Only as a last resort. We highly recommend trying out in person, as videos sometimes do not give judges a great sense of a cheerleader's ability and personality. Video tryouts should only be done by those who simply have no way to attend the actual tryouts. At tryouts, if a video applicant is tied with an applicant who is in attendance, the applicant in attendance receives priority. Please contact Julie Stevens if you would like to learn more about how to submit a video.

What skills do I need in order to tryout?

Historically, we have never had set minimum requirements. Judges selected the best all-around applicants as talent levels could vary greatly from year to year. The skill level of the tryout pool determined the skill level of the top applicants. However, in the last few years we have seen a huge increase in the number of applicants at tryouts. These large numbers make the process much more time consuming. Many times there are several applicants that do not have the strength and experience necessary for a nationally ranked collegiate squad. Therefore, we have enacted the following minimum requirements for tryouts for the 2007-08 school year:

Females must be able to do a standing back handspring (a light spot is acceptable)
Males must be able to hold a 30 second spotted handstand.

While we don't have a set time verify these skills, it would not be possible to make the team without the strength required to perform these skills. Females will show their standing back handspring during the fight song performance. Males will demonstrate their "over the head" extended arm strength during stunt clinics.

How many cheerleaders are on the team?

The Boise State Cheerleading Squad has traditionally been comprised of 20 members: 8 men and 12 women. However, these numbers can fluctuate from year to year. For instance, the 2006-07 team consists of 18 women and 1 male, while the 2005-06 team was comprised of 12 men and 14 women. Our philosophy is to take talented and strong cheerleaders and let the team size determine itself. If we have a large number of talented applicants at tryouts we will take them. If we do not have talent pool at tryouts, we opt for a smaller team under the ultimate goal of having a smaller excellent team. Often, the decision on team size is determined during the judging process at tryouts.

Do Veteran Members of the Team Tryout Every Year? Are They Guaranteed to Make Next Years Team?

Veteran Members must try out like all other candidates. However, veteran members have a strong advantage at tryouts: they have at least a year of collegiate level cheerleading experience, they know the Bronco Cheerleading "system" better, they are in top condition and practice (because tryouts are so close to the end of the previous year), and they typically are not as stressed at tryouts because they are in a familiar environment. No veteran is guaranteed a spot on the team for the next year, and veterans have been cut in previous years.

Does Boise State Have Weight Limits?

The coaching staff of the Boise State Cheerleading Squad opposes weight limits in cheerleading and encourages all cheerleading programs to abolish weight limits (and de facto weight limits such as "size" limits or uniform restrictions). Weight limits promote unhealthy nutrition habits which lead to a loss of strength and dangerous medical conditions. The Boise State Cheerleading Program wants strong cheerleaders, not weak and sick cheerleaders. A healthy lifestyle and body weight is essential for all athletic activities, including cheerleading. A healthy body weight is different for everyone. Being overweight or underweight is not healthy and both conditions reduce cheerleading capacity.

Do All Women have to Fly?

Yes. Most applicants who ask this question have only basing experience, so it is important to note that women who have had only base experience are often strong middle tiers in 2 and 1/2 high pyramids (college pyramids can be 2 and 1/2 high). Just because you've never been a "flyer" doesn't mean you can't be a Bronco Cheerleader. Many great bronco cheerleaders were only bases in high school.

Do I have to be able to Tumble?

Tumbling is a significant part of modern Cheerleading. As of 2006, all females will be required to do a standing back handspring and males will be required to hold a 30 second spotted handstand. If you have never tumbled, tryouts is not the place to attempt a new skill. If you are athletic and strong, a few weeks at a local tumbling gym can reap a standing back handspring.

Can I make the team if I've never co-ed partner stunted?

Yes. It is not unusual for a significant number of applicants at tryouts to have never partner stunted. We look at stunt technique and strength as indicative of a candidate's potential ability to partner stunt once properly coached. Obviously, applicants who come to tryouts with partner stunt experience benefit from that experience. If you've never partner stunted, you might consider taking a partner stunt class at a local gym or attending a college prep clinic. New skills should be learned from a qualified coach/instructor and not attempted without direction.

What are Tryouts Like?

Tryouts start on a Friday night. On the first night, all applicants learn the fight song (words and arm-motions) and a few chants. Then the women split into two groups. One half move to another gym and learn a dance while the second half participates in a stunt clinic. Then the two groups of women switch. The clinic then continues on Saturday, where roughly the same schedule happens, but instead of learning new material you review it. After the Saturday morning session, everyone breaks for lunch and to freshen up for the actual tryout.
After lunch, tryouts begin. You should dress appropriately--like a proud Bronco. Everyone performs the learned material in groups of 3-5, and then there is time to showcase tumbling passes, jumps, and stunt skills. After everyone performs, the gym is cleared for what veteran cheerleaders refer to as "the wait." You should expect to wait outside of the gym for a few hours while the judges move through their first round of score sheets. During this time applicants may be called back to perform again. After judges are satisfied that they have seen all applicants, we will dismiss everyone for the evening as the judges finalize their decisions.

