Cheer competition day guide for parents

Before you leave home

Most of the stress of competition day comes from surprises, so reduce the ones you can. The program or event organizer will usually share a schedule, but times can shift, so check for updates the day before and again that morning.

• Confirm the venue, the arrival time your coach wants and where athletes should meet the team.
• Ask whether spectators need tickets, whether there is an entry fee for families and what the rules are for bags, cameras and outside food. These vary by event and venue.
• Pack the uniform, shoes, hair supplies, water and a few extras of the small things that go missing. The equipment checklist covers the basics.
• Plan for a long day. Competitions often involve waiting between warm-up and performance, so bring something quiet for your athlete to do.

Arrival and warm-up

Teams are usually asked to arrive well before their performance time. Athletes typically get ready, meet with their coach and warm up in a designated area. Parents are often asked to stay out of the warm-up space, and that is normal. Coaches are managing timing and safety, and extra people can make it harder.

Say goodbye with a short, calm message. A simple "have fun, I will be cheering for you" works better than last-minute advice about skills. Athletes should not be trying out new skills right before they perform. If something feels wrong, hurts or seems off, your child should tell the coach right away, and you can mention it to the coach too.

How to watch a routine

A routine is a single performance, and it goes by quickly. You do not need to know every skill to follow along. Here is what to look for.

• Together: do the athletes move at the same time, with the same motions and the same look?
• Controlled: do skills look steady and confident rather than rushed?
• Clean transitions: do stunt groups and tumblers move into position smoothly?
• Energy and expression: judges usually reward teams that look like they are enjoying the performance.

If you want to know what each athlete is doing, see cheer roles explained. When the crowd is asked to be quiet, or to stay in certain areas, follow the instructions of the venue staff. Those rules exist for the safety of the athletes on the floor.

Be ready for the moment when something does not go perfectly. A stunt may come down, or a tumbler may stumble. Teams are trained to recover and keep going. The best thing a parent can do is keep cheering. If an athlete is hurt, staff and coaches will handle it, and your job is to stay back and let them work.

Scores, results and awards

Judges use a scoresheet from the organization running the event. Scoresheets differ, so the exact math is not universal. For background, see cheer rules for beginners. A few things to keep in mind on the day:

• Results may be announced at the end of a session or at a separate awards time, not right after the routine.
• Teams compete against others in the same division, so a result depends on who else is in the division.
• Some events share score information with teams and some do not. Ask your coach what to expect, rather than guessing.
• Judges are people looking at a fast performance, and opinions on a close result can differ. Treat the outcome as one data point, not a final verdict on your child.

Supporting your athlete

Athletes remember how a day felt long after they forget the placement. A few habits help.

• Lead with the positive. Start with something specific you enjoyed, such as how in sync the team looked, before anything else.
• Skip the instant critique. Technique feedback belongs to coaches. Let your child bring it up first.
• Respect the coach's decisions. Placement, lineups and routine choices are the coach's job. If you have a concern, raise it privately at a calm time, not at the venue.
• Cheer for every team's athletes. Good sportsmanship is part of the sport, and kids notice what adults model.
• Feed and rest them. A long day takes energy. Offer water and a regular meal, and follow any team guidance on food.

Spectator etiquette

• Follow venue and event rules about seating, aisles, photography and flash.
• Stay out of the competition floor and warm-up areas unless you are told otherwise.
• Keep comments about judges, other teams and other athletes positive or private.
• Be patient with delays. Schedules at big events often run behind.

After the day is over

Once the team has finished, ask your child how they felt, what they enjoyed and what they would like to work on. If anyone feels sore or hurt, or something happened during a skill, tell the coach and ask a doctor or athletic trainer about it. Any suspected head injury should be reported right away, and return to practice should follow their guidance and the program's policy. For a season-long plan, read how to prepare for cheer season, and keep cheer terms for new parents handy for any words you do not recognize. You can also browse our cheer page for more guides.

Frequently asked questions

How early should we arrive at a cheer competition?

Follow the arrival time your coach gives you, since teams usually need time to get ready and warm up before performing. Times vary by event, so confirm the details the day before.

Can parents go into the warm-up area?

Often not. Many events and coaches ask parents to stay out so athletes can warm up safely, but rules vary, so ask your coach.

When will we find out the results?

It depends on the event. Results may come at the end of a session or at a later awards time, and some events share more detail than others.

What should I say to my child after a routine?

Start with something specific and positive about the effort or the teamwork, and let your child lead the conversation about what to improve. Technique feedback is the coach's job.