Frequently Asked Questions

When are tryouts going to be held? What are the requirements to tryout for the squad? Does the Ithaca College cheerleading squad compete? Is there a separate competition squad? How many open positions are there for the upcoming season? Is the squad a co-ed or all girl squad? How often does the squad practice? Does Ithaca College offer scholarships for cheerleading? What sports do the cheerleaders cheer for? What do the uniforms look like?

When are tryouts going to be held? Tryouts for football season are held during the first weekend following the beginning of classes (often Labor Day weekend). The exact dates and times for these tryouts cannot be set until after August 1, so please check back for details on the dates and locations of tryouts. Tryouts for basketball season are often held within one week of the final regular season football game, which is often in the beginning of November. Please check this website as these times approach for more information about dates and times of tryouts. What are the requirements to tryout for the squad? When trying out for the Ithaca College cheerleading squad, you will be asked to learn a floor cheer, two sidelines, a short dance and perform 2 jumps. We do not currently require tumbling, but any tumbling skills you may have are an asset. We will also be asking for description of what types of stunting you have done in the past as well as what positions within a stunt group you have mastered. These requirements are subject to change at any time. If you have any questions, please contact the coach at coach@iccheer.com. Does the Ithaca College cheerleading squad compete? The Ithaca College cheerleading program competed in its first competition on Apr 2, 2005. It was an open national competition in Niagara Falls. The Bomber cheerleaders took first place in the All-Girl Non-Tumbling division. Plans are already being made to attend more competitions in the upcoming seasons. In Dec 2006, the Bomber cheerleaders attended their second competition, hosted by All Spirit Productions in Harrisburg, PA and again took first place in their division. The squad attempts to compete at least once per year as money allows. Is there a separate competition squad? The Ithaca College cheerleading program does not have separate game and competition squads. If you wish to cheer at Ithaca College and compete as a cheerleader, you will be required to cheer all football and/or basketball games. The squad members that compete will be selected from the game squads. Not everyone who participates at games will compete, but all members of the squad will be required to learn the competition routine. How many open positions are there for the upcoming season? The ideal number of cheerleaders that we like to take on the squad is 20. We have taken as many as 22 in the past and as few of 18, but we tend to aim for 20 cheerleaders on the squad. Because of this, the number of open positions will vary with the number of returning cheerleaders for each season. Is the squad a co-ed or all girl squad? Since the cheerleading squad formed in 2001-2002, the squad has always been an all-girl program. This is not by design though. We are willing to take male cheerleaders and excited at the possibility of doing so. We have simply not had any men tryout for the squad. Until this changes, we will continue to be an all-girl squad. If you know any men that might be interested in trying out, please have them contact the coach at coach@iccheer.com. How often does the cheerleading squad practice? The squad practice schedule consists of practices 3 nights a week between 2 and 2 1/2 hours each. Practices may be moved or changed as needed to accommodate other events or performances. It may also be necessary to add a practice during a given week to help prepare for a performance. All practices are held in the evenings and usually do not start before 7:00pm. It is highly recommended that individuals interested in trying out for the cheerleading squad refrain from registering for night classes. Does Ithaca College offer scholarships for cheerleading? Ithaca College is a NCAA Division III college, which means that it cannot offer scholarships for any athletes, strictly for the sake of participating in a sport. At the current time, the squad is recognized as a club or recreational sport by the college. What sports do the cheerleaders cheer for? The cheerleading squad cheers for all home football and men's basketball games. In the past, we have also cheered for women's basketball games and for charity events on campus. What do the uniforms look like? New uniforms were purchased for the squad in the fall of 2006. I have not put together a page to highlight the new uniforms yet.