SportsZone
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Cheer
Cheerleading is a fun and appealing sport for many kids. Whether it
is cheering on your school’s sports teams or becoming a professional
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cheerleader, cheerleading is a high-energy sport. The Cheerleading series
skills, tools, training, chants, and competitions. Beginners and advanced
cheerleaders will enjoy this spirited series.
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S ID E B A RS
IN FO R M AT IV E
G LO S S A RY
ES O U R C ES
A D D IT IO N A L R
IN D E X
COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING
provides an introduction into the world of cheerleading by focusing on
Titles in this Series
CHEER CAREERS
CHEER TRYOUTS AND TRAINING
CHEER SKILLS AND DRILLS
COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING
CHEER TOOLS AND GEAR
SPIRIT-RAISING CHEERS AND CHANTS
D
Y ONSGAR
BY BETHAN
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By Bethany Onsgard
Content Consultant
P auline Z ernott
Spirit Director and Coach
L ouisiana State U niversity
SportsZone
An Imprint of Abdo Publishing | abdopublishing.com
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abdopublishing.com
P ublished by A bdo P ublishing, a division of A B DO , P O B ox 3 9 8 1 6 6 , Minneapolis,
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logo of A bdo P ublishing.
P rinted in the U nited States of A merica, N orth Mankato, Minnesota
0 8 2 0 1 5
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E ditor: Mirella Miller
Series Designer: Maggie V illaume
L ibrary of Congress Control N umber: 2 0 1 5 9 4 5 8 6 6
Cataloging- in- P ublication Data
O nsgard, B ethany.
Competitive cheerleading / B ethany O nsgard.
p. cm. - - ( Cheerleading)
I SB N 9 7 8 - 1 - 6 2 4 0 3 - 9 8 5 - 0 ( lib. bdg.)
I ncludes bibliographical references and index .
1 . Cheerleading- - J uvenile literature. I . Title.
7 9 1 .6 / 4 - - dc2 3
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CON T EN T S
Chapter One
Cheering Basics
4
Chapter Two
history of cheerleading
1 0
Chapter Three
preparing for a Competition
1 6
Chapter Four
Judging Competitions
2 4
Glossary 30
For More Information 31
Index 32
About the Author 32
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one
Cheering
BASICS
Most cheerleaders we see on television
and in movies are cheering on a
football field, but that is not the
only type of cheerleader. Some
cheerleaders take their skills off
the sidelines and onto the playing
field at cheer competitions.
A t a cheer competition, teams
of cheerleaders from across the
region go head- to- head. E ach
team performs a two- and- a- half
minute routine set to music. This
is the official time limit. Routines
can be shorter, but then teams
showcase less talent.
These routines combine dance,
tumbling, acrobatics, gymnastics,
and traditional cheerleading skills,
such as j umps, into one performance.
s,
p y ra m id s , fl ip
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in
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M o s t p e rf o rm
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rg
a n d h ig h -e n e
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W ith the help of a coach, each cheer team picks
the music, choreographs the routine, and practices
for months before a competition. O n the day of the
competition, teams perform their routines in front of a
packed audience and a panel of j udges. Routines can
be j ust as fun to watch as they are to perform.
E ach competition is different. U sually teams
compete in one of six categories. L evel O ne includes
the youngest performers, and L evel Six has skilled high
school cheerleaders. A fter each team has performed,
the j udges announce the winners in each skill level.
a t a n a w a rd s
d
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c
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ro
t
in
s a re
T h e to p te a m
handed out.
re
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p
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c e re m o n y, a n
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waits
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rlea
on.
che e omp etiti
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g
a
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e nt a r l t s af te r
m
e
l
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su
up of
h e re
A g ro a g e fo r t
st
back
THE COMPETITIVE CHEER TEAM
Similar to cheer squads at games, competitive cheer
teams are made up of girls and boys of all ages.
Teams can vary in siz e from 6 to 3 6 members. Some
competitive cheerleaders get their start as young as
three years old.
There are many competitive cheer organiz ations
across the country. Most organiz ations have teams
for young kids all the way through high school- age
cheerleaders. Some people cheer competitively in
college too.
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Many
c he er squads
are c al le d
c o e d teams.
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two
His t ory of G
CH EERL E A D I N
Cheerleaders have been on the sidelines
raising team spirit since the early
1 9 0 0 s. B ut competitive cheerleading
has only ex isted since the 1 9 6 0 s.
N ow people come to events to
cheer on the cheerleaders.
Cheerleading competitions
began with college- age
cheerleaders. Starting in
the 1 9 6 0 s, the I nternational
Cheerleading F oundation ranked
the top- ten college cheerleading
squads on their acrobatic skills.
