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

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

Being a member of UCA’s instructional staff is a great way to stay involved in cheerleading all year long! This is a summer job like no other as we combine cheerleading, teaching and traveling into a one-of-a-kind employment opportunity. The UCA Staff is comprised of young men and women possessing character and empathy, teamwork and leadership skills and of course, talent! Find your place alongside the best cheerleaders in your area as you share your passion with hundreds of participants and coaches all summer long.

• • Role of the UCA Instructor –
    • First and foremost, you’ll be teaching!  This includes demonstrating game day cheers, sidelines and dances; teaching stunts using the proper progression; and keeping safety the top priority.
    • You will also get to work one on one with teams and their coaches to help them master new skills and prepare for daily evaluations.
    • Every instructor also serves as a team leader to their assigned teams to help promote leadership and to make camp fun, exciting, and memorable!
  • Job Training – All instructors will be fully trained on how to teach camp prior to the summer. You will have the chance to meet fellow staff members as you learn our curriculum, practice skills and perfect material.
  • Types of Camp – Most instructors teach a variety of UCA Summer Camps. They include overnight camps, home camps, resort camps, stunt camps and clinics. Overnight camps are held at university campuses or hotels, while home camps are held at schools. Although the focus is mostly on high school athletes, participants can range in age from elementary/youth up through college!
  • Additional Opportunities – While primarily a summer camp role, this position also brings opportunities to work throughout the year, including local competitions, National Championships, Special Event Parades, tryouts and clinics.
  • View THE BEST JOB EVER video below for more reasons to be a part of our incredible staff!

What to expect from a position with UCA?

Improve Cheerleading Skills:

• Gain in-depth knowledge of stunts through instruction, demonstration and repetition.
• Develop strong troubleshooting skills working with teams of all ability levels.
• Perfect motion technique along with a strong sense of crowd leading through signs/poms/megaphones.
• Become the best you can be on the sideline through extensive Game Day preparation activities.

Travel & Build Strong Industry Relationships:

• Work alongside some of the top cheerleaders in the country from many different universities.
• Networking. Gain experience for future job opportunities in the cheerleading industry (apparel sales, marketing, event production) and various fields of education.
• You’ll become a traveling pro going from camp to camp and have the opportunity to experience new cities, states and even countries while teaching UCA Camps!
• Additional year-round employment opportunities like weekend clinics, camps, and competitions.
• Summer Camp instructors become eligible to work special events like half-time shows, parades and national championships, many at Walt Disney World Resort!

Transferable Work Experience:

In addition to staying active, meeting fellow cheerleaders from across your region and, of course, having fun, you will also gain valuable work experience that can impact your future educational and employment endeavors.

• Public speaking. Feel your confidence grow as you lead teams through the daily camp curriculum.
• Interpersonal skills. Every camp is your chance to be a part of, or even manage, a team of fellow instructors.
• Leadership and managerial skills. Become a pro at facilitating ice breakers and team-building exercises.
• Time management skills. Perfect your attention to detail as you work with teams to achieve their goals.
• Problem-solving skills. Learn to think on your feet and create adaptable plans. Every camp is different!
• Customer service skills. Resolve yourself to exceeding every customer’s expectations.

Interested in applying for UCA Staff? Select the Tryout & Application dropdown below!

We are now accepting UCA Staff applications for the summer of 2026. APPLY HERE

Tryout Process

• The tryout will consist of evaluations on cheer and dance material, jumps, tumbling and stunts. Required material will be provided to all applicants prior to tryouts. Additional one-on-one or group interviews may be conducted before final decisions are made.

Please find your state and contact your Staffing Director!

• Southeast – FL, GA, NC, SC
  • Kristen Little – klittle@varsity.com

• Southeast – AL, MS, TN
  • Elizabeth Salsgiver – ESalsgiver@varsity.com

• Northeast – CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT
  • Ashley Cormier – acormier@varsity.com

• Northeast – IN, KY, MI, OH, WV
  • Flora Price – fprice@varsity.com
• Central – AR, IA, IL, KS, LA, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI
  • Kelby Dressler – kdressler@varsity.com

• Southwest – OK, TX
  • Kelly Stoffel – kstoffel@varsity.com

• West – AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
  • Katie Bowers – kbowers@varsity.com