Cheerleaders perform at many events besides pep rallies and football games. According to Varsity, the driving force behind making cheerleading a high-profile sport, there are different types of competitions, including those held at state, regional, national and international levels. Participants may compete for trophies, medals, gifts, cash and college scholarships.
State
Many states hold cheerleading competitions. The Eastern Cheer and Dance Association, for example, hosts more than 18 local and national competitions. The competitions may be broken down into small, medium and large divisions, school associations and organizations. Competition guidelines can vary from state to state. Some state cheerleading competitions may feature young children, while others have junior high to high school students, college students and coed teams.
National
Teams that win competitions at the local or state level may qualify and/or participate in national cheerleading events, including the National Cheerleaders Association, All-Star Challenge, American Cheer Power and Spirit Sports. Events may include jazz, pompom and variety dance competitions. These events may draw teams from around the world, huge audiences and television coverage.
International
Events such as the World Spirit Federation and the International All-Levels Championship feature teams from across the nation. These events also invite cheerleading teams from around the world. International events may feature various one- or two-day dance and cheerleading competitions as well as skill-level contests. Teams may be judged on elements that include tumbling, stunts such as pyramids and basket tosses, dance routines and gymnastic moves like cartwheels, handstands and flips.
Other Competitions
Dance competitions feature elements similar to cheerleading, such as stylized dance moves, leaps and turns, though some competitions may only allow pompoms as props. Dance competitions may also include other elements such as high kicks and solo performances. Teams are judged on the originality and difficulty of the routines, along with choreography, skills performed and whether the routine met the minimum set of requirements for that particular event. Many of these events coincide with cheerleading competitions and may feature participants of all ages, some as young as 5 years old.
References
- Varsity: Competitions
- Illinois High School Association: Competitive Cheerleading Quick Facts - 2010 to 2011
- National Cheerleaders Association: National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance 25th All-Star National Championship
- World Spirit Federation: 2011 to 2013 USASF/IASAF Safety Rules
- Universal Dance Assocation: Rules, Divisions and Scoresheets
Member Comments