ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recruitment Registration is now live and photo gallery from camp is now available - Check below for both!
Thanks for everyone’s time and energy during our Prospect Camp! Our goal was for each and every participant to walk away feeling challenged, inspired and with a better understanding of the Tennessee Spirit Program! Be sure to check out the pictures in the Media Gallery and tag us on Instagram!
Recruitment Timeline
(Check below for link to our guidelines for your video submission)
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Video Submission Due
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Potential Invite-Only Weekend
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Offers Extended
Period of time for expected offers to be extended
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New Recruit Class Announced
Announcement of full recruiting class
Media Gallery
Here you will find a selection of photos from the Camp! If you would like to see the entire album, click the button below the gallery and you'll be directed to the full gallery where you can browse all photos and download them in high resolution.
Upcoming Clinics
September 24, 2023
*Registration will be live on our Tennessee Spirit Camps website by the beginning of August. Click below for the link to that page.
Featured Media
FAQs
In 2021, we shifted to a recruitment model for our team selection. This process is a combination of evaluating potential spirit members at in person Tennessee clinics, combines, and a required video submission. You do not have to attend in person clinics to be considered; however, it is highly recommended in order for the coaching staff and team to know you outside of a video. Please see the recruitment timeline for a snapshot of the overall process.
Yes! We are very proud to be a leading program surrounding spirit scholarships. Our financial assistance is based on years of experience on the team and can vary based on your eligibility involving grades and compliance. Please note, we do not have the option to waive out of state tuition.
Below is our scholarship tier as it currently stands per year:
First year - $0 - $1000
Second year - up to $2000
Third year - up to $4000
Fourth year - up to $6000
Below is our scholarship tier as it currently stands per year:
First year - $0 - $1000
Second year - up to $2000
Third year - up to $4000
Fourth year - up to $6000
On Rocky Top you can find us on the sidelines at football, men’s / women’s basketball, and volleyball. We have been known to make guest appearances at soccer and swimming/diving. We also have the privilege to travel to away football games and in the postseason with football and basketball - which lends itself to new places to visit with our teammates!
Our athletic department provides our spirit program with amazing resources to aid in the success of our athletes. Aside from being 100% financially supported, we have access to a team doctor, an athletic trainer dedicated to the spirit program, strength and conditioning coaches, an athletic specific academic advisor, access to mental health support, nutrition, sports psychologist, and eligibility to athlete specific housing.
Once a member of the spirit program, you are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA to be eligible. To be considered for travel (away games, post season) then you must have a 2.5 GPA.
Yes. You are allowed to participate in organizations (Greek life, student organizations, jobs, etc.) while a member of the spirit program. However, we do ask that you communicate upfront with the organization/job that your commitment to the spirit program comes first and should not interfere with practice, workouts, assigned games, appearances, etc.
You are not permitted to be a part of another team or intramural sports due to the high risk of injury that could be sustained while participating in those organizations.
You are not permitted to be a part of another team or intramural sports due to the high risk of injury that could be sustained while participating in those organizations.
Our current team has 45 members consisting of 24 males and 21 females, which is the largest team we have had in the history of the program. The roster can vary depending on the components needed for each season.
Our first objective when narrowing down our search is rating a cheerleader’s compatibility with our current team. It's not often you get to choose who is in your family, therefore we take this step very seriously. Our program is very family oriented and anyone joining needs to buy in and support our goal of maintaining a positive, growth focused culture. Technically speaking, a cheerleader needs to be well rounded and looking to continue to evolve. Ultimately, your skills need to be on par with the current team and ideally going to push the team. When in doubt, reference our nationals performances from the year before to see a baseline for skills the following season.
Typically, we have four set days of practice through the fall, two set days of strength and conditioning, academic study hours, appearances on campus / in community, and athletic events. Additionally, in the fall we have two Sundays a month dedicated to practice for our national competition in January. On average, we equate the hours required for the cheer team to be similar to a part-time job.
We compete at the Universal Cheerleading Association College National Competition in the Division IA Gameday and traditional routine. We have won 2 National Championships in Gameday and placed as high as 2nd in the traditional routine.
Historically, we learn our national specific choreography at the start of our fall semester and dedicate Sunday practices as well as dedicating one night through the week to work on stunting and nationals pyramids. Once finals are over in December, we transition our preparation into a full-time job up until we break for the holiday. We typically have seven to 10 days off and then come back together at the start of the new year. We practice every day until we depart for the national competition in mid-January.