Dreaming of cheering in college? The college cheer recruiting process can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to balance school, practice, competitions, and everything else in your life. The good news: you don’t need to guess your way through it.
In this guide, we’ll walk through a step-by-step college cheer recruiting plan so you know what to do, when to do it, and how to help coaches actually see you. We’ll cover how college cheer recruiting works, when to start, what to put in your recruiting profile, how to film your video, and how to reach out to coaches with confidence.
Whether you’re all-star, school cheer, or both, this college cheer recruiting roadmap will help you take control of the process instead of waiting and hoping to be noticed.
What Is College Cheer Recruiting & How Does It Work?
College cheer recruiting is the process where cheer coaches at colleges and universities find, evaluate, and select athletes for their teams. Unlike some other sports, there isn’t always a strict NCAA recruiting calendar just for cheer, and a lot of the process happens through clinics, videos, and direct communication with coaches.
Most college cheer coaches evaluate athletes in a few key ways: watching recruiting videos, seeing athletes at college cheer clinics or combines, and watching them at tryouts or invitation-only practices. Many programs also pay attention to athletes’ social media and how they carry themselves online and in person.
Because cheer isn’t always treated exactly like other NCAA sports, athletes and families have to be very proactive. That means you’ll need a plan for your skills, your academics, your video, and your communication with coaches.
When Should You Start the College Cheer Recruiting Process?
The college cheer recruiting process is starting earlier every year. Some athletes begin researching programs and attending clinics as early as freshman or sophomore year, especially if they’re targeting highly competitive programs.
Here’s a simple timeline to think about (you can start earlier or later, this is just a guide):
- Freshman–Sophomore Year: Focus on building strong fundamentals, tumbling, and stunting. Keep your grades up, start following programs on social media, and casually explore schools.
- Sophomore–Junior Year: Narrow your school list, attend a few college cheer clinics or combines, and start collecting video clips of your best skills.
- Junior Year: Build your cheer recruiting profile and highlight video, start emailing coaches, and visit campuses or clinics for your top choices.
- Senior Year: Finalize your list, attend tryouts or invite-only practices, and stay in regular communication with coaches.
Remember: academics matter. Many college cheer programs require a minimum GPA and test scores, especially if the program is tied to scholarship funding or an athletics department.
Step 1: Get Clear on Your College & Cheer Goals
Before you dive too far into college cheer recruiting, step back and think about the bigger picture. You’re not just picking a cheer team—you’re picking a school and a life for the next four years.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to study? Does the school have my major (or at least a few I’d be happy with)?
- Do I want a big campus, a small campus, or something in between?
- How far from home am I willing to go?
- Is a scholarship important for my family’s budget, or is a roster spot without scholarship still worth it?
- Do I want a game-day focused program, a competitive cheer program, STUNT, or a mix?
Once you know what you want from the school, you can build a more realistic list of cheer programs that fit your academic, financial, and lifestyle goals.
Step 2: Build a Standout College Cheer Recruiting Profile
A strong cheer recruiting profile makes it easy for coaches to see who you are at a glance. You can host this on a simple website, a private page, or even a well-organized PDF or graphic that you share by email.
Include these pieces in your college cheer recruiting profile:
- Basic info: Full name, grad year, school, city/state.
- Contact info: Athlete email (professional), parent email, phone number.
- Academics: GPA, test scores (if applicable), intended major, academic honors.
- Cheer experience: High school team, all-star gyms, positions (flyer, base, backspot), leadership roles (captain, co-captain).
- Skills snapshot: Tumbling (standing & running), stunting positions, jumps, any specialty skills.
- Video links: Highlight video, full routine videos, or skill reels (hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or similar).
- Key achievements: Nationals placements, awards, team leadership, community involvement.
Visually, think “clean and coach-friendly.” Use clear headings, readable fonts, and a simple design so coaches can skim quickly. This is a great place to use polished recruiting graphics or templates to help your profile look professional and on-brand.
Step 3: Film a Strong Cheer Recruiting Video
For many programs, your cheer recruiting video is the first impression a coach gets of you. Coaches want to see clean, consistent skills more than risky tricks that you hit once in a while.
Here’s what to include in a college cheer recruiting video:
- Intro slide: Name, grad year, positions, gym/school, and contact info.
- Tumbling:
- Standing: tucks, handsprings, multiples (show your highest consistent level).
- Running: layout, full, or whatever is solid for you on a dead mat.
- Stunting: Show skills in your primary position (flyer, base, backspot) with clean technique and safe grips.
- Jumps: Toe touch, pike, hurdler, and a jump series if you have one.
- Game-day or routine clips: Short sections that show your performance energy, voice projection, and crowd leadership.
Video tips:
- Film in good lighting with minimal background distractions.
- Keep clips short and focused. Aim for 3–5 minutes total.
- Use simple editing (no heavy filters or distracting text).
