Competition season for cheer teams in St. Louis typically runs from a spring or summer team formation through winter and spring events, with routines evolving and scores improving along the way. From competition weekends and scoring to the way routines evolve throughout the season, there's a lot that happens beyond the few minutes athletes spend on the floor.
Whether your family is new to competitive cheer or has been involved for years, understanding how the season unfolds can help you know what to expect and follow your athlete's progress.
When Does Cheer Competition Season Start?
Many all star cheer programs form their teams in the spring or early summer, giving athletes several months to train together before competitions begin.
Throughout the summer and fall, teams focus on developing skills, learning choreography, and bringing the different elements of their routines together.
Winter is an important part of competition season for many programs, with events often continuing into the spring. Some teams begin competing earlier, while others follow a different schedule depending on their division and competition calendar.
Before their first competition, some programs may also hold showcases where athletes perform their routines for family members and supporters.
For parents considering cheer teams in St. Louis, reviewing the competition calendar can help clarify when events begin, how frequently the team competes, and whether travel is involved.
What Happens During a Cheer Competition?
A cheer competition brings together teams from different programs to perform routines within their respective divisions.
Depending on the event, competitions may take place over one or multiple days. Athletes typically arrive at a designated time to meet their coaches and teammates, prepare for their performance, and complete their warmups.
When it's their turn, the team takes the competition floor and performs its routine for the judges.
All star cheer routines are generally around two and a half minutes long, although exact time limits depend on the division and applicable rules. During that short performance, athletes combine stunts, tumbling, jumps, choreography, and other elements they've practiced throughout the season.
After performing, teams may have time to watch other divisions or wait for awards, depending on the event schedule.
While routines last only a few minutes, competition days often involve several hours at the venue. Between arrival times, warmups, performances, and awards, families should plan for a full schedule.
How Are Cheer Competitions Scored?
Cheerleading competitions are judged using score sheets that evaluate different elements of a team's routine.
Depending on the event's scoring system, judges may consider:
- Difficulty: The complexity of skills performed within the team's division.
- Execution: How well athletes perform their skills, including technique and control.
- Synchronization: How consistently teammates perform movements and skills together.
- Overall performance: Elements such as choreography and presentation, as defined by the event's score sheet.
Teams may also receive deductions for certain mistakes or rule violations.
This means competition results aren't determined by difficulty alone. A team performing advanced skills must also execute them correctly and consistently. Scoring standards across the sport are generally set by the U.S. All Star Federation, which most competition organizations follow when building their score sheets.
Scoring systems and division rules can vary between competition organizations, so parents should refer to the specific event's score sheet when reviewing results.
Why Do Teams Compete Multiple Times Throughout the Season?
Competition season gives athletes opportunities to perform their routines more than once.
After an event, coaches can review the team's performance and identify areas that need additional attention. They may make adjustments to choreography, refine transitions, or focus on improving the consistency of certain skills.
As a result, the routine athletes perform at their first competition may not look exactly the same by the end of the season.
For families following cheer teams in St. Louis, this progression can be one of the most interesting parts of the experience. Each competition provides another opportunity to see how the team has developed since its previous performance.
It also gives athletes experience performing under different conditions, responding to feedback, and applying what they've practiced.
Do All Teams Attend the Same Competitions?
Not every cheer team follows the same competition schedule.
The events a team attends may depend on its division, program goals, and competition calendar. Some teams may compete primarily at local or regional events, while others may travel to larger competitions.
Certain events also offer opportunities for eligible teams to earn bids to additional championship competitions. Qualification requirements depend on the event and division.
Because competition schedules can involve travel, families should understand their team's calendar before committing to a season.
Questions worth asking include how many competitions are scheduled, whether overnight travel is expected, and which events require additional expenses.
Having this information early can make it easier to plan around school, work, and other family activities.
What Happens Toward the End of Competition Season?
As competition season progresses into the spring, teams may prepare for their final scheduled events or championship competitions.
For athletes, these performances represent the work they've put into their routines throughout the year. By this point, teams have spent months practicing together, making adjustments, and gaining experience on the competition floor.
Once the season concludes, programs may begin preparing for the following year through evaluations and team placements.
The exact transition varies between gyms, but the end of one season often marks the beginning of planning for the next.
Looking Ahead to Competition Season
Competition season brings together months of training, teamwork, and preparation. From early performances to the final events of the year, each competition gives athletes an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and continue developing as a team.
For families following cheer teams in St. Louis, understanding the competition schedule, scoring process, and different stages of the season can make it easier to stay informed and plan for upcoming events.
As teams continue preparing for the months ahead, there's plenty to look forward to, both on and off the competition floor. Learn more about Cheer Athletics St. Louis and what the season looks like at this location.
