Missouri Southern State University Cheerleading 2019-2020 Tryout Packet Dear Tryout Candidate, First of all, thank you for your interest in the Cheer Squad at Missouri Southern State University. We are very excited to have you continue a long tradition of individuals who have chosen Missouri Southern State University to further their education, and we are even more excited that you have considered continuing the tradition with the Missouri Southern State Cheer Squad. The Cheer Squad serves as one of the most visible student groups on campus, and we take pride in the role of University Ambassadors, not only at athletic events, but also to the state of Missouri, and the community of Joplin. The upcoming school year is going to be a year in which we build on our foundation of high standards of excellence and leadership. In the 2019-2020 year, we will continue to excel, not only as cheerleaders, but as visible, vital members of the Missouri Southern State University community and the community of Joplin. We will be competing at UCA Nationals in January of 2020 and need strong student athletes to make this dream come true. Tryouts will be held over the course of the weekend of April 5-7, at which time we will be selecting the squad for the 2019-2020 school year. Registering for tryouts will be online this year, which should streamline and simplify this process. Please follow the link below to register for tryouts. All of the items and information needed to tryout are included in this packet. Preceding the weekend of tryouts, we will have four open gyms scheduled throughout January and February. Information regarding open gyms can be found on our social media pages or on the Missouri Southern Cheerleading website. (Open gyms are not required to tryout for the squad.) If you have any questions regarding any of the information contained on the following pages or have questions regarding anything related to Missouri Southern State University, please don t hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Coach Aubrey Endicott endicott-a@mssu.edu Www.mosolioncheer.com
Tryout Basics When & Where Doors will open 30 minutes prior to each clinic. This time before clinics will be used for checking in, confirming all necessary paperwork has been completed, and stretching. The Tryout Clinics are specifically designed to help with All-Girl Stunting, Standing Tumbling, Running Tumbling, the Game Day Chant, Game Day Cheer, and the Missouri Southern State Fight Song. Participants also benefit by personally meeting with the coach and learning first-hand information about the tryout process. Each clinic will conclude with an informational session, which will be designed to cover all information regarding tryouts, the benefits of being on the squad, what to expect if you make the squad, and emphasizing the standard of conduct for the Missouri Southern State Cheer Squad. Clinic & Tryout Dates and Location: Clinic #1: Friday, April 5th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Clinic #2: Saturday, April 6th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m. Tryouts: Sunday, April 7th, 9:00 a.m. Required 1st team practice and uniform fittings: Sunday, April 7th, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location: Young Gymnasium on MSSU s campus Tryout Location & Parking Tryout Clinics and Tryouts will be held in the Young Gymnasium which is located on the campus of MSSU. Limited parking is available in the circle drive in front of Young and additional parking is located behind Young. A map of the campus can be found using this link: http://mssu.edu/map.php. What to wear to clinics Tryout participants may not wear apparel that identifies them with a particular squad or school. No high school or all-star squad apparel or competition shirts will be allowed. Missouri Southern apparel or apparel that is green, gold, & white is recommended. No jewelry. No earrings, tongue rings, nose rings, necklaces, belly button rings, rubber wristbands, gauges no jewelry of any kind is permitted at tryouts, tryout clinics, or any practice, game, appearance, or performance throughout the year. These standards are in accordance with the AACCA College Safety Rules, and following these rules at all times is mandatory. Tattoos are permitted for clinics, however, all tattoos must be covered with makeup or an athletic sleeve for all tryouts, games, appearances, and performances throughout the year. Ladies, appropriate clinic apparel would be spanx and a t-shirt or sports bra with cheer shoes, appropriate game day makeup, and hair should be pulled back neatly (no flyaways) out of your face into a ponytail or half up/half down. What to wear to tryouts Tryout participants may not wear apparel that identifies them with a particular squad or school. No high school or all-star squad apparel or competition shirts will be allowed. No jewelry. No earrings, tongue rings, nose rings, necklaces, belly button rings, rubber wristbands, gauges no jewelry of any kind is permitted at tryouts, tryout clinics, or any practice, appearance, or performance throughout the year. These standards are in accordance
