UNH CHEERLEADING TO HOLD SPRING TRY-OUTS

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire Cheerleading program will hold try-outs for the 2010-2011 squad on May 8 and 9 at the Field House.
2010-11 UNH Cheerleading Tryout Information

In preparation for upcoming tryouts, the UNH Cheerleaders will be hosting open practices on the following dates. These practices are designed for candidates who are considering trying out to practice with the current UNH team and are not required to tryout. There is a $5 fee and a liability release form must be signed. Click here for the release form. Participants who are under 18 must have their parents sign as well.

Open Practice Dates
April 19   7-9 pm –  UNH Field House
April 26   7-9 pm –  UNH Field House
May 3      7-9pm –  UNH Field House

Tryout Schedule
Tryouts for the 2010-11 All Girl cheerleading team will be held May 8 and 9 at the UNH Field House. The tryout schedule will be as follows:

May 8
9 am –   10 am   Registration / $20 Tryout Fee
10 am – 11 am   Learn Tryout Material
11 am – 12 pm   Tumbling and Stunting Session
12 pm – 1 pm     Lunch Break (on your own)
1 pm –   3 pm     Open Practice for Participants
3 pm –   TBD       Interviews

May 9
9 – 10 am      Warm-up / Stretch / Review Material
10 am            Confirm Tryout Groups and Receive Numbers
10 am – TBD  Tryouts Begin / Open to Public

Tryout results will be posted approximately an hour after tryouts end at the Field House.

Tryout Requirements

Overall 2.0 GPA
Proof of UNH Application**
Tryout Application
Medical Release Form*
Liability Waiver*
Insurance Coverage Form*

* Please note that potential participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign these documents as well. Without their signature, you will not be able to participate in tryouts.

**Proof of UNH Acceptance is required by June 1, 2010 for those who make the squad.

The Tryout Application, Liability Waiver, Insurance Coverage Form, and UNH required forms are available below. Please click on the links below for these documents:

UNH Spring Tryout Application
UNH Spring Tryout Liability Waiver
NSA Health Form
Insurance Verification

Tryout Attire

Athletic tops or fitted t-shirts are to be worn with shorts.
Cheerleading shoes are required.
No jewelry
You should look game ready- collegiate image is part of your tryout score. We recommend wearing UNH school colors and a hair bow.

Tryouts

Tryouts will consist of an interview, jumps, tumbling skills, fight song, sideline, and stunt skills.

Tryouts will be conducted in groups of 4. Tryouts will be open to the public for both days.

Interview

Interviews are informal and are a chance for the coaches to get to know you.
Tryout attire may be worn for interviews.
Each interview will be conducted in groups. Size of groups is TBD after registration.
A schedule of the interviews will be posted after the lunch break on Saturday.
Each group interview will last approximately 10 – 15 minutes.
Former UNH Cheerleaders will not participate in an interview.

Jumps

Required: toe touch
Optional: another jump of your choice

Standing Tumbling

Standing tuck
Toe touch Back Handspring Tuck or Toe back tuck
Optional- Any additional specialty standing combinations- ie:. 3 jumps to a tuck or 3 backhand springs to full.

Running Tumbling

2 tumbling passes maximum can be performed. Minimum- Round off backhand spring tuck.

Sideline

 A sideline will be taught as a part of the material. It will be performed with the tryout groups.

Fight Song

The fight song will be taught as a part of the material. It will be performed with the tryout groups.

Stunts

Stunts can be performed and judged as a group if desired (Stunt groups will be formed on Day 1 of tryouts).

Required: Liberty heel stretch
Required: Full cradle from Lib Stretch position (Double Preferred)
Flyers must also perform a stunt that demonstrates back flexibility (Arabesque, Scale, or Scorpion) and must double from this position

Results

There is one cheerleading teams at UNH- All Girl. Males are welcome to tryout, but will not be considered for competition purposes. Placement on the team will be up to the discretion of the coaches and will depend on skill and team needs.

If you are selected to the squad, you will be required to stay for MANDATORY meeting after the squad results are posted.

Video Tryout

Candidates who are unable to attend tryouts may tryout via video. Videos must be received by April 25. Videos should include all of the tryout elements listed above (including all paperwork required as well as the tryout fee). A letter stating why the candidate wants to be a UNH Cheerleader and why they should be considered for a team must also be included. Video's should be in CD or DVD format and be able to easily be viewed on most computers. Candidates will be notified for team status after May 9 tryouts.

Send Videos to:
Shauna Norris Foley
UNH Cheerleading Coach
145 Main Street
Field House
Durham, NH 03824


Team Commitment

Please review the information below very carefully. It outlines the commitment you agree to make if selected for the 2010-2011 UNH Cheerleading Team. The commitment can be demanding and is for the entire school year so please consider this carefully before trying out.

The UNH cheerleaders are a very dedicated team who pride themselves on not only being great cheerleaders but also great role models within the campus and greater community.

Games

The primary role of the UNH Cheerleaders is to support UNH athletics and promote school spirit. The cheerleaders cheer for football, women's volleyball, and men's and women's basketball and cheerleaders are expected to attend all assigned games. Cheerleaders are also expected to cheer basketball games over winter break.

Practices

Practices are usually 3 times a week and include gymnastic training. Practices are typically in the evening and are sometimes on the weekend. You will be expected to attempt to arrange your class schedule around practice times.

You will also be required to work out 2-3 times per week at the Whittemore Center for conditioning. This includes cardio training as well as strength training.

All members will be required to run a mile at the end of each practice. You will be timed once a month and are expected to run the mile in under 8 and ½ minutes.

There will be summer weekend practices. These practices will be one weekend in June, one in July, and camp in August. These practices will be double session for two days and are mandatory.

Competition

The team will compete at NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL in April 2011. There will also be local competitions and demos that each team will perform at throughout the year. The UNH program prides itself on being a top competitive program in the country.

Camp

The UNH Cheerleaders will be attending NCA Cheerleading Camp. Camp is mandatory for all cheerleaders. Camp will be August 4-6 at Boston University and is $262. There will be mandatory practices 2-3 days before the camp begins at UNH to prepare.

Fundraising

The UNH Cheerleaders receive minimal financial support so fundraising participation is mandatory. There will be several required fundraising events (clinics, working UNH and outside events, etc.) that will be mandatory for team expenses, as well as personal fundraisers where you will have the opportunity to fundraise for your personal expenses like camp, sneakers, and nationals.

Costs

The following are a list of costs for the season. All cheerleaders will have the opportunity to fundraise immediately to offset these costs with our annual calendar fundraiser.

Cheerleading Shoes   $ 70
Body Suit                    $ 20
Briefs                          $ 10
Shirts (2)                    $ 20
Shorts (2)                   $ 20
Warm-Up                    $ 60
Bag                             $ 20
Camp                          $262
Approx. Cost              $482

* Current UNH Cheerleaders will only need to purchase shoes, shirts, shorts, and camp.


Questions

Any questions can be directed to Head Coach Shauna Norris Foley at shaunanorris@yahoo.com