2013-14 Pre-Tryout Clinic Dates (Optional)
To prepare for 2013-14 Cheerleading tryouts, LSU offers non-mandatory clinics. By attending one or more of these clinics, you will learn exactly what to expect when trying out for LSU Cheerleading. It's also open to any high schooler interested in trying out for a college cheerleading squad in the future.
Pre-Audition Clinics Dates:
Clinic 1: Feb. 17, 2013 (1 -5 p.m. at Pete Maravich Assembly Center)
Clinic 2: March 2, 2013 (1 -5 p.m. at Indoor Football Practice Facility)
Clinic 3: March 23, 2013 (1 -5 p.m. at Pete Maravich Assembly Center)
Cost: $50 pre-register/$60 walk-ups); $125 for all three clinics (pre-register only)
Registration Form: Click here (.pdf)
These clinics will be run by the LSU Cheerleading coaching staff. The material presented will help prepare for tryouts. Participation is suggested but not required. High school freshman and above are allowed to attend. Curriculum will include Sidelines, Fight Song and Coed Stunts.
The final clinic will include a mock tryout. For more information, please email pzernott@lsu.edu. The IFF is the Indoor Football Facility located on Skip Bertman Dr. Park in Lot K and walk across to the IFF. The PMAC is the basketball arena, enter the back side of the PMAC, park in the field house parking lot, enter by the Shaquille O'Neal statue. The Field House is located next to the track and PMAC.
2013-14 Cheerleading Tryouts (Mandatory)
Friday (4/12): 6-9 p.m. PMAC - Women’s Basketball practice gym. Park in Field House Lot.
Sign in and stretch. Meet and discuss the weekend.
Talk about what is expected in each member
Females cut based on standing back tuck & handspring tuck. Review and clean fight song and sidelines. (Material was taught at final clinic and is posted on website)
Males show standing tumbling, learn band cheer, sidelines and Male Cheerleading 101.
Saturday (4/13), 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. PMAC - Women’s Basketball practice gym. Park in Field House Lot.
8 a.m. - Females report for sign in and tryouts
9 a.m. - Males report for sign in and tryouts
12 - 2 p.m. - Break for lunch. Cut posted. Those making cut invited to participate in partner stunts
2-5 p.m. - Partner Stunts
5-'til - Interviews (Sign up in 10 minute intervals)
Sunday (4/14): 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PMAC - Women’s Basketball practice gym. Park in Field House Lot
9 a.m. - Noon - Final Evaluations
2 p.m. - Final team posted and team meeting
Female attire: Fitted shorts and fitted sleeveless waist length sports top. LSU colors or black, grey or white. Hair half up with a bow towards the back (sides pulled back: no pony tails). Game day makeup .
Male attire: Clean cut hair style, no facial hair. Polo style shirt or T-shirt with gym shorts. T-shirts should not have any advertisement other than LSU.
View More Info and FAQ's about Being an LSU Cheerleader
How can I prepare for LSU Cheerleading tryouts?
We are looking for a well-rounded individual. First and foremost an outgoing personality as well as a good character is very important. The LSU cheerleaders are highly visible within our community and therefore must be able to represent the University in a positive way. Grades and how well you work with our coaches will be considered. Good collegiate style motions, tumbling and co-ed stunts are also all important. Commitment to a full year of participation is mandatory as we start in April with tryouts, we meet a few times over the summer to prepare for camp, we start formal practices in mid-August and games begin in September. We cheer Volleyball, Football, Men's and Women's Basketball and Gymnastics events as well as we do a lot of campus and community service.
Tumbling: Standing back tucks and standing back handspring tucks are the norm for our squad. Running tumbling ranges. Most girls have layouts and full twist or a specialty pass. The guys range with no running tumbling to specialty passes. The first thing we do at tryouts is a standing tumbling cut for the girls. Depending on the number of males we have at tryouts, a standing tumbling cut is possible. Both girls and guys have a first round motion cut so it is important to also have good collegiate style motions. Do not spend time on jumps as we do not use them.
