Butler University Cheerleading has coed and all-girl athletes who cheer at home football and basketball games, travel to tournaments, and compete at UCA College Nationals in Division I. Butler is in the BIG EAST, and the team is part of Butler Athletics. New members are chosen at an in-person spring tryout at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and this guide follows Butler’s official Cheer Tryout Information page.
Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): the most recent tryout was for the 2026-27 team, on April 17–18, 2026, and the 2026-27 roster lists 38 cheerleaders. Butler hasn’t posted details for the 2027-28 tryout yet. The 2026 process below shows what to expect.
Who Can Try Out
- Admitted incoming freshmen, transfer and graduate students, and current Butler students.
- Current college students must show proof of their GPA.
- All athletes must stay full time: 12 hours for undergraduates, 6 for graduate students.
How the 2026-27 Tryout Worked
- Register before April 1 using the online tryout registration form.
- Submit paperwork after an email that went out April 1:
- A physical: within the 12 months before April 19 for high school seniors, or within the past six months for current college students.
- A copy of your insurance card, front and back.
- Three Butler forms.
- Proof of acceptance to Butler and/or your commitment to the university.
- Try out on Friday, April 17 (5–10 p.m.) and Saturday, April 18 (9 a.m.–2 p.m.) at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tryouts are closed to spectators. Friday included evaluations of the War Song, tumbling, stunting and sign work, then a timed run, so bring running shoes. First callbacks were posted on Instagram that night. Saturday had more evaluations and ended with the new team’s first practice and meeting.
- Confirm your spot by sending documentation of your paid deposit to the coaches by May 1, 2026, to be placed on the official roster.
Butler strongly recommended its March 22 clinic and March 23 and 25 open gyms before tryouts. Tryouts are in person. If you truly can’t attend, email the coach to explain. Butler says it will view your video on the final evening to see if a spot is available, but that the most successful applicants are the ones who attend.
Skills Butler Looks For
Butler judges stunting on “proficiency OR obvious potential” to learn collegiate elite skills quickly. Top girls should be ready to stunt all-girl and coed, and will be asked to show a stretch and an arabesque in a stunt.
- All-girl, required for incoming athletes: full up, round off up, back handspring up, low to high, full around, switch up lib; secure pop-off and corkscrew dismounts.
- All-girl elite, preferred for returners: BUFU/WUFU, hand in hand, front handspring up, rewind; flip and double-down dismounts.
- Coed, required for incoming athletes: toss chair, Purdue up, walk-in extension, toss hands, press lib, toss extension.
- Coed elite, preferred for returners: toss platform, lib or stretch, toss lib, toss cupie, full up, rewind, hand in hand, back and front handspring ups.
- Tumbling: preferred skills are a solid standing tuck (with poms) and a round off back handspring tuck on a basketball court. Additional tumbling always raises your score.
- Game day: mastery of the Butler War Song, strong motions, sign work, game-day presence and coachability. A War Song video is sent with the tryout materials.
What to Wear
- Women: white, navy, gray or black shorts and shirt, with spanx under shorts for all stunt positions; a white bow; game-ready hair and makeup; cheer shoes. No jewelry, and no sports bras as tops or Nike Pros as shorts.
- Men: white, navy, gray or black shorts and shirt (no tanks), athletic shoes, and game-ready hair. No jewelry.
Bring proof of acceptance or deposit, a water bottle, snacks and a packed lunch for Saturday.
Competition and Commitment
Butler Cheer has competed at UCA College Nationals for the past four years. The competition team is chosen by the coaches in the fall; if you’re selected it isn’t optional, and every team member is expected to fill whatever role is needed. Butler’s program overview lists two summer weekend practices, UCA summer camp, practice two days a week, workouts two days a week and an open gym one day a week. Summer practices and UCA camp are mandatory.
Butler says members get more than $500 in Nike gear, access to weight rooms with a strength and conditioning coach, nutrition support, academic counseling and free travel, with “no out-of-pocket fees.”
Coach and Contact
Brenda Jamerson has been Butler’s head cheerleading coach since June 2018. She was previously co-head coach at Ball State and was an NCA national champion cheerleader at the University of Memphis. Email: bjamerso@butler.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Butler cheer tryouts?
In the spring at Hinkle Fieldhouse; the 2026-27 tryout was April 17–18, 2026. Dates for 2027-28 aren’t posted yet.
What tumbling do I need?
Butler prefers a solid standing tuck and a round off back handspring tuck on a basketball court. More skills raise your score.
Can I try out by video?
Only if you truly can’t attend. Email the coach first; Butler reviews videos on the final evening if a spot is still available.
Do I have to compete?
If the coaches choose you for the competition team in the fall, yes. It isn’t optional.
Related Resources
- Ball State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Indiana University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- How to Be a Better Cheerleading Flyer
- How to Base in Cheerleading
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Butler Athletics, Cheer Tryout Information 2026-2027, Butler Cheerleading “About Us” (PDF), 2026-27 Cheer Roster and Brenda Jamerson bio. Last checked September 30, 2026.
