Choreographing a winning cheerleading routine can be difficult, but with a little hard work and a ton of planning, you can do it yourself without hiring a choreographer. Each competition will have slightly different rules such as overall routine length, as well as music length or required skills. Create a basic routine, and then before each competition, modify it to that competition's specifications. And make sure every element of your routine complies with safety regulations.
Step 1
Thoroughly read, and make sure you understand, the current year's cheerleading safety regulations. Study a copy of the guidelines for your first competition as well. If you have any questions or confusion, contact a representative of your state's cheerleading organization or the company organizing the competition you are attending.
Step 2
Map out your routine on lined paper. Using one line per count, write out every count in both sections of your cheer music. Use only one side of the paper. Write the counts in ink because you will likely be erasing the moves many times and you want the counts to be permanent.
Step 3
Listen to the music with your routine map in front of you. Listen for sections that lend themselves well to stunting and pencil in the stunting sections. Pay attention for special effects that would be good for tumbling or jumps and pencil those in as well. After you have set aside chunks of music for those items, go back and figure in the dance sections, making sure to leave room for transitioning from item to item.
Step 4
Use the back side of your routine map to plan out formations. Make sure all formations are planned in pencil, as injuries, illness and even vacations may disrupt which people are actually in each performance of your routine.
Step 5
After your music sections are planned out, choose a cheer to put in between them. Make sure your cheer includes signs, as many competitions require them. Don't forget to work in formation transitions for your cheer as well. You may need to use a chant or a short repetitive part of the cheer to move cheerleaders to or from the cheer section.
Step 6
With competition guidelines in hand, go back over what you have planned and make sure every required element is covered. Most competitions require cheer, music, jumps, tumbling, partner stunts and pyramids. If you can help it, do not leave out any required element. Even a forward roll counts as tumbling, so use that if you need to.
Tips and Warnings
- Put your hardest and best skills first in your routine. First impressions are lasting impressions, so wow them from the beginning. Make sure your routine fits the ability level of your squad. Judges would rather see a well-mastered basic routine than a ton of difficulty and many sloppy falls. Do not over-choreograph your routine. Too much busy-ness can actually detract from the effectiveness of your routine.
- Adhere closely to all cheer safety regulations when choreographing your cheerleading routine. Be prepared to lower the difficulty of your routine if your cheerleaders cannot master it at least one week before the competition.
Things You'll Need
- 2011-12 School Cheerleading Rules
- Cheer music
- Lined paper
- Pen
- Pencil
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