I recently started coaching a middle school team. It’s been a few years since I was an active cheerleader, but I was always taught that loading in, front spots grab the flyers shins, and then grab the bases wrists to support.
Well, the girls told me that the front spots have been grabbing underneath the flyers feet, in between the bases hands to help lift. I feel like it takes coverage away from the bases though and just doesn’t seem sustainable. Is this the recommended way to do it now?

so i made JV again and im just now a junior. i i did sophomore year football and basketball, and those were my first time ever doing cheerleading. i transferred schools and my old school didn’t have cheer, and i decided to just do a sport at this new school, so i chose cheer. when i found out i got JV my sophomore year i was so happy, i thought it was rlly nice that they were taking a chance on a random girl who knows nobody. but i made JV again and now i feel so upset, im not the only junior, theres 5 others. my friend made varsity and i feel rlly jealous of her, im trying to not show that tho, but i feel it so deeply. each time i bring it up to her she says that i came from nowhere with no experience ever, but i feel like thats not an excuse for me. i’ve always been ahead in most sports ive done so i feel so behind. i don’t want to experience varsity football my senior year for the first time, for most girls this would be their second time. i dont know what i did wrong at tryouts or if it was a limited amount issue, i feel so behind and it makes me upset each time im at practice with all the teams. it makes me so upset i think i want to quit, but ik im too far gone in the season and i worry id regret it. what should i do?

Out of curiosity, does anyone know any tea (info/history) behind Weber State?
Random questions that come to mind are:
Are most of the cheerleaders Mormon? And does religion play an impact into potential recruits decisions?
How did Weber State come to be such a power house team?
Are most students that go to Weber State athletes of some sort?
It is mind blowing and fascinating that a university I’ve never heard of outside of cheerleading, could be so desired by those in the cheer world.

I ordered my daughter a backpack from rebel, they just canceled my order saying it is now out of stock. Which I guess it is what it is but when I ordered it, it was in stock. Now I’m scared to reorder from them because what if it gets canceled again? (Different color) like what are the odds it gets canceled twice?

Should I just order a different bag/brand all together? I was also looking at nfinity but they aren’t as cute color wise.

*We can use any bag we like according to coaches, they have a cheap backpack they sell but neither my daughter or I like that bag and it’s really small *

In August she is going with her school team to a 4 day, 3 night UCA Camp. The coach gave a pretty awesome packing list. Huge thank you to her for that.

Still had a few questions though.

She mentioned they can bring snacks. There is a place where they can buy snacks there also. How many snacks would you suggest to bring? What would you bring them in? It will be in the Poconos (mountains in PA) so it would need to be sealable. Gallon zip lock? Small/medium tote? How much cash would you suggest taking for the cafe?

She does need time to get acclimated to things. Just kinda how she is, especially in unfamiliar situations like this. Do they have time to get their bearings when they arrive? Or do they have like 10 minutes to get their cabin, put sheets on the bed, put up their decorations, change etc.... If it is super fast paced we would want to know so she can at least have that expectation going there. What about time to shower and change? Is it rushed or do they have a decent amount of time?

She mentioned debit/credit card for the camp shop. Any idea if they take Apple Pay? How much would you suggest to give her? Basically....what do things cost? Im assuming they sell items that you see at comps? Hoodies, shirts etc...

If you could give any advice for first timers, what would it be?

Hi! I’m coaching a rec team and it feels literally impossible. At my wits end. I have a very small Bantam squad (6 girls) and the ages are 5-7. This is my first year coaching, although I have a lengthy cheer history, but also have been out of the game for over 15 years. I was so excited when I was asked to coach, I love kids, I work in pediatric healthcare, they are just my favorite humans. But boy are they testing me. I don’t know what I expected. We have had 10 practices, 8 left to go before their first competition and when I say I swear they’ve learned next to nothing — I mean it. They are all pretty good little cheerleaders by themselves but cannot do anything together. We have 3 squads who all share the same space for practice and we have to share mat time, which is ugh, and then hearing everyone else’s music and cheers is distracting, even for me. It’s a gym used for other things, there’s basketballs, these little bike carts everywhere, and no AC. Practice typically starts with at least half of the girls crying they are hot or tired, someone has a belly ache 5 minutes in, potty breaks every 10 minutes for everyone on a different schedule (we tried scheduled breaks for all of them and this just didn’t work they keep asking), they ask for water breaks every 5 minutes (wish I were kidding I can’t even get them through half a routine) and then sit and yap or play on phones, jump on the bikes we aren’t allowed to be using, climbing things, HIDING IN BATHROOM STALLS SITTING ON THE FLOOR. I could go on. The 5 year old threatens to quit constantly, says we’re too hard on her (maam we’ve been here an hour and done nothing), says we “get lippy with her”, another one who even more so than the others cannot and will not stay still just perpetually cartwheels or handstands and pays zero attention. They cannot get past the first half of the their cheer (total time should be approx 40 seconds maybe 45) without me doing it in front of them. They don’t know the motions or words- we’ll say 50% barely. And still have an entire dance to the to teach them before their competition in August. 8 practices is all we have. I’ve talked with the coach from the next age group who is having a hard time also, with not wanting them to compete in August. I really feel I cannot consciously put them out there. Are my expectations too high? Are the other squads this age going to look the same as mine and quite literally not know anything? I don’t know what to do at this point, by no means am I upset with the kids, they are literally still babies, I understand the attention span is very short but I feel like we’ve gotten no where and I don’t know what to do. I was expecting a little more from this age I guess, maybe I was just way wrong in my thinking. HELP MEEEEE HELP MY GIRLS.

