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2019-20 Purdue Cheer Tryout Information2019-20 Purdue Cheer Tryout Information

2019-20 Purdue Cheer Tryout Information

2019-20 Purdue Cheer Tryouts

Schedule
  • Friday, April 12, 2019
    • Check-in at 9:30 a.m. in Mackey Arena
    • 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Potential first years only – Evaluation of standing vertical, fight song,learning of cadence, standing and series tumbling, and stunting.
      • 1st round of cuts will be made after this. This will be posted via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
    • Immediately after cuts those advancing to the second round will have interviews with the tryout judges. Apparel will be tryout outfit.
    • 5-9 p.m. – Returners and First years who made second round – Evaluation of stunting and fight song. Tumbling.
      •  2nd round of cuts will be made after this. This will be posted via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
  • Saturday, April 14, 2018
    • Finalists report at 10 a.m. in Mackey Arena
    • A "practice atmosphere" tryout will be held.
    • Fight songs, cadences, some tumbling and stunting will be evaluated. ? Tryouts will be finished by 5 p.m
      • Lunch break on your own at 1 p.m
  • Sunday, April 15, 2018
    • We reserve this day for final evaluations if needed.
    • Teams will be announced via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
      •  If we do have tryouts this day, people should wear the following.
        • Potential first year members – wear your black t-shirt you received at the clinic. Hair half-up. Make-up on. White bow.
        • Returners – wear your black Nike Purdue Cheer shirt. Ladies black Nike track shorts, hair half up, make-up. Guys black Nike shorts, black shoes, clean cut and shaved.

**Tryouts are CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC!**

Skills
  • Stunts
    • Coed
      • Extension (Toss or bump and go ... shown in fight song if can't do lib)
      • All returners (male & female) must show a lib or stretch (hands lib/stretch, toss, full-up, or flipping) with a dismount of their choice (pop down, cradle, full/double down, twist down to hips)
      • All first year females must also show a lib or stretch
      •  All first year males can show an extension (hands extension, toss) instead of a lib if they don't have any previous cheer experience.
      • All stunts at tryouts will be performed on a mat with a spotter.
 
  • All-Girl
    • Full-Up stunt (shown in fight song)
    • Twist Up Stunts
      • Full up immediate (lib, stretch), One and quarter up, One and half up, Full arounds, etc.
    • Flipping Stunts
      • Returners will be expected to show a flipping stunt
      • Incoming freshmen will learn flipping stunts at clinics and tryouts
        • Will not be required but those who can show one will be to their advantage
    • Double Downs
      • Stretch or arabesque
    • We are looking for girls who can perform more than one stunting position (base, back, fly). The more versatile you are as a stunter, the better.
 
  • Tumbling (females)
    • Standing tumbling: standing back tuck, cartwheel tuck, toe touch back tuck, standing back handspring tuck
    • Series tumbling: roundoff tuck, round off handspring tuck
    • All tumbling will be done on a non-spring floor mat and without spotters.
    • All skills listed above are the MINIMUM skill requirements that could be asked at tryouts. If you can layout/full it's highly recommended to end all of your tumbling with a layout/full if you have one.
  • Tumbling (males)
    • It is HIGHLY encouraged for males to show a standing back tuck, even if it's with a spot. o All males with series tumbling will have an opportunity to show a corner pass on a non-spring floor mat.
  • Jumps (females only)
    • Double or triple toe touch
      • Connecting with the tuck at the end would be to your benefit.
  • Fight song
    • All will learn the motions to "Hail Purdue." Performances of the fight song, which includes a standing tuck, will be with poms.
  • Cadence
    • A cadence will be taught to all potential first year members at tryouts. This is to see how quickly potential first year members learn and listen.
Appearance/Image At Purdue University, appearance and image is very important to the program. All members of the program are expected to present themselves in a collegiate and professional manner at all times. We are looking for the "All-American" cheerleader. At tryouts, those trying out are expected to wear and look like:

  • Females: All girls are to look "game ready." Natural make-up should be worn. Hair should be half-up, half-down with a bow (preferably white and no wider than 2 inches). All females will wear a full cut black tank top with black shorts (can be Soffe type or boy cut athletic tights) and white cheerleading shoes. Any apparel that says Purdue CHEER/CHEERLEADING should NOT be worn. Wearing just a sports bra is NOT allowed at tryouts. All tryout apparel worn should not have any other college or high school/gym names or logos on it.

  • Males: Clean cut and clean shaved (all mustaches and goatees must be shaved, so please shave for tryouts). No member of the Purdue Cheerleading squad will ever be allowed to have facial hair during the season. Sideburns are allowed to the bottom of the ear and are to be well kept. All males will wear a black Purdue t-shirt with black shorts and tennis shoes. Any apparel that says Purdue CHEER/CHEERLEADING should NOT be worn. All tryout apparel worn should not have any other college or high school/gym names or logos on it.

