Cheer Tryouts

HCU Cheer seeks well-rounded individuals who demonstrate strong character, faith, and spirited game day presence. As highly visible representatives of Houston Christian University, team members are expected to reflect the University’s Christian values and represent HCU with integrity, respect, and excellence at all times. We value athletes who show leadership, confidence, a strong work ethic, openness to new challenges, coachability, positivity, humility, and the ability to engage and energize a crowd. How well candidates work with coaches and teammates—and how they respond to correction—will be an important factor at tryouts.

A full year commitment is required. The cheer season begins with tryouts in April, resumes in July/August for camp and work weeks, and continues through the academic year. Fall sports and HCU events begin in late August, with the season concluding the following April. HCU Cheer supports Husky Athletics at volleyball, soccer, basketball, and football games and participates in pep rallies and special appearances, including community service, alumni, civic, and charitable events throughout the Houston area, serving others and representing Christ through athletics.

Tumbling

We don’t currently have a minimum tumbling requirement.

A clean, consistent and powerful standing back handspring and running back handspring is recommended to make the team. Additional higher level standing and running tumbling will elevate our cheer program’s ability to perform more elite skills at games. You will be asked to perform tumbling on the basketball wood court in addition to a cheer mat/turf field. Some athletes on the current team have additional standing tumbling (standing tuck, standing back handspring), as well as round-off back handspring tucks, layouts, full twists, and other specialty passes including side aerials.

Jumps

We are looking for solid technique for arm and leg placement, good height and power, and clean execution of all jumps including toe touches, pikes, and front hurdlers (both sides). Candidates lacking tumbling skills, are especially encouraged to have excellent jumps.

Stunts

When we are choosing teams, we consider who is easy to work with and can be used in different positions/groups – this shows us that you know proper technique and versatility. We also consider if candidates can easily make corrections. At tryouts, we ask that you stunt with the group (All-Girl/Coed) you marked having the MOST experience on your application, however, may be asked to move around.

Our team performs multi-base and single-base/coed stunting to allow for maximum crowd engagement especially when traveling with smaller squads. Being able to stunt with multiple stunt partners/groups is a necessity. Multi-base stunts include: J-toss extension, full up, round off up, and lib variations all with clean dismounts. Single-base and Coed stunts include: toss/walk in chair, toss hands working up to extension/lib/stretch/cupie.

Attending our clinics are helpful to gain an inside perspective on elite training, tryouts, and what it’s like to be a HCU Cheerleader. Participants will also get an advance on material and skills that we will be looking for that year. See here for College Cheer Recruiting Clinic Registration. It is also a good opportunity to attend one of our games to see HCU Cheer in action, as well as follow us on all of our social media platforms.

Local cheer gyms and college squads are also good resources for private coed and all-girl collegiate stunt lessons.

All participants must be full-time HCU students, an incoming transfer student, or an incoming first year with proof of acceptance to HCU. Current students must be enrolled in 12+ hours to be eligible. Any applicants on the admissions wait list can still tryout and if selected for a roster spot, will have pending membership until full acceptance into the university is offered.

IMPORTANT: The following items are requested along with your online application. You will not be permitted to tryout without the following items submitted:

1. Proof of Grades* (2.5 GPA minimum)/ HCU Acceptance Letter**
2. In good standing with Student Conduct
3. Completed Spirit Tryout Physical Exam Form
4. Signed Medical Consent Form. If you are under 18, this form MUST be signed by a parent or legal guardian to audition.
5. Copy of your Health Insurance Card (front & back)
6. Coach Recommendation Letter
7. Tryout Fee: $40 – No other forms of payment will be accepted.
8. Availability for:
   • July/August – Camp & Work Weeks
     The teams will re-gather prior to the start of school. The focus of this time is to revisit old and learn new skills, but mainly prep for all season game sideline stunts and chants, as well as the pre-game routine. If final changes to team placement and positions are needed, they will be made based on the person’s ability to maintain their performance level as well as their ability to work with their peers and coaches.
   • Practice every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 3PM-5PM
   • Games most Saturdays (Late August through March)

* Those currently enrolled at HCU must include unofficial transcript
** First Year or Transfer Students must be in the process of admission to HCU prior to tryouts. In addition, we ask that you provide your status of admission to the University with a copy of your letter of acceptance or correspondence showing that you are on the waitlist.

Tryouts will be an evaluation process during which cuts will be made throughout each day until up to 20 candidates are selected. Candidates will be evaluated based on their skills, strong work ethic, public speaking, performance quality, and overall ambassadorship.

All portions of tryouts are closed to the public. All candidates must be present at all parts of the tryouts, and no videos will be accepted for the tryouts as all candidates are required to be seen by our judging panel in-person*. The purpose of the tryout is to choose the best all-around representatives for HCU Cheer and Spirit Teams.

Tentative Tryout Breakdown

• Tuesday, March 7th at 11:59pm: Tryout Registration opens
• Tuesday, April 7th at 11:59pm: Tryout Registration closes
• Friday, April 10th: Tryout Material and Details email sent to candidates
• Friday, April 17th: 1st Round Evaluations – Tumbling, Jumps & Game Day Material
  • 5:00pm: Athlete Check-in begins
  • 5:30pm: Welcome, Staff & Judge Introductions, Opening Prayer & Warm-up
  • 6:00pm: 1st round begins
  • 9:00pm: Session Closes for Judges Deliberation
  • 10:00pm: 1st cuts email sent
• Saturday, April 18th: Interview, stunts & team selection
  • 2nd Round Evaluations – Interviews
    • 10:00am – 12:00pm
    • 12:30pm: 2nd cuts email sent
  • Final Round Evaluations – Stunts
    • 1:00pm – 4:00pm
    • 5:00pm: Final cuts/selection email sent
• Sunday, April 19th: 2026-27 Team Welcome Worship, Signing and Uniform Fitting
  • 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • Each athlete is welcome to bring up to 2 guests

*Exceptions for in-person tryouts will be made for prospective athletes that have a conflict on tryout weekend with clinic attendance and tryout immediately following. Email Coach Jenna with your conflict reason to schedule your advanced tryout.

• Females:  Black shorts (fliers must wear spandex) and black well-fitted t-shirt or sports tank (no crop tops or cleavage). No writing/advertisement on clothing other than HCU paraphernalia. Hair all up in a ponytail with a bow (Sides pulled back, no hair around face, no bangs, clean with no stray pieces, must not fall out). Game day makeup. Athletic/Cheer Shoes.
• Males: Clean cut hair style; facial hair groomed. Black Athletic T-shirt and black gym shorts. No writing/advertisement on clothing other than HCU paraphernalia. Athletic/Cheer Shoes.
• Interview (Female & Male): same as tryouts
• Signing Day & Worship Service (Final Team Only): Sunday casual that includes well-fitted slacks, skirts, or dresses paired with collared shirts, blouses, or sweaters, along with casual footwear like tennis shoes or sandals.
  • Each athlete that makes the team is required to attend to be fit for uniforms and is invited to bring up to 2 guests