My friend used to be a cheerleader for the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders “Rider Cheer“ team from 2009-2012. And she’s lost all her memorabilia. Along with her old Blackberry with any old photos. Does anyone know how or where to find old memorabilia, calendars or even pictures from their cheer team from that era?

My 5 1/2 year old is signed up for rec league cheer. I’m a bit lost on what to buy for practice clothes and shoes? What would you recommend?

To all the girls who grew up in cheer/currently do it: How do you feel about how cheerleaders are portrayed in movies and kid shows? Did you ever feel bothered by the “mean girl” or “dumb cheerleader” trope? Were there any shows you watched that depicted cheerleaders in a way you appreciated?

The "Cheer awards" really should vet who they choose as winners. I realize this proclaimed industry leader, creator of the ruby slipper grip, settled the lawsuits with confidentiality agreements, but as an industry shouldn't we do better?

The claims against him were part of the 2022 federal civil lawsuit filed against Rockstar Cheer, its owners/estate, USASF, and several coaches.

High-level, he was accused of sexual abuse of one or more athletes associated with the gym (in the context of underage athletes and the broader environment that allegedly included providing alcohol to minors).

Feeley categorically denied the allegations against him, calling them false.

These were civil allegations (not criminal convictions), and the federal case was later settled and dismissed in 2024 without public details on individual resolutions. Some related state court matters were noted as ongoing around that time.

hi yall! i have sort of an odd question😭i’m in a cheerleading musical and we have a cheer coach whose helping with some lifts. i’m a base, what should i be doing to strengthen myself? im not sure if i we’ll have mats during our shows and i really don’t want to drop anyone straight onto the floor!!! any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Hi guys, I really need help/advice.

I’m 16 on a JV cheer team and I’ve been having a hard time hitting my stunts lately. I’m a main base, and my coaches keep telling me to “use my legs more.” The thing is, I feel like I am using them, but I guess I’m not doing it the right way?

Recently it’s been super hard to get my flyer all the way up to an extension. When we dip and drive up, it either gets stuck around my chest/head level, or I lose my grip. Sometimes my flyer starts wobbling before we even get close to the top.

Even when we do manage to hit an extension, it’s really unstable. Our feet don’t fully connect clean at the top, and I start feeling really weak trying to hold it.

I’m not sure if this is a timing issue, strength issue, grip problem, or something with my technique. Has anyone else gone through this? What helped you fix it?

I’m really open to any tips for:
actually using legs correctly as a base
keeping a solid grip through the lift
getting past that “stuck” middle point
making extensions more stable
I’d appreciate anything, I feel like I’m holding my stunt group back

This is our second day working on inversions and it doesn’t seem to be going high enough for us to catch at extension level, any advice for how to throw it higher?? I’m the main base btw

I’m new to Reddit, but my friend told me this was the best place to vent and warn other parents. I am completely heartbroken for my daughter.

Last season, she absolutely crushed it at her gym. She was the center flyer for Senior 5 and crossed over to Junior 6. At the end-of-season banquet, she even won the gym’s highest performance award because she hit zero at every single showcase and competition. Her track record was literally flawless.

So when the gym announced they were forming their first-ever Worlds team, she was so hyped to try out. We knew it would be tough, but she’s an elite, award-winning flyer in their own building. We expected a fair shot.

She didn't make the Worlds team. Sucks, but okay, it happens. What happened next is what makes my blood boil.

Instead of putting her on a Level 5 team where she belongs, the gym completely bypassed Level 5 and demoted her two full levels down to Level 4. When I demanded an explanation, management pulled out some shady, unwritten "priority rule." They basically said that because she tried out for Worlds, the athletes who only tried out for Level 5 got priority. They literally penalized her for having ambition.

To make it worse, they dumped her on the Senior 4 Coed team, and it has been an absolute nightmare. She has been dealing with straight-up bullying from kids on that roster. When she tried to stand up for herself and went to the Cheer Director—the guy literally hired to look out for athlete well-being—he completely brushed her off. He told her her placement was "out of his jurisdiction" and refused to even look into it. How is a toxic, unsafe team environment "out of jurisdiction" for a Cheer Director?!

My daughter tried to find a win-win solution. She knew a flyer on the Senior 4 All-Girl team was moving to California, so she asked if she could cross over and compete on both Level 4 teams. She already proved she could handle multiple rosters last year. She wanted to help the gym and escape the toxic Coed vibes.

