Cheerleading Tryout Information
Statement of Purpose
The Vanderbilt cheerleading program is a co-ed athletic program supporting all athletics and realms of Vanderbilt University. As a program, it is of the utmost importance to support and foster educational success for each athlete. The program should aid in the making of responsible, mature, and well-rounded adults, physically and mentally. Through the cheerleading program, members will develop leadership skills, communication and teamwork, time management, and the ability to adapt to new and evolving situations, all of which will foster personal growth. As a cheerleader at Vanderbilt University, athletes are expected to enhance and/or create spirit among fans, students, the public, the team, and all people they encounter. Representing the University in an honorable manner is expected at all times; on campus, during games, at practice, while visiting communities, whether locally or while traveling. This should be done by not only performing all cheerleading-related activities (i.e., stunting, tumbling, dancing, and crowd leading) but also graciously partaking in public service and interacting with fans and the public in a professional and welcoming manner.
Opportunities
The opportunities and responsibilities of the Vanderbilt Cheerleading Program are as follows: UCA College Camp, Home and Away football games, Home volleyball games, Home and postseason (both SEC and NCAA) travel for men’s and women’s basketball games, and competing at UCA College Nationals in addition to various campus and community appearances and events throughout the academic Year.
Resources
Resources provided to members of the program are athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, sports psychology, approved class absences for travel.
Tryout Process
- Step 1. Tryout Submission is due Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. CT.
- Step 2. Receive an invitation or further communication regarding the Final Round of Tryouts by Thursday, March 19 at 5 p.m. CT. *Please note that all individuals who submit a first-round submission will receive communication on whether a bid to In Person Tryouts is extended or not. If you do not receive communication, please email Jodi DeFilippi in case an error was made.
- Step 3. Attend Final Tryout
Tryout Submission Eligibility
TBD
Tryout Submission Requirements
The following documents and video must be provided with the tryout submission. Submissions should be sent to Jodi DeFilippi via Google folder. This submission is due by Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. CT . Please share a Google folder with your documents and videos. Please set the Google Folder access to “Anyone with the link has access to view.”
Required Documents:
- Resume or list of activities/work experience/community involvement
- Personal Statement Video – Please see the information below.
- Head Shot or Photo
- Detailed List of Skills – Please see the information below.
- Fight Song Performance Video – Please see the information below
- Skills Video – Please see the information below
- Current Students: Copy of Grades (a screenshot of your unofficial transcript)
- Incoming Students: Copy of admissions letter (or waitlist) to Vanderbilt University
- Waitlisted individuals’ participation in the in-person tryout is contingent upon acceptance.
Personal Statement
The Vanderbilt University Cheerleading program is seeking well-rounded students-athletes and individuals who demonstrate required skills and are committed to:
- Academic and athletic excellence
- Community Service
- Ambassadorship for the University in all aspects
Please discuss in a 1-minute video, using examples, your willingness and ability to hold to the ideals stated above. Please provide any information regarding any extenuating circumstances about which you feel we should be aware.
Skills List
Please provide a detailed list of skills, including but not limited to the following. All standing tumbling, running tumbling, and stunt skills were performed. We ask that you provide as much detail as possible as to where the skill was thrown (ex. Spring floor vs dead floor, practice vs. stunting clinic), who it was thrown with (ex. Competition partner, stunt private coach), if there was a spot (tumbling) and what setting it was thrown in (ex. Practice, college stunt clinic, etc.)
Example list – Skill Details:
- Standing Tumbling: Standing Tuck Standing Full Dead Mat, Practice, Comp, Games
- Spring floor, with a spot from my tumbling coach
- Running Tumbling:ROBHS BT Games and Competition
- Stunt Skills: J-Up Extension pop off, Switch Up
Fight Song Performance Video
The fight song performance video is required of all individuals who wish to try out for the 2026-2027 Vanderbilt University Cheerleading Program.
Additional documents are provided on the website for males to assist in learning the fight song. The fight song should be recorded being performed from the front, and the video should be uploaded into a Google Folder or unpublished YouTube links listed in a Google Doc.
Skills Video
The skills video should include (2) standing skills and (2) running tumbling, as well as any stunt skills. Skills should be new or within the last calendar year. Please note: if you are only able to provide a portion of the skills asked, that is still encouraged! If you can only provide tumbling, please still submit a skills video! The skills video may be uploaded into a Google Folder or unpublished YouTube links listed in a Google Doc.
Final Tryout Invitations
The final Round of Tryout Communication will be sent to individuals via email no later than Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. CT. The final tryout dates are starting 3 – 5 p.m. on April 17, and invite-only on April 18.
A tentative schedule will be released at a later date, with the final schedule being released with tryout invitations.
Final Tryout Eligibility
TBD
Final Tryout Requirements
TBD
Tryout Attire
Females should wear cheerleading shoes, athletic shorts, and a full-length, fitted, t-shirt or tank top (Vanderbilt shirt, if possible). Please note the colors indicated below by grade. Please wear hair and makeup that projects a collegiate image (low pony or half up with a ribbon).
Males should wear athletic shoes, gym shorts, and a t-shirt.
- Incoming Freshman: White Shirt
- Rising Sophomores: Gray Shirt
- Rising Junior: Black Shirt
- Rising Senior: Gold Shirt
Tryout Skills
Females
- Stand Tumbling – required a standing back handspring, recommended standing back handsprings to a Tuck & cartwheel tuck
- Running Tumbling – recommend a round-off back tuck and a back handspring back tuck.
- A Vanderbilt Sideline
- Fight Song
Males
- Standing Tumbling – no experience required, recommended skills are cartwheel and handstand, preferred back handspring and/or back tuck.
- Running Tumbling – no experience required but welcomed, recommended skill is round off, preferred round off back tuck.
- Stunting – Co-ed: Required Skills (Open Practices are a great opportunity to learn these skills)
- A Vanderbilt Sideline
- Fight Song
Tentative Tryout Schedule
TBD
Preseason Training
TBD