Once the team has been selected, we will post the names of next year's team on our web site. Everyone will know the results by the end of the day on Saturday. Some years a "first cut" is made early in the day on Saturday to shorten the amount of time tryouts takes. The entire new team is asked to meet early on Sunday morning for our first "team meeting." If you live out of town, do not plan your departure until after noon on Sunday. You will receive necessary paperwork, policy information, be sized for clothing/uniforms, and be asked to give a $100 non-refundable deposit for cheer camp (this is to confirm your commitment to the team).

Do I have to buy my own uniform?

No. Uniforms, practice clothes, warm-ups, shoes, pom-poms, megaphones, are all provided. You may be asked to buy personal items such as briefs, socks, etc. We strive to cover as many costs as possible, but may not always be able to.

Does Boise State Award Scholarships ?

Like most cheerleading programs, the Boise State Cheerleaders have a very limited budget. Eligible first year members usually receive around $300 per semester. The total scholarship budget is divided among eligible members. The final amount is determined once the team is chosen and the number of eligible members is known. Veterans receive more scholarship money based on seniority.

We are working on ways to improve this situation. However, money is difficult to come by and it is not likely that significant changes will occur rapidly.

How Can I prepare for Tryouts ?

Visit our new "How to Prepare for Tryouts" page.

What is the Time Commitment?

Being a bronco cheerleader requires a great deal of time. During the school year, the team practices 2 hours a day 5 days a week. In addition, we have games on roughly the following frequency.

Football: 6 or 7 home games through the fall. All members cheer all games. Football games consume about 8 hours of your time. This does not include travel opportunities or a bowl game.
Volleyball: 12 - 14 games through the fall. We divide into 4 or 5 teams so each member has about 3 games through the fall.
Soccer: 4-6 games through the fall. The volleyball squads also divide these up. Each person usually has one soccer game
Basketball: 16-18 games in the winter and early spring for both men's and women's basketball. All members cheer all men's games. Generally, there are 2 games every other week or 1 game every week (depending on how the Conference schedules games) for each basketball team. The team splits into two squads for most women's basketball. The entire team will perform at "big" women's games and the women's games prior to nationals (to perform our routine). Generally, members will have 2 games every week during basketball season. Some weeks they might have 1 or 3.
Gymnastics: The team will usually have a quick performance at 2-3 gymnastics meets a year. Since gymnastics starts just prior to nationals, the team usually uses this time to showcase its nationals routine.
Civic Appearances: The team is often requested to perform at government or Boise State events such as building dedications, booster luncheons, charity events, etc. There are probably fifteen of these over the year. Not everyone performs at all these events, but we try to "split" the work fairly evenly. Some of these functions reward the performers with contributions to their nationals accounts.

In addition, Bronco cheerleaders can expect to have a shortened winter break. They will usually lose 3 or 4 days of the break to a bowl game and they will lose a little over a week for nationals practice.

What's it like to be a Bronco Cheerleader?

It might seem glamorous to be a Bronco Cheerleader, but cheerleading is very time consuming and hard work. Bronco cheerleaders cheer for football, volleyball, some soccer and men's and women's basketball. We also perform at occasional gymnastics and wrestling meets. This translates to 2-5 commitments per week on top of our standard 10 hours of practice. Cheerleading will consume at least 15 hours of your week and sometimes more. The cheerleading season is longer than most, spanning mid Summer to Spring. During the holiday season cheerleaders can count on losing part of the winter break to a Football bowl game and practices for Nationals. Bronco Cheerleaders are responsible for commitments in the community and to the school because we represent the university.
At the same time, being a Bronco is great fun. The team is close-knit and there is no comparison to leading a stadium of 30,000 fans in our classic cheer "Booooooiseeeeee .......Staaaaaaaate." It is also satisfying to hit a pyramid or stunt sequence after hours of work. As with any activity, there are peaks and valleys and the experience is what members make of it. Hard work and good attitudes lead to success and satisfaction and carry everyone through the valleys.

If you'd like to see the pictures of the team in action, visit the photo album.

Does Boise State Compete? If so, Where? How well has the team done?

The Boise State Cheerleading program is building itself as a competitive team. The team has competed three times at USA Collegiate nationals in the last 4 years:

2006: 4th place
2005: 4th place
2004: did not compete
2003: 8th place

If everyone wishes to compete (or enough people to comprise a complete competition squad) then members are committing to extra practices, a reduced winter break, and raising money to travel to the competition (the school will not fund outside competition).

The team typically competes at USA Collegiate Nationals. This competition is more compatible with our team dynamics. This competition allows us to have our entire team perform, it is a "show cheer" performance (meaning the routine can be all music), and its proximity makes travel less expensive.

Do the Boise State Cheerleaders Travel?

Yes. The entire team usually travels to nearby football games (i.e. within driving distance). In the last few years, small travel squads have been able to travel to away football games. During the 2005-06 school year, a travel squad went to every single away football game. If the football team is in a bowl game, the entire team will travel to the game. During basketball, the team does not travel except for the WAC tournament. In recent years, members have traveled to Hawaii, Georgia, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Reno, Las Vegas, Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon State, Brigham Young University, Fresno, Dallas (at the Ft. Worth Bowl), El Paso, Reno, San Jose, and Memphis TN for the Liberty Bowl. The team usually attends collegiate cheer camp in California. The camp we usually attend is in Anaheim. USA Nationals is usually in Las Vegas.

Frequent Questions Of Prospective Broncos

Frequently Asked Questions

When Are Tryouts for Next Year?

Can I tryout by Video?