FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?
YELL LEADER EDITION
1. 1
1. What should I do to get prepared to tryout to become a BU Yell Leader?
2.
3. Attend one of our High School clinics either on February 3 (Friday) or April 21 (Friday) from
5-7PM in the SLC. This is a great way to meet the current squads and be able to stunt and tumble
with them. You will be observed on how well you do the following: running tumbling, standing
tumbling, stunt position/ execution, motions during fight song. There is a clinic fee of $25.00 that
includes a T-shirt.
4.
2. How do I register for the HS clinic(s)?
Please visit our website at www.baylor.edu/spiritsquads. On the homepage please click on HS
flyer, the recruit application, and the liability form that is appropriate to your age and clinic date.
Please fill out the application, save to your computer, and email to the Spirit Coordinator at:
baylorspirit@baylor.edu. Print off the liability form, have a parent fill out and sign, and either fax
to us @ (254) 710-3418 or bring with you to the clinic if a parent is coming with you to the clinic.
Emailing us your recruit application lets us know to reserve a spot for you! Having the liability
form filled out completely allows you to fully participate during the clinic.
3. What is the White squad?
The White Squad is a squad compiled mostly of first semester freshman who do not yet have 12
hours @ BU. We have separate “white squads” for the Coed Yell Leaders & All Girl Yell Leaders.
There are usually 5-10 white squad members during the fall semester, then you try out in
December for a spot on the Varsity squad. The Coed Yell Leaders, All Girl Yell Leaders, and
Songleaders’ White squads rotate to cheer all of the HOME volleyball games. The White squads
practice with the Varsity squads each week in order to improve their skills and learn the necessary
material to jump into basketball season if chosen for the Varsity squad in December. Being a
member of the White squad is a great way to “get your feet wet” by cheering volleyball games
before diving into a conference basketball game with 10,000 fans!
4. So when does an incoming freshman actually try out?
An incoming freshman will only be OBSERVED during the HS clinics. You will NOT go through
an actual tryout. However, if we see that you have the potential to cheer immediately on a Varsity
squad, then we will notify you soon after to offer you the option of taking summer school AT BU.
This option (summer school attendance) is not available for provisionally admitted students.
You must take 12 hours during the summer and make a minimum of a 2.25 current and cumulative
GPA during the summer and the entire school year in order to be eligible to participate. Once you
have achieved the required GPA and go through the “official tryout” the first week of classes in
August, then you will be named to the Varsity squad and are able to cheer during football season.
5. How many tryouts do you have per year?
We have 3 tryouts during the year….a tryout in August (usually the Sunday after classes begin),
then again in December to select the Varsity basketball squad, and then again in April to pick the
Varsity squads for football season.
6. Can I be on the Varsity team my first semester at BU?
Not unless you have been invited by the Spirit Coordinator to have the option of attending summer
school AT BU and achieve a 2.25 current & cumulative GPA.
The Spirit Coordinator will let you know if your skills make you eligible for this option.
7. Does it cost anything to be on the squad?
No. The university provides all of the “necessary” items for participation. This includes: all
uniforms, camp clothes, shoes, bags, warm-ups, pon poms, official travel for NCAA sporting events,
and camp travel. Any “extra” items the squad would like to purchase may be done so on an
individual student basis...ex: sweatshirts, T-shirts, etc.
8. Do you have to be in Waco for the summer?
No, not unless you are taking summer school to be eligible to cheer for the fall. We do hold 1-2
practice(s) a week for those people that will be on campus. Only Varsity members are required to
come to campus a week before camp and then commit to being at camp the entire time. Only
Varsity members are required to be on campus and ready to practice a week before classes begin, in
order to practice for the Welcome Week performance and football season.
9. Do the squads go to camp or compete?
Yes, in the past all squads have gone to camp at the UCA Texas State College Camp. However, it
varies from squad to squad and year to year whether or not we will attend in the summer. There is
an option of having an on campus 3 day UCA private camp instead. This decision will be made in
May before school is over.
