Cheer Program Info/Tryouts
General Information On Requirements, Expectations, And Tryouts
The Upper Iowa University Cheerleaders are a co-ed program that represents UIU at all home football games, home men’s and women’s basketball games, community events, and more. The cheerleaders attend or host a home camp during the summer and compete at least 1 to 2 times a year. They also represent the university at other non-athletic functions they are asked to attend such as alumni events, pep rallies, youth cheer clinic and camps, and community public appearances.
Selection/Tryout Process And Requirements
Candidates will be evaluated on tumbling (running and standing), stunting, cheers and fight song (taught at clinics and tryouts), and crowd leading ability/appearance. The coach looks for candidates who are coachable, can be flexible with who they work with, and take corrections in an appropriate manner from both coach and captains. It is important to know that this team may be ran differently than your past/current team and that coach will take this into consideration but must see that you will have a team mindset and willingness to work hard on new skills.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this program, you can contact Coach Bri Lawrence for more information. We love to have those interested come to practices, games, or clinics so we are able to meet you in person!
Eligibility Requirements to Be Selected
-Must be a currently enrolled student at Upper Iowa, with a current semester GPA of 2.0 or above
-For incoming freshman or transfers, you must have applied to UIU or plan to do so after speaking with Coach and you should be accepted into UIU before being selected to join the team. If you have applied but have not yet received an acceptance letter and you are still interested in joining, please contact Coach Bri
-Must maintain a full-time student status in the fall and spring semesters, this is a minimum of 12 hours each semester
-Must be able to present a copy of the front and back of health insurance card as well as a physical prior to any clinics, tryouts (in-person), or practices for the year
Practices will start close to the time of camp, at which time all athletes must be present. Athletes may be required to move in early prior to starting school as well for these practices (typically 1 to 2 weeks prior).
Clinics and Tryouts
All information about clinics and tryouts will be posted on our social media (uiucheeranddance on Instagram, UIU Cheerleading on Facebook) as well as sent to anyone who has expressed interest in the team during that year. During the clinic and tryouts, you will meet the current team, work on tumbling and jumps, learn a few cheers and our fight song, as well as stunt with the team! It is up to the Coach’s discretion if clinics will be used as a tryout, if this is the case an offer may be made to the interested athletes following the clinic.
Prior experience with tumbling and stunting is a huge plus and may play a determining factor in things such as mat placement and scholarships, but everyone interested should speak with Coach Bri prior and is encouraged to come to see if this team would be a match for them!
Before any clinic or tryout please reach out to Coach Bri at lawrenceb631@uiu.edu or on our social media to receive forms that must be filled out prior to participating!
Lodging
Candidates are expected to be responsible for their own lodging during clinics or tryouts. The following hotels are located closely to Upper Iowa:
Boarders Inn and Suites, Fayette, IA
515 W Water St
Fayette, IA 52142
Cornerstone Inn and Suites, Oelwein, IA
421 Rock Island Rd
Oelwein, IA 50662
Best Rest Inn and Suites, West Union, IA
1108 Highway 150 N
West Union, IA 52175
Tumbling
Tumbling is not a must, but it is highly encouraged that those wanting to join work on having at least a back handspring. No matter what level you are at for tumbling it is a must that you work hard at improving the skills you have. As stated above any additional tumbling
may play a factor in the determination of a scholarship offer (not guaranteed).
Stunting
Similar to tumbling, there are no set requirements for stunting. However, you are expected to work hard at improving your skills. Skills that would be great to see at a clinic or tryout include but are not limited to switch ups, inversions, back handspring or cartwheel ups, rewinds, full ups, back tuck baskets, familiarity with pyramids, etc. Looking for cheerleaders in every position as well as those who have experience in more than one position!
Virtual tryouts/consideration
Please contact Coach Bri about doing a virtual tryout if this is something that interests you!
In this video we are looking for jumps, tumbling skills, cheers (to be sent to you), and stunting showing any skills you think may highlight your talents and set you apart from others.
