University of Illinois Athletics

Cheerleading Tryouts - 2025-2026

The Fighting Illini Cheerleading team is made up of both co-ed and all-girl stunt groups. Typically, there are 36 members on the team.

Final tryouts for the 2025-2026 Fighting Illini Cheerleading Team will take place in person on Sunday, April 13. Attendance is mandatory.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application Deadline: March 26, 2025

Finalist Invitations: No later than April 2, 2025

STEP 1: Record a qualifying video wearing navy blue shorts and an orange top. Do not show skills on your qualifying video that you no longer have or can only do on a spring floor. We will expect to see the skills you send via video at the in person tryout. Please try keep the video under 5 minutes.

Women's Video

The video should be in the order demonstrated in the sample qualifying video below:

First half of Loyalty
Sideline shown in the video
Perform three consecutive standing back handsprings
Perform three consecutive standing back tucks
Perform most difficult tumbling pass
Stunts:
- Co-ed
  - Hands extension, liberty, or stretch
  - Send up to four different stunts
- All-Girl (Make sure to clearly indicate who you are in the stunt group)
  - Demonstrate all areas of skills. If you can main base, side base, back and fly, make sure to show that in the video.
  - Send up to four different stunts, showing your highest level of difficulty, flexibility, and variety.
Answer the following interview question (no longer than two minutes): At Illinois Cheerleading, we value a team environment. While everyone has distinct roles, they are equally important to the success of the team. Not knowing what your role might be and that it might be different than the role you have typically held, how would you contribute to the success of the team?

NOTE: Tumbling should be demonstrated on a non-spring floor mat or surface.

Men's Video

Prior cheerleading, stunting and tumbling experience is preferred NOT required. We are looking for strong, athletic guys who are enthusiastic about Fighting Illini sports and willing to learn and commit the necessary time required to be a productive team member.

The video should be in the order outlined below:

Required

First half of Loyalty
Answer the following interview question (no longer than two minutes): At Illinois Cheerleading, we value a team environment. While everyone has distinct roles, they are equally important to the success of the team. Not knowing what your role might be and that it might be different than the role you have typically held, how would you contribute to the success of the team?

Recommended

Tumbling:
- Standing tuck
- Best running tumbling pass
Stunts:
- Chair, hands extension, liberty, or stretch
- Send up to four different stunts

Instructions for submitting the qualifying video:

Electronic submissions are sent a private YouTube link.
Make sure your full name is included in the title of the video as Last Name_First Name.
You will put the YouTube link in your online application

STEP 2: Complete and gather all paperwork for the application ALL PAPERWORK BELOW IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRYOUTS. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE:

Tryout video YouTube link
Personal Photo
Proof of acceptance to or enrollment in the University of Illinois
Signed Code of Conduct and Expectations Agreement from the 2025-2026 University of Illinois Cheerleading Rules & Policies | DOWNLOAD
Incoming athlete pre-participation physical examination within the PAST SIX MONTHS. The time frame of the physical is non-negotiable. Please use the provided form. | DOWNLOAD
Elective/Voluntary Activity Waiver | DOWNLOAD
Copy of sickle cell results. Providing these results is non-negotiable.
Copy of medical insurance card (Front and Back)

NOTE: Forms need a parent/guardian signature if you are a minor.

STEP 3: Apply online by March 26, 2025

2025-26 CHEER SQUAD APPLICATION

New applicants must also supply one letter of recommendation from current or former coach. The letters should outline the applicant's most outstanding athletic and academic achievements (i.e. leadership, sportsmanship, commitment, work ethic, and responsibility). Letters should be submitted via email directly from the recommender to Coach Stephanie Record at record1@illinois.edu.

Final Tryout Details April 13:

Location: HUFF HALL, 1206 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820
MATERIAL AND STUNT CLINIC – Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Review clinic on sideline, fight song, and stunts such as walk-in torch, chair, extension, liberty, & stretch for co-ed and torch, extension, liberty, stretch, full-up & switch-up for all-girl.

Fight song, including the words, should be perfected before coming to tryouts. The first half will be evaluated during the tryout process.

CLINIC AND TRYOUTS – Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

TEAM MEETING - Sunday, April 13, 6:30 p.m.

Tryouts consist of performing the following:

Fight song
Sideline
2 stunts:
- Co-ed
  - Chair, hands extension, liberty, or stretch
  - Stretch with a full cradle
  - Walk-in extension or liberty
    - If you are unable to perform these stunts safely you can perform the most difficult stunt within your ability. These stunts will be judged and potential to improve will be considered.
- All-Girl
  - Extension, liberty, stretch, or arabesque with a cradle or twist cradle dismount
  - An advanced stunt (ex: switch-up, low-high, full-up)
Tumbling
- Standing back handspring
- Standing back tuck
- One tumbling pass
  - If you are unable to perform all of these skills safely you can perform the skills within your ability. These skills will be judged and potential to improve will be considered.

During the sidelines and fight song we are looking for crowd appeal, projection, enthusiasm, and the ability to get others involved.

During clinics and tryouts all candidates will need to know and sing the words to the fight song. The words to Illinois Loyalty can be found HERE.

Tumbling is not taught at tryouts. When performing tumbling for the actual tryout, you cannot have a spot.