Welcome to the mat
Your athlete wants to cheer. That means new terms to learn, costs to plan for, and a calendar that can run most of the year.
This guide walks you through the first season in plain English: how cheer is organized, what tryouts look like, what you’ll pay, and what happens on competition day. Start with Cheer talk so the words make sense as you read.
How we built this guide
We drew on official sources: the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF), NFHS and state high-school associations, Varsity Spirit, the CDC, and real tryout packets from gyms and schools. Rules and fees change every season and differ by gym, school and state, so we point out where and give you the question to ask instead of guessing.
Cheer talk
Cheer has its own language. Here are the words you’ll hear most, from the gym to the competition floor.
Who’s who
- USASF
- the US All Star Federation, which sets all-star rules
- NFHS
- the National Federation of State High School Associations; school cheer follows its rules and your state’s
- The gym
- the private club that runs all-star teams
Teams and events
- Tier
- how much time and money a team asks for (Novice, Prep or Elite)
- Level
- the set of skills a team may perform (1–7)
- Division
- the group a team competes in, set by age, level and team size (like Youth Level 2 Small)
- D1 and D2
- Elite divisions split by gym size; D2 is for smaller gyms (125 or fewer athletes)
- Crossover
- an athlete who competes on more than one team; rules limit how many
- Placement
- how coaches assign each athlete to a team after tryouts; at all-star, most athletes who attend get placed, not cut
- Bid
- an invitation to an end-of-season championship, earned at an earlier competition (see Season calendar & bids)
- Call time
- when your athlete is due to meet the coach at an event
On the mat
- Base
- stays on the floor and supports another athlete’s weight
- Flyer
- the athlete lifted into the air (the top person)
- Back spot
- stands behind a stunt to support and protect the flyer
- Pyramid
- several stunts connected together
- Stunt
- a lift where bases hold a flyer in the air
- Toss
- bases launch a flyer into the air and catch them; a basket toss is one kind
- Standing tumbling
- tumbling started from a stand
- Running tumbling
- tumbling with a run-up
- Spring floor
- the bouncy all-star performance surface; school teams usually compete on a non-spring surface, so some skills aren’t allowed
- Full-out
- running the whole routine at full effort
Scoring
- Hit zero
- a routine with no mistakes that cost points
- Legality
- whether a routine follows the skill rules for its level; breaking one costs points
How cheer is organized
All-star and school cheer look alike from the stands but do different jobs. All-star is built for competition; school teams lead the crowd and support school sports, and competing is optional.
| All-star | School | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by, and who can join | A private club (“the gym”); athletes from the whole area | The school; students at that school |
| Rules come from | USASF, for most US clubs and events | NFHS and your state’s high-school association |
Can my athlete do both? Yes, and many do. Put both calendars side by side before you commit, because practices and competitions can overlap.
All-star tiers
- Novice: New to all-star. Builds technique and performance skills; teams are evaluated at events.
- Prep: Competitive, but usually needs less time and money than Elite.
- Elite: The full competitive commitment: the most practice, events and travel.
Levels 1 to 7
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Levels run from 1, where the youngest teams start, up to 7. A higher level allows harder stunts and tumbling. The exact skills for each level change from season to season, so your coach has the current rules.
Ask your gym
- Which tier and level is my athlete placed on, and why?
- How many practices a week, and how many competitions?
- Are any competitions overnight or out of state, and when will the full schedule come out so we can book travel early?
Season calendar & bids
All-star and school cheer follow different calendars. Here’s the typical year for each, but your gym’s or school’s own schedule is the one to go by.
All-star
Many gyms ask for a year-round commitment.
- May
- Tryouts and team placements at many gyms
- Summer
- Practices start; camps and choreography, depending on the gym
- October–May
- Competition season
- Spring
- End-of-season championships for teams that earned a bid (see below)
School
A typical pattern only. Dates vary a lot by state.
