The Team cheers at all home basketball games and other USI sporting events when called upon. Cheering at all home basketball games is mandatory, as is attendance at a summer pre camp and a collegiate-level summer camp. In addition, cheerleaders travel to tournament games to support our men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The Cheer Team holds a variety of fundraising events throughout the season and attends various community events, such as the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival.
In the fall, the team practices three times a week during the evening as well as one weight training practice each week. Team members are required to enroll in and pass 12 credit hours each semester and to maintain a 2.0 cumulative and semester GPA to be eligible to participate.
Overall Requirements and Expectations
• Each semester, team members must be accepted (by the time of tryouts) and enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Southern Indiana (12 credits per semester).
• Must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete weekly study hours.
• Demonstrate exceptional academic leadership in the classroom by attending all classes, being an outstanding student, and being committed to academic excellence.
• Abide by all rules and regulations set by NCAA Division II (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (which USI athletics falls under) as they pertain to collegiate cheer & dance.
• Maintain all athletic training paperwork and abide by ALL athletic compliance policies & guidelines, including: drug & tobacco policies, random drug testing, medical insurance coverage and behavioral conduct standards.
• Follow all
USA Cheer safety rules and display proper understanding and demonstration of safety techniques to help prevent injury.
• All athletes must exhibit appropriate personal and professional conduct.
• All athletes must show an understanding of responsibility and commitment regarding maintaining health and wellness, nutrition, safety, and injury prevention.
Tryouts
• Traditionally, our tryouts take place in April or May of every year and are a 3-day (Friday-Sunday) process.
• Visit our TRYOUTS TAB for more information.
Practices & Games
• Attend all season practices, workouts, as well as assigned games and other university/community events beginning of fall semester & continuing through mid-March. In general, a commitment of 10+ hours per week can be expected each week.
• Missed practices, games or workouts is NOT permitted unless there is an emergency situation. Family vacation, work conflicts, etc. are not reasons for missing practices or games.
• You must be available for all games that might be scheduled over Thanksgiving, Christmas Break, Spring Break and other holidays.
Financial Obligations
The cheerleaders are a fully funded team, with great support from the athletic department. Individual financial obligations are very minimal. They are:
• A $25 Tryout Fee is required when registering for tryouts.
• The cost of tryout apparel.
• Females are responsible for purchasing plain white crew socks (no visible logo) and red lipstick.
• Males are responsible for purchasing plain white crew socks (no visible logo) and plain white t-shirts for under uniforms.
• Additional fundraising efforts may be necessary depending on team goals for the season.
• Expenses for travel costs (to the university) during summer practices and food costs during summer practices and nationals travel.
Competition
We are first and foremost game day cheerleaders, and we believe great game day cheerleaders can also be highly competitive. We compete each January at UCA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
• The top 16-20 athletes will be chosen from BOTH the co-ed and all-girl groups to make-up the competition team who competes in the Small Co-Ed Division.
• We compete in the traditional division.
• Coaches will make the final decision on the athletes who will compete. It will be based upon many factors, such as attitude, grades, experience, required skills, and availability of extra practices.
• USI funds the cost of the competition for each athlete with the exception of meals.