Coed Stunts: If you do not have co-ed stunt experience it is imperative to get experience prior to tryouts as this is a co-ed team. Local cheer gyms and college squads are good resources for private co-ed stunt lessons. Our gold squad members typically have full up stunts, rewinds and handspring up stunts. Purple squad members have basic stunts such as extensions, liberties, walk-in stunts as well as toss stunts. Being able to stunt with several people and not just one person is also a must. When we are choosing our team, we consider who is easy to work with and can be used with different partners. We are also considering if the person is coachable and can easily make corrections as well as gets along well with other participants.
If you do not cheer on a high school squad and you are on a competitive team only, please consider getting a private coach to assist you with "game day" cheerleading. Being talented is important but you must also know how to "lead a crowd" and cheer in front of fans, not just judges. Yelling loud with natural collegiate cheering expressions, sharp motions and good motion placement is all very important!!.
While we do not have a weight or height restriction, our girls range in size from 95 pounds to 125 pounds and 4'11 to 5'3. Our guys range in size from 5'8 to 6'2 and 160 to 206. This is a typical size range and fluctuates from year to year. As long as you are adaptable to stunt with several partners you will be considered. Coed stunt experience is essential.
Attending one of our spring one day clinics. You will gain an inside perspective on our tryout process. It is also a good idea to attend one of our games to see our cheerleaders in action.
For more information regarding the LSU Cheerleading Squad, contact the LSU Spirit Coordinator at pzernott@lsu.edu.
General Information
All participants must be currently enrolled or have applied to the University. Those currently enrolled at LSU must attach a copy of their spring schedule as well as degree audit showing overall cumulative GPA. Those with admissions pending must attach a copy of their admissions application and any paperwork they have received from the admissions office. Also an audit of grades to show GPA and ACT or SAT scores will be high enough to be accepted to LSU.
Freshman Admission Requirements
There are three factors that will be initially considered for admission to LSU (from LSU.edu):
- Incoming freshman must have at least a 3.0 academic gpa calculated from academic core courses.
- Students must also have completed at least 18 units of college-preparatory courses.
- Applicants must have a minimum of SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1030 or at least a composite ACT score of 22.
As the Flagship University of Louisiana, LSU does not offer any remedial courses; therefore, students must have an ACT English sub-score of at least 18 or an SAT critical reading score of at least 450. In order to be placed into college-level math, students must have an ACT math sub-score of at least 19 or an SAT math score of 460.
LSU does not require completion of the writing section on the ACT or SAT for general admission. However, students interested in being considered for admission to the LSU Honors College must submit writing scores.
Students not meeting the above requirements for automatic admission are still encouraged to apply. We can take other factors into account to predict your potential for success at LSU. Some of these factors may include: choice of degree program, rank in class, credit in advanced placement or honors courses, rigor of the high school curriculum, grade trends, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. If you would like to appeal a decision, please contact our staff. We want to work with you to do everything possible to see you become part of the LSU family.
For further detailed information, please see the "Undergraduate Admissions & Student Aid" in the LSU General Catalog.
Visit www.lsu.edu/admissions for more details.
IMPORTANT: Spirit Squad Application and forms must be received by the Wednesday prior to the tryout.
All of the following required forms are due the Wednesday prior to tryouts:
1. LSU Spirit Squad Application (.pdf)
2. Copy of admissions letter to LSU
3. Copy of insurance card
4. Walk-on Physician Clearance Form (.pdf)
5. Pre-Participation Medical History Form (.pdf)
Please mail to:
LSU Athletics, Pauline Zernott
Cheerleading Tryouts
LSU Athletics Administration Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Overnight Address:
LSU Athletics Department
Pauline Zernott - Cheerleader Tryotus
North Stadium Dr
Baton Rouge LA 70803
225-578-4734
- If you are under 18, your tryout application form MUST BE SIGNED by a parent or guardian in order to participate.
- Applicants must provide complete insurance information to participate in the clinics and tryouts.
- All portions of tryouts are closed to the public. Only applicants, coaching staff, and LSU athletic department staff will be allowed inside.
- Evaluators will consist of the coaches and athletic department staff members. The purpose of the tryout is to choose the best all-around representatives for LSU.
- Generally, 16 males and 16 females are chosen to make up the squad.
