports bra, jazz shoes or tennis shoes are accepted. Please wear hair all down and full game day makeup.
- Absolutely no jewelry should be worn. Any tattoos must be covered.
*Note: Golden Girls do have midriff tops that are worn throughout the year.