- March–May
- Tryouts
- June–July
- Summer camp and training
- August–November
- Football season on the sidelines
- December–February
- Competition season, plus basketball at many schools
How an all-star season ends
A bid is an invitation to an end-of-season championship, earned at an earlier competition. The best known are The Cheerleading Worlds (for top teams at the upper levels) and The Summit family of championships, including the D2, Regional and Youth Summits.
Full Paid Bid
The event covers certain costs; what’s covered varies by event.
At-Large Bid
An invitation to compete; the team pays its own way.
Wild Card Bid
A spot in The Summit’s preliminary round. Worlds has no Wild Cards.
Tryouts & safety
All-star: usually a placement, not a cut
Coaches look at tumbling, jumps, stunting and experience, then place each athlete on a team that fits. At many gyms, most athletes who attend get placed. Groups formed after tryouts aren’t always final teams, so expect some moves before rosters are set.
School: paperwork comes first
Some schools require a sports physical and signed forms before an athlete can try out. Many school tryouts are closed to parents, with clinics beforehand where athletes learn the material.
What to wear (common asks)
- Fitted athletic clothes, nothing loose
- Hair in a high ponytail, often with a bow
- Cheer or athletic shoes
- No jewelry; even clear studs must come off
Before tryout day
- Read the tryout packet front to back
- Attend the parent meeting (some gyms require it)
- Look over the skills chart for each level
- Finish forms and tryout fees early
Coachability counts. Coaches say preparation and listening matter as much as advanced skills when they build teams. Remind your athlete to try a skill again after the coach corrects it.
Safety questions to ask before you commit
- Are your coaches credentialed and SafeSport trained?
USASF credentials all-star coaches on the rules for each level and requires SafeSport training for gym owners, coaches and staff.
- What is your concussion policy, and how will you contact me?
- Can parents watch practice, and where?
Free for parents: the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Parent’s Guide course and the CDC’s HEADS UP concussion course. If you suspect a concussion, your athlete needs to be seen by a medical provider.
What it costs
All-star, per year
$2,000–$6,000+
A full competitive season commonly totals this much per athlete, including tuition, uniform, competition fees and travel, and some families pay more. School cheer is generally cheaper, but uniforms, camps and shoes still add up.
What the bill can include
- Gym tuition or monthly fees
- Competition fees, choreography & music
- Uniform, practice wear & accessories
- Cheer shoes (prices vary widely by brand)
- Travel, hotels & spectator tickets
- Extras: tumbling, privates, camps
Before you sign, and ways to save
- Ask for a written fee breakdown for the whole season
- Ask which fees are non-refundable
- Ask about payment plans; many gyms split fees into installments
- Ask whether the gym or school has a booster club or approved team fundraisers
Raising money with ShoeShoe
Team fundraiser: A coach or team parent sets it up for free, and families share their link with relatives, friends and on social media. 20% of every sale goes back to your program.
Use one team link, or give each family its own and choose where the money goes: to the team, to each family, or split between the two. There’s no inventory to buy and no money to collect, because orders ship straight to supporters.
Brand ambassador: Have an online audience? You can also join as a brand ambassador and earn a commission on sales through your own link.
Cheer gear 101
What your season fee covers varies by gym, so ask before you buy. Shoes are one of the pricier pieces of gear, and the easiest one to ruin by accident.
Uniform
All-star uniforms can cost hundreds of dollars per athlete, more when fully customized. A school uniform generally can’t be used for all-star.
Practice wear
Tryouts usually call for fitted athletic clothes, nothing loose. Ask what your gym or school requires for practice, and whether it wants warm-ups too.
Bow and hair
Hair in a high ponytail, often with a bow, is a common tryout ask. For competitions, pack a team bow plus a spare, and hair ties, a brush, bobby pins and hairspray.
Ask your gym
- What does the season fee include, and what do I buy separately?
- Which shoes and practice wear are allowed?
Shoes: mats only, and easy to ruin
Required
Soft-soled athletic shoes with a solid sole. Gymnastics slippers and dance shoes aren’t allowed.
