So you've decided to either join all-star cheerleading or you've finally decided to pull the trigger and let your kid do competitive cheerleading. First off, congratulations! Welcome to the cult...I mean, sport. All-star cheerleading will now probably be your only personality trait, so I hope you're okay with that.
Many join cheerleading and their immediate thoughts are their athlete is going to be shaking pom-poms and cheering on the sidelines at a football or basketball game. All-star cheerleading is far from that. If you're a parent nervous to put your kid in this sport because of the daredevil level of stunts and tumbling they perform, have no fear! This will break down all-star cheerleading and help you better understand what you're really signing your kid up for.
Per the USASF, all-star cheerleading is defined as a "high energy, team-based, performance sport that is athletic, artistic and acrobatic. It involves athletes competing with a 2 and a 1/2 minute routine composed of tumbling, stunting, pyramids, dance, and cheer segments."
Typically, all star cheerleading are organized and based out of a gym/club. There is a try-out process involved, but it has nothing to do with their school. All-star is focused more on the competitive aspect of cheer compared to school/traditional cheer teams that are crowd leading.
Within the United States, the United States All Star Federation aka USASF and Varsity Spirit are the governing bodies, controlling all things that happen within clubs. The teams range from novice level 1 to elite level 7. From an international perspective, the IASF is the governing body. The difference simply is the rules they have to follow and the scoring system they use.
Levels
When one joins the sport, they're placed on a team corresponding with a level. Teams compete at various levels that allow for different stunts and tumbling to be performed. The levels start out at 1, and travel up to elite level 7. Overall, the level your team is is based on the overall skill of the entire team, not just one athlete.
Example: Let's say a kid has level 4 skills but competes on a level 3, this just means that the athlete is best fit on a level 3 team even though they have higher skills. You want to look at everything from a gym -> team -> athlete perspective.
(Note: I will not be going fully in-depth with every level, so I've attached a link to the United Scoring System that details more about what is in each level)
Additional Resources:
Level 1 is probably the most restrictive when it comes to skills. Comparatively, since this division has a limited amount of skills a team can perform, teams have to be creative in their routines if they want to stand out in the division. You can compete level one from the following divisions: Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, and Senior.
From a stunting perspective, the flyer is not allowed to be held above a prep level unless she/he is braced by another stunt group. One legged stunts are permitted, however, they must be braced if they're performing the skill at prep level. If they're below prep level, they don't have to have a brace. In a pyramid, flyers are allowed to be raised above prep level as long as they are braced and connected and they remain on two feet.
In tumbling, skills include round-offs, forward and backward rolls, front and back walkovers, cartwheels, Valdez, and back extension rolls.
Here's an example: The Stingray All Stars Marietta- Mango, Junior 1 Medium, 2021 Summit Grand Champions (Score of 99).
Eligible Age Groups: Mini, Youth, Junior, Senior
Size of Teams: Small and Medium
In level 2, teams are now able to start stunting above prep level and can even throw back handsprings!
Level 2 is probably the most competitive division due to the number of teams within this level. Junior 2 tends to have the most teams at the Summit and D2 Summit at the end of the season, often having to be split into two separate divisions from a competing standpoint. For example, the D2 Summit had over 100 teams compete in the small junior 2 division.
In stunts, two-legged stunts above prep level without a brace are allowed. One-legged stunts at prep level also do not need a brace, but they cannot go extended unless they're braced. Teams can do 1/2 twisting transitions and tic-toc releases. Level 2 also introduces basket tosses, but flyers can only perform a "straight ride", where they get tossed straight up, body is straight and then they're caught.
In tumbling, they can throw back handsprings, along with everything mentioned in level 1. An example of a level 2 standing tumbling pass would be a back walkover- back handspring step out- back walkover. An example of a level 2 running pass would be a cartwheel, back handspring step out, back walkover, back handspring/back handspring series.
Example: WIDC Hailstorm, Medium Junior 2, 2022 D2 Summit Grand Champions (Score 98.75).
Eligible Age Groups: Youth, Junior, Senior
Size of Teams: Small, Medium.
Beginning in level 3, teams can now start to throw tucks! How exciting!
In stunts, you're allowed to do one-legged stunts extended above prep level without a brace. Teams also can do 1/2 twisting releases and transitions up to the extended one leg. From a dismount, instead of just doing a cradle, flyers are allowed to add one twist into their dismount. For basket tosses, flyers can perform a skill in the air, this can be a simple twist, or a toe touch.
Tumbling will include everything included in levels 1 and 2, but are also allowed to do standing back handsprings series, back and front tucks, and aerials. An example of a level 3 appropriate pass would be a round off-back handspring step out- 1/2 turn- round off tuck.
Here's an example: CheerForce San Diego Frenzy, Small Senior 3, 2022 Summit Champions (Score of 98.05)
Eligible Age Groups: Youth, Junior, Senior
Size: Small, Medium
In level 4, teams are allowed to do more twists and more complex skills.
In stunts, teams are allowed to do a full up to one-leg extended stunts, and 1 1/2 twist to a prep level one-legged stunt. This is where we start to see more complex things such as inversions, back handspring ups, handstands to extension, double downs, etc. We're upgrading baskets from one skill to two skills, both twisting and not twisting.
Examples of baskets include: ball kick, switch kick, ball full, kick full, double full, toe touch full, and pike full.
This also introduces the use of 'coed stunts' as a requirement on the scoresheet. This involves a flyer and usually one other person (typically a guy, though girls can be badass coed partners) performing a stunt. An example of a coed stunt would be walk-in/ toss to hands, press extension to one leg. They're required to hold the coed for four counts in order to get full credit on a score sheet. This is only required if you're competing in a Junior or Senior Coed division.