with the AACCA College Safety Rules, and following these rules at all times is mandatory. Tattoos are permitted for clinics, however, all tattoos must be covered with makeup or an athletic sleeve for all tryouts, appearances, and performances throughout the year. Required tryout apparel: green, gold, white, or black sports bra (t-shirts are not allowed the day of tryouts); green, gold, or black spanx; hair should be half up with a green, gold, or white ribbon; white socks, cheer shoes, makeup & hair should project a collegiate image that is game day ready (no flyways). Tryout Requirements Academic Requirements Incoming Freshmen/Transfer Students - Proof of acceptance to MSSU for Fall 2018 Upon making the squad, all members must: maintain an enrollment of 12 credit hours per semester have a cumulative and semester GPA of at least 2.0 pass at least 9 classes each semester Medical Requirements Insurance Form Picture of your Insurance card Insurance Waiver Copy of your physical completed within the last 12 months; must be signed and dated by a doctor Candidates that have cheered at MSSU previously are not required to turn in a physical as you will already have one on file with the school. Athletic Requirements - Skills marked with an asterisk are required. All other skills listed are preferred, not required. This listing is provided to give you an idea of what we are looking for in an ideal tryout candidate. Being able to perform all of the skills listed below does not guarantee placement on the squad. Physicality - All candidates must be able to run a mile in under 10 minutes. Tumbling - All tumbling will be performed on a cheer floor (non-spring) Standing back handspring* Standing tuck Running round off back handspring series ending in a tuck Stunting - You may tryout in more than one position. In fact, the more positions you can stunt in, the more versatile and desired you will be on the squad. Quick toss to extension with a pop off* One legged stunt of your choice (lib, heel stretch, arabesque, scale, etc.) with a full down.* Optional stunt of your choice with no more than 3 skills strung together, including dismount (EX: Full Up to Full Around to Full Down) Sideline/Crowd Leading/Collegiate Image
Cheer/Chant/Game Day Simulation - this will be taught at both clinics MSSU Fight Song - this will be taught at both clinics Interview - a personal interview with the coach(s) will also be part of the tryout process Additional Requirements $30 non-refundable tryout fee Completed MSSU Cheerleading Application Completed MSSU Tryout Form - There are two of these forms, one for currently enrolled MSSU students and one for prospective students; make sure you fill out the correct one. MSSU Cheerleading Constitution Contract signed & dated **If selected to be a member of the 2019 Cheer Squad, you are required to be at uniform fittings immediately following the conclusion of tryouts and posting of the 2019-2020 squad. Again, this fitting is mandatory. If you are trying out by way of video, additional instructions will be given to you, should you happen to make the squad, on how to complete your fitting. ** Summer Obligations All individuals making the squad must return to campus a couple of times over the summer. Attendance is mandatory and will lay the foundation for a successful year as we prepare for our first trip to UCA Nationals. The required dates are as follows: Work Weekend 1: June 6-9; specific times will TBA, but expect to be here all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and most of Sunday. UCA Home Camp: July 9-12; again, expect 4 full days Work Weekend 2: August 2-4; again, expect 3 full days On campus housing will be available for those who need it during summer practices. Please let Coach Endicott know by May 1st if you will need housing on campus or if you will be making other arrangements (ex: hotel, teammate, driving back and forth, etc.). In-Season Obligations As an MSSU cheerleader, you will be very busy during the school year! This will require organizational skills on your part to attend all practices, games, campus events, and community outreach events, in addition to attending your classes and keeping up with your homework and grades. After your school work, cheer is your priority, not your job, not your boyfriend, not your sorority, but cheer. I understand that most of you have to work to pay for bills during college and that is understandable, however that job schedule must be worked around cheer, not the other way around. The game schedule is given during the summer and all other events are given to the squad a minimum two weeks in advance; it is your job to clear your schedule for cheer. MSSU Cheerleading Obligations: Cheering at all home football games & any postseason games Cheering at all home basketball games & any postseason games Attending 2 strength & conditioning sessions per week (times TBA) Attending 3 practices per week (times TBA) Attend 1 tumbling class per week (times TBA - this year it was on Wednesday from 5-6 p.m., you can expect something similar for next season) Nationals choreography weekend sometime in the fall