Mats only
Built for mats. Outdoor surfaces wear the soles down fast, and many gyms ban outside shoes on the mat.
Care
Air them out after each use, wipe the soles gently, skip harsh washing. Less grip, or shoes that feel flat, mean it’s time for a new pair.
From the parking lot to the mat
Carry cheer shoes in a bag and change at the venue, or slip shoe covers over them for the walk in and take them off before stepping on the mat. ShoeShoe covers are machine washable, with a non-slip sole and a loop that clips to a gym bag. Always follow your gym’s and event’s rules on when covers come off.
Competition day
A long day for a routine of about two and a half minutes. Here’s how it usually unfolds at large all-star events, such as those run by Varsity Spirit.
- Days before: buy tickets onlineVarsity events don’t sell paper tickets or take cash at the door. You’ll need an email address and a card. Check the posted performance schedule too.
- Arrival: swap your ticket for a wristbandDoors often open about an hour before the first performance, but check your event’s posted times. Your athlete meets the coach at the team’s call time.
- Warm-up: short, timed and backstageTeams rotate through timed stations, such as a stunt floor and a tumble strip, for roughly 6 minutes each at some CHEERSPORT events. Parents usually can’t follow; at CHEERSPORT Nationals they aren’t allowed in the warm-up arena.
- Performance: about 2½ minutesTumbling, stunts, pyramids, jumps and dance, all in one routine. Get to your seat early.
- Awards and resultsAwards are held at set times in the schedule, and Varsity posts results on Varsity TV through the weekend.
Filming: Varsity allows recording on personal devices. Rules on live streaming and commercial recording vary, and other event companies set their own, so check each event’s spectator page.
Competition-day packing list
Tape it inside the cheer bag. Your gym may add items of its own, so check the team info first.
Athlete’s bag
- Full uniform, including briefs
- Team bow, plus a spare
- Cheer shoes, in the bag, not on feet
- Shoe covers or street shoes for the walk in
- Hair ties, brush, bobby pins, hairspray
- Makeup, if the team requires it
- Water bottle with their name on it
- Snacks for a long day
- Warm layer or team jacket
Parent’s bag
- Spectator tickets, bought online ahead
- Performance schedule and call time
- Phone charger or power bank
- Your own snacks and water
- Coach’s contact info
Leave at home
All jewelry, including earrings and clear studs. Medical or religious items follow your event’s rules, so ask the coach.
Sources & resources
Official bodies
- U.S. All Star Federation (USASF): All Star Cheer, All Star Tiers, Coach Credentialing, SafeSport Training · usasf.net
- USA Cheer: All Star; USA Cheer/AACCA School Cheer Safety Rules · usacheer.org
- NFHS Spirit Rules news · nfhs.org
- International Cheer Union, 2026 Cheer Rules
- State associations: IHSAA cheer rules; OSAA Spirit Bulletins
- CDC HEADS UP concussion resources · cdc.gov/heads-up
- U.S. Center for SafeSport, Parent’s Guide to Misconduct in Sport
Events, gyms & reporting
- Varsity All Star: “Cheer 101”; event spectator pages; CHEERSPORT Nationals spectator packet
- Gym tryout packets: Cheer Athletics (Rockwall, Rochester), Cheer Extreme Richmond, World Cup All Stars, Storm Elite
- School packet: Garland ISD cheer tryouts
- Lone Star Cheerleading Association
- Cost guides from Stingray All Stars and Las Vegas All Star Cheer; Stateline, “Private investment in youth sports draws state, federal scrutiny”; FLEX Tumble & Cheer policy
This guide is general information, not official rules. Cheer rules and fees change every season and differ by gym, school and state, so always check with your coach, USASF or your state association. ShoeShoe is not affiliated with USASF, USA Cheer, NFHS or Varsity Spirit.
Want a printable copy?
We’ll email you the printable guide to keep in your cheer bag.