STEP 1: Complete a recruitment questionnaire, turn in a letter of recommendation, and upload the required YouTube videos to allow the coaching staff to get to know you as a person and an athlete. We will review these submissions as they are received. We will send a confirmation email when we receive your submission.

STEP 2: Meet us at a clinic/combine or virtually. We are open to setting up a Zoom with prospective cheer team members.

STEP 3: Follow us on social media. We post all up to date information regarding recruiting as well as national competitions, combines and events that we will be attending.

• Facebook: Iowa Cheerleading
• Instagram: @iowacheerleading
• Twitter: @iowacheer

General Timeline:

• High School Freshman/Sophomore/Junior Year:
  • Prospective Cheerleader attends clinics and/or national events/recruiting combines.
• High School Senior Year:
  • Fall:
    • Prospective Cheerleader applies to the University of Iowa.
    • Prospective Cheerleader attends clinic/combine.
  • Winter:
    • Prospective Cheerleader records skills video, completes recruiting questionnaire, and submits this information with letter of recommendation before December 1, 2023.
    • Coaching staff will send material to learn (ex. Fight Song, Cheer…) and request additional skills be recorded and sent back for the coaching staff to review.
  • Spring:
    • Coaching Staff offers positions to prospective cheerleaders
    • Prospective Cheerleaders accept spot on University of Iowa Cheer Team
    • University of Iowa Cheer Team Roster Announcement prior to May 1.
    • New Team Members virtual Team Meeting – date TBD

There is an opportunity to upload three (3) videos on the recruitment questionnaire.

First/Introduction Video Requirements:
Attire: Video should be of you speaking directly to the camera and be no more than one minute in length. Please include:

1. Your name
2. Hometown
3. School cheer team and/or All-Star gym name
4. Why you want to attend Iowa.
5. Why you would like to be on the cheer team.
6. Why you would be an ideal candidate.
7. What you hope to pursue academically.

Second Video Requirements: Tumbling
The skills listed below in the tumbling section are not mandatory skills to perform. Please show us your best standing and running tumbling.
Standing Tumbling (ON DEAD MAT):

• Standing back tuck
• Elite standing passes:
  • Two (2) back handsprings to full
  • One (1) back handspring to full
  • Standing full

Running Tumbling (ON DEAD MAT):

• Round off back handspring layout
• Round off back handspring full
• Elite running passes:
  • Whip to full
  • Arabian to full
  • Full through to full
  • Any additional passes

Third Video Requirements: Co-ed Stunting
We are looking to see potential. Show us how many of these stunts you can complete successfully on different stunt partners.

• Hands stunts: hands extension, lib, stretch, high torch arabesque, cupie
• Walk-in stunts: walk-in extension, lib, stretch, high torch arabesque, cupie
• Toss stunts: extension, lib, stretch, high torch arabesque, cupie
• Spinning stunts: full up, hands full around
• Elite stunts: round-off ups, back handspring ups, front handspring ups, rewinds, hand-in-hands
• Any additional skills outside of what is listed above.

These videos do not need to be professionally edited, but do need to be PUBLIC or UNLISTED YouTube Links in order for our coaching staff to be able to view them (please test your link before including it on the questionnaire).

Note: Additional skills may be requested as needed by the coaching staff. Please feel free to send any updated skills as the year progresses.

The coaching staff will be reviewing the questionnaires and will take the necessary time to evaluate all relevant information before reaching out with next steps. All questionnaires will receive a response. The staff will reach out to those cheerleaders who best fit our program with material to learn and additional skill requests.

Though there is no requirement to attend a clinic to be on the team, it is strongly recommended. While we do understand that scheduling issues at times can prohibit cheerleaders from attending, it is important to prioritize. Attending a clinic and introducing yourself to our coaching staff demonstrates the initial level of commitment and interest for which we are looking!

First-year student application information

Transfer student application information

During the recruitment process, the coaching staff and prospective cheerleaders will engage in conversations on how best to proceed with the admissions process. It is important to note that all cheerleaders will need to be able to speak to their cumulative GPA, standardized test scores and class rank and this field must be completed on the questionnaire for the application to be reviewed holistically. Proof of admission to the University of Iowa is required for the coaching staff to offer a roster spot to a prospective student athlete.

Beyond technical skills, we look for well rounded individuals. We search for those who are able to conduct themselves professionally (our cheerleaders frequently engage in conversations with many alumni, university employees, donors, and fans) and have strong academic success! Our team culture and family atmosphere are vital to the team’s success, therefore a team-oriented individual is also important.

We believe the more exposure the better! We strongly recommend attending an info session/ clinic as it is a great way to meet the coach while also getting to interact with other prospective cheerleaders and current members of the team. Another way to connect would be by contacting Coach Gregg via email to set up a time to meet in person or via Zoom.

The most important thing to make sure you do is communicate! Meet and stay connected to the coaching staff and continue to update us on your application process to the University of Iowa. If you are serious about coming to the University of Iowa, share that with us! We highly value transparency and communication both in the recruiting process and on our team.

Yes, the coaching staff will reach out to prospective student athletes that we are interested in having as a part of our program for a one on one conversation. This will allow us to get to know you as an individual and will allow you to ask questions about the University of Iowa and our program.

Yes. If you did not get admitted to the University of Iowa. If you misrepresented yourself in any way, in your skills, character or any other areas of your application process. If any team expectations, rules and regulations are broken upon acceptance of your position.

We are looking for someone who knows and can speak to your character, not your cheer ability. The letter should offer a perspective of who you are as a person and offer supporting examples. Though that might be a cheer coach, it could also be a school teacher, a boss, or another individual that knows you very well. We do ask that your letter is written by an adult that is not related to you. The person that writes your letter of recommendation can also be a person that you use as a reference.