UTEP Cheerleading Tryouts Spring 2014 The University of Texas at El Paso is looking for athletic men and women to audition for the cheerleading squad. New members will have an opportunity to cheer for football, volleyball, and basketball, travel to numerous away games, make several public appearances, and compete for spots on our national competition squad. We will continue to consider girls for our POM Line. Those selected as members of the Pom Line are a part of the UTEP Cheer Squad. The Pom Line members are similar to the all-girl cheerleading squads that many other universities have, but are focused on leading cheers and chants, dancing, and must have advanced tumbling including a standing and running back tuck. Eligibility Requirements: - Incoming Freshmen must have already applied to UTEP. - Good Academic Standing (2.0 GPA). - Undergraduates must be taking at least nine semester hours. - Graduate students must be taking at least six semester hours. - Current Medical Insurance. (Please bring a copy to the first practice. If you are not currently insured, you must sign the Waiver Letter for Uninsured Athletes.) Pre-Tryout Practice Schedule: (To be held in Holliday Hall.) April 22 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Open Gym) April 29* 5:00-7:00 p.m. May 1* 5:00-7:00 p.m. May 2* 5:00-7:00 p.m. *These practices are mandatory (unless you are traveling in), but it is to your advantage to be at all four. Tryouts: May 3 rd 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium If you have any questions contact: David Vasquez Coach (915-747-5046 or at vasdavid@utep.edu) Important-Depending on the turnout, there may be a First Cut on May 1 st. Only those coming in from out-of-town are exempt from this. Paydirt Pete Tryouts Auditions will also be held for UTEP's mascot Paydirt Pete. The same requirements listed above must be met. Those wishing to
tryout for Paydirt should prepare a two-minute skit with or without music. Tryouts will also be on May 3 rd. Mascot candidates have a mandatory orientation and interview session on Wednesday, April 30 th from 5 to 7pm. (Location to be announced -call or email for location.) There is an optional practice on April 1 st from 5 to 7pm at Holliday Hall. Please contact Coach David Vasquez at 747-5046 or at vasdavid@utep.edu if you are interested in trying out. Cheer Tryout Rules and Regulations All participants should have medical insurance before attending pre-tryout practices or have signed and returned the Waiver Letter for Uninsured Athletes. Please wear workout clothes and tennis shoes (not running shoes) to practice. Males should be able to lift at least 135 pounds above their heads. The coach must clear girls weighing over 120lbs. before they can stunt. Those weighing over 120lbs. are restricted to liberties. Those over 125lbs. are restricted to extensions. Those weighing over 130lbs. are restricted to chairs. No one over 135 can stunt. Remember only those cleared by the coach can stunt if they are over 120lbs. (This will be based on muscularity and body fat composition. This is done for the safety of the guys doing the lifting, as well as the girl being lifted.) Females MUST be able to perform, at minimum, a standing back handspring. Only those with a standing back or running back tuck will be eligible for varsity coed and/or pom designation. A standing backhandspring is the minimum tumbling skill that will be considered for an alternate or JV coed position. New girls will be divided according to weight and will be assigned to an experienced guy to stunt with. New guys will be divided according to strength and experience and will be assigned an experienced girl to stunt with. Required stunts: 1. Toss-hands liberty, bump down 2. Toss stunt for guys and a toss-hands heel stretch or toss stretch for girls(girls must perform a full twisting cradle). 3. Optional stunt or stunt combination. First stunt should be tossed to the extended position. Any dismount.
