University of Memphis Athletics
Routines, cameras, action! Spirit Squad tryouts use novel approach
May 29, 2020 | Spirit Squad
Submitted videos replace in-person workouts during age of social distancing
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – One could say tryouts for the University of Memphis 2020-21 Spirit Squads had a different twist to them this spring.
Oh, there were the traditional routines and tumbling skills on display, but this time they were viewed through a different lens for coaches Carol Lloyd and Tony Crump. Unable to convene on campus to conduct tryouts, the staff had prospective team members try out by submitting videos.
There were videos taken in garages, backyards, dance studios, cheer gyms, parks and on football fields and random patches of grass.
It was a scene played out throughout the country by spirit squad coaches hamstrung by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced campuses to close as part of an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease.
With the UofM campus unavailable because of stay-at-home guidelines, Lloyd and Crump began the process of virtual tryouts. Lloyd knew such an approach likely would be used following a mid-March shutdown of collegiate and pro sports.
"We all started talking about what it would mean for our tryouts," Lloyd said. "A lot of schools have their tryouts in April. We (spirit squad coaches throughout the region) were all running ideas past each other on the best process."
Despite the limitations, Lloyd, the Spirit Squad Coordinator and Head Dance Coach, knew she didn't want to stray far from her normal tryout schedule.
"Every other (school) had their own twist, but I stayed as close as I could to a regular tryout," Lloyd said. "Everything was (conducted) in one weekend. They sent their paperwork to me . . . and then Friday at 2 o'clock they received their initial welcome email and the first link of their material."
Lloyd said they had to learn a band dance, record it, upload it to YouTube and "send it back to me before 6 p.m."
"They had three hours like they normally would have at an in-person clinic," she said. "Then the candidates who made it to the next round had to wait until Saturday morning to get the email telling them they advanced."
Lloyd then emailed the next set of instructions "and they had three hours to send that material in."
With that material in hand, Lloyd created a Google Doc and had a collection of judges assist her in the evaluation process. Lloyd quickly embraced the technology required.
"I'm not tech savvy," Lloyd said. "I'm old school. The girls make fun of me. They say you have so many notepads. But I like to write things down."
On Sunday, Lloyd requested more videos and narrowed the field.
"I ended up asking 10 more girls to send me more videos," she said. "I was honest with them. I told them with this tryout process I wanted to be as fair as possible. I needed to see more because it's hard with video."
As in any year, cheer and pom had roughly 100 people try out.
Lloyd said it was challenging not being "able to interact" with those trying out because it prevented her from observing how they "might adapt to change or react around others."
"You don't get to read their body language," Lloyd said. "You don't get to see how assertive they are when it comes to learning something."
When she had to request additional video, Lloyd said she was impressed with the ones who quickly responded. It told her "who was determined to make the team."
Ally Spraker, a sophomore from Oak Ridge, Tenn., said it was difficult submitting a video after trying out in-person last year and making the team. But, she said, the process also had its advantages in that a video could be redone if necessary.
Overall, however, she's glad she didn't have to try out via video as a freshman.
"Absolutely," she said. "If I'd never tried out before and had to do it completely on line, I'd have been freaking out. I knew what to expect."
Caroline Jones, also an incoming sophomore, said during an in-person tryout there are opportunities to evaluate the competition. Jones, who attended Houston High, said "the hardest part was just not knowing what you are up against."
"Every year when you have the in-person tryouts you can see everyone around you. You kind of know where you stand. With the on-line ones, you have no idea."
Crump, entering his eighth season as a coach, said the process was challenging. He missed the in-person interaction and the ability to "see how kids interact with each other."
"We were going strictly off of skills," Crump said.
Crump, the Head Cheer coach, said the submitted videos began with a candidate giving a brief introduction, including cheer history and what made them want to be part of the Memphis program. Candidates also were required to send in their standing tumbling videos, a mix of backhand springs, roundoffs and tucks, among others.
Crump said he learned a lot during the process, but, like Lloyd is awaiting a return to normalcy.
"I definitely do not wish this (video tryouts) to replace in-person tryouts, by any means," he said. "It was different, but it was a good experience. I was able to focus in on more details, which helps out a lot."
How much will Lloyd look forward to conventional tryouts again?
"One million percent," she said. "It was intimidating at first (doing video tryouts), but all of us were in the same boat. I think it brought everyone (in coaching) closer. We are all in the same business. We had to reach out."
As for Crump?
"The day we can get back in a gym?" he said. "I will be one happy guy."
