There Are Different Types of Cheerleading? Really?

Yes!  There are several different types of cheerleading squads, for all ages!  Finding the type that is right for you or your child is essential to having a great experience on the team.

School Cheerleading – This is what most people think of when they think of cheerleading.  Football, high school hallways, pom poms, and Friday night lights.  High school cheerleading is usually thought of as the traditional sideline cheer, however many teams in the Seattle area compete on both a regional and national level.  Although high school cheer is by far the most prominent in this area, there are a few middle school and junior high programs as well.

All Star (Competitive) Cheerleading – Competitive cheerleading has increased exponentially in the last 10 years.  All Star teams compete against other competitive cheer squads.  All Star cheerleaders do not cheer for a sport—their sole purpose is to put on a fantastic performance and win competitions.  At the highest levels, All Star cheerleaders perform more advanced stunting and tumbling than their school counterparts.

Recreation Cheerleading – Recreation cheer squads are usually associated with a non-profit organization such as a Boys & Girls Club, Parks Department, or a Pop Warner football program.  Recreation cheerleading can come in many forms from cheering for a junior football league to performance teams.  Some recreation teams compete as well, although they usually compete in their own recreational categories.  Most recreation teams focus on elementary and middle school age children, however some programs go up through high school age as well.

Check out the Eastside Dream Elite recreational cheer program for a non-competitive environment that still covers many levels of cheerleading!  The attached video shows Eastside Dream Elite Power Squad (advanced team) performing at a 2009 Seattle Storm halftime.