Cheerleading
From OSU Wiki
Contents |
Team Structure
There are currently three different teams which come together to make Oregon State Cheerleading.
All-Girl: This group of athletes performs at Volleyball games and Women’s Basketball games. The all-girl team has to potential to have as many as 20 girls. There are certain requirements which will determine the placement of the team members. Required skills include: standing back-hand spring, excellent stunt and dance abilities. A standing back-tuck is a preferred skill.
Co-ed: This team is composed of athletes who will perform at Football and Men’s Basketball games. There will be a minimum of 16 members, both male and female which will come together to make eight stunt couples. Required skills for this team include: co-ed toss-extension full down (both men and women), co-ed toss-heel stretch full down (women), Standing back-hand-spring (women), and a standing back-tuck (women). A co-ed toss-heel stretch double down is preferred for women. Also, it is necessary that women be a reasonable weight for the safety of the men, suggested weight is around 120 lbs.
Competition: The selected athletes for this team will compete at UCA College Nationals which takes place in January in Orlando, Florida. The competition team is created from members of either of the above mentioned teams. However, due to the UCA rules and regulations, only 16 people are allowed to be on the competition mat.
Scholarship
A fall scholarship is given to cheerleaders who perform at Football and Men’s Basketball games. This monetary amount is determined based on skill level and years of participation. Generally this means $100 per year that you have been on the team, meaning that if it is your first year on the team you will receive $100 for the season, but if it your fourth year you will receive $400 for the season.
Travel
There are some opportunities to travel throughout the cheerleading season. Oregon State Cheerleaders travel for many different reasons, such as: Football games (pre-season, one away game and bowl games), Basketball tournaments and competitions. Besides the fact that you get to go on these amazing trips, what makes it even better is that they are all expenses paid. This includes flight, hotel and even meals.
Game Days
Football game days for the cheerleaders last atleast eight hours. This seems like a bit of exaggeration, but they have many tasks to complete throughout the day. They arrive to the field four hours before kickoff. Cheerleaders practice their pregame and during game routines with the band before the football players claim the field. After practice, they provide a welcoming and spirited environment as they proudly cheer at the tailgaters. The tailgater schedule is as follows: Alumni Center, Hilton Hotel, Valley Football Center, throughout the Reser parking lot, Truax Indoor Center and sometimes the box seats above Reser Stadium. After they are done with tailgaters, it is time for pregame. They take the field with the dance team and the marching band to create excitement and entertain the guests of Reser Stadium. Then, its kickoff time! The cheerleaders remain on the sidelines for the entire game while they support their team and lead the crowd in a positive and motivating way. They perform athletic skills during their routines during time-outs and anytime there is a dead ball. Nobody likes to be bored at an athletic event!
Other Involvements
The Oregon State University cheerleaders are much more than just what you see on the sidelines. They are high profile students whom are representatives of Oregon State University. The cheerleaders make many appearances throughout the state of Oregon. The busiest time for this team is during Civil War week. There is at least one appearance each night of the week. Many nights the team has to split into several groups so they can be at more than one place at a time. They are asked to attend events and give a positive impression of the University. During high interest times, such as Civil War, the cheerleaders become the face of the Beavers and the community looks to them to make their judgments about Oregon State University. It is crucial that the members of this team are cheerful, dedicated and responsible.
The cheerleaders also organize certain events over the course of the year. These events are created to motivate the community to get involved with the cheerleading program. Clinics are available for many age groups.
Youth Clinic: This clinic is offered for girls and boys grades kindergarten through 8th grade. Participants learn a routine with a dance and cheer incorporated. Then, they get to perform the routine at halftime of a Women’s Basketball game. It takes place in Gill Coliseum and the cost is $20, which includes the clinic, a t-shirt and admission to the game.
College Prep Camp: This event was organized for anyone who is planning on trying out for the OSU cheerleading team. Current cheerleaders teach the clinic and help people learn the stunting and tumbling skills necessary to be a member of the team. One of the best things about this event is that it is also offered to those people who do not plan on attending OSU, but would like an opportunity to brush up on their skills. The cost is $25 and it takes place in Gill Coliseum.
Summer Camp: This is a three day event that is open to any individual, junior high, high school or all-star team. Campers will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn. This camp provides the opportunity to learn original material and take it back to your own high school. There are other surprise activities planned, just to make sure that every camper has a great experience here at Oregon State University.
