BCA University Squads FAQ

Starting a cheerleading team at my university

 

What is cheerleading?

If you are new to the world of cheerleading it is good to start doing some research.  Search around websites; talk to friends at other universities and you can call the BCA with any questions.  There are great books available such as “Coaching Cheerleading Successfully” and “Complete Cheerleading” offering some basics which are a good starting point for you to discover what it is all about.

 

Members

For any team to be successful you need to make yourself known and get your ideas heard.

• Talk to your friends, flat mates, course mates, anyone you can think of who may be interested in joining or running a team. 
• Decide who is going to do what.  Do you need to hire a coach or are you going to take it upon yourselves?
• Are you going to have a committee? There is a lot to organize, could you do this all yourself, or do you think you need help?
• Do you trust others to do the job properly?

These are all things you need to think about when the team is being established.  Of course the structure can change as the team matures, but setting a good president to start with will help you get off on the right foot.

 

Coaching

You may wish to search for a local cheerleading coach who is willing to teach you, or you may wish to nominate a current member to be trained and become a qualified coach themselves.  If you decide to coach the team yourselves, then the BCA can provide camps and clinics that could be a great start to learn the basics in stunting and gymnastics, jumps and dance routines.  They can provide continuing support for your team and give advice on training and competition etc.  All information on qualifications can be found on the “courses” section of the BCA website and camps on the “camps and clinics” section.

 

Becoming a SPORT

It would be in all cheerleaders’ dreams to be considered a varsity sport, but until Mister BUCS (formally BUSA) says so, we will forever be pushed towards the Students Unions to become a Club or Society.  It is usually nothing personal and whittles down to where their funding is coming from and where it is being spent, they are not going to invest in you if you are not going to be ‘worth it’ to them.  If you are lucky enough to make it into the AU (Athletics Union) then well done and thank you for promoting cheerleading as a sport at your university.   Though it is still always worth trying to apply, so approach the sports department, show them a DVD or let them watch you practice, it never hurts to ask!

 

Becoming a Club or Society

The Students Union could be your best resource for help and advice in making things happen; after all it is their job is to look out for the students, so make the most of this.  Find out who the head of clubs and societies is and who you need to talk to about getting recognition.  You will most probably have to fill out lots of paper work, have a constitution in place and show your program “structure” i.e., president, secretary or treasurer etc.  They will often insist at the beginning of the year that you go to numerous health and safety and first aid meetings, but it is worth it in the end as they can provide a lot of support and more importantly funding for your team.

 

Training

Once you have your coach, team and members you will need to find somewhere to practice.  Talk to sports department and Students Union, they will know most of the rooms and spaces available so they can give advice appropriate space etc.  But remember, cheerleading may be something they are not familiar with, so gently remind them that yes we do throw people into the air so a high ceiling will be a necessity.  In your training space you will need to provide your cheerleaders with safety mats. In stunts and gymnastics mats are very important as gravity is inevitable and accidents sometimes happen.  Ask the sports department if they have any and if you would be allowed to use them.  If they don’t then maybe ask if they will consider in investing some, failing this head to your Students Union and insist that your activity cannot take place without them, gentle persuasion is sometimes all it takes.  If you are really stuck then you can apply for funding through your SU, they have a budget set aside for clubs and societies use, although they normally like you to show that some sort of fundraising activity has taken place and will often agree to ‘go halves’.

 

Supporting a team

If traditional cheering for a sports team is the direction you want to take then approach the sports department to see if any of the sports team/ coaches would be interested in having a cheer team support them.  Traditionally teams that have cheerleaders include American Football and Basketball, but anything from football to chute ball may be interested in having the extra support.  A word of warning though, supporting other sports teams may new and exciting to begin with, but as the squad matures you may find weekly basketball matches and pep rallies just take up too much training time to organize.  If you are going to be a competitive squad as well, then agree with the coach what games you can and cannot attend and stick with it.  Once you are established and interest in the team is building, you may be approached by other sports teams or societies to cheer for them, remember you do not owe them anything, just because you cheer for the rugby team doesn’t mean you have to cheer for the football team too.  Do not feel guilty for saying no, you are an individual team in itself that needs time to train and practice, which may be hard to do when you are busy trying to please everyone else.

 

Uniform

In most teams it seems the biggest decision to make is what uniform to choose. Before doing so here are some important things you should think of:

• Consider Rules and Regulations: Before you choose a uniform, investigate any rules and regulations the association you intend to compete with may have. The BCA operates a no bare midriff policy, the exact rule is “When standing at attention, apparel must cover the midriff.” meaning that if your top rides up during performance and stunting etc then it would not be a violation of the rule.
• Knowing your budget: Decide how much money you can spend, set a budget and try to stick to it.  Designing a good pattern that can be remade year after year will really benefit the whole team. Ordering and intricate and expensive design from America may suit this year’s budget, but next year’s Fresher’s may not have the same funds.  You can get pretty much any style you want made here in the UK, you will be saving on shipping and tax costs and they will arrive must faster.  Be honest and upfront at the start of the year to how much your kit will cost.  If you go for a traditional full uniform, after including a skirt, shell top, spanky pants, polo top and trainers you will be looking at spending at least £100 (and that’s cheap!)
• Flattering the whole team: You need to consider the size and shape of everyone on the team, what may look good on one member, may not flatter another.  The goal is to make the whole squad look great; therefore you need to purchase something that will compliment the majority of the team.
• Colours: Be inspired by your Universities colours and traditions, if there aren’t any clear or obvious ones have a chat with the sports department.  They might have a plan for the future so it would be good to know this before investing in kit and colours that will be out of place in a year’s time.
• Comfort Factor: Comfort is a massive issue, the last thing you want to be worrying about during a competition or performance is an ill fitting or uncomfortable uniform.  If possible ask for a sample of the style and size you are looking to purchase (most good suppliers do this so) and try on, if you don’t like it change it before the order goes ahead.  Uncomfortable cheerleaders are grumpy cheerleaders, so make sure you get the style right.
• Delivery times:  Always order the kit with enough time for it to arrive before any games or competitions.  It is so important you get any delivery dates IN WRITING and all parties are aware of them.  Never pay in full before you receive your order in full and it may be helpful to read customer reviews and speak to other people who have ordered from the company you choose to go with.