The top team each year was
given the Cheerleader A ll A merica
A ward. Cheer squads wanted to
win this award. They became more
competitive. Teams began to include
more gymnastics, dance, and acrobatic
skills in their routines.
lo t s in c e th e
a
d
e
g
n
a
h
c
s
ha
C h e e rl e a d in g
.
e a rl y 1 9 0 0 s
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Ch e e r l eade rs
c el ebrate t he ir win
at the e n d of
t h e NC A Col l e giate
C h e e r and Dan ce
Champion s hip.
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Many
t
each eams com
chee
r com p ete in
p etit
ion.
Ten years later, in 1 9 7 8 , the Collegiate Cheerleading
Championship aired on television. E veryone who tuned
in saw j umps, flips, and pyramids. P eople saw the
athleticism behind cheer competitions. Competitive
cheerleading quickly became more popular.
THE FUTURE OF
COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING
Cheering competitions are not only for college
cheerleaders. Teams of all ages practice and compete.
Most cheerleaders start at a young age. A fter years of
practice, they compete in high- energy routines. More
than 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 athletes compete in cheer competitions
each year.
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Competitive cheerleading
is also becoming more
popular with viewers.
STUNT C HE E R LE ADI NG
Competitions
Cheerleaders show strength,
agility, and skill when performing
are shown on
their routines. Some people argue
television.
whether or not competitive cheering is a
P eople pack
sport. The STU N T program was developed
the stands to
to help prove it is. A pprox imately 5 0 0 ,0 0 0
watch squads
cheerleaders across the country use the
live. Sports
STU N T program to showcase their
skills. STU N T focuses on partner
stunts, pyramids, j umps,
and tumbling.
fans tune in to
E SP N
to watch
cheerleaders
compete, j ust
like they watch
other athletes.
A L e v e l S ix s
tu n t te a m c o
m p e te s a t n a
P o rt la n d , O re
ti o n a ls in
gon.
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t hree
r
o
f
g
n
i
r
a
Prep
N
O
I
T
I
T
E
P
M
O
C
A
Competitive cheerleaders spend years
improving their cheer skills. B y the
time squads compete in L evel Six
competitions, many are flipping
their way across stages. B efore
teams can compete, they
need to perfect their routines.
Coaches choreograph most
routines. Sometimes they hire
a professional choreographer.
O lder squad members also help
create challenging routines.
Choreography is a creative
part of cheerleading. E ach move
in the short routine is important.
The routine must grab the crowd’ s
and the j udges’ attention. I t also
needs to include pyramids, tumbling,
and stunts.
n e a ft e r
c e th e ir ro u ti
ti
c
ra
p
rs
e
d
a
C h e e rl e
th e s te p s .
b e in g ta u g h t
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Te a m s o ft e n
fi lm th e ir ro u
ti n e s .
T h e n th e y w a
tc h th e ta p e
and
p o in t o u t a n y
m is ta k e s .
C h e e rl e a d e rs
s p e n d ti m e in
th e g y m .
T h e y b u i ld s t
re n g th to l if t
th e ir
te a m m a te s a
n d fo rm p y ra
m id s .
g
n
i
t
c
e
f
Per
A ROUTIN E
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f th e
B y th e d a y o
e v e ry s te p
c o m p e ti ti o n ,
nc.
o u ld b e in s y
a n d s tu n t s h
three hours long.
P ractices can be up to
week before a big competition.
teams practice every day the
everything perfect. Many
a few practices to get
I t takes more than
Competitive cheerleading
does not have a set
ALL-STAR GYMS
season. Most
N ot every school has a
cheerleaders
competitive cheerleading team.
practice all year
Cheerleaders can j oin all- star teams.
long. Teams
O rganiz ations and companies run
all- star teams. A t national competitions,
all- star teams cheer in their own
divisions. They do not compete against
school teams. A ll- star gyms give more
cheerleaders a chance to practice,
cheer, and compete.
usually meet two
or three times
a week. Closer
to competition
season, teams
meet more often.
Competitions begin in
the early spring. U sually
each team competes in
three to five competitions each
spring. Scores from regional competitions are tallied.
The winners go to nationals. N ational competitions are
held in A pril. This is where the best of the best come
to compete.
A n e l it e te a m
p e rf o rm s a t
n a ti o n a ls in
H o u s to n , Te x
as.
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GETTING TO COMPETITIONS
Most teams need to travel at least a few
hours for competitions. I n the U nited
States, two of the biggest national high
school- level competitions are held at
W alt Disney W orld in O rlando, F lorida.
Smaller, regional competitions happen all
around the country. The night before, cheerleaders
make sure they have everything they need. U niforms,
snacks, and water are all important. Many teams travel
by bus. The squad uses this time to go over routines
and build team spirit.
it s
u ti n e b e fo re
ro
s
it
s
e
c
ti
c
A te a m p ra
c o m p e ti ti o n .
