🎀 All types of cheerleading (S3.28)
- janie724
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Episode of March 24, 2026
When we talk about types of cheerleading, most people automatically think of all-star: 2:30 routines, stunts, tumbling, competitions.
But that's only one part of the sport.
This episode sets the record straight: cheerleading is much broader than what we see on the mat. And above all, no branch is "less good" than another.
📣 The sideline: the origin of cheerleading
The most striking point in this episode: 👉 Cheerleading started with the sideline cheerleading.
Before the routines, before the competitions, it was:
cheer chants
encouragement
crowd animation
a role of atmosphere leader
Today, some people still see sidelining as "less serious". This is wrong.
The sideline:
brings together sports teams
creates the identity of a school or club
plays a key role in the sporting spectacle
In short, that's the basis of cheerleading.
🧠 Breaking down cheerleading stereotypes
There are still many misconceptions:
“The sideline is just dancing”
“Professional cheerleaders aren’t real cheerleaders.”
“If you don’t do stunts, it’s not cheerleading.”
These ideas come mainly from:
due to a lack of education
old, very stereotypical images
the confusion between dance and cheerleading
The reality is simple: 👉 Each branch of cheerleading has its own requirements and its own expertise.
🏆 The different types of cheerleading you should know
Here is a clear overview of the main branches:
⭐ All Star
Competitive
Routines of 2:30 (With Tumbling) or 2:00 (Without Tumbling)
Stunts, tumbling, pyramids
Several subcategories: prep, rec, non-tumbling, paracheer
🎓 School
Secondary, college, university
Often includes stunts
May include sideline/chants
📣 Sideline
Entertainment during sporting events
Crowd cheering
Present in football, basketball, baseball, etc.
🎯 Game Day
Very popular in the United States
Match situation simulations
Focused on energy, responsiveness, and crowd leadership
🚫 Non-stunting
No stunts
Focus on dance, jumps, tumbling and precision
Highly technical and demanding
🌍 A constantly evolving sport
Cheerleading is constantly evolving:
Cheer chanting returns in some divisions
Game Day Development
Adapting the rules to compete internationally
Discussions about formats and categories
Even in Quebec, we see:
growth in scholastics
better structured programs
a better overall understanding of sport
🤝 Why you shouldn't criticize anything
The central message of the episode is clear:
👉 You don't have to like all branches of cheerleading…👉 But you have no reason to diminish them.
Each type of cheerleader:
attracts different profiles
develops different skills
contributes to the overall growth of sport
And in the end, that's what makes cheerleading evolve.
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