Iowa doesn’t run a single open tryout day. It recruits its cheerleaders: you apply to the university, send in a questionnaire and skill videos, and meet the staff at clinics or combines. Offers go out in the spring. The Iowa Cheerleaders are part of the Iowa Spirit Squads, with the Iowa Dance Team and Herky the Hawk. They compete at UCA College Nationals in the Division IA Game Day and Traditional categories. This guide follows Iowa’s official Cheer Recruitment and Cheer Recruitment FAQ pages.

Step One: Apply to Iowa

Iowa is explicit: “If you have not applied to the University you cannot be considered during the recruitment process.” Apply first, then start the cheer steps below.

The Recruitment Steps

1. Complete the recruitment questionnaire, submit a letter of recommendation, and upload your YouTube videos (see below). Iowa sends a confirmation email when your submission arrives.
2. Meet the staff at a clinic or combine, or virtually. The coaches are open to a Zoom call.
3. Follow the program on social media for recruiting news, combines and events: Instagram @iowacheerleading, Twitter @iowacheer, and Facebook (Iowa Cheerleading).

Typical Timeline

• Freshman to junior year of high school: attend clinics, national events or recruiting combines.
• Senior fall: apply to the University of Iowa and attend a clinic or combine.
• Senior winter: record your skills video, complete the questionnaire, and submit it with your recommendation letter by December 1. Iowa’s FAQ still shows December 1, 2023, so confirm the current year’s date. The staff then send material to learn and may ask for more skills.
• Spring: the staff offer positions, and the roster is announced before May 1.

Video Requirements

The questionnaire has space for three videos. Share them as public or unlisted YouTube links, and test the links first. They don’t need professional editing.

1. Introduction (one minute maximum, speaking to the camera). Include:
   • Your name, hometown, and school team or all-star gym.
   • Why you want to attend Iowa and be on the cheer team.
   • Why you’d be a strong candidate, and what you hope to study.
2. Tumbling, on a dead mat. Show your best standing and running tumbling. Iowa lists these as examples, not requirements:
   • Standing: a standing back tuck, a standing full, and two or one back handsprings to a full.
   • Running: round-off back handspring layout or full; elite passes such as a whip to full, Arabian to full or full through to full.
3. Coed stunting. Show as many of these as you can, with different partners:
   • Hands, walk-in and toss stunts, each to extension, lib, stretch, high torch arabesque and cupie.
   • Spinning stunts: full up and hands full around.
   • Elites: round-off ups, back handspring ups, front handspring ups, rewinds and hand-in-hands.

Iowa says it’s “looking to see potential,” and may ask for more skills later.

Do You Have to Attend a Clinic?

It isn’t required, but it’s “strongly recommended.” Iowa says attending and introducing yourself “demonstrates the initial level of commitment and interest” the staff look for.

What the Team Does

• Games: football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s wrestling and women’s gymnastics.
• Travel: away football games, bowl games, basketball tournaments and college camp.
• Support: academic support, strength training, an athletic trainer, and nutrition and mental health support.

Head Coach

Gregg Niemiec is Spirit Squad Coordinator and Head Cheerleading Coach. He’s entering his 25th year at Iowa. He asks recruits to “communicate with me… frequently” and to visit campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Iowa hold cheer tryouts? Iowa describes a recruitment process: the university application, a questionnaire, videos, clinics and visits, with offers in the spring.

Is tumbling required? Iowa lists tumbling skills as examples, not mandatory minimums. Show your best standing and running tumbling.

When is the roster announced? Before May 1.

Related Resources

• Purdue University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Indiana University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: University of Iowa Athletics, Cheer Recruitment, Cheer Recruitment FAQ and Spirit Squad Coaching Staff. Last checked September 29, 2026.