10. Do you offer scholarships?
We offer a small book stipend depending on how many consecutive semesters you have been on a
Varsity squad. The amount varies each semester depending on fund-raising and sponsorships.
The captains of each respective squad also receive a “leadership stipend” each semester between
the amounts of ($200-500). Our highest GPA scholars per squad/ per semester also receive a
small “academic stipend” between ($50-200).
11. Do you get college credit(s) for being a Yell Leader?
Yes, as it stands now…each Varsity semester you are with the program you can receive 1 HP credit
for the fall semester and 1 HP credit for the spring semester. A maximum of 2 HP credits is
possible at this during your time at BU.
12. Which squads get to travel?
Each squad (Coed Yell Leaders, All Girl Yell Leaders, and Songleaders) should at one point during
each semester be given the opportunity to travel to an away game. This aspect of the program
depends on many variables: talent level, seniority, squad functionality at the game, GPA, class
attendance, and discipline points. In the past, the Coed Yell Leaders have traveled to all of the
away games during football season. The All Girl Yell Leaders & Songleaders may be given the
opportunity to travel to 1-2 away games during the football season, depending on the mile
proximity and whether the band is in attendance. For basketball, again, all of the variables play
into who is selected to travel. Traveling is a privilege so it is a reward for those that are selected.
13. How often do you practice during the week? What is the time commitment?
Each squad practices 2 times a week. As the current schedule stands: Mondays 8-10PM;
Thursdays 5-7PM. Each squad member is required to complete 2 “squad” workouts during the
week as well. Depending on what season it is, you will usually have a Saturday game (required to
be there 2hrs before kickoff + game time of 4 hrs). During basketball season all 3 squads (Coed
Yell Leaders, All Girl Yell Leaders, and Songleaders) rotate between the men’s and women’s
basketball games. We try to schedule each squad to have 2 weekends off a month during the avg.
30 game season. We also have many PR campus and community events that we are requested to
attend. At Baylor we want you to be a well rounded student and NOT have “cheerleading or
dancing” be your life. Many of our squad members are involved in the Greek system, honors
society, and hold jobs on or off campus.
13. Do I have to keep a certain GPA to be on the squad?
Yes, each member must hold a current and cumulative 2.25 GPA. You will be on probation (grace
period) if your current falls below a 2.25 and your cumulative is above a 2.5. You are allowed one
semester to be on probation. If you fit the “probation status” 2 semesters in a row, then you will be
qualified as ineligible to participate.
14. I saw the requirements on the website…how close do you follow those when
judging?
We like to stick to the requirements as much as possible (ex: Standing back) but the judges look at
your overall talent in each area (See score sheet on the website homepage) and then select the best
squad. So tryout even if you are close to or don’t have a “requirement.” We work with “potential!”
15. How many people do you select for each squad?
We would like to have 6 coed couples for football and basketball. All Girl Yell Leaders: ideally 20
girls with 2 alternates
16. What sport(s) and campus events does each squad cheer for?



Coed Yell Leaders: All Home & Away football games; selected home men’s & women’s
basketball, selected Big XII & NCAA Tournament games
All Girl Yell Leaders: All home football games (1-2 away); selected home men’s &
women’s Basketball games; selected Big XII & NCAA Tournament games
White Coed & White All Girl: Selected home volleyball games; possibly Homecoming
Bonfire; selected non-conference men’s’ & women’s basketball games
17. What should I wear to the HS clinic and/ or August tryout?
All cheer participants (male & female) should wear athletic shorts, tank top, T-shirts, and cheer
shoes to tumble and stunt in.
18. Can my friends and family watch me in the clinic and/ or tryout?
Yes, we have open viewing for your friends and family.
19. Where do I stay when I’m in town for the clinic?
We suggest you make reservations at a nearby hotel or either request arrangements with the Spirit
Coordinator to possibly stay with a current squad member while you are visiting. The clinics are on
a Friday afternoon/ evening…so if you live close you can easily drive home afterwards.
a.