LEARN MORE ABOUT PURDUE CHEER
Purdue Cheer offers a one-of-a-kind Division 1 cheer experience to co-ed and all-girl athletes. We are one of the few programs at this level to provide competitive and sideline experience to both co-ed and all-girl athletes. Under Purdue Athletics, Purdue Cheerleaders are supported as student-athletes. Our program is dedicated to creating experiences and opportunities for all team members to excel academically and athletically. We are looking for athletes that are accountable, consistent, eager to learn, competitive, invested in our university, and can contribute to a positive team environment!

HOW TO GET RECRUITED?
All current HS junior and seniors interested in a position on our squads must complete our recruitment form and be evaluated in-person on campus in the spring of your junior year or fall of your HS senior year. Our summer and fall clinics are a great opportunity to showcase your skills and receive an offer to join our program. All recruits are encouraged to apply early decision November 1st. Verbal offers will go out throughout the fall semester and athletes will sign onto the team in the spring (once they receive their university acceptance letter).
Transfer students are encouraged to follow the same timeline. We will continue to offer roster spots in the spring until we fill both teams. A traditional tryout process will only be hosted if there is a need to fill any remaining positions before the close of the spring semester.

OUR TEAMS
Co-ed is a traditional coed team composed of female flyers and male stunters. All female members on this team will fly and all male members are stunters. There are no “tumbler only” positions in our program. The co-ed roster on average is 20-30 athletes, 10-15 females and 10-15 males. The minimum tumbling requirement is a standing tuck. You will be asked to perform multiple in a row at tryouts and there is a standing tuck in the fight song. The minimum stunt requirement is a toss extension with a clean pop off. Additional tumbling and stunting skills are highly preferred. Males are encouraged to meet the tumbling requirement, elite stunters can be considered without tumbling. No exceptions on tumbling for females.
All-girl is all females and team members are strategically picked to build group stunts. Each team member has a role as a flyer, main base, side base, or backspot. There are no “tumbler only” positions in our program. The all-girl roster on average is 28-36 athletes: 7-9 stunt groups. The minimum tumbling requirement is a standing tuck and running full. You will be asked to perform multiple standing tucks in a row at tryouts as well as a standing tuck in the fight song. Running fulls will be performed back to front of the mat. The minimum stunt requirement is a full up immediate lib with a clean pop off. Additional tumbling and stunting skills are highly preferred.
 
TEAM BENEFITS
Purdue Cheer receives great support and recognition from Purdue Athletics.

• Recognized as a varsity athlete by the John Purdue Club and the Varsity P Club.
• Earn an athletic varsity letter jacket after your first year on the squad.
• Priority registration for classes.
• Access to our student-athlete academic center and free tutoring.
• Team academic advisor, to support academic success and scheduling.
• Team strength and conditioning coach, team workouts two times a week.
• Team Athletic Trainer.
• Access to team physician, nutritionist, and psychologist.
• Team equipment manager, to organize all team gear and provide laundry service for post-game and practices.
• Team Practices on a full 9-panel floor, we practice 3 times a week.
• If you have a car on campus, receive a student-athlete parking pass.
• Be seen nationally on the Big Ten Network and many other nationally televised games.
• Cheer team lounge as well as male and female cheer locker rooms.
• NO fundraising - the Purdue athletic department covers all team gear, travel, and meals.
• Attend UCA College Spirit Camp. Traditionally we attend a resort camp at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin along with other Big Ten cheer teams.
• Compete at UCA College Nationals in Orlando, FL. We have consistently finished in the top 5 since 2015, bringing home the Small Coed Championship in 2018!
• Meals provided during halftime of all football games and beverages during the halftime of all volleyball and basketball games. As well as per diem for all meals on all trips.
• Second semester stipends available to squad members.
• Frequent travel opportunities to away football games, bowl games, Big Ten and NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

 

AS A MEMBER OF THE PROGRAM
Purdue Cheerleaders are committed to all components of the program. We are looking for members that are dedicated and invested in developing as university ambassadors, spirit raisers for Purdue Sports, and competitive in competition at our annual championship.
Purdue Cheerleaders participate in multiple campus and community events throughout the season and cheer all home football, volleyball, and men and women’s basketball games. There are opportunities for selected members to travel to away games, bowl games, and post-season tournaments. The program also competes at UCA College Nationals in Orlando, FL.
The cheer season is a full year commitment. We typically host tryouts in April/May. Following tryouts there are requirements over the summer and mandatory practices before the team reports for the fall semester. Summer requirements include weekly workouts and biweekly skill checks as well as a June practice weekend and UCA College Spirit Camp in late July/early August. Members are not required to be on campus all summer but to report back for practices. All Summer dates and commitments will be communicated at tryouts upon making the team.
During the semester, we practice three times a week and have team workouts with the strength and conditioning staff two times a week. All cheerleaders should plan to have limited weekends, winter/spring breaks, and holiday breaks as games, tournaments, and nationals training often occur during those times. The cheer season concludes in the Spring Semester with the close of basketball season in April. Members are evaluated at the end of every year to secure their position on the team for the next season.