    2019 Purdue University Cheerleading Clinic Information

    College Prep Clinics and Tryout Bids: To tryout for the Purdue University cheerleading squad, all females MUST attend one of our college prep clinics. The dates are Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, April 7, 2019. For more information and registration, please click here. If you are not able to attend one of these clinics, but are still interested in trying out for the squad, please contact coach Solberg immediately at ssolberg@purdue.edu to work out something.

    Hotel/Lodging Accommodations: If needed, they are on your own. Purdue does have some agreements with local hotels where we might be able to help you with a lodging discount. Please contact coach Solberg at ssolberg@purdue.edu for this information.

    Required Paperwork: All potential first year members who are non-Purdue students must bring:

    •  Acceptance letter to Purdue

    • Sickle cell test results (NCAA rule)

    •  Signed waiver form (if under the age of 18, parent/guardian must also sign)

    • Copy of passed sports physical taken in the last 12 months w/ signature of physician.

    • Completed pre-physical questionnaire

    • Two letters of recommendation (one from cheer coach and one from a teacher/administrator).

    • Signed "2019-20 Guidelines and Expectations" packet agreeing to standards and rules of the Purdue spirit squad (given at clinic).

    • Optional: Proof of acceptance and/or commitment to Purdue (BGR registration, housing confirmation, etc.) if you have it.
      • If tryouts are close and judges are debating between people, those who have committed to Purdue will be selected over those who have not committed.

All potential first year members who are current Purdue students must bring their student ID and verification from the bursar's office of full-time student status in addition to the above paperwork.

Everybody must have a copy of a negative sickle cell screening. This is mandated by the NCAA and Purdue athletics. No matter your race or family history, all trying out must provide a negative sickle cell test. These tests can take a few days to a few weeks to get the results, so please plan ahead for this!

All paperwork should be in a folder with your name on it!

Squad Size, Season Assignments and Alternates

Squad size: For the 2019-20 season, all-girl will be at least 20 females and no more than 32. Coed will have at least eight males and eight females and no more than 15 males and 15 females.

Sporting seasons: The Purdue cheerleading squad cheers at all home and away Purdue football games, bowl game, home volleyball matches, and home and post-season men's and women's basketball games, in addition to various local/surrounding area community functions. Travel opportunities are based on seniority, maintaining minimum academic and skill requirements and points accumulated during the season (will be explained when season starts).

Summer Dates & Commitments: If selected as a member of the 2019-20 Purdue cheerleading squad, the following dates should be made available throughout the summer if possible.

Anybody who misses more than one practice weekend will NOT go to camp (only exception are graduating seniors who have a summer internship). Any incoming first year member who misses more than one weekend can be dismissed from the program. Please make these dates a priority!

  • Tuesday, May 1 – deadline for students admitted by April 10 to accept their acceptance to Purdue University.

  • Tuesday, May 2 – Deadline for all incoming freshmen (or first year Purdue students) to commit to the Purdue University cheerleading squad.

  • Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 – First summer practice (all incoming first year members MUST attend at least one of these days ... NO EXCEPTIONS! If you are not able to make one of these days then you will not be selected for the team.)
    • May 11 – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Facility TBD (with lunch break)
    • May 12 – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Facility TBD (with lunch break)
  • Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 – At this practice weekend we will have guest coaches joining us!
    • June 29 – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Facility TBD
    • June 30 – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Facility TBD
  • Saturday, July 27 – Monday, July 29 – Stunt clinic (July 27) and Pre-Camp practices (if going to camp must attend these practices, unless cleared by coaching staff)
    • July 27 – summer stunt/skills clinic – Facility TBD
    • Coed: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
    • All-Girl: 2:30-5:30 p.m.
    • Team practice: 6-8 p.m.
  • July 28 – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. – Facility TBD
    • 5-7 p.m. – uniform and practice gear distributed o July 29 – 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Facility TBD
    • 2-5 p.m. – uniform and practice gear distributed (if can't July 28)

  • Tuesday, July 30 – Team picture, team bonding activities and team dinner

  • Wednesday, July 31 – Sunday, August 4 – UCA College Camp at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

  • School year practice will start Sunday, August 18
    • Incoming freshmen are encouraged to attend BGR week and select the student-athlete option.
    • Practice times are TBD. Once everyone has registered for class days and times will be announced. First two weeks of class we will have night practices. After first home game we will transition to earlier and shorter practices.

Any questions? Please contact coach Solberg at ssolberg@purdue.edu