The University of Memphis cheerleaders are part of the Memphis Spirit Squads, along with the dance teams (the Pom Squad and the Ambush Crew) and Pouncer, the mascot. The spirit program performs at all home football and basketball games, and the cheer program has coed and all-girl athletes. Tryouts are run by the spirit program, which posts the details on its own site, memphisspirit.org.

Where the cycle stands (October 1, 2026): tryouts for the 2026-27 team took place May 7–10, 2026. Memphis hasn’t posted dates for the 2027 tryouts yet. The 2026 rules below show what to expect, but check the official page before you plan around them.

The Program

• Competition: Memphis cheer competes at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Nationals in the Division IA Small Coed division.
• Titles: Memphis lists UCA national championships in 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2026, plus an NCA title in 1984. The 2013 title came in the large coed division; since moving to Small Coed, the program says it has won six titles in nine years.
• Conference: Memphis plays in the American Conference (formerly the American Athletic Conference).

2026 Tryouts: How They Worked

Everyone had to register and complete the online application before the tryout date. The tryout fee was $35 for new applicants and $25 for members of the 2025-26 squads. The application required:

• Spirit Squad registration and payment (all applicants)
• Proof of admission to the University of Memphis, either an acceptance letter or a University ID (new applicants only)
• The University of Memphis consent to participate forms and the participant waiver (all applicants)
• A copy of your insurance card, front and back (all applicants)
• A current physical from within the last six months

The 2026 schedule ran over four days:

• Thursday, May 7: open gym at Memphis Pride Cheer, 8–10 p.m.
• Friday, May 8: fight song, standing tumbling and running tumbling at the campus Rec Center, 6–9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9: intermediate stunts and an elite stunt sequence at the Rec Center, noon–3 p.m. Memphis asked athletes to be creative with transitions and to try out with skills they can execute confidently.
• Sunday, May 10: program meeting and contract signing, then the first program practice. Athletes who made the team were required to attend.

What to Wear

• Women: a black, blue or white sports bra and black, blue or white shorts or spandex (no big T-shirts). Hair in a slicked-back ponytail with a ribbon or bow, and full game-day makeup. No jewelry or watches.
• Men: clean shaven, a blue, black, grey or white polo, khaki shorts (with a belt if needed) and athletic shoes. No jewelry or watches.

Skills to Prepare

The 2026 page lists the tryout categories (fight song, standing tumbling, running tumbling, intermediate stunts and an elite sequence) but not a minimum skill list. The last detailed list Memphis published was for the 2023-24 tryouts. It’s shown here for reference only:

• Experience: prior cheer experience was required.
• Standing tumbling: a standing tuck was required. Judges also looked at two standing tucks back to back, back handspring–back handspring–back tuck, and specialty standing tumbling such as a standing full.
• Running tumbling: a round-off back handspring full (or your best round-off back handspring tuck or layout), plus a specialty pass to a full.
• Coed stunts: toss extension or liberty with a pop-off, and a full-up stretch with a full corkscrew down to the feet (or your best toss stunt). Day 2 added a flipping or inverted skill and a sequence of two elite stunts.
• All-girl stunts: full-up extension with a pop-off, and a full-up immediate stretch. Day 2 added a flipping or inverted stunt and an elite sequence.
• Selection: members were chosen on appearance, communication skills, crowd appeal, motion placement and timing, tumbling and partner stunting. Some, but not all, applicants were interviewed.

What Memphis Doesn’t Publish

The official pages don’t list a GPA requirement, scholarships or a video tryout option. Ask the coaches about these.

Coaches and Contact

Jasmine Freeman is the head cheer coach. She cheered on the Memphis coed squad from 2012 to 2015 and was part of the 2013 national championship team. Peyton Cathey is the assistant cheer coach, and Carol Lloyd is the spirit coordinator. The Memphis Athletics staff directory lists Coach Freeman at jtdrnell@memphis.edu. Prospective athletes can also send their details through the program’s Cheer Prospect Contact Form.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are Memphis cheer tryouts? The 2026-27 tryouts were May 7–10, 2026. The 2027 dates hadn’t been posted as of October 1, 2026. Watch the official cheer page.

How much does it cost to try out? In 2026 it was $35 for new applicants and $25 for returning squad members.

Do I need a physical? Yes. In 2026, applicants had to upload a physical from within the last six months, along with proof of insurance.

Do I have to be admitted to Memphis first? Yes. New applicants had to show an acceptance letter or a University ID.

Related Resources

• How to Do a Standing Back Tuck
• All-Girl vs. Coed Cheer
• University of Tennessee Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: University of Memphis Spirit Squads, 2026 Cheer Tryouts, Cheer and Coaches; University of Memphis Athletics, 2023-24 Spirit Squad Tryout Information, “Memphis Spirit Squads Earn Multiple National Championships” (2024) and the Staff Directory. Last checked October 1, 2026.