McNeese State University Cowgirl Kickers
Contact us at mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com















​
2025 Audition Dates and Information!
​
RECRUITMENT CLINICS
November 17
February 2
May 4
all clinics are from noon-6pm
in the Aerobics Room of the MRec
​
Auditions: May 16-18, 2025
​
Thank you for showing interest in auditioning for the McNeese Cowgirl Kickers! We are excited to begin the process of forming our team for the upcoming school year. Please feel free to email the Director, Emily DeRouen, at mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com with any questions.
​
​
​
​
IMPORTANT DATES TO CONSIDER
-McNeese PREVIEW DAYS: March 15
This event is to welcome prospective students, to invite them to explore the campus, and to see all of the appealing aspects of McNeese. There is a University Departmental Browse to allow students the opportunity to visit various academic departments. There are also informational sessions where students will have the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the colleges of their respective areas of academic interests. Anyone considering a future at McNeese is highly encouraged to take part in this tremendous event to learn more about what McNeese has to offer.
​
-THE KICKER EXPERIENCE
We are excited to bring back a prime experience in Lake Charles! We'd love to offer you a chance to envision yourself as a collegiate dancer and meet new friends along the way. We invite you to join us for McNeese Football on November 2nd to experience "The Hole" from a different perspective. We'd also like to extend the invitation to include McNeese Men's Basketball on January 18th and February 8th in the state-of-the-art Legacy Center. These events will acquaint you with game day traditions and events of the Cowgirl Kickers! Click the Registration Tab above for all the information. ​​​
-RECRUITMENT CLINICS (schedule at top of page)
We will be hosting multiple recruitment clinics this year. We will continue to host young ladies interested in auditioning for any high school or college dance team. Each clinic will be held in the Aerobics Room (upstairs) of the McNeese Recreational Complex. Each clinic will consist of registration, multiple hours of instruction with dance coaches Lauren Morris Pruitt and Anna Perry, and ending with a Q&A session. These serve as optional practice days to provide help with skills and styles upon which dancers will be judged at auditions and to answer any and all questions about the audition process and team membership. There is a $60 fee for each clinic. Skills will include, but are not limited to: needle, toe touch, calypso, triple pirouettes, turns-in-second, right and left leaps, disc, second leap, jump split, layout, leg hold turn, head spring and kip up. Basic kick series and technique will also be covered. Each clinic will offer a jazz, hip hop, and pom combo. A waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian of anyone not currently on the team. Please download the PDF at the bottom of the registration page to access the form. Attendance will not be allowed if the form is not completed. Again, these dates are optional but highly recommended for those interested in auditioning for the Cowgirl Kickers as an opportunity to work with coaches and current team members. All registration is done through the Cowgirl Kicker website.
​
-2025 Summer Dates and 2025 Football Schedule
Each Kicker is required to attend every summer practice, Precious Pokes and Cowgirl Kicker Kutie Camps, every home football game, the predetermined Football Travel Game/Band Recruiting Trip, and The Pride of McNeese Marching Band Festival.
Below is a recap of the 2024 Summer schedule so that you have an idea of what is required.
-Summer Schedule: June 17-22; July 8-10; July 18-26
-Regular Practice begins: Aug 5
-Precious Pokes: June17-19
-Kicker Kutie Camp: July 22-26
-Football Schedule: can be found on www.mcneesesports.com. We will attend the Texas A&M game on September 7, 2024, and the Marching Band Festival will be held on October 26, 2024.
​
-Additional Mandatory Team Appearances
Kickers are present at all Men's and Women's Basketball games and at some of the McNeese Baseball and Softball games. Other required appearances and fundraisers are announced throughout the year as our attendance is requested by the University, Athletic Department, and our community.
​​We give you this information so that you can truly evaluate whether or not you lifestyle can accommodate the demanding schedule of the Cowgirl Kickers. This is a rigorous extracurricular commitment that is successfully fulfilled only by those dancers with the utmost dedication and devotion to our team and to McNeese State University!
AUDITION DATES AND SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Deadline for audition registration.
​
Sunday, May 11, 2025
A detailed video of a pom sideline will be emailed to you. You will be responsible to learn this routine individually to be judged Saturday, May 17th.
​
Monday, May 12, 2025
Deadline for music. Music must be emailed to mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com with "Your Full Name - Auditions 2025" as the subject.
​
FRIDAY, May 16, 2025
Place: McNeese Recreation Complex, Aerobics Room (upstairs)
5 - 8p.m. Learn the jazz/kick routine to be judged on Sunday, May 18th.
Attire: Black, white, or royal blue sports bra top with any black bottoms.
Groups and times will be announced for Saturday's judging.
SATURDAY, May 17, 2025
Place: McNeese Recreation Complex, Aerobics Room (upstairs)
{a detailed schedule will be given Friday night with group times}
8:00 a.m. Aerobics Room Unlocked
8:30 a.m.-noon morning group judging
noon - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. Aerobics Room Unlocked
1:30-until afternoon group judging
Saturday's judging will include: solo routines, the pom sideline routine (from video), and bonuses
*Solo routines should be maximum of 2 minutes long. There is no style requirement for your routine; it is meant to show off your strengths and personality as a dancer. Your routine must include the following skills: needle, leg hold turn, 2 8-counts of a turn sequence, disc, and right leap. Music must be emailed to mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com with "Your Full Name - Auditions 2025" as the subject by Monday, May 12th.
Attire: GAME DAY hair and make-up; any colored sports bra top with any color fitted dance/workout shorts.