Management flat-out refused. Even with a flyer vacancy coming up, they claimed the All-Girl roster was full, while actively hunting for flyers for the Coed team. They literally chose to keep a decorated athlete miserable and targeted by bullies rather than give her the same crossover perks other kids get.

When you look at the big picture, it’s impossible to ignore: my daughter is a minority athlete. She has consistently outperformed the girls who were chosen for Worlds and Level 5. Pushing a minority athlete down two levels, isolating her on a team where she gets bullied, and having management pretend they "don't have jurisdiction" screams exclusion. And I just really dont know what to do. (Please tell me if Im in the wrong and what I can do I really want advise in this situation)

I was talking to my daughter today about how things are going at cheerleading. She just started and I asked if she’s been dropped yet. She said yes once. It wasn’t a big deal to her but now I’m freaking out. If they are in the gym, it’s ok if they get dropped because they have mats. But what about when they are doing their cheers at the football games? Am I just supposed to cross my fingers and hope the girls don’t drop her??

Hello! Im going to be on a competition cheer team for my highschool and I was wondering what are some good hairpieces/poshes? I really just need it to be 1. Human hair or curled before I get it 2. A good snug hold 3. To last a season/A year.

I'm turning 17 this year, so I aged out of U16. U18 and open teams are very rare for my area.

I tried out at my usual gym and they only had one team that was open and it was only level 3.0. That is too low for me and would be a waste of money.

I tried out at another gym and they said they didn't have a team for me because I'm too old for U16 but too young for masters (18+), which are the only age divisions they had.

There is one more gym, but it's 2 hours away and my Dad refuses to drive me. I don't blame him, but I don't know what to do. There is no cheer team at my school either. I really don't want to quit cheer.

I’d love to hear some success stories of athletes struggling with a full. I will start by saying my daughter is young, she’s 11. She advanced quickly in all star cheer and this year is on a Y3, J5 and S5. She has been working her full for 2 years now. She had it beautifully for about a month and lost it recently. She’s gone back to doing drills with her tumble coach in hopes of losing her fears and getting it back. The rest of her tumbling is still beautiful it’s just spinning that’s she’s struggling with.

She is so upset with herself and crying after practice. I’m trying so hard to keep her calm and remind her that she’s so young and needs to give herself some grace, that she will bounce back from this.

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some advice from the other adult athletes here. How do you balance your time, job, energy levels, and training expenses?
For those of you who work full-time, how do you manage to get to training after a long day without being completely drained? Also, regarding the expenses, are you working full-time, or do you have a part-time job or side hustle to help cover the costs?
I feel like if you're a coach it helps since you're already in the gym, (And for the coaches in the group, feel free to chime in if you disagree! I'd love to hear how you manage the specific challenges of balancing your coaching duties with your own training.)
but for those of you with outside jobs-what do you actually do to make it work?
I've had a teammate told me they simply sacrifice sleep for both full time job and trainings, but I personally don't feel like I can function that way without enough rest.
Any advice on how you make it all work would be greatly appreciated!

Hello you guys I’m really just posting this because I’m wondering how others learned jumps. I was a competitive cheerleader for 20 years of my life and then I was a USA and a UCA instructor and now I am just a cheer coach. When I was a cheerleader and we learned these three jumps these were the names for them. Recently double nine jumps have become really popular again and Cheer pages on TikTok have been posted them asking what the name of it is and a lot of people have been saying Hurkey.

I’m curious how others learned the terms for those who cheered for a while as well/ still cheer because somebody posted this reference photo in the comments and people were arguing to her that it was wrong, but this is the way that I was trained and also trained other others being a UCA/USA instructor 🤣

Edit: I do think the middle jump is more of a hurdler than a Herkey, but my confusion comes from a lot of people are saying a double 9 jump is a Herkey

so i’m a side base usually but i switch off constantly, im just gonna say that im not the strongest base out there and i need to work on my legs and arms CLEARLY. 1) what are some tips that are genuinely useful if you can send photos of what my position should look like please do. 2) what can i do for soreness? it’s not going away (it’s been a few hours) and im trembling when i walk. i could not get the girl up and i was the problem in the stunt but nevertheless it was still insanely difficult. i have never been a base before btw 3) what workouts should i do to train? and also, is it normal for me to be aching so much?? thanks! this is a lot lol

Has anyone seen the ads of the tumbling cheerleader with these insoles for springier tumbling? My child asked me about them? Is this real?

I am training with my flyer for about 1 year now and we really improved from barely leaving the ground to shoulder stand.

Problem now is that we are reaching a wall here. For everything where my Flyer needs to change Position, we are lacking in height.

I also see that I am not able to perform any meaningful Stunts with other Flyers, even those with insane Core strength and expertise. Other people just need 2-4 small Lifts and can mostly do everything they usually do.

Do you recall your beginnings? What could be the issue? How can i better use explosive force?