Tryouts will include: 1. Spirit Entrance 2. Appearance/Physique 3. Toe Touch Jump (girls double) 4. Tumbling (Standing and Running) 5. Sideline Cheers (chants) Score value doubled for Pom Line 6. Fight Song Score value doubled for Pom Line (Pom Line s incorporation must be tumbling; Coed s would be stunting.) 7. Dance (Girls Only) Score value doubled for Pom Line 8. Stunts as listed above. (This does not apply to Pom girls.) 9. Possible Interview Tryouts and clinics will be closed to the public. A panel of qualified judges will select finalists. Everyone is a finalist until grades and transcripts are checked at the end of the spring semester. (You must have a 2.0 GPA to participate.) Finalists will be notified by email and posted on the website (http://ica.utep.edu/cheer) after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7 th. There will be a mandatory meeting for all finalists soon after (time and place to be announced). Please keep in mind that cheering at UTEP is a full-time commitment. In addition to games, travel, and public appearances, squad members practice T & Th evenings from 4:30 to 7:30 during the school year and in the summer. Members will also attend mandatory Strength and Conditioning twice a week during the summer, fall and spring. Next year s squad will go through rigorous and extensive conditioning in order to be ready for summer camp, games, and competition. In addition, freshmen and upper classmen below a 2.5 gpa will have four mandatory study hours to fulfill each week. Practice, Cheerleading, and your academics MUST have priority over work schedules and any other extracurricular activity! Make sure you are willing to make the commitment necessary. Some camp clothes and tennis shoes will have to be purchased by the participants. All participants will receive a complete physical examination arranged by the athletic training staff prior to our first practice. Please bring the next four pages (or 5 if uninsured) completed to the tryout clinics:
UTEP Cheerleader/POM/Mascot Application Check one: Cheer Pom Either Cheer or Pom Mascot Full Name (As it appears on ID) Address: UTEP ID # Home Phone: Email: Age: Cell Phone: Birth date: Circle one: Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate Student High School Senior Health/Hospitalization Insurance: Insurance Company Name Person Insurance is Under Policy Number School Attending Current GPA Current Employment Hours Per Week Please Indicate Any Past or Current Physical Limitations and/or Health Problems: Please List Previous Experience in Cheerleading, Dance, Sports, or Other Extra-Curricular Activities: Please List Cheerleading and Gymnastics Skills (It is not a prerequisite to have been a cheerleader or a gymnast): *Please attach a photo of yourself. (Can be a color copy you will not get it back.)
Tryout Agreement Applicant's Name UTEP ID# I hereby certify that I meet the qualifications. I expect to remain at the University of Texas at El Paso for BOTH fall and spring semesters of the 2014-2015 academic year (only students graduating in December 2014 are exempt from this). I grant permission for the Cheerleading Coaches to verify hours, GPA, and disciplinary status in the appropriate offices of UTEP. I understand that the University urges all participants to act in such a manner as to protect their safety and the safety of others. I understand that all persons who participate in this activity do so at their own risk. I fully understand my responsibility as a participant in the tryouts to act in a reasonable and prudent manner. I further understand that any University faculty or staff in attendance will be acting in an advisory capacity only. For and in consideration of my participation in this activity, I hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the State of Texas, the University of Texas System, the University of Texas at El Paso, and their officers, agents and employees from any damages, claims, responsibility, or other expense for personal injury or property damage caused by me or suffered by me because of my participation is this activity. Applicant's Signature Parent's Signature If Under 18 Date Date
The University of Texas at El Paso Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement 1. In consideration for receiving permission to participate in the UTEP Cheerleading Program, I hereby RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE David Vasquez, Bianca Marquez, the University of Texas at El Paso, the Board of Regents of the State of Texas, the State of Texas, their officers, servants, agents, or employees (hereinafter referred to as releasees) from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or to any property belonging to me. WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES, or otherwise, while participating in such activity, or while in, on or upon the premises where the activity is being conducted. 2. I am fully aware of risks and hazards connected with cheerleading and I hereby elect to voluntarily participate (or allow my son/daughter to participate) in said activity, and to enter the practice premises and engage in such activity knowing that the activity may be hazardous to me and my property. I VOLUNTARILY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RISKS OF LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, that may be sustained by me, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of being engaged in such an activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise. 3. I further hereby AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS the RELEASEES from any loss, liability, damage or costs, including court costs and attorneys' fees, that they may incur due to my participation in said activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise. IN SIGNING THIS RELEASE, I ACKNOWLEDGE AND REPRESENT THAT I have read the foregoing Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement, understand it and sign it voluntarily as my own free act and deed; no oral representations, statements, or inducements, apart from the foregoing written agreement, have been made; and I execute this Release or full, adequate and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by same. Print Participant's Name Print Parent's/Guardian's Name Participant's Signature/Date Parent's/Guardian's Signature/Date (if under 18) Emergency Contact and Phone Number/s: