Cheer Competition Etiquette

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We are in the heart of cheer competition season, so we hope you and your teammates have had some fun out on the mat! Whether you have just finished your first competition or your 100th, we could all stand to brush up on our etiquette. By remaining polite and respectful of other teams, you cast a positive light on your gym, your coaches, and your fellow athletes. Today, we are going to discuss some of the top ways you can make sure to stay polite and respectful of the teams around you.

Cheer Competition Etiquette

  • Watch what you say. You’ll be in close quarters with everyone else, including other teams. Even if you see a team fall or mess up their performance, do not make fun of them. Choose kind words and avoid malicious behavior that could hurt someone else’s feelings. You never know who can hear you!
  • Bring extras. Bring extra hair ties, makeup, deodorant, you name it! Someone on your team probably forgot something at home, and bringing an extra is a great way to help out a teammate in need.
  • Obey appearance rules. Your gym likely has appearance rules for a reason, so please obey them! This means listening to makeup instructions, following hair protocol, and bringing every little detail of your uniform with you to the competition.
  • Respect the national anthem. They will likely play the national anthem at the beginning of every competition, so make sure to stay respectful the whole time. Place your hand over your heart and do not take this time to talk or laugh with friends. You can wait until after the anthem is complete.
  • Arrive early and ready. If your call time is 8 AM, that doesn’t mean that you walk in the doors at 8 AM in your pajamas with messy hair. Arrive at the venue early so you can find your team, and make sure to show up competition ready. Hair up, bow in, uniform on!
  • Be mindful at awards. While it isn’t fun to clap and act happy if your team gets last place, audibly shouting “that’s not fair!” or other similar statements is not going to change your score. Accept the results with grace. With that said, once the second place team is announced, the first place team knows that they won without being announced. Should your team happen to get first, wait until they say your team’s name before you begin cheering loudly. Do not take away from the team that got second during their time to shine!
  • Cheer for other teams. While you don’t need to sit in the front row and scream for your opponents, you should still wish them luck before they go out to perform. They will appreciate your kindness, and it’s likely that they will remember how kind your team was to them.
  • Stay positive! Your energy will affect your teammates, whether or not you believe that to be true. Saying things like “I know our stunt is going to fall” or “I can’t throw my tumbling pass” is going to affect how well you perform, as well as how well your teammates do. Encourage each other, build each other up, and remain positive.

WSA Cheer Competition

Etiquette matters at cheer competitions! We all want to do our best to nurture a fun and happy environment for coaches, our parents, and most importantly, our all star cheerleaders. At WSA Cheer, we believe in building up teams and gyms of all sizes. To experience the positivity and unity for yourself, please contact us today! We look forward to seeing you at our next competition.