Attending numerous campus & community events Abiding by all rules & regulations set forth and agreed to in the MSSU Cheerleading Constitution Financial Obligations Summer Camp - $200 Various team undergarments (Spanx, sports bras, socks, etc.) - $200 Team shoes - $90 Fundraisers will be planned immediately after tryouts to offset these initial costs associated with cheering. Any items checked out to you by the school (i.e. uniforms, warm ups, bags, etc.) must be turned into the school in the condition in which they were given to you. Any damages to items will be the responsibility of the cheerleader, except for normal wear and tear. UCA Nationals in January will be an additional expense. This expense will be determined at a later time based on available UCA, MSSU, and personal financial resources. Fundraisers will be held to offset the cost of this and everyone is required to participate in these fundraisers. Scholarship Information Scholarships will be awarded based on a loyalty program. For every year spent on the squad, your scholarship will be increased by $250/semester. 1st year on the squad = $250/semester 2nd year on the squad = $500/semester 3rd year on the squad = $750/semester 4th year & beyond on the squad = $1000/semester
Video Tryout Requirements Actual attendance by candidates at the clinics & tryout session is highly recommended; however, persons who cannot attend the tryout session may submit DVD or mp4 video for consideration. All videos must be received by April 1, 2019. Please take extra precautions in mailing to avoid damage DVDs. DVDs will not be returned. If you need a video tryout, please email Coach Endicott with a short explanation as to why you need a video tryout. Coach Endicott will then email you the videos of the required tryout material. Video entries are judged more critically because participants are not in attendance. These tapes should show your best!! Edit, redo parts, whatever you need to do to show your best. Please follow the format outlined below and submit a completed tryout packet. Format Please limit your tape to NO LONGER than 15 minutes. 1. General Information: a. Name b. Hometown c. Cheerleading experience 2. Personal Interview, please answer the following questions: a. Why do you want to be a Missouri Southern State Cheerleader? b. What does commitment to a team mean to you? c. Cheering involves getting in front of a crowd and performing dozens of times each season. What do you personally do to make sure you give your best performance each time knowing that someone could be seeing the squad perform for the first time? 3. Tumbling: a. Standing Tumbling i. Back handspring (required) ii. Back tuck iii. Any other standing skill you may have b. Running Tumbling i. Your most elite running tumbling pass 4. Tryout Material: a. Perform the required tryout chant, cheer, and MSSU Fight Song. These will be available beginning March 1st by request through email to Coach Endicott at endicott-a@mssu.edu, where you will state why you need a video tryout. 5. Stunts a. All Girl Stunting Requirements (You may stunt in multiple positions if you wish, we want to see all of the skills you possess!): i. Quick Toss to Lib to Pop Off ii. A secondary one-legged stunt chosen from the following: arabesque, scale, scorpion, bow & arrow; you may get into this stunt any way you choose (EX: quick toss, full up, etc.) iii. Optional stunt of your choice with no more than 3 skills strung together, including dismount (EX: Full Up to Full Around to Full Down) b. Because I will have the advantage of viewing the stunting skills in multiple stunts of those who attend tryout weekend, please add a section showing your stunting ability performing any stunt(s) you choose. You may include multiple positions that you can
stunt in (i.e. backspot and base, base & flyer). What to wear Please wear spanx, a sports bra, and shoes. You will also be judged on your overall appearance so your hair and makeup should project a game ready image. Those trying out by video will also need to complete the Tryout Registration Packet online through the following link: You will also need to complete the paperwork emailed to you upon registration and mail them to the address listed below. ALL DVD S or mp4 s MUST BE RECEIVED BY April 1, 2018 Mail DVD s and paperwork to: Aubrey Endicott Cheer Coach: Tryout Video 3950 E. Newman Rd. Joplin, MO 64801 Email: endicott-a@mssu.edu