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f our
Judging
S
N
O
I
T
I
T
E
P
M
CO
A fter months of practicing, competitive
cheer teams get the chance to show
off their skills and talent. Teams
from across the region gather at
an arena to perform their routines
in front of j udges. The teams
start their music and walk out
on stage. A ll their hard work
comes down to a two- and- a- half
minute performance!
J udges look for specific things
during routines. The timing for
all the j umps must be precise.
E very team member’ s fists must
be closed and pointed in the same
direction. Dance moves must all
be coordinated. E ach cheerleader’ s
voice must be clear and strong. E very
cheerleader must land with his or her
feet together after a j ump.
a tc h
g e , ju d g e s w
ta
s
e
th
s
e
k
ta
A s e a c h te a m
.
l l l is t o f s k i l ls
fu
c lo s e ly fo r a
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I t is imp or t ant
fo r c h e e r l eade rs to
h ave fu n du ring
c o mp etition s .
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Judg
e
c h e e s a re u s u
a
rlead
e rs o l l y fo rm e
r
r coa
ches
.
Most competition j udges were once cheerleaders
themselves. They have been through competitions
before and know what it takes to win. The j udges have
done the flips and j umps. J udges also receive training
on how to rate teams. They can tell when flips are not in
time or when a dance move is offbeat.
N ot every point comes from technical skills. J udges
also want to see a lively routine. They rate teams
on how creatively stunts and dancing are mix ed in
a routine. I f the crowd is having fun and cheering,
that also means more points. Most importantly, the
j udges want to see the team having a good time while
performing. Cheering is competitive, but it is also fun!
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HOW TEAMS WIN
The j udges tally the scores after all teams have
performed. The top three teams are announced at the
award ceremony. I n some large national competitions,
squads of all levels compete. U p to 1 0 or 1 2 teams are
announced as winners. O n the
day of the competition,
GAME TI ME
COMPE TITIONS
the team with the
most talent, a
Most competitive cheerleaders
solid routine,
perform acrobatic routines. Some
creativity, and
cheer squads also take part in Game Time
teamwork
Competitions. During these competitions,
wins first
squads show how well they can lead a
place. The
crowd. This is similar to what they would do
crowd goes
at a sporting event. Routines for Game Time
wild when
Competitions are shorter. They usually only
the winner is
last one minute and fifteen seconds.
announced.
Game Time Competitions are a great
way for teams to show off their
school spirit!
A fter months
of practicing,
the winning cheer
squads have a lot
to celebrate!
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The w i nni ng teams
sc ream and c he er
i n exc i tement!
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y
r
a
s
s
Gl o
acrobatic
P erformance that uses stunts such as j umping, balancing, and tumbling.
agility
The ability to move quickly and easily.
athleticism
B eing good at games and ex ercises that require physical skill,
endurance, and strength.
choreograph
To organize dance moves and create routines.
competitive
W anting to win or be the best.
coordinated
W orking together smoothly.
squad
A small group doing the same activity, often a physical activity.
technical
U sing skills that are specific.
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F or More
I N FO R M AT I O N
Books
Gassman, J ulie. Cheerleading Really Is a Sport. Mankato, MN : Stone A rch
B ooks, 2 0 1 1 .
W ebber, Rebecca. Varsity’s Ultimate Guide to Cheerleading. N ew Y ork:
L ittle, 2 0 1 4 .
Websites
To learn more about Cheerleading, visit booklinks.abdopublishing.com.
These links are routinely monitored and updated to provide the most
current information available.
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INDEX
acrobatics, 4 , 1 0 , 2 8
all- star gyms, 2 0
all- star teams, 2 0
Cheerleader A ll
A merica A ward, 1 0
choreograph, 7 , 1 6
dance, 4 , 1 0 , 2 4 , 2 7
flips, 1 3 , 1 6 , 2 7
Game Time
Competitions, 2 8
I nternational
Cheerleading
F oundation, 1 0
practices, 7 , 1 3 , 1 9 , 2 0
j udges, 7 , 1 6 , 2 4 ,
2 7 ,2 8
j umps, 4 , 1 3 , 1 4 , 2 4 , 2 7
routines, 4 , 7 , 1 0 , 1 3 ,
1 4 ,1 6 ,1 8 ,2 3 ,2 4 ,
2 7 ,2 8
music, 4 , 7 , 2 4
STU N T, 1 4
pyramids, 1 3 , 1 4 ,
1 6 ,1 8
stunts, 1 4 , 1 6 , 1 9 , 2 7
nationals, 2 0 , 2 3 , 2 8
N CA Collegiate
Cheer and Dance
Championship, 1 3
television, 4 , 1 3 , 1 4
tumbling, 4 , 1 4 , 1 6
gymnastics, 4 , 1 0
About the Author
B ethany O nsgard works in publishing and spends her days reading,
writing, and ex ploring the outdoors in beautiful P ortland, O regon.
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