Colgate University Athletics

We are Colgate University's dedicated and spirited coed cheer team! Cheering at football games on Crown Field in the Andy Kerr Stadium, at men's and women's basketball games on Cotterell Court, and in the stands at other sports games, we are incredibly excited to be so involved with Colgate Athletics. You can find us at tailgates before football games and in Reid Athletic Center before basketball games as well as other various University functions and events, so please come say hi, we absolutely love meeting our fellow Colgate Athletics supporters. We can't wait for the 2015-16 school year to begin so we can start preparing to cheer on our incredibly talented Patriot League Division I sports teams, and of course so we can meet all of you!

Purpose
Our purpose on campus is to lead cheers at Colgate sports games that will engage the audience and raise the level of fan support for Colgate Athletics. We are here to uphold, reflect and project the goals and ideals of Colgate University. Each cheerleader is a representative of Colgate and we require and expect exceptional citizenship and sportsmanship at all Colgate functions we attend from all of our members. With this, our objectives include:
1.     Support Colgate department of Athletics  and all Colgate athletes wholeheartedly
2.     Maintain a unified and respected cheer team
3.     Engage in public service projects
4.     Represent Colgate University with contagious optimism and the utmost respect!

Composition and Technique
Cheering: Squad members carry out a variety of cheers, focusing on tightness of motions and projection of voice.
 
Stunting: Squad members perform group stunts including but not limited to chairs, extensions, liberties, hitches, flashes, flip stunts, and basket tosses. We build toward a variety of pyramid stunts. We perform time-out stunts at basketball games and sideline stunts at football games.
 
Tumbling: Squad members are not required to have any gymnastics experience, but it is preferred. Those with the appropriate knowledge are expected to work toward standing back handsprings and back tucks, as well as tumbling passes including handsprings, tucks, layouts and fulls.

Motion Technique and Dance: Squad members perform a selection of band dances with the Colgate Pep Band. We also perform a halftime routine at basketball games which integrates dance, cheers, tumbling and stunts. Try-Outs
To make it as easy as possible, there are actually two routes you can take if you are interested in trying out for the team. You do not need prior cheerleading experience, although we encourage people to try out who have had cheer, dance or gymnastics experience. This is also a coed team, and we encourage any and all to try out.

1. If you want to try out for the team, send a video to cheerleading@colgate.edu that highlights your cheer, dance, jumps and/or tumbling skills. You may use videos of yourself cheering at games, participating in competitions (whether they are gymnastics or cheerleading), or performing in dance recitals, BUT be sure it is obvious which one you are in the videos if there are multiple people. If you do not have these videos on hand, please record your own video highlighting these skills. Required: one cheer, two 8-counts of dance, and any tumbling and jump skills.
2. The second option (which we highly encourage) is in-person try-outs during the first couple of weeks of school (the specific dates are TBD). This includes a required two-day clinic, which is then followed by try-outs where you will perform what you have learned during the clinic. If you have not had a lot of experience in cheerleading before, or if you would like to get a feel for the team and get to know the returning members, we encourage you to come to the clinic. All of us should be there, and we are all more than willing to help you out!

If you decide to pursue the second option, please be on the look out for dates and times. Please attend clinics in sneakers, and well-fitted work-out clothing. This is important for safety reasons (we don’t want fingers caught in loose clothing while executing stunts). Keep in mind each member receives one Physical Education Credit each year you are on the team (Colgate requires two PE credits for graduation).
 
Requirements
Practices
We practice at least 3-4 times a week (not including games or volunteering events) which are 3 hours long. Practices will run longer at the beginning of the semester since we will be teaching you all of the cheers and dances, finding you a place in stunts and building strong stunt groups. In the fall we cheer for all football home games, and in the spring we cheer for both men’s and women’s basketball home games (there are normally two games a week during the spring semester). We ask that you are completely committed to the team. All games and practices are mandatory unless you are ill/injured or have an emergency.
 
Attitude
Safety is of utmost importance during all practices which requires you to be fully aware and attentive to other team members and the coach throughout the entire practice. Having a positive attitude is equally important: we perform difficult stunts, and we can only perfect them if all members are excited and willing to perfect them! The Coach reserves the right to cut team members if there are problems.  
 
Academics
Each member must maintain a GPA of 2.0 to remain on the team.