Cheerleading is not only an interesting activity but there are lots of events that are usually lined up throughout the year. Be it summer camps, homecoming, pep rallies, or games, being part of their cheerleading squad is an opportunity to experience these events from a unique point of view.
In general, cheerleading season begins around August and persists until the end of spring. Ten months is a normal duration for cheer season. The first half of the season is normally dominated by football, while the latter half is dominated by basketball.
Does it feel like you can’t wait to cheer in front of thousands of fans? Are you wondering when does the cheerleading season start? Keep on reading to find out about that and more about the cheer season.
How Long Does a Cheer Season Last?
For starters, the cheerleading season usually starts around April or May when the tryouts commence. And a cheerleading season can last for up to 10 months. Most of the activities that need the participation of cheerleaders occur after the tryouts when cheerleaders have perfected their routines.
At the beginning of the season, tryouts are held at least twice per week. And once you find a spot on the team, practice begins right away. It is important that you mark main events during the cheer season which include football cheer that kick starts in August and goes all the way to November. Once that’s done, cheerleaders move on to basketball and wrestling cheer within that month and this ends in February. Competitive cheer is also held during November and the nationals are held in February.
As you can see, from August to February, cheerleaders often have a line-up of back-to-back activities which are all quite demanding. Therefore, as you look into when the season is going to start, you need to approach cheerleading with an open mind and have the willpower to see yourself through the end of the season which is in March.
While we are still on how long a cheer season lasts, there are a couple of things you need to know. Even though no experience is needed during tryouts that occur at the beginning of the season, your performance in the tryouts will determine where you can be best placed in the team. So, if you are planning on joining your cheerleader team in the next season, engage in regular practice so that you can qualify for an excellent spot. It also pays to master the routines of your cheerleading team. This will help you catch up easily.
When you qualify to join the cheerleading team, it is crucial that you understand how demanding the cheerleaders’ calendar is. At the beginning of the season, you will be required to practice at least 2 days a week. And each practice can carry on for more than two hours depending on your instructor.
As you approach competitions or events, your coach may ask you to attend more practice sessions so that you can perfect your routines. A lot will also be asked from you during cheer season, which we will discuss more, later on in this article. There may be 8 or more events within the cheerleading calendar and you have to work hard in all these challenges as you brace yourself for the nationals that occur just before the end of the season.
What Time of the Year is Competitive Cheer?
There are three main parts to a cheer season. The last one which begins in October or November is the competitive cheer. From late fall, different cheerleading athletes complete locally and then travel out of state where they compete for their finals at the national level. Please note there are different levels of teams in a competitive cheer that are mostly grouped according to age.
For the sake of those who are new to cheerleading, let us discuss a little bit more about what it is. Competitive cheer is a competition in which cheer squads compete against one another. Similar to other athlete competitions, competitive cheer usually starts at the local level where schools compete against one another. Those that emerge victorious from every state compete at the national level where the best cheerleaders are awarded for having the best skills.
When you attend a cheerleading competition, you will find various teams. Each team is given two and a half minutes to perform their routine with music. During this period, cheerleaders perform stunts and jumps. There are judges who award marks for execution, difficulty, and creativity. The winners get a trophy and are labeled as the best in that region.
Regarding competitive cheer, not all schools participate. There are some schools where cheerleading is done for athletic and entertainment purposes. In such schools, cheerleaders perform routines with poms and signs during games or other school events. If your school offers such, then you can engage in cheerleading as a co-curricular activity.
There are also all-star cheerleading squads that aren’t associated with schools. In such cheerleading squads, their main purpose is to train the best for competitive cheer. Such programs may not cheer for any school or game, however, they do participate in tournaments at a professional level. These programs often have the most difficult routines and require a lot of professionalism from their cheerleaders.
Irrespective of which cheerleading program you decide to choose, it is important that as competitive cheer approaches in late fall, you are ready both physically and mentally. If your school has a cheer team then sign up as soon as possible. If that’s not the case, then look for a gym near you that professionally trains cheerleaders.
It’s also worth mentioning that as a cheerleader, you need not be afraid of competitive cheer. This is because, during pre-season which runs from May to August, you will have a lot of time to perfect the routine. Be it the choreography, stunts, or jumps, 4 months is a long time for you to memorize and train on the routines provided by your coach or instructor.
After passing the tryouts, every school or gym rolls out the calendar for the upcoming cheer competitions. The calendars differ every year, so you may want to get in touch with your coach for a copy of the cheer calendar. The local competitions start in October. The state competitions are held in November. Regionals may also be held in the same month. And Nationals can be held in December or in the early months of January and February. Knowing these dates is important as it helps you plan.
Will There Be Cheer Competitions After The Pandemic Is Over?
Yes, the competitions will be there once the pandemic is over. At the moment, we can’t comfortably say that we are in the clear regarding the coronavirus, however thanks to adherence to the covid-19 protocols such as vaccination and social distancing, the future looks bright. And we are hopeful that we can soon go outside and engage in our favorite activities such as cheerleading.
Most schools attempt to not only keep the athletes safe but also parents, friends, family, and coaches. They have stopped cheerleading programs. However, as time goes by, we have seen schools reinstating this program. Gyms are now operational and they too have embarked with practice so that they can participate in the upcoming cheer competitions beginning in August.
As cheerleading in schools remains at a standstill with meetings being held virtually to discuss the way forward, athletes are advised to practice on their own when at home. This is to ensure that you don’t lose your cheerleading skills and can retain your physique. If there is a gym, nearby, cheerleaders can use these facilities to work out while adhering to the required safety protocols.
When the nationals were held in Atlanta this year in February, there were a lot of fears regarding the spread of the virus. However, the officials were very keen on the seating arrangements. Spectators were not allowed to seat close to one another and they were required to wear a mask at all times. Only the athletes were allowed to perform without masks. These measures saw to it that the competition was carried out safely and everyone enjoyed the show.
As the cheer competitions start in the next few months, thanks to the efforts of the people in fighting the pandemic, we can expect more people would be allowed into the events. And more schools will have reinstated cheerleading as well as other sports. Therefore, friends and family can attend these events and cheer on their athletes as they perform. Those who won’t be able to make it can rely on TV and the internet to stream the competitions.
Conclusion
Are you feeling anxious about the upcoming cheerleader season? Well, the first step is knowing when the season starts. This will help you prepare both physically and psychologically. And even though this season might be different because of the pandemic, as a cheerleader, you need to keep up the spirit and be optimistic. The pandemic isn’t going to last forever and real soon you will be out there giving it your all.
As you fantasize about how much fun you will have dancing and jumping during cheer competitions, you must practice regularly. As this is the only way for you to perfect your routine. You don’t want to let your fellow cheerleaders down. Also, if it’s your first time attending cheerleader tryouts, be yourself and have fun. As long as you are determined and enthusiastic, cheerleading can be an interesting and fun sport.
