About the USC Song Girls - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time committment to be a USC Song Girl? How many hours do they practice?

Practices are scheduled throughout the semester Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm and Tuesday/Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm. Those on the squad must adjust their class schedules accordingly. The entire squad must perform at all home Football and Men's and Women's Basketball Games, the Homecoming and Troy Week rallies, and travel to the Bay Area Weekender, Notre Dame away game, and the Bowl game. This requires the squad to be available periodically during Winter Break. Small contingents of the squad perform at home Women's Volleyball Games, the Men and Women's Basketball Pac-10 and NCAA tournaments, and travel to all away football games. Contingents of the squad must also stay in the Los Angeles area during select periods of the summer session (excluding May) to perform at Freshman Orientation Sessions, the 4th of July Catalina Parade, and the Nevada Alumni Expo. Other gigs (such as alumni weddings, TV appearances, athletic award ceremonies, USC-sponsored charity events, etc.) are also scheduled frequently throughout the entire year. We remind applicants/current squad members that Song Leading takes priority over all non-Academic activities including work, sorority functions, other extracurricular activities, etc.

What Grade Point Average is required to be on the squad?

Each applicant/squad member shall have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 for all work attempted at the time of application and shall maintain a minimum 2.25 GPA for each semester during tenure as a Song Leader. Academic eligibility will be checked each semester.

Where do the girls travel?

During Football season, the entire squad travels to San Francisco for the Cal or Stanford game, to Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana for the Notre Dame away game, and to whatever Bowl game the Trojan Football Team is bid to. A smaller contingent of girls is sent to all remaining away games (which includes locations such as Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon; Tucson and Tempe, Arizona; and Seattle and Pullman, Washington). During Basketball season, a contingent of the squad is sent to whichever city the NCAA Tournaments are scheduled in. During the summer, the squad travels to Lake Tahoe for a Nevada alumni gig and to Catalina Island for the 4th of July Parade. Also during the summer, the squad travels to Asia or Europe with the Trojan Marching Band.

Does a Song Leader have time to be in other organizations?

Yes, many Song Leaders are involved in other organizations (including workstudy jobs). However, again, Song Leading must take priority over other extra-curricular activities.

What is with this whole "duck" thing anyway? They're not talking about the Oregon Ducks are they?

No no no no no. Members of the squad call each other "ducks" or "duckies." The Trojan Marching Band once invented the term as a joke because of the Song Leaders' white uniforms, which they say give the girls a "ducklike" appearance. The squad later appropriated and adopted the term as an affectionate nickname.

Do the girls do stunting or gymnastics?

The Song Girls do not perform stunts. Gymnastic skills are not required to be a Song Leader (they are first and foremost a dance squad), although gymnastics have been incorporated into dance routines if any girl(s) on the squad happen to have the ability.

Is the Squad NCAA?

The Song Girls (along with the Spirit Leaders, Traveler, and the Tommy Trojan Basketball Mascot), are managed by the Recreational Sports division of USC Student Affairs and are NOT governed by USC Athletics. Therefore, the USC Song Leaders are not officially an NCAA sport.

Do they get paid for gigs?

Some gigs, such as television appearances and alumni weddings are paid. Standard gigs such as athletic events and games are generally not paid.

I would love to be a Song Girl! When should I try out?

Tryouts take place every year in October. Those admitted to the squad begin practicing immediately so they can begin tenure on the squad in the Spring semester. Tenure on the squad lasts during ONE CALENDAR YEAR, not the ACADEMIC year. For instance, an incoming Fall 2004 freshman intending to be on the squad during her second semester of freshman year (Spring 2005) and first semester of sophomore year (Fall 2005) would need to try out in October of that Fall 2004 year. One may not try out for the squad if they are in their first semester of senior year unless they are enrolled in an extra semester after four full years of undergraduate study. Current squad members wishing to remain on the squad for another year must try out again. No one can be on the squad for more than three years. Those who try out for the squad and are not selected are welcome to try out again in following years.

What are the basic requirements to be a Song Girl and for tryouts?

See our tryouts page for details.

What are the girls favorite memories?

Check out the anecdotes from current squad members in the "The Squad" section of this website.

Does the squad compete?

The USC Song Girls do not participate in cheer/dance competitions. However, the squad constantly receives renown for its accomplishments (including recently being honored by Sports Illustrated as Best Cheerleaders in America). Squad members have been nominated for honors such as the Athlon Sports Sideline Contest and the 2002 squad captains were named All-American Cheerleaders by the All-American Football Foundation.