Notre Dame cheerleading is a co-ed program only. It usually has 36–48 members, split evenly between men and women. Every woman is a coed top and every man a coed base, and there are no all-girl squads. The team is divided into the Gold Squad, which is the main travel squad for football, and the Blue Squad. This guide is based on Notre Dame’s Join the Team page and its official 2026-27 Fall Tryout Information (updated June 2026).
When Tryouts Happen
Notre Dame holds two tryouts a year:
- The main tryout in spring. This is the “extensive” tryout where most of the roster is chosen.
- A smaller fall tryout to fill the last few open spots. The fall 2026 tryout was held September 22 in Gym 1 of the Joyce Center. It covered tumbling and stunt evaluation, a short interview, and learning a sideline and part of the fight song.
Spring 2027 details weren’t posted as of late September 2026. Watch the Join the Team page.
Who Can Try Out
- Current and transfer students at Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College or Holy Cross College.
- A GPA above 2.0.
- Current students must be enrolled full-time (12 or more hours).
- Good disciplinary and academic standing.
- Every candidate has an in-person interview during the final tryout.
Required Documents
- A physical from within 6 months of the in-person tryout, signed by a physician clearing you.
- The tryout waiver and cheerleading tryout form.
- A health questionnaire.
- A resume or list of activities, work experience and community involvement.
- A headshot or photo.
- A detailed skills list (see below).
- A copy of your grades, for current students (waived for incoming first-years).
The skills list
This is distinctive to Notre Dame. For each skill, note:
- Where you threw it (spring floor or dead floor, practice or clinic).
- Who you threw it with.
- Whether you had a spot.
- The setting (practice, games or competition).
For example: “Standing Full — spring floor, with a spot from tumbling coach.”
Required Skills
Tumbling
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Standing | Required: standing back handspring and standing back tuck. Recommended: cartwheel tuck, BHS back tuck. | No experience required. Recommended: cartwheel, handstand. Preferred: BHS and/or back tuck. |
| Running | Required: round-off back tuck and back handspring back tuck. | Not required but welcome. Recommended: round-off. Preferred: round-off back tuck. |
Coed stunting (required)
- Women: Purdue up to shoulder stand, walk-in chair, hands (walk-in and toss), extension.
- Men: Purdue up to shoulder stand, walk-in chair, hands (walk-in or toss).
- Preferred for both: any stunts from hands (extension, lib, cupie) and toss stunts.
Sideline and fight song
You’ll perform a Notre Dame sideline and the fight song. Notre Dame’s YouTube playlist teaches the fight song, and the tryout packet asks candidates to learn “Ripple TWO of Markee.” Extra motion guides for men are on the Join the Team page.
Open Practices and Info Sessions
- Remaining fall 2026 open practices: October 13 and November 14, at 4:30 p.m. in Gym 1 of the Joyce Center. Dates may shift with the basketball schedule.
- Spring open practices are for high school seniors who have applied or been accepted (18 or older) and for current Notre Dame, Holy Cross and Saint Mary’s students. All attendees must be 18 or older.
- Zoom info meetings are held by the cheer staff. On-campus students can also email ndcheer@nd.edu to meet a coach or team member.
High school students, current students and coaches can each fill out a recruiting form on the Join the Team page to get clinic and recruiting updates.
What the Program Offers
- Games: home and away football, and home volleyball.
- Basketball: men’s and women’s, including ACC and NCAA postseason travel.
- Competition: UCA College Nationals.
- Support: athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, sports psychology, tutoring, approved travel absences and priority scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Notre Dame have an all-girl cheer team? No. The program is entirely co-ed, with women as tops and men as bases.
Can Saint Mary’s or Holy Cross students try out? Yes. Current and transfer students at all three schools are eligible.
What GPA do I need? Above 2.0.
Do men need tumbling experience? No. Tumbling is recommended but not required for men.
When is the main tryout? In the spring. The fall tryout only fills remaining spots.
Related Resources
- ACC Cheer Tryout Guides
- Indiana University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Purdue University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Join the Team, Cheerleading and the 2026-2027 Cheerleading Fall Tryout Information (updated June 2026). Last checked September 23, 2026; open-practice dates rechecked September 26, 2026.
