Q. What is All Star Cheerleading?

 A. All Star cheerleading is a competition sport that involves boys and girls performing a 2minute and 30 second routine composed of tumbling, stunting, pyramids, dance, and cheer segments. This routine is performed and scored against other competitive teams at various local, regional, national, and worldwide competitions. When we refer to tumbling, we mean gymnastic type skills like cartwheels and back handsprings. Stunting refers to a group of two or more individuals that elevate another cheerleader in the air. This also includes co-ed stunting that may only include one base and one flyer. Pyramids are a form of stunting but are done as a large group and are interconnected. Dance is a portion of a routine that consists of choreographed high energy dance moves. Lastly, the cheer portion is a part of the routine that team members perform precise coordinated motions while chanting a gym cheer.

Q. What is the difference between High School/Rec Cheering and All Star Cheering?

 A. The main difference between High School/Rec cheering and All Star cheering is that a High School /Rec cheerleading team’s primary purpose is to support a local school’s sports team and keep the crowd excited. An All Star team performs purely for the challenge, thrill, and competition of the sport. Other differences include All Star cheerleading seasons can be as much as a year long, All Star cheerleaders are not required to be from the same school or area, and in many cases the skill set required for All Stars is much more difficult.

Q. What does it take to be an All Star Cheerleader?

 A. To be an All Star Cheerleader, dedication to the sport, a commitment to hours of practice each week, and being a team player are all fundamentals of cheering for an All Star team. All Star cheerleaders are dedicated to the sport of cheerleading and it being seen as such to the public. Members are not chosen based on popularity, attractiveness, or familial status but on the skill they can offer the team. Team members are athletes in every sense of the word and work hard to dispel any biased assumptions of what a cheerleader should be. Parents and cheerleaders should be aware that cheering All Star is a large time commitment. It is akin to the commitment level of a club soccer team or a traveling baseball team. Normally, seasons begin with tryouts in the spring with light to heavy practices in the summer followed by a competition season running from fall to the spring of the following year. Practices can be 2-3 hours long and as often as 2- 3 times a week. These practices are usually mandatory since many elements of a routine cannot be done without everyone there. In addition, most gyms require and/or encourage tumbling sessions or other private sessions to improve skills. Most teams will attend 7-10 competitions a season, which usually consist of a total weekend commitment if not more. This being said, it is a full schedule for the average child to balance both All Star cheerleading and school commitments. Many have a hard time managing other sports while cheering All Star. Lastly, every All Star cheerleader should be aware that this is a team sport. Decisions are made based on what is best for the team and the performance. There may be times when a parent or athlete may question a coach’s decision. Before discussing these issues with any gym staff, you should always ask yourself whether this decision was better for the team even though your child may not be in the position they had hoped. There will always be ups and downs in an All Star cheerleader’s career, but rarely are these decisions made with any bias.

Q. What are the age requirements, divisions and levels?

A. There are many different combinations of age groups, divisions, and levels. So many sometimes that they can be quite confusing! These were all created to insure that like ages were competing with like skill sets. Levels were designed to make sure that each team competes and is judged by how well they demonstrate a standard set of skills expected for every team competing at that same level. The levels range from 1-6 in All Star cheerleading with level 6 being the highest and most difficult. Often the younger cheerleader competes at the lower levels, but there are also many cheerleaders that enter All Star cheerleading in their teens that may start at level 1 or 2 as well. Remember that levels based on skill and age. In addition, you may find your child has been placed in a level that is above or below what you expected. Coaches make these type decisions based on many different criteria. Divisions also determine which group a team will compete. These are based on the age of the cheerleader as of August 31st, however other divisions have been included that incorporate the number of male cheerleaders allowed on each team. These age ranges are very strict and must be adhered to by each gym. To see a list of USASF divisions please go to www.usasf.net.

Q. What are the costs involved in All Star Cheering?

A. Costs for All Star cheerleading can be quite high, but can be managed with some planning. There are two different areas of cost for All Star cheerleading. One is the money you pay directly to the gym. This includes monthly tuition, competition fees, uniforms, make up, shoes, and apparel. Secondly, there is the cost of travel to competitions. This can include gas/mileage or airfare, car rentals, hotel rooms, food during the event, and any extra money needed for souvenirs. Fees will be discussed during tryouts.