Along with this, it is expected that you will send Coach your information. Please also tell us more about yourself both in and outside of cheer so we can get to know you better and determine if you may be a good fit for our team!
Dance Program Info/Tryouts
General Information On Requirements, Expectations, And Tryouts
The Upper Iowa University Dance Team represents UIU at all home football games (sidelines and halftimes), home men’s and women’s basketball games (sidelines and halftimes), community events, and more. The dancers attend or host a home camp during the summer, and compete at least 1 to 2 times a year. They also represent the university at other non-athletic functions they are asked to attend such as alumni events, pep rallies, youth cheer clinic and camps, and community public appearances.
Selection/Tryout Process And Requirements
Candidates will be evaluated on technique, ability to learn routines/take corrections, cheers and fight song (taught at clinics and tryouts), and crowd leading ability/appearance. The coach looks for candidates who are coachable and takes corrections in an appropriate manner from both coach and teammates. It is important to know that this team may be run differently than your past/current team and that the coach will take this into consideration but must see that you will have a team mindset and willingness to work hard.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this program, you can contact Coach Bri Lawrence for more information. We love to have those interested come to practices, games, or clinics so we are able to meet you in person!
Eligibility Requirements To Be Selected
-Must be a currently enrolled student at Upper Iowa, with a current semester GPA of 2.0 or above
-For incoming freshman or transfers, you must have applied to UIU or plan to do so after speaking with Coach and you should be accepted into UIU before being selected to join the team. If you have applied but have not yet received an acceptance letter and you are still interested in joining, please contact Coach Bri
-Must maintain a full-time student status in the fall and spring semesters, this is a minimum of 12 hours each semester
-Must be able to present a copy of the front and back of health insurance card as well as a physical prior to any clinics, tryouts (in-person), or practices for the year
Practices will start close to the time of camp, at which time all athletes must be present. Athletes may be required to move in early prior to starting school as well for these practices (typically 1 to 2 weeks prior).
Clinics and Tryouts
All information about clinics and tryouts will be posted on our social media (uiucheeranddance on Instagram, UIU Cheerleading on Facebook) as well as sent to anyone who has expressed interest in the team during that year. During the clinic and tryouts, you will meet the current team, work on technique, learn part of a dance, and learn a few cheers and our fight song! It is up to the Coach’s discretion if clinics will be used as a tryout, if this is the case an offer may be made to the interested athletes following the clinic.
Good technique, knowing tricks, and a positive attitude is a huge plus and may play a determining factor in things such as placement in routines and scholarships, but everyone interested should speak with Coach Bri prior and is encouraged to come to see if this team would be a match for them!
Before any clinic or tryout please reach out to Coach Bri at lawrenceb631@uiu.edu or on our social media to receive forms that must be filled out prior to participating!
Lodging
Candidates are expected to be responsible for their own lodging during clinics or tryouts. The following hotels are located closely to Upper Iowa:
Boarders Inn and Suites, Fayette, IA
515 W Water St
Fayette, IA 52142
Cornerstone Inn and Suites, Oelwein, IA
421 Rock Island Rd
Oelwein, IA 50662
Best Rest Inn and Suites, West Union, IA
1108 Highway 150 N
West Union, IA 52175
Technique and Requirements
At this time there are no specific requirements in order to make the dance team. It is highly encouraged that you have prior dance experience and have an interest in different styles of dance such as jazz (or lyrical/contemporary), pom, and hip hop. Another major plus is to have advanced jumps, turns, or tricks, as it
may become a factor
in a possible scholarship opportunity.
Skills that are highly looked for are at least a double or triple pirouette, turns in second, illusions, calypso, grand jete, leap in second, firebirds, head springs, kip ups, etc.
Virtual tryouts/consideration
Please contact Coach Bri about doing a virtual tryout if this is something that interests you!
In this video we are looking for jumps, turns, cheers (to be sent to you), and tricks showing any skills you think may highlight your talents and set you apart from others.
Along with this, it is expected that you will send Coach your information. Please also tell us more about yourself both in and outside of cheer so we can get to know you better and determine if you may be a good fit for our team!
