Many college cheer programs now start tryouts with a video. Florida’s 2026-27 tryout began with a virtual highlight reel. South Carolina, San Diego State, Arizona, Texas Tech, Missouri and Western Kentucky all used a video round before inviting candidates to campus. Others, such as Virginia Tech and UCLA, accept video from candidates who can’t attend in person. At these programs, the video is often your first evaluation.

The good news is that programs publish detailed filming instructions. This guide pulls together what those instructions have in common, so you can film a video that follows the rules and shows your skills clearly.

Step 1: Read Your Program’s Video Rules First

Video requirements differ a lot from school to school, and some programs won’t evaluate a skill that isn’t filmed their way. Arizona says skills must be performed exactly as listed and on the required surface, “or the skill may not be evaluated and could result in disqualification.” Before you film anything, get the current packet for each school you’re applying to and list its requirements.

Step 2: Plan Your Content and Order

Most programs set an order. A common structure looks like this:

1. Introduction. Western Kentucky asks for 30 to 45 seconds: your name, the team you’re trying out for, your stunt position, hometown, cheer team or gym, and why you want to be part of WKU Cheer. Florida asks for name, age, hometown, major and why you chose UF Cheer. Hawai’i asks for a title card with your contact details and school.
2. Game-day material. San Diego State asks for a sideline cheer or chant and, for women, a four-eight-count dance. Hawai’i asks for a game-ready chant with a stunt or tumbling skill built in.
3. Jumps. San Diego State asks for a toe touch and a second jump. Kansas State asks for a toe touch, a triple jump combination and a jump to tumbling.
4. Tumbling. Standing and running, in the order the program lists.
5. Stunts. Usually organized by your position. Kansas State asks you to say which position you’re trying out for before each stunt sequence.

If your program asks interview questions on video, answer every one. San Diego State asked candidates how they became a cheerleader, why they want to cheer at SDSU and what strong qualities they’d bring.

Step 3: Film on the Right Surface

Many programs want tumbling on a non-spring surface, because that’s what you’ll perform on at games:

• South Carolina: all skills on a non-spring surface, such as a dead mat or grass.
• San Diego State: “a regular cheer floor or grass. No spring floor.”
• Florida: hard floor, dead mat or grass, with shoes, “or they will not be judged.”
• Utah: running and standing tumbling on a dead mat, and the standing tuck on hardwood.
• Arizona: several tumbling skills on a basketball court, and the advanced pass on a non-spring cheer mat or turf.
• Missouri: standing and running tumbling on a dead mat or grass; extra spring floor tumbling can be added.

Safety matters here too. USA Cheer’s college rules and USASF’s all star rules both say technical skills (stunts, tosses, pyramids and tumbling) shouldn’t be done on concrete, asphalt, or wet or uneven surfaces. If you film on grass, make sure it’s dry and level. Never film on a driveway or a slippery gym floor, and film stunts only with a coach and proper spotters.

Step 4: Set Up the Camera

• Film horizontally. Western Kentucky requires it, and a horizontal frame keeps running passes in view.
• Keep your whole body in frame. Coaches need to see your feet on landings and the flyer at full extension, so step the camera back for tumbling and stunts.
• Use a steady camera. A tripod, or a phone propped securely, keeps the shot stable.
• Light yourself from the front. Hawai’i tells candidates to be well lit, with the light in front of them, not behind. It also suggests a microphone for the spoken introduction.
• Face the camera. Utah asks candidates to face the camera directly “so we can see your energy and expression.”

Step 5: Dress the Part

Programs often specify video attire, and it’s part of your first impression:

• San Diego State asks for full game day: full makeup and hair for women, clean shaven for men.
• Western Kentucky specifies a black fitted top, black shorts, a red ribbon, a curled mid ponytail and game-day makeup with red lipstick for women, and a black T-shirt and shorts for men.
• Florida asks women for a solid-color tank top or sports bra and solid-color shorts or spandex, with a suggested half-up, half-down hairstyle and bow.
• Hawai’i prefers white, gray, black and green, in clothes that show how fit you are.
• Utah suggests wearing the same clothes in every clip and in your headshot.

Step 6: Keep It Short, Current and Clean

• Length: Missouri limits its video to two minutes. Utah allows up to five minutes, edited into one file. Arizona instead asks for a separate link for each skill.
• How recent: Western Kentucky wants footage from the last two months. Florida’s stunt clips had to be from the past six months.
• One clip per skill: Western Kentucky won’t watch multiple videos of the same skill. Hawai’i says there’s no need to show five of the same tumbling pass.
• Your own footage: Western Kentucky doesn’t accept videos from camps, clinics or combines, and Utah asks you not to include competition routines.
• Music: Western Kentucky allows no music in any clip. (Arizona’s musical freestyle is an exception, because music is part of that skill.)
• Consecutive reps: when a program asks for repeated skills, don’t edit between them. Hawai’i asks for a standing tuck or full three times in a row without editing, and Virginia Tech’s video tryout includes five consecutive standing tucks.

Step 7: Upload and Share It the Right Way

Follow the exact submission method, because a video coaches can’t open won’t be judged:

• South Carolina: unlisted YouTube links preferred, Google Drive or other file-sharing links also accepted. No links that expire, and no videos by email.
• Arizona: Google Drive links set to “Anyone with the link” as a viewer. Videos that need access approval “will not be evaluated.”
• Texas Tech: a YouTube link, not an email attachment.
• Virginia Tech: a Google Drive or YouTube link, emailed with your paperwork.
• Hawai’i: email the head coach with a set subject line, and attach the video if it’s under 25 MB or include a private YouTube link.
• Utah: upload to a university Box folder assigned after registration.

Before you submit, open your link in a private browser window, logged out, to make sure it plays.

Video Checklist

• I have the current packet and filming rules for each school.
• My clips follow the program’s order.
• Tumbling is on the required surface, not a spring floor unless allowed.
• The video is horizontal, steady, well lit and shows my whole body.
• I’m wearing the attire, hair and makeup the program asks for.
• The video meets the length limit and uses recent footage.
• I answered every interview question.
• The link opens without a login or access request.
• I submitted before the deadline.

For the rest of the process, see our cheerleading tryouts guide and tryout mistakes to avoid. For school-specific video rules, see our guides to South Carolina, San Diego State, Arizona, Western Kentucky, Hawai’i and Missouri, or browse the directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a cheer tryout video be?

Follow your program’s limit. Missouri allows up to two minutes and Utah up to five. Some programs, such as Arizona, ask for a separate clip for each skill instead.

Can I film my tryout video on a spring floor?

Usually not for required skills. South Carolina, San Diego State, Florida and Utah all require a non-spring surface such as a dead mat, hard floor or grass.

Should I add music to my tryout video?

Usually not. Western Kentucky doesn’t allow music in any clip. Only add music if a program asks for it, such as Arizona’s musical freestyle.

Should I send my video as an email attachment?

Usually not. South Carolina doesn’t accept videos by email and Texas Tech asks for a YouTube link. Hawai’i accepts attachments under 25 MB. Follow your program’s instructions.

Sources: tryout pages and packets for Florida, South Carolina, San Diego State, Arizona, Texas Tech, Missouri, Western Kentucky, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Kansas State, Hawai’i and Utah; USA Cheer, 2026-27 College Cheer Rules; USASF, Rules & Age Grid. Last checked September 30, 2026.