Cheer Competitions Explained
How competitive cheer events work - competition day, scoring, bids and qualifiers, explained in plain English.
Quick answer: a cheer competition is an event where multiple teams perform a short routine in front of judges, who score each routine on difficulty, execution and deductions, with awards given by level and division.
Start with What Happens at a Cheer Competition? for a full walk-through of a typical event, or see How Is Competitive Cheer Scored? to understand how routines are judged.
What Happens at a Cheer Competition?
A walk-through of a typical competition day.
What Is a Cheer Routine?
What a competitive routine is made of.
What Is a Full Out?
A complete practice run-through at full effort.
What Is Warm-Up?
How teams prepare before performing.
What Is a Division?
How teams are grouped for fair competition.
What Is a Qualifier?
A competition where teams compete for bids.
What Is a Bid?
A qualifying spot toward a championship event.
What Happens at Awards?
How placements are announced.
What Is Worlds?
A major international end-of-season championship.
What Is Summit?
A major championship open to a wider range of levels.
What Is Nationals?
A major national-level championship event.
Governing Body vs Competition Provider
Who sets the rules vs who runs the event.