Much more than sis-boom-bah and hip-hip-hooray, this sport demands a lot of its young athletes—who are both male and female, by the way. They need a lot of strength, and not just in their lungs! Does your child want to try youth cheerleading? Find out more about it.
The basics: Cheerleading can cover a wide range of programs, from cheer or dance team classes held at gymnastics centers or dance studios to school-sponsored groups that boost spirit at athletic events. School and private teams can choose to participate in a variety of youth cheerleading competitions.
Age kids can start: Private gyms and clubs offer cheerleading classes for preschoolers (ages 3-5). Some schools sponsor cheerleading squads as early as elementary school, while others begin in middle or high school.
Skills needed/used: Strength, flexibility, coordination.
Best for kids who are: Team-oriented, energetic, able to master choreography.
Season/when played: Kids can take classes year-round, provide sidelines spirit for school teams during the school year, and enroll in summer camps. Top-level competitions usually take place in the winter or spring, although there are exceptions.
Team or individual? Team, although some competitions have events for solo performers.
Levels: As beginners, children usually take classes with other kids their age; school teams are grouped by grades. At competitions, teams are grouped by age (from 5 and under up through college) by size and make-up of team (female-only or co-ed), and by type of performance (dance, stunts, etc.). There are three main types of cheerleaders: All-stars (private teams dedicated to competition), scholastic (the ones you see on the sidelines of a school sports event), and recreational (parks and rec, Pop Warner, and so on).
Appropriate for kids with special needs Yes. The major competitions have divisions for participants with special needs (no age requirement). Pop Warner Cheer & Dance has a Challenger program. Also check out The Sparkle Effect, a program founded and run by students to help cheerleaders and dancers include kids with disabilities.
Fitness factor: High. Beginner classes and teams incorporate tumbling moves. As kids progress, they learn more complicated and challenging jumps and stunts, such as tosses and pyramids.
Equipment: Cheerleaders are famous (or sometimes infamous) for their uniforms, which are an important way to show team spirit and unity. On their feet, cheerleaders wear athletic shoes or special cheerleading shoes that can be customized with team colors. Optional equipment includes hair accessories, gear bags, stunt straps and other training tools, and instructional books and videos.
Costs: Approximately $10-20/session for beginning cheerleading/tumbling lessons; costs rise along with kids' abilities. School teams are usually free (or have a nominal fee), but participants may have to fundraise. Youth cheerleading competition entry fees can start at several hundred dollars per team.
Time commitment required: For beginners (preschool and early elementary age), 30 to 60 minutes a week, with performances usually held quarterly. In school, cheerleaders can often opt to participate in (or be required to try out for) one sports season at a time (e.g. football, basketball). Athletes on a competitive squad can expect to have several practices a week and travel to tournaments.
Potential for injury: Medium. Some advanced moves and stunts put cheerleaders at risk of injury, but the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) has a thorough list of safety rules. Make sure your child's program is aware of these rules and follows them to the letter, and that your child's coach is properly trained.
How to find a program:
- AACCA list of instructors
- Pop Warner Cheer & Dance
- All-Star Cheerleading Squads list at About.com Cheerleading
- American Youth Football & Cheer site
- Local dance studios and gyms
Governing body: None. School teams are usually governed by state or school district rules, and private competitions are run by several different organizations.
If your child likes cheerleading, also try: Dance, gymnastics, drill team