​
SUNDAY, May 18, 2025
Place: McNeese Recreation Complex, Aerobics Room (upstairs)
{a detailed schedule will be given Saturday evening with group times}
12:30 pm: Check in
1:00-4:30 p.m. Judge jazz/kick routine
5:00-6:00 p.m. Learn Hip Hop combo
6:30-7:30 p.m. Judge Hip Hop combo
Attire: GAME DAY hair and make-up; Black, white, or royal blue sports bra top with any black fitted dance/workout shorts for jazz. Bring black hip hop pants (sweats, cargo, joggers, etc) and neutral tennis shoes for hip hop.
​
The final roster for the team will be announced upon completion of scoring.
​
Veterans will report for a meeting on Monday, May 19th 5:30-8:30p.m.
New members will report for a meeting on Tuesday, May 20th from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The 2025 banquet will be scheduled at a later date. ​
​
​
​
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IF I HAVE A SCHEDULE CONFLICT WITH THE AUDITION DAY?
Please contact the Director at mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com
​
DO I NEED TO KNOW A DANCE ROUTINE?
YES! YOU WILL BE JUDGED ON A 2-MINUTE SOLO OF YOUR CHOICE! THIS ROUTINE WILL BE JUDGED ALONG WITH POM ON SATURDAY, MAY 17th.
*Solo routines should be a maximum of 2 minutes long. There is no style requirement for your routine; it is meant to show off your strengths and personality as a dancer. Your routine must include the following skills: needle, leg hold turn, 2 8-counts of a turn sequence, disc, and right leap. Music must be emailed to mcneesecowgirlkickers@yahoo.com with "Your Full Name - Auditions 2025" as the subject by Monday, May 12th.
WE WILL BE TEACHING THE JAZZ/KICK ROUTINE ON FRIDAY, May 16th TO BE JUDGED ON SUNDAY, May 18th. AFTER JAZZ/KICK JUDGING, THE 2025-2026 TEAM WILL BE ANNOUNCED. SEE THE SCHEDULE ABOVE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION!
​
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE RECRUITMENT CLINICS?
No. The clinics are not mandatory. However, they will be helpful in preparing for auditions. The audition dance will not be taught at these clinics. We will be going over required dance skills and answering questions about auditions and the team. There are no attire requirements for these clinics.
​
WHAT DO I WEAR FOR AUDITIONS?
Friday: Black, white, or royal blue sports bra top with any black bottoms.
Saturday: GAME DAY hair and make-up; any colored sports bra top with any color fitted dance/workout shorts.
Sunday: GAME DAY hair and make-up; Black, white, or royal blue sports bra top with any black fitted dance/workout shorts.
​
HOW MUCH DOES WEIGHT AND APPERANCE AFFECT THE AUDITION?
All applicants should be in good physical condition/shape in order to keep up with the demands of the dance team. It is required for you to look your best for your body frame type. Once chosen, all girls will individually meet with the director and dance coach to help you set up a personal fitness program in order to maintain your optimal fitness level and weight. From the time of auditions throughout the year, records are kept to track progress and to maintain fitness levels and weight.
​
IS THERE AN AUDITION FEE?
Yes. $60 is due with your online registration.
​
IS THE PUBLIC ALLOWED TO VIEW AUDITIONS?
No, it is a closed audition! Only the judges and officers/Sr. members helping with the dance are allowed viewing.
​
WHAT SKILLS DO I HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE AT THE AUDITIONS?
Your solo routine must include the following skills: needle, leg hold turn, 2 8-counts of a turn sequence, disc, and right leap.
The jazz/kick routine and the pom sideline will include, but are not limited to, common dance skills such as calypso, second leap, jump split, triple, turns in second, layout, and kick sequences. The hip hop combo will include a head spring and a kip up. The pom sideline will include a toe touch.
The skills listed above will all be scored, but are not all required to be mastered upon auditions. Private lessons to master skills upon making the squad will be offered!
Bonus points are given for extraordinary acrobatic skills, leaps, and turns.
​
WHEN WILL THE FINAL ROSTER BE ANNOUNCED?
After all judging is completed, a roster will be announced the Sunday evening of auditions. New members will have their first meeting the following Tuesday.
​
HOW OFTEN IS PRACTICE HELD?
There are required summer weekend practices. The 2024 Summer Practice Schedule is listed above as an example.
Weekly practice schedule is currently Mondays 5:30-8:30pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-3pm, and Fridays 12-3pm. Band practice is also on Saturday of home football game weeks. Extra practices will be scheduled accordingly.
Team members are required to attend 3 workouts per week at a team sponsored gym.
​
WHERE DO KICKERS PERFORM?
It is required that all members of the group perform at all home football and basketball games. We also attend at least one football game on the road, to be decided in the fall, as well as performances at the SLC Basketball Tournament. Our dance team performs for many civic functions in Southwest Louisiana and is called upon regularly for other performances and appearances throughout the year. The team also performs at all McNeese spirit functions on campus.
​
IS THERE A SCHOLARSHIP?
Yes…. a first member receives a $700.00 scholarship for the semester, based on successful completion of service. It then escalates about $100.00 extra per year of completed service. The scholarship is given at the end of each semester except in special circumstances. You will also receive 2 credit hours each semester by registering for Kinesiology 138.
​
WHAT DOES IT COST?
There is an audition fee of $60. Kickers are responsible for their own shoes, tights, and any replacement pieces. All other team costs are covered by fundraising and sponsorships.
​
WHAT ARE THE GPA REQUIREMENTS?
Kickers are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA for Louisiana students (2.5 for out-of-state students), 24 earned hours in an academic year, and 5 non-commissioned credits each semester.
​
​​
​​