The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Spirit Squad Tryout Information
01.10.2014 | Spirit Squad
Video tryout packet information
TRYOUTS UPDATE!
At this time our first priority is the health and safety of our team members and tryout candidates. Due to COVID-19, we will be postponing April Tryouts for all four spirit teams (Co-ed Cheer, All-Girl Cheer, Pom, and Mascot) until further notice. The deadline for all mandatory tryout packets and videos will be extended to Friday, May 1st, 2020.
Every candidate will now be required to turn in a tryout video. We will upload all required material videos that should be included in your tryout video below. We will be updating this site and social media regularly as we finalize our tryout process. Please email txcheer@austin.utexas.edu if you have any questions.
Spirit Program Tryout Expectations:
The Texas Spirit Program will host a two-day tryout session each spring to assess the abilities, leadership skills, and potential of interested and qualified candidates. The coed and all-girl cheer tryouts are by invitation only (please see the video tryout PDF for more information).
Tryouts are intended to be a low stress event. For that reason, they are conducted in a practice-like environment. Candidate’s skills, talents, and their ability to work with current and prospective team members, will be evaluated. A short interview with the candidate may be conducted at any time during the sessions and all portions of tryouts will be closed to the public for safety reasons.
Actual attendance by candidates at the tryout session is highly recommended; however, any individual who cannot attend the tryout session may submit a videotape for consideration. All videos must be included in the tryout packet by YouTube link. Please see the Cheer tryout video PDF for more information.
Candidates will also be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Strong leadership qualities
- Charismatic presence/personalities
- Confidence
- Independence
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to engage an audience
Mastery or potential to master the following skills:
Tumbling:
- Candidate's potential ability to execute a standing back tuck preferably on a dead floor
- Candidate’s potential ability to execute a standing back handspring back tuck or any other elite standing skills
- Candidate’s potential ability to execute series tumbling (ie: round off back handspring back tuck, layout or full)
Stunts:
- Strong stunting technique and ability to execute elite level stunts
- Coed suggested skills: toss stunts, walk ins, etc.
- All-girl suggested skills: extension, lib, 360’s, full up, etc.
Material
- The University of Texas Fight Song
- Chants
Pom Squad Selection Criteria:
- Strong cheer motions and crowd involvement skills
- Double pirouettes (or more)
- Fouettes or turns in second
- Split leaps on both right and left
- Second leaps on both right and left
- Dance foundation in ballet, hip hop and jazz
- Athletic physique appropriate for required activities and current uniforms (We do not have a height or weight requirement.)
- Ability to remember and perform complex and fast-paced routines
ORANGE SQUAD (Coed)
Orange squad, the co-ed cheerleading team, supports Texas Athletics as a whole while primarily focusing on men's sports. The co-ed squad cheers Football home and away games, Men's Basketball home games, and travels to Men's Basketball tournaments. Members of this squad also make numerous appearances throughout the year as determined by the coaching staff and Assistant Athletics Director. Schedules for all members should be flexible as this team has commitments over weekends and all holiday, spring, and summer breaks.
- Mandatory tryout packet and video due: May 1, 2020
- Tryouts: POSTPONED
- Mandatory Welcome Weekend for 2020-21 Team: CANCELED
Orange squad tryout information
Cheer video tryout information
WHITE SQUAD (All-Girl)
White squad, the all-girl cheerleading team, supports Texas Athletics as a whole while primarily focusing on women's sports. The all-girl squad cheers Soccer home games, Football home games, Volleyball home games, and Women's Basketball home games. The team also travels to Volleyball and Women's Basketball tournaments. Our all-girl cheer team also competes in STUNT the Sport. Members of this squad also make numerous appearances throughout the year as determined by the coaching staff and Assistant Athletics Director. Schedules for all members should be flexible as this team has commitments over weekends and all holiday, spring, and summer breaks.
- Mandatory tryout packet and video due: May 1, 2020
- Tryouts: POSTPONED
- Mandatory Welcome Weekend for 2020-21 Team: CANCELED
White squad tryout information
Cheer video tryout information
TEXAS POM
Texas Pom, the pom squad, supports Texas Athletics as a whole while primarily focusing on Men's and Women's Basketball. The Pom Squad cheers at Football home games as well as Men's and Women's Basketball home games. The squad also travels to select basketball tournaments. Additionally, Texas Pom performs hip hop and jazz routines during timeouts and rallies. Members of this squad also make numerous appearances throughout the year as determined by the coaching staff and Assistant Athletics Director. Schedules for all members should be flexible as this team has commitments over weekends and all holiday, spring, and summer breaks.
Day 1 (Preliminaries): Each candidate will learn and perform combinations - hip hop, jazz, and the Texas Fight Song. If necessary, an elimination will be done on this day.
Day 2 (Finals) Each candidate will perform the two routines learned, and the Texas Fight Song. At this point, a skills section will also be administered, containing but not limited to the technical skills described below in the "Skill Criteria" section of the tryout material. An elimination can take place at any point during finals to determine which candidates will be interviewed.
- Mandatory tryout packet and video due: May 1, 2020
- Tryouts: POSTPONED
- Mandatory Welcome Weekend for 2020-21 Team: CANCELED
Texas Pom tryout information
Texas Pom video information
HOOK 'EM (mascot)
Hook ‘Em, the mascot team, supports Texas Athletics as a whole while primarily focusing on football, volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, soccer, softball, and baseball. The mascot travels to away football games, volleyball tournaments, and Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments. Hook ‘Em is known for high energy dancing, sideline skits, and his engaging social media content. Members of this squad also make numerous appearances throughout the year as determined by the coaching staff and Assistant Athletics Director. Schedules for all members should be flexible as this team has commitments over weekends and all holiday, spring, and summer breaks.
- Tryouts: POSTPONED
- Mandatory Welcome Weekend for 2020-21 Team: CANCELED