2008 - 2009 Austin Peay State University Cheer Recruits Guide
Contact Information
Head Coach
Josh Rutherford
Mailing Address
ATTN: Josh Rutherford, Cheerleading Coach
Austin Peay State University, Dunn Center, Room 141
Clarksville, TN. 37044
Athletic Department Website
http://www.letsgopeay.com (under “Athletic Department / Bands & Spirit Groups”)
Contacting the Squad
Those interested in having a personal tryout between November 1st and May 1st should fill out our Pre-Tryout questionnaire (available on our website). If you have specific questions, please join our mailing list, so that you can receive updates, and also so that you can contact the head coach. This form protects the coaches from spam email or phone calls not related to cheerleading.
About the Squad
http://www.apsucheersquad.com
Austin Peay cheerleading is a scholarship Division I squad. The team is an [i]all-girl squad, with scholarship and non-scholarship positions. We award twelve $1,000 scholarships each year, based on seniority, GPA, and skill level.
Austin Peay’s squad prides itself on being a part of a strong athletic tradition. The squad is part of the university’s athletic department. The team performs at and participates in campus & community events throughout the year, including basketball halftimes, in front of thousands of fans. Team members are widely recognized in the community and on campus.
Our veterans are not required to try out every year, provided they meet stated expectations. Therefore, it is possible that your first college try out could be your only college try out!
About Austin Peay State University
** information taken from Austin Peay website
http://www.apsu.edu or http://www.apsugovernors.com
APSU is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a thriving community of 103,000, and the 29th fastest-growing city in the nation. Clarksville is located in Montgomery County, near the Kentucky border, with a population of over 134,000. Situated on gently rolling terrain near picturesque downtown Clarksville, Austin Peay’s main campus consists of 51 buildings on 200 acres.
Austin Peay State University enrolls approximately 7,500 students from every region of Tennessee, the 50 states and several foreign countries.
Austin Peay is a Division I school with a famous game cheer: “Let’s Go Peay!” The basketball teams are cheered on by thousands of fans and are supported by the Red Men, an organized fan group. It is in front of all of these groups that APSU cheerleaders perform on a weekly basis.
Pre-Tryout Recruitment Initiative
Initiative
While most college squads hold a rigorous day long, or longer, try out, APSU’s spirit squad coaches evaluate talent over a longer time period, and provide prospects with more opportunities to get to know the team.
All veteran team members will automatically receive invitations to rejoin the team. They must accept or decline this invitation by March 1st of each year. If they decline, they will have to try out in order to rejoin the team.
Newcomers also have the opportunity to join the team before Tryouts. The benefits include (a) knowing you’re already on the team at Tryouts, (b) being able to prepare for your collegiate cheerleading career, (c) learning whether or not you will receive a scholarship before you graduate high school, and (d) being evaluated based on more than one day of showcasing your skills.
Those who apply for a pre-tryout invitation may be notified at any time before Tryouts, which are in early May. Upon notification, the applicant will have until May 1st or seven days (whichever is later) in which to verbally accept the invitation. After verbal acceptance, the applicant will have fourteen days (or until Tryouts, whichever occurs first) to sign a Letter of Intent to cheer at Austin Peay. The applicant must still attend Tryouts. Those who have been signed will not be judged against walk-ons; their performance and attitude will affect the amount of scholarship money they are awarded.
Letter of Intent & Scholarship Awards
A Letter of Intent is a written agreement between the university and the student-athlete, which states that the university is creating a spot for the individual in its cheerleading program. The individual, by signing it, is certifying that
1. they intend to attend Austin Peay State University.
2. they intend to cheer for the APSU cheerleading squad.
3. they will not try out or cheer for any other university, from the signing of the letter, until April 1st of the following year , unless they are removed from the cheerleading squad.
The Head Coach is certifying that
1. the cheerleading program will not remove the student-athlete from the team, unless team rules have been violated.
2. the student-athlete is eligible for a scholarship.
Process for Applying
Note: Exemptions apply to the following, due to distance or other, extenuating circumstances.
1. Submit the Pre-Tryout Application (available on our website), making sure to note you are applying for a Pre-Tryout Invitation, and immediately mail it to the address listed. Note: Your status as a “Prospect” is not certified until you have provided proof of acceptance to APSU.
2. Apply for admission to Austin Peay.
3. Attend at least one practice or game (tickets provided).
4. After you have been accepted to Austin Peay, mail the following to the Head Coach (address listed above):
a. High school transcript (it can be unofficial)
b. Copy of Acceptance Letter from Austin Peay
5. Set up an individual, personal try out (before or after a practice, or before a game, or during a clinic), OR send in a DVD or video with the required components (see “Video Submission”, below, and also “Exemptions”, below”)
Other Policies
1. Applicants may be invited to join the team during any stage of the process listed above. However, they must complete all requirements.
2. A Letter of Intent cannot be offered until the Prospect has offered proof that they have applied, and been accepted, to Austin Peay State University.
