🦠 The impact of COVID-19 on the world of cheerleading (S1.9)
- janie724
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
Episode of March 12, 2024
With Izabelle Bee
Four years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. For the cheerleading community, as for many other sports, everything came to a halt overnight. Competitions cancelled, gyms closed, practices interrupted, and a general feeling of uncertainty hanging in the air.
We're talking about it with Izabelle Bee, a journalist who covered this crazy day but who was also impacted as a coach for UQAM.
In episode 9 of the Kick’s Cheer Podcast, the hosts reflect on that intense period, but also on the journey that has been taken since then. Here is a sincere and touching reflection on what our sport has experienced... and what it has become today.
When everything closed... again COVID-19
Everyone will remember March 2020. Even more so the cheerleading world, as we were just 2 days away from the biggest edition of Kick's Celebration. The Kick's team, then in the midst of setting up, had to suddenly halt all preparations for the competition. "We had judges on planes, whom we sent straight home without even leaving the airport," mentions Janie Lapierre, president of Kick's.
In December 2021. A glimmer of hope: the first edition of Kicksmas takes place just after 22 months of closure. We had no idea that 2 days later... BOOM! A new wave of gym closures in Quebec would be imposed. Then, in February 2022, activities resumed—a Valentine's Day gift for the coaches and athletes!
But organizing the competitions becomes a real headache: schedules to be revised, events to be postponed or merged... Yet, despite the obstacles, Célébration, one of the biggest competitions in Quebec, manages to come to fruition. A miracle of organization and perseverance.
🎓 The University World Championships, the only competition... and a rare privilege for UQAM.
Surprising fact: in 2021, only UQAM participated in a university competition in Daytona before everything closed again. A cosmic alignment? Maybe. But above all, a chance that few have had.
📏 The rules... sometimes absurd
Between wearing masks, social distancing, the 10-minute timed stunt sessions, and the impossibility of doing pyramids, the resumption of practices was full of contradictions. The regulations changed depending on the regions, the clubs, the schools... and sometimes even from one week to the next.
Result: a lot of inequalities. Some could practice almost normally, others... not at all. Not to mention the divisions between those under 18 and those 18 and older at a certain point. This ambiguity put enormous pressure on the coaches, but also on the mental health of the athletes.
🧠 The psychological impact: the post-COVID era
It's a key point of the episode: the effect of the pandemic on young people. Many athletes lost their bearings. Upon returning, there was a lot of education or re-education to be done: some left the practice midway without warning—a behaviour never seen before. The social bond, discipline, motivation... everything had been put to the test.
The CEGEP, for example, was particularly affected. In two years of the pandemic, the cohorts went through without practicing. Result: teams disappeared. In some regions, there are almost no college teams left. Fortunately, it's starting to pick up again.
📈 2024: the biggest year ever
Good news: cheerleading is booming! In 2024, the number of athletes is higher than ever. The teams are large, motivated, and dynamic. Both in civilian life and in schools, you can feel that sports have regained their place in the hearts of young people and families.
Even the coaches—another group hard hit—are starting to come back. During the pandemic, several young people who could have become coaches never started coaching. But today, the next generation is slowly coming back.
💬 And now?
Yes, COVID-19 has left its mark. Yes, it took time to recover. But today, Quebec cheerleading has regained its breath—and is even stronger than before.
We can feel a new generation arriving, full of energy and enthusiasm. Parents are getting involved, gyms are overflowing, and competitions are packed. In short, we're back at it—for good!
💡 And you?
How did COVID affect your cheerleading journey? Did you stop? Have you started again? You are not alone. Share your experience in the comments, and above all, keep following us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and all podcast platforms.
Together, we continue to build our sport. 💪✨
To dive into these anecdotes and testimonies, listen to episode 9 of the Kick’s Cheer Podcast!
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