For pyramids, teams are allowed to do more skills like braced flips and rewinds (back tucks), 1.5 twists and so much more.
Tumbling is everything up to level 3 and includes layouts. A layout is where your body is completely straight, but you are completing a rotation. Level 4 is also where you'll start to see standing tucks, or standing back handspring series to tucks. An example of an elite level 4 pass would be punch front- roundoff back handspring whip to layout.
Example of Senior Coed: California All Stars- Blackjacks, Small Senior Coed 4, 2022 Summit Grand Champions (Score 99.5) - Blackjacks are also 10x consecutive NCA champions, and 7x consecutive Summit Champions.
Eligible Divisions: Senior
Size: Small, Medium
4.2? Huh? That's a thing? Yes, and if you aren't familiar with 4.2, you're not alone!
Level 4.2 combines level 4 stunting and level 2 tumbling together. However, you can only compete on a 4.2 team in the senior division as it's the only option offered for the level. This level has started to gain some popularity over the last couple of years but it still remains a relatively small division both from all girl and coed.
From the tumbling perspective, you can do everything that is allowed in level 2. Stunting however will be level 4, which is explained above.
Example: Maine Stars 4.2 Legends, Senior 4.2 Coed, 2022 D2 Summit Champions (Score of 94.95).
Eligible Age Groups: Youth, Junior, Senior
Size: Small, Medium/Large
Previously, level 5 was called "restricted 5". It was a non-worlds division, meaning they couldn't compete at the Cheerleading Worlds, they would have to compete at the Summit or D2 Summit. It was created to allow teams that had level 5 skills to compete, but weren't at the same caliber as a level 5 worlds team.
Now, level 5 is its own separate entity from level 6. For stunts, teams are allowed to do 1 1/2 twisting releases to extended two feet stunts, they can also do double twisting dismounts from one-legged stunts. Coed stunts are also required for Junior and Senior Coed teams. Pyramids are similar to level 4, but there is more twisting allowed in some skills and fewer braces are required/needed.
Basket tosses include: pike hitch kick, pike kick pretty girl, pike switch kick, hitch kick full, switch kick full, kick kick full, and kick full kick.
The big difference in tumbling is athletes are now allowed to perform full twists in running tumbling. This could be a round off-back handspring- full, or a roundoff- back handspring- whip- full.
Example: Extreme All Stars- X5, Small Senior 5 Coed, 2022 D2 Summit Grand Champions (Score 98.75) -- They also were 2021 D2 Summit Grand Champions in All Girl Senior 5.
Example of All Girl: Dakota Spirit- Apollo, Small Senior 5, 2022 Summit Champions (Score: 96.85)
Eligible Age Groups: Junior, Senior
Size: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large
Welcome to the Worlds divisions! If the team is level 6, they are eligible to compete at the Cheerleading Worlds. This level allows double the skills, literally.
Teams are allowed to double up to both two-legged and one-legged extended stunts, flyers can double down from a stunt, and even 2 and 1/4 dismounts are allowed. This level is exciting to watch both from a Junior and Senior perspective.
Tumbling, teams are allowed to perform double fulls. For the tumbling pass to be considered elite, you have to end your pass with a double. It's the main skill that we'll see out of level 6 teams, and you'll also see standing fulls for standing tumbling skills.
Basket tosses are also fun in this division as they're allowed to perform three skills. Most teams will perform kick doubles, unless you're TGLC (Top Gun Large Coed) and make up your own baskets.
Scoring is a bit different depending on if you're a worlds team or not. If you're a worlds team, you'll more than likely be scored off of the Worlds scoresheet. At worlds, you're scored out of 150 instead of the typical 100.
Example of Coed 6 Teams: Top Gun Allstars TGLC, Large Senior 6 Coed, 2022 Grand World Champions (Score 147.05/150) - Also won in 2021.
Next coed team: The Stingray All Stars- Green- Large Junior 6 Coed, 2022 Summit Champions (Score of 98.1) - Also grand champions in 2021, scoring a 99.7
Example of All Girl: The Stingray All Stars- Orange, Large Senior 6, 2022 World Champions - Also won in 2021, 2022 marked their 10th World Champion title.
Eligible Age Groups: Senior
Size of Groups: Small & Large are most common.
While all levels of cheerleading are dangerous within their own aspects, level 7 has got to be the most difficult and dangerous level. This previously was level 6 before they decided to add another level and take away restricted.
Flyers are allowed to do free flipping with basically means they have no contact with a brace or a base. This could include a back tuck twisting full basket, or a round off rewind to a two-legged extended stunt. Kick triples are even allowed in baskets, AND you can throw a flyer from one stunt group to another (Think Bring-It-On and that 'roller coaster' stunt they did).
The main difference in tumbling is probably the fact that on level 7, you can do standing back hand springs to doubles whereas on level 6, you must do a minimum of two back handsprings before you perform a double.
Watching level 7 pyramids is probably the best thing in cheerleading. Pyramids at this level are allowed to be up to 2.5 stories high. This means that a flyer could stand on top of another flyer, or a flyer could hold another in a shoulder sit! It's definitely a hold your breath situation when watching these pyramids, that's for sure.
Example: CheerForce- Nfinity, International Open Small Coed 7, 2022 World Champions.
I hope this article helps you better understand cheerleading, especially different levels! I would love to know your favorite level and favorite teams!
Comments