3. All invitations are unofficial until the team member has signed a Letter of Intent.
4. The Letter of Intent does not guarantee the applicant a spot cheering on the sidelines. The applicant must continue to work and improve throughout the spring and summer months.
5. Those who apply for this program will receive a response as soon as a decision is made. All those selected will be notified no later than May 1st, 2008.
6. Anyone not selected for this program should still attend Tryouts, as this process will only enhance their chances of making the team through trying out.
Minimum Requirements
Skills
These skills must be shown on the video and during the in-person try out. Other skills (such as a cheer, or a dance, or other stunts) are to be shown on the video submission.
It is not expected that every person trying out will have mastered these stunts beforehand. You will be judged based on attitude, how quickly you learn, and how well you attempt the stunt.
Stunts:
· Express-up to all stunts
· Fulldown from all stunts
· Walk-in-to-Liberty
· Liberty-Reload/Retake-Arabesque
· Lib-Tick-Tock-Stretch
· Full-up to Liberty
Tumbling:
· toe touch standing back-handspring
· round-off back handspring
· double toe touch
· potential to gain a round-off back-handspring back-tuck.
· potential to gain a standing tuck
Tumbler-Only
Two spots, male or female, may be allotted to a “tumbler only” position. These persons will practice once per week, but are not eligible for scholarships. Requirements are the same as for all recruits, plus a(n)
· round-off back handspring series full
· optional tumbling pass with front tumbling
Appearance & Conduct
Austin Peay cheerleaders are expected to look, act, and dress appropriately. The squad is highly visible in the city of Clarksville and team members are role models to many younger athletes.
· While trying out, participants should wear appropriate clothing. The following checklist should help you prepare:
ü appropriate cheerleading shoes.
ü cheerleading shorts and a form-fitting top (fitted tank top, sports bra, etc.)
ü a red shirt, either with an APSU or AP Cheer logo, or without any script or logos on the front.
ü hair pulled up and out of face.
· Shorts should be white or black.
· All highlights should be white, red and/or black.
Anyone who requires tape/wrapping should provide their own items, and should have the wrapping done themselves. The squad cannot take responsibility for wrapping or treating participants, as they are not team members.
Video Submissions
We accept video submissions, and encourage you to send them in as soon as possible. Please follow the format listed below so that we can accurately gauge your abilities.
Videos may be submitted in lieu of attending tryouts, provided an acceptable excuse is provided, or if the participant lives more than 250 miles from Clarksville. Note: Residents of Tennessee will not be exempted due to distance.
Main Components (must be included):
· a cheer (with motions, do not use a video of a team)
· a dance (with audible music, do not use a video of a team)
· tumbling skills
· stunts (relevant to your position; e.g. if you are trying out for a flyer spot, do not send footage of all-girl flying)
Optional Components
· team performance at competition, game, etc.
· team sidelines or practice
· tumbling during a class
· dance during a class
· other stunts, etc. performed specifically for filming
Those who have injuries should provide a signed letterhead from a certified physician stating their injury, rehabilitation and the expected date of release for activity. The physician should also describe any projected limitations (loss of strength, decreased flexibility, etc.) If you will not have any limitations after recovery, the physician should note that in the letter. Those who will not be released until after July 15th of the current year will be provisionally accepted until their release, or will have to try out in the Fall.
Note: Video footage must have been filmed after August 01 of the previous year (main component only, optional components may be from previous year). Anyone who is accepted based solely on video performance will be expected to come to practice with the skills displayed in the video. Failure to do so will result in termination of position.
Rules for Video Submission
· Game footage or competition footage is not acceptable as one of the main components (these should be performed specifically for the video).
· Make sure videos are viewable in both a computer and a DVD player before sending them.
· Include a recent, clear picture of yourself that will help judges identify you in the video.
· Include the required forms (available on our website, under Printable Forms.)
· In order for your video to be considered, please include proof of acceptance to APSU (a copy of acceptance letter, for example).
· You must email the coach if you are sending in a video.
Videos should be sent to
ATTN: Josh Rutherford, Cheer Coach
Video (sent for pre-tryout) Postmark Deadline: April 1st, 2008.
Video (sent in lieu of walk-on tryouts) Postmark Deadline: April 19th, 2008.
Videos may be sent any time between November 1st and the appropriate deadline date. Videos become the property of APSU, and will not be returned.
Do not call the Athletic Department or the Head Coach to inquire about your status.
2009 Tryouts
*Information in this section applies only to the official Spring Tryouts, not to the Pre-Tryout Selection Process.
Returning members will not try out, but will be on hand to assist in teaching stunts, choreography, etc. Veterans will also stunt with applicants, but only the applicant will be judged.
New Members
New members, who were selected during the pre-tryout process, will attend Tryouts. They will participate fully, although they will not be judged against those who have not yet been invited to join the team.
Tryouts are tentatively scheduled for late May. Tryouts will begin at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, and will conclude as soon as possible on Saturday. We will have a team meeting Saturday afternoon for all team members.
