Penn State Cheerleading picks its team through a recruiting process followed by invitation-only spring tryouts. You start by filling out the program’s Recruitment Form and sending a short highlight video, and only candidates who meet the minimum skill standards are invited to try out. This guide follows the “Recruiting & Tryouts” section of the official […]
University of Georgia Cheerleading Tryout Guide
The University of Georgia has two cheer teams: a coed team of up to 10 women and 10 men, and an all-girl team of up to 24 women. They’re the official cheerleading team of Georgia Athletics, and tryouts are run by the University of Georgia Spirit Program, the site Georgia Athletics points to for cheer, […]
Florida Cheer Requirements: University of Florida Tryout Guide
For 2026-27, Florida selected two cheer squads: Florida Coed — 8 to 10 couples. Gator All-Girl — 3 to 4 stunt groups. Tryouts start with a virtual highlight reel. Candidates who advance are invited to in-person rounds in Gainesville. Below are the official Florida cheer requirements, taken from UF’s 2026-27 Cheerleading Tryouts page. UF hadn’t […]
Ohio State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
The most important thing to know about Ohio State cheer: there is no traditional tryout. The Ohio State University Cheer Team fills its roster through a structured recruitment process that starts in high school. The team is an official varsity sport at Ohio State and part of the Spirit Program with the Dance Team and […]
University of Alabama Cheerleading Tryout Guide
Alabama’s cheerleading program has two teams, All Girl and Coed, and both compete each year at UCA College Nationals in January. It’s one of the most successful programs at that event: the Coed team won the UCA Division IA Co-Ed national title in 2025, and the All Girl team won the Division IA All Girl […]
University of Kentucky Cheerleading Tryout Guide
Kentucky has won the UCA Division IA Coed national championship 24 times, more than any other school. The program has two coed teams, the Blue Squad (varsity) and the White Squad (junior varsity), and the most important thing to know before you plan a tryout is that Kentucky tryouts are by invitation only. Invitations are […]
How to Base in Cheerleading: Technique, Timing and Safety for Bases
Bases do the lifting, holding and catching in every stunt. A good base makes a stunt look easy and makes the flyer feel safe. This guide covers what a base does in the gym: stance, where the power comes from, timing, holding the stunt, catching, and the safety rules that apply to you. For strength […]
Cheer Bows 2026: Sizes, Rules and Where to Buy
Disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, CheerleadersLife earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. We haven’t tested these bows. Sizes and prices come from each retailer’s product pages. A cheer bow finishes your uniform, but it also has to stay put through stunts, jumps and […]
Cheerleading for Beginners: Types, Positions, First Skills and Safety
New to cheerleading, or researching it for your child? This guide explains the main types of cheer, the positions on a team, the first skills to learn, what gear you need and how to start safely. Cheer is popular: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says more than 3.5 million young people take part, most […]
How to Be a Better Flyer in Cheerleading: Technique, Body Positions and Safety
Flyers get the spotlight, but good flying is mostly about helping your bases. A flyer who holds their own weight, stays tight and stands in the right place is easier to lift and hold, no matter their size. This guide is for flyers who want to improve their own technique. If you’re a coach building […]