Florida State cheerleading is part of Seminoles Athletics, and its squads cheer at every FSU football game. The program won the 2023 UCA Small Division I Coed national title. This guide covers who can try out, what skills FSU asks for, and how the multi-round tryout works, all based on the program’s official cheerleading page.

A note on dates: the most recent tryout FAQ FSU has posted is labelled for the 2023-24 season. The rules below are FSU’s own, but check the FSU Cheer tryouts and clinics links or email the staff for the current cycle before you plan around them.

FSU’s Cheer Squads

FSU selects two cheer squads from the same tryout:

• Garnet — the stunt-partner (coed) squad.
• Gold — the multi-base (all-girl style) squad.

Both squads cheer at all regular-season home and away football games. They’re also split into smaller groups to cover home volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball. FSU places athletes on a squad at the coaches’ discretion based on tryout performance. Flyers try out for both squads, and the staff decides where to use them.

Eligibility and Academic Requirements (latest posted 2023-24 FAQ)

• Enrollment: FSU’s latest posted 2023-24 FAQ required members to be enrolled in and pass at least 12 credit hours per semester.
• GPA: That FAQ required a minimum 2.0 GPA and allowed one “grace” semester below 2.0, with any scholarship withheld; it said a second semester below 2.0 meant removal from the team.
• Before admission: The 2023-24 FAQ allowed high school seniors and transfer students to try out after submitting an FSU admission application, but excluded students accepted into FSU’s Pathways program.

Skills FSU Asks For

FSU’s latest posted 2023-24 tryout FAQ was specific:

• Tumbling: the 2023-24 FAQ called a standing back handspring “a definite requirement” and suggested at least a round-off back handspring layout.
• Stunting basics: that FAQ listed extension, liberty and stretch.
• Elite stunts: its final cuts included harder skills such as rewinds and full-ups.
• All-girl candidates: the FAQ said candidates who can stunt in more than one position could be asked to show each one.

Useful guides: How to Do a Back Handspring, flyer technique and how to base.

How FSU Tryouts Work

FSU’s latest posted 2023-24 FAQ described tryouts as a multi-step process:

1. Application
2. Preliminary round
3. Semi-final
4. Possible personal interview
5. Final tryouts — the squads are chosen from this round

The 2023-24 cycle also included a tryout video in three parts. You recorded Parts 1 and 2 as continuous takes, you could film Part 3 (stunting) with more than one group, and you then edited all three into a single video. FSU posts an exact schedule the week before in-person tryouts and advises booking return flights after 4 p.m. on the final day. Some sessions are closed to the public.

Some other policies to know before you go:

• Clinics: FSU lists College Prep Clinics through the FSU Cheer links page. Check that page for the current format and registration.
• 2023-24 policies: the latest posted FAQ said judges’ sheets were not kept, tattoos could not be visible in uniform or practice attire, and each tryout day had specific attire. Confirm all current-cycle policies directly with FSU.

If You Make the Team

FSU calls it a “total commitment”: practices, games, appearances, travel, clinics, camps and competitions. In the 2023-24 cycle, the team held summer practice blocks in June and July before reporting in August. During the season, practices ran Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Uniforms and sponsored practice gear are provided. However, members return to campus at their own cost during fall, winter and spring breaks for games.

Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA do I need for FSU cheer? FSU’s latest posted 2023-24 FAQ required a minimum 2.0 GPA and at least 12 credit hours passed each semester, with one grace semester below 2.0. Confirm the requirement for the current cycle.

What tumbling do I need? FSU’s latest posted 2023-24 FAQ called a standing back handspring a requirement and recommended at least a round-off back handspring layout. Confirm current skills before tryouts.

Can I try out before I’m accepted to FSU? The latest posted 2023-24 FAQ allowed high school seniors and transfer students who had applied for admission, while excluding Pathways program students. Confirm the current policy with FSU.

Who do I contact? FSU Cheerleading at cheerleadingfsu@gmail.com, the address listed for the cheer coaching staff in the Seminoles staff directory. You can also follow @FSU_Cheer.

Related Resources

• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
• University of South Florida Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Cheerleading Tryout Tips: How to Stand Out
• Cheerleading Glossary: 40+ Terms You Need to Know
• CheerleadersLife’s $500 Cheerleading Scholarship (our site’s own award, not affiliated with FSU)

Sources: Seminoles Athletics, Florida State Cheerleading (squads, academics, 2023-24 tryout FAQ) and staff directory; FSU Cheer tryouts and clinics links. Last checked September 23, 2026.