Anyone living more than thirty minutes from campus may like to stay overnight. For hotel accommodations, the Riverview Inn (www.theriverviewinn.com) is the closest hotel, located five minutes from campus. Other locations are available.
Please do not contact the Athletic Department or members of the cheerleading squad for hotel information, directions, etc. Team members are not allowed to host participants in their dorm rooms, and are advised against letting anyone stay at an off-campus residence.
Participants should fill out all forms before coming to tryouts. These forms are available by request or online, on the cheer squad webpage, by clicking on the “Printable Forms” link. These forms must be completed before anyone may participate in tryouts.
Tryouts Policies
All-girl participants will try out in an assigned stunt group. You may not stunt with anyone who is not also trying out.
Participants may come and go from tryouts as they please. Although we will try to stick as closely to the predicted schedule as possible, delays or changes may be necessary. Participants should not leave for extended periods or they may miss their try out. Participants will come on to the floor when their group is called, but cannot watch other participants.
The order and itinerary for Tryouts will be posted on the website and distributed through the mailing list. Other information about Tryouts will also be available at least two months before Tryouts.
Team Selection
Any eligible person may be asked to join the squad at the conclusion of Tryouts, as a walk-on. Acceptance of the invitation will be up to the recruit. Not all those asked to join the squad will receive a scholarship during the Fall semester. Anyone not willing to cheer and compete without a scholarship should not try out. Anyone selected for the competition team will have the opportunity to earn a scholarship before the Fall or Spring semester.
Other Benefits
Cheerleaders receive free medical care through the Athletic Training Staff (including illness and rehabilitation of injury), and book rental and tutoring/grade monitoring through the Athletic-Academic Office.
Keli Rutherford is the Pom Squad coach, and both teams work together and often practice together. The Spirit Squads have a tradition of performing together for mens' basketball games at the
The Cheerleading Squad is sponsored by Clarksville Elite Gymnastics, one of the top gyms in
Cheerleaders use the athlete’s weight room and fitness center on campus. The squad also has use of the Dunn Center and Red Barn for individual practice.
The cheer squad travels with mens' and womens' basketball, and football, to any OVC/NCAA tournament games, as well as select regular season games. In the past, the team has traveled all over the nation in support of APSU’s teams. All team members receive two free tickets to every APSU home game at which they cheer.
The squad is close-knit. As a team, we get together several times per year, including at a pool party in the summer, for a dress-up dinner on Halloween, for a Christmas Party, and in the Spring for a Farewell to seniors.
Considerations: Academics, Work, etc.
Generally, the team practices in the evening, three times per week, during the school year, for approximately three hours. We do not practice on dates immediately following games, unless special circumstances arise.
The APSU cheer squad may compete, if the squad chooses to make the commitment. Regardless, they will perform at least five routines during basketball halftimes throughout the year.
Team members are encouraged to participate in other organizations on campus. However, cheerleading is a sport at APSU and, as such, is a top priority in the cheerleaders’ college experience, and other organizations should be informed of this.
Team members are not prohibited from having jobs. However, work schedules must be situated around cheerleading schedules. Exceptions are made during the summer for anyone working for UCA, NCA, etc, but you must provide a letter of employment from the company.
Without good grades, you are not eligible to cheer. All athletes must maintain a set grade point average and earn twenty-four (24) credit hours every calendar year.
Your commitment to the cheerleading program will likely include games and practices over the Christmas holiday. If you traditionally have travel plans during this time (approximately December 15th – 23rd and January 3rd – 15th), you should discuss this with the Head Coach. You will be under contract with APSU and, as such, you will be expected to attend these practices.
Contracts that include all responsibilities are in effect for a full academic year (from June through May.)
Meeting the Squad & Coaching Staff
Options include
o Practices: Recruits may come to any practice, provided they notify the Head Coach of their intention to attend. Recruits may not participate in practices or stunt, tumble, or perform any skills while at team practices. This is a useful way to see how the team operates and what they can expect from practices at the college level.
o Games: Recruits may notify the Head Coach of their wish to attend a home football or basketball game. With at least one week’s notice, two to four tickets (dependent on demand) can be provided. This should be booked as far as possible in advance. Recruits are eligible to receive the tickets as often as they are available.
o Clinics: The cheer squad will hold one or two clinics in the Spring. Attendance is highly recommended, as dances and cheers for tryouts will be taught. The cost is ten dollars per clinic. Information will be posted on the cheer squad webpage and will be sent out through email (contact the coach at the email address above to be included on this list).
o Individual Meetings: Those interested may contact the Head Coach to set up an individual meeting, either to discuss the team or to have skills evaluated. These meetings should be scheduled as far in advance as possible.
o Pre-Tryout Invitations: Those interested in the pre-tryout invitation should follow the guidelines listed earlier in the guide. The required individual tryout can occur before or after a practice, or before a game. Limited, individual tryouts will also be granted on non-game or non-practice days.
Created on ... January 19, 2009