UCA Staff

UCA Instructors have taught over 4.5 million athletes to be their very best since 1974.

UCA Instructors are referred by the nation’s top programs and hand-selected based on their skill, knowledge, experience and teaching ability. With more collegiate cheerleaders and current coaches than any other camp company, the UCA Staff are uniquely qualiﬁed to help you and your squad be your very best. Plus, most have attended UCA Camp as cheerleaders themselves! It’s why the UCA Staff bring enthusiasm and passion to everything they do. Spirit pulses in each instructor’s heart and with that – the commitment to helping each team reach their full potential.

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About UCA Staff

UCA Staff Credentials

UCA is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional and social development, and promoting an environment free from abuse and misconduct.

All of our UCA Instructors complete the following certiﬁcations:

Complete and pass a Background Check
Heads Up Concussion Training
USA Cheer Safety Certiﬁcation
Athlete Safety and Wellness Program – must pass a 25 question, scenario-based test on the maltreatment of children and understanding mandatory reporting requirements
Good Moral Character Afﬁdavit
Comprehensive Staff Training Program
Fingerprinting – as required by state law and camp requirements
COVID-19 Safety & Preparedness Training – educated on speciﬁc local guidelines prior to every camp

Interested in applying for UCA Staff? Click here!

Click HERE if you are interested in applying for UCA Staff.

If you have submitted an application for the UCA Staff and have not received an email back about your application, please contact your Staffing Director (information below).

Preparing for Tryouts

So what should you do while you are waiting to find out about tryouts? Keep cheering! Practice teaching by helping new team members, and continue to sharpen your own skills at every practice, game and competition. Identify your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Focus on becoming more versatile as a cheerleader. If you’ve always been a top, give basing a try, and if your feet don’t usually leave the ground, get in the air!

The Tryout

Most of the tryouts will take place in early spring. Some may be live and others may be virtual, depending on your location. The number of instructors chosen at a given tryout depends on the number of returning staff and the number of camps near you. The judges (Regional Managers, State Directors & veteran staff) are watching for the technique with which you perform the material, jumps, stunts and tumbling.

Applicants are evaluated in these areas:

Cheer
Dance
Jumps
Tumbling (standing and running)
Stunts (all-girl and some coed)
Interview

The Interview

The judges are looking for a certain special unnameable quality, so the best advice is to just be yourself. Here are some more interview tips:

Ladies, make sure your hair is brushed, out of your face, and avoid excessive makeup. Gentlemen, avoid wearing a hat and make sure you are clean-shaven.
Know yourself. You should have a pretty good understanding of your major goals and motives, interests, abilities and your central traits before the interview!
Be courteous when introduced to the judges and thank them for their time at the end of the interview.
Be confident and self-assured, but don’t be overconfident!
When answering questions, be brief and to the point. Accentuate your strengths.

If you didn’t receive an invite to apply for UCA Staff at camp, you can still submit an application using the link above.

UCA Staff FAQ's

What is being on UCA Staff like?

The UCA Staff have an incredible opportunity to travel throughout the entire country teaching summer camps and training cheerleaders of all ages and skill levels. As an instructor, you are surrounded by others who share your same love and passion for cheerleading: teaching new skills, instilling leadership qualities in others and creating memorable experiences for young people. With opportunities to work clinics, spirit days, regional events, special events, championships and more – UCA Staff is so much more than a summer job. Being a part of our family is truly something special.

What are some of the duties and responsibilities of being a UCA Instructor?
It takes more than just talent to become a member of the UCA staff. Along with the right cheerleading skills, we look for young men and women possessing character and empathy, as well as teamwork and leadership skills. Referred by coaches and school administrators from the nation’s top college programs, there are more collegiate level instructors at UCA Summer Camps than any other company. Being a member of the UCA Staff is a full-time summer commitment, with many opportunities in the fall and spring, to help young cheerleaders be their very best.

What is the time commitment like?
Time commitment and accountability are huge requirements for this job. It is a full-time summer commitment spanning from late May/early June through the end of August. If you are unavailable at any time during the summer, it is your responsibility to let your Staffing Director/State Director aware. Once your contract is signed, you are required to fulfill your entire schedule of camps that you are assigned to. You will be teaching from a minimum of 8 to 12 hours a day when at camp; with the possibility of being outdoors with indoor intervals throughout depending on camp location. You will be on your feet performing skills and interacting with teams for most of the camp.

Will I stay in my area or be away from home?
Both! You may be working a camp close to home for a week then in a different area the next. Traveling from camp to camp is another aspect and privilege of this job. This means you must have a license and registered/insured vehicle the entire summer and be willing to venture from home. Sometimes, the distance between camps can vary, so always be prepared to travel outside your area. We encourage carpooling with other UCA Instructors as a safety precaution, and to contact your Assistant Regional Manager if you feel too tired to drive in between camps. There will be occasions where you might have to travel and stay by yourself in a hotel, therefore feeling comfortable on your own is a must. Traveling is a privilege of this job, and you will find that some of your lifelong friends will be made through visiting new areas of the country!

What will I be doing as an instructor?
First and foremost, you’ll be teaching cheerleaders from across the country! This includes teaching stunts using the proper progression and keeping safety the top priority, coaching teams one on one, demonstrating game day cheers, sidelines and dances, and more, working alongside coaches and more. You’ll work alongside some of the most talented cheerleaders in the country, helping you become the best cheerleader you can be!

How much do I get paid?
The UCA pay scale is based on experience in performing and teaching and will be set once you are hired. Once at camp, all lodging and meals will be paid for by UCA. On top of your base pay you will receive non-taxed expense money per camp for travel and additional meals. If you are asked to travel a longer distance and you go beyond the fixed amount, you will be reimbursed through an expense report. If you are scheduled for a Day Camp or a Home Camp, you will be housed in a hotel and given more expense money since you will be on your own for more meals. You will be trained on all of these procedures prior to your first camp.

How much will I be working?
Instructors are scheduled according to seniority, availability and need of the camp. Normally, first-year UCA Instructors work anywhere from 6 – 10 camps. Keep in mind, this number can vary either direction based on your performance, willingness to be flexible, and location. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact your Staffing Director.