Maryland Cheerleading is an all-girl team. Its 2025-26 roster is made up entirely of women, and in 2025 it competed in the NCA Collegiate Cheer National Championship in the All Girl Division 1A. The squad cheers at more than 150 games and events a year. Maryland picks the team through spring tryouts, and every member has to try out again each year. This guide follows Maryland’s official Join The Squad page and About Maryland Cheerleading page.

When Tryouts Happen

Maryland says it typically holds tryouts in April or May. For the 2025-26 team, tryouts were Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the XFINITY Center Pavilion in College Park. Registration for that cycle was through the 2025-26 tryout form linked on the Join The Squad page.

Maryland hadn’t posted dates or a registration form for the next cycle when this guide was last checked on September 29, 2026, so check that page before you plan.

Preferred Minimum Requirements

Maryland lists these as its preferred minimums:

• Experience: 4 years of cheer, whether high school, all-star or both.
• Standing tumbling: a standing tuck.
• Running tumbling: a round-off back handspring tuck.
• Stunting: level 4.

Maryland notes that meeting the minimums doesn’t guarantee a spot. Several factors go into selection, and the head coach makes the final decision.

Medical Requirements

For the 2025-26 tryouts, Maryland listed these medical requirements. Details are emailed after you register.

• The UMD medical tryout packet.
• A copy of your insurance card.
• Proof of a physical.
• Proof of a sickle cell trait solubility test.

Sickle cell test results can take time to come back, so arrange the test well before tryouts.

The Commitment

Maryland describes cheer as a full-year commitment:

• Summer: requirements after tryouts, including some appearances and NCA College Spirit Camp in late July or early August. You don’t have to stay on campus all summer, but you do report back for practices before the fall semester.
• During the year: practice 2–3 times a week, plus two team workouts a week with the strength and conditioning staff.
• Breaks: expect limited weekends and limited winter, spring and holiday breaks, because games, tournaments and nationals training often fall then.
• End of season: the season ends in the spring semester, when basketball wraps up in April.

What Maryland Cheer Does

• Games: football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball and Olympic sports, with more than 150 games and events a year.
• Travel: Big Ten road games, bowl games, and Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments.
• Competition: a collegiate national championship each year against top Division 1A teams. Maryland’s About page credits the program with six NCA College National Championships.
• Appearances: events on behalf of the university, where cheerleaders act as ambassadors.

How to Prepare

• Meet the preferred minimums before you register. A consistent standing tuck and round-off back handspring tuck are the baseline, not the goal.
• Train all-girl group stunting. Maryland competes all-girl, so versatility across base, back spot and flyer roles matters. See our guides on flying and basing.
• Get your medical paperwork done early, especially the sickle cell test.
• Plan for the summer. NCA camp and pre-season practices are part of making the team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maryland cheer coed or all-girl? All-girl. The 2025-26 roster is all women, and the team competed in NCA’s All Girl Division 1A in 2025.

When are Maryland cheer tryouts? Typically in April or May. The 2025-26 tryouts were May 2–3, 2025. Check the Join The Squad page for the current cycle.

What skills do I need? Maryland prefers 4 years of experience, a standing tuck, a round-off back handspring tuck and level 4 stunting.

Do returning members have to try out? Yes. Members are required to try out every year.

Who do I contact? The Join The Squad page doesn’t list a separate contact address. The 2025-26 roster lists Jessica Shumway as Cheerleading Coach (jshumway@umd.edu). Maryland Cheer is on X as @MarylandCheer.

Related Resources

• Big Ten Cheer Tryout Guides
• Rutgers University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Cheerleading Tryout Tips: How to Stand Out
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: University of Maryland Athletics, Join The Squad (2025-26 tryout information), About Maryland Cheerleading, 2025-26 Cheerleading Roster and “Maryland Cheer Set For NCA Collegiate Cheer National Championship” (April 10, 2025). Last checked September 29, 2026.