The University of Oklahoma’s Spirit Program includes Coed Cheer, All-Girl Cheer, Pom, the mascots Boomer and Sooner, RUF/NEKs, and the Sooner Schooner, competing in the SEC (Oklahoma moved from the Big 12 to the SEC in July 2024 — if you’ve seen “Big 12” attached to OU cheer anywhere, that’s outdated).
Official Sources — Start Here
- OU Cheer information page
- OU Spirit Squads FAQ
- 2025-26 Cheer Roster
- Official tryout information PDF
- Contact: Phil O’Neill, spirit@ou.edu
Note: ousooners.com is a parked/for-sale domain, not an official OU resource — don’t confuse it with soonersports.com.
Key Facts to Know
- Everyone re-tries out every year, including current squad members — there’s no automatic renewal based on prior membership.
- OU runs separate Coed and All-Girl cheer tracks under the same Spirit Program.
- For exact current-cycle GPA thresholds, physical-exam timing, and skill minimums, use the official tryout PDF linked above — these details change year to year and weren’t independently confirmable beyond what that document states, so we’re not restating unsourced numbers here.
Skills to Prepare
General preparation that applies across most Division I programs, useful regardless of exact current-year specifics:
- Tumbling: work toward a clean back handspring and beyond if you’re aiming for advanced positions.
- Jumps: focus on jump height, form, and landing control.
- Stunting: review the flyer technique guide and base technique guide depending on your role.
- Conditioning: build toward tryout readiness with home conditioning workouts and a simple warm-up routine.
Gear
See our cheerleading shoes guide and Nfinity vs. Kaepa comparison if you need to prepare footwear ahead of tryouts.
Related Resources
- Cheerleading for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
- Cheerleading Tryout Tips: How to Stand Out
- Cheerleading Glossary
- $500 Cheerleading Scholarship (our site’s own offering, not affiliated with OU)
- SEC Cheer Tryout Guides — see how OU compares to other current SEC programs
- Other guides: Oklahoma State, Texas, Baylor, TCU
Frequently Asked Questions
What conference is OU cheer in? The SEC — Oklahoma moved from the Big 12 in July 2024.
Do returning squad members automatically keep their spot? No — everyone, including current members, tries out again each year.
Who do I contact about OU cheer tryouts? Phil O’Neill, spirit@ou.edu, per OU’s official Spirit Program page.
Where’s the official tryout packet? Here — use it for exact current-cycle GPA, physical, and skill requirements rather than a generic third-party number.
Is OU cheer coed, all-girl, or both? Both — OU runs separate Coed and All-Girl cheer tracks within the same Spirit Program, alongside Pom, mascots, and RUF/NEKs.
Sources: OU Cheer, OU Spirit Squads FAQ, and the official 2025 tryout information PDF (all directly confirmed live). Removed: an unsourced “1953 NCA partnership” claim from the prior version that could not be verified. Last checked 2026-09-21.
