🎓 The Collegiate (S3.20)
- janie724
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Episode of January 27, 2026
High school cheerleading is slowly catching its breath, but in college/CEGEP , the reality is rougher: programs have disappeared, there's a lack of gyms, budgets are tight, coaches are underpaid… and yet, we're talking about a level where level 4 is required. That's exactly why we made this episode.
In this Janie's topic , we get to the heart of the matter: why college education has lost so much ground, why it's hard to restart a program when it's dead… and above all, what concrete steps can be taken to get things moving again in Quebec in 2025-2026.
⚠️ Cheerleading in College/CEGEP in 2025-2026: a reality that no longer holds water
Let's not beat around the bush: if you want cheerleading in college to survive, you have to stop pretending that everything is fine.
Today, very few teams remain active, and in several regions, there aren't enough to form a true regional or provincial network like before. We're a far cry from the days when several CEGEPs had their own strong identity, rivalries, traditions… and a real reputation.
The result? Athletes who leave at the time of the transition from secondary school to CEGEP… and who are sometimes only found later at university or in civilian life.
🚧 Why is it blocked at CEGEP
💸 1) Coach compensation: nonsense
At the collegiate level, you coach at level 4. It requires experience, structure, judgment, and people management skills. Yet, the reality in many institutions is that annual packages, once actual time is calculated, fall below minimum wage.
It's simple: if you want competent coaches, you have to stop paying them as if it were a hobby.
🏟️ 2) Gyms and time slots: the crux of the matter
We still hear far too often:
"We don't have a gym for you."
Between full schedules, gyms rented from cities, and priorities given to other sports… cheerleading is getting pushed aside. And when you end up in a cafeteria or an unsuitable room, you can forget about safe and effective development.
⚠️ 3) Fear of risk… even though all sports involve risks
Yes, cheerleading requires competent coaching. No, it is not inherently more dangerous than other sports.
The real question is: is the institution putting in the minimum resources to do it properly?
🎯 Why a CEGEP should bring back a cheerleading team
The CEGEPs want:
recruitment
retention
sens of identity
sens of belonging
A cheerleading team in College/CEGEP is:
a sport that attracts and retains students throughout their studies
a group of 20 to 30 athletes who bring life to the school
a source of pride and sporting culture (rally pep, encouragement, visibility)
a major sporting opportunity, particularly for girls
In short: it's an investment that yields much higher returns than many people imagine.
🛠️ How to restart a program without asking for the moon
If you want to start a cheerleading team in College/CEGEP , here's the real deal:
⏳ Start early : January is already the time to talk to the sporting management.
📊 Selling the project : recruitment, awareness, student life, retention.
🧠 Stop waiting for “perfection” : you start with what you have.
👀 Introduce cheerleading to decision-makers : invite them to a High School RSEQ competition.
🔗 Create High School → Collegial bridges : continuity, collaboration, clear path.
The goal isn't utopia. The goal is to get the ball rolling. Once one CEGEP gets the machine running again and it's working, the others will eventually want the same thing.
🔚 Final word
The College/CEGEP level is a critical link. If we lose it, we break the path. If we revive it, we create a solid sporting continuity for hundreds of athletes in Quebec.
Want to start a college team but don't know where to begin? Don't do it alone. Get organized. Surround yourself with the right people. Start now, not in August.
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