- Label sections with on-screen text so coaches know what they’re seeing.
Update your video as you gain new skills, and keep the link consistent so you don’t have to send a fresh link every time.
Step 4: Use Social Media Strategically in Cheer Recruiting
Social media isn’t officially part of every college cheer recruiting process, but many coaches admit they check it. What they see there can help—or hurt—your chances.
Smart ways to use social media for cheer recruiting:
- Create a cheer-focused account (for example, an Instagram page) that highlights your skills, competitions, and progress.
- Post short clips of tumbling, stunts, and game-day moments with clear captions.
- Tag gyms, teams, and events appropriately—and occasionally tag college programs when it makes sense (for example, after a clinic).
- Keep everything clean and positive. Avoid drama, trash talk, or anything that could raise red flags.
Think of your social media as a live, ongoing extension of your college cheer recruiting profile.
Step 5: Email College Cheer Coaches the Right Way
Coaches are busy. A short, clear email that includes your key information and links will stand out much more than a long, rambling message.
Here’s a simple email structure you can use:
- Subject line: “Class of [Year] Cheer Recruit – [Name], [Positions]”
- Intro: Who you are, grad year, where you cheer now.
- Why their school: One or two specific reasons their program and school interest you.
- Key info: Positions (flyer/base/backspot), tumbling level, GPA, and major interest.
- Links: Recruiting profile, highlight video, and social media handle if you use it for cheer.
- Close: Thank them for their time and ask a simple next-step question (for example, “Are there any upcoming clinics or tryout dates I should know about?”).
Be sure to:
- Use a professional email address (for example, [email protected]).
- Run spell-check and read it out loud before sending.
- Keep a simple spreadsheet to track which coaches you’ve contacted, when, and how they responded.
Step 6: Leverage Clinics, Combines & Campus Visits
College cheer recruiting doesn’t happen only online. Many programs evaluate athletes at cheer clinics, college combines, and campus visits. These events let coaches see your skills in person and help you get a feel for the program’s culture.
How to make the most of in-person opportunities:
- Prioritize clinics and combines at schools (or regions) you’re genuinely interested in.
- Introduce yourself to coaches respectfully—before or after the event—not in the middle of a drill.
- Bring your best energy and attitude, even if you’re nervous or tired.
- Follow up afterward with a short thank-you email and a reminder of who you are.
If you can visit campus, try to see the practice space, game-day environment, and where you’d be living and attending classes. You’re choosing a home, not just a team.
Common College Cheer Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid
Even strong athletes can struggle in college cheer recruiting if they make these common mistakes:
- Waiting too long to start. If you wait until late senior year to get serious, some roster spots may already be filled.
- Chasing only “big name” Division I programs. There are great cheer opportunities at smaller schools, NAIA programs, and even junior colleges—some with scholarships.
- Sending messy, unedited videos. Coaches don’t have time to dig through 20 minutes of random clips.
- Ignoring academics. Falling behind in school can make you ineligible or less attractive to programs.
- Not communicating. Coaches can’t read your mind. If you’re interested, say so and stay in touch.
How Parents Can Support the Cheer Recruiting Journey
Parents play a big role in college cheer recruiting—but the athlete still needs to be the lead voice. The best approach is “supportive, not controlling.”
Parents can help by:
- Helping with travel to clinics, combines, and campus visits.
- Keeping track of deadlines, forms, and financial aid info.
- Proofreading emails and profiles while letting the athlete speak in their own voice.
- Encouraging healthy habits: sleep, nutrition, recovery, and mental health.
Cheer recruiting can be emotional—there will be wins, rejections, and tough decisions. Having calm, steady parent support makes the journey much easier.
Putting It All Together: Your College Cheer Recruiting Game Plan
College cheer recruiting doesn’t have to be a mystery. When you break it down, your game plan looks like this:
- Clarify your college and cheer goals.
- Build a clean, coach-friendly cheer recruiting profile.
- Create and update a strong highlight video that shows your best consistent skills.
- Use social media as a professional extension of your athlete brand.
- Email coaches with clear, respectful messages and helpful links.
- Get face time at clinics, combines, and campus visits.
- Stay organized, stay proactive, and keep your academics strong.
The college cheer world is growing, with more programs, more clinics, and more opportunities than ever before. When you approach college cheer recruiting with a clear strategy, you give yourself the best chance to find a program where you feel valued, challenged, and supported—on the mat and in the classroom.
Most of all, remember this: your worth is not defined by one team, one tryout, or one decision. The right fit is out there, and this college cheer recruiting process is simply your roadmap to finding it.
Want some help pulling all of this together?
I created a College Cheer Recruiting Template Bundle in Canva with a ready-to-edit recruiting profile, highlight reel cover, social media graphics, a competition/clinic schedule, and email scripts for coaches. You can plug in your own photos, skills, and links so you have a polished, coach-ready recruiting package in one place.