Cheerleading Apparel

From LoveToKnow Cheerleading

While your uniform is generally ordered and supplied to you through your organization, there is a whole slew of other cheerleading apparel that an active cheerleader needs! In addition, there are also debates over this apparel of which every coach should be aware.

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The Standard Uniform

In general, standard issue cheerleading apparel includes:

Spankies
A reversible skirt
A vest or demi-vest, also referred to as a shell
A turtle neck body suit and/or a sweater for cold weather games

Cheerleaders will usually have to buy their own shoes, but the team will dictate which type of shoes to buy and will generally order them in bulk to take advantage of discounts.

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Other Cheerleading Apparel

Various squads have different rules regarding what to wear during practice. While some squads will have girls purchase warm up uniforms or practice uniforms, other squads will simply require tight fitting clothing for practice.

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Shoes

Cheerleading shoes should always be worn during practice and while cheerleading. Dancing squads may also perform in jazz sneakers. However, wearing the appropriate footwear is important because:

It protects the cheerleader’s foot and helps prevent injury.
Many cheerleading shoes have finger grips for stunting.
Jazz sneakers help make dance routines look better and are better for your feet while dancing.

You can expect that your coach will ask your shoe size and order your shoes all together. You should also expect to replace your cheerleading shoes yearly.

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Camp Uniforms

Camp uniforms are optional. Sometimes, the camp will actually provide the squad with the appropriate cheerleading apparel for camp. Other times, a squad may decide to provide their cheerleaders with camp uniforms to promote squad unity. (It should also be noted that at some camps, cheerleaders simply wear their own school uniforms.)

Generally, camp uniforms consist of a team T-shirt, tank top or sports bra. In addition, girls will wear biker shorts or cheerleading shorts for practice. Generally, a team will try to get shorts and a shirt in its school’s color. Camp uniforms can then be used for practice.

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Warm Up Uniforms

If cheerleaders are going to perform and cheer during inclement weather, it’s important that the squad has good warm up uniforms. While it might seem like a good idea to just tell the girls to wear sweats, you don’t want your squad looking mismatched and different on the night of the one big game. Instead, purchase warm up pants or matching sweats and warm up jackets at the beginning of the year. This way, if the big game happens to fall on the same night as the first big snow storm, your squad still looks great!

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Personalizing with Accessories

No girl is complete without her accessories, but keep in mind that jewelry is a big no-no when it comes to cheerleading. With the exception of very small stud earrings, jewelry (including rings, earrings or necklaces) posts a safety hazard.

However, bows, matching socks, gloves and pom pons on shoes are all acceptable in terms of making the squad’s look complete and dressing up their uniforms.

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Why Are Cheerleading Uniforms So Skimpy?

When talking about cheerleading apparel, it is worth exploring exactly why cheerleading outfits seem to get smaller and smaller. There is actually good reason for this.

When cheerleading began requirimg more athleticism, it was necessary to lose the fabric. Skirts are generally straight “Spartan” type skirts without extra pleats that could pose a hazard for a stunting flyer. Likewise, All Star teams that participate in more dangerous stunting are only required to have a demi-shell. NCAA regulations do require that shells for other squads cover the stomach area.

While there is definitely an aspect of showmanship, the original reason for less cloth was to protect the athletes who were doing dangerous stunts.

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