Cheerleading Bloomers

Whether you call them cheerleading bloomers, spankies or cheerleader briefs, this is one piece of equipment you cannot live without! If you are ordering your uniform separately, it's important to know which type of cheerleading bloomers you actually need. In general, the type of bloomers you get will depend on the type of skirt you have.

Spankies allow cheerleaders to do stunts comfortably.

Cheerleading bloomers, generally referred to as "spankies" in cheer speak, are most often made of some combination of Lycra and polyester and will have the feel of spandex. They are always in a color that coordinates with your uniform because as you tumble and leap, it's the cheerleading bloomers that the crowd will see!

The best way to think of actual bloomers is as "granny underwear" for cheerleaders. While this is not the only style of spankie out there, it definitely provides the most coverage. Bloomers are definitely appropriate for junior high squads but more importantly, they are appropriate for squads whose uniforms provide full coverage. Bloomers go best with full box-pleated skirts that are a little on the longer side. You also probably cannot get away with wearing bloomers if your uniform shows any stomach while you're doing your cheers. Otherwise, full bloomers will show through the top of your skirt when you lift up your arms during routines!

Many cheerleading squads opt for full body suits. Without anything else on, a full body suit looks like a leotard and usually has long sleeves and a mock turtleneck. There are several reasons a squad might consider a full body suit:

• Full body suits are great for squads that are concerned about modesty domce the midriff area is covered even while doing cheers. (Squads that cheer for religious high schools for example, or younger junior high squads may be concerned about modesty.)
• Some squads get body suits for their outdoor football games so that the squad can stay warm while cheering. This is better than bulky sweaters for movement.
• Full body suits can add pizzazz to a simple shell and skirt because they come in a variety of styles and colors.

These are really called full bloomers, and, in essence, they look like biking shorts. Your squad should consider these if they have longer skirts. However, remember that wearing longer skirts prohibits some of the advanced tumbling of more elite cheerleading squads. With that said though, you'd certainly want to have something shorter when doing splits and low level pyramids.

These cheerleading bloomers go by a variety of names, but are best described as short shorts. They are appropriate to wear with A-line straight skirts in particular because they do not come up to the navel. Therefore, the cheerleader won't be showing any part of her bloomers while her arms are raised. (You definitely don't want your spankies to come up over your skirt!) The big disadvantage is that they do not fully cover a more robust-figured bottom. Some squads opt to get the same color bloomers for the entire squad, but the flyers may wear shorties, while girls who are bases might wear something that offers a tad more coverage.

This is one of those questions that young cheerleaders always want to ask, but they can be a little embarrassed to do so in front of the entire squad: should you wear your underwear with your spankies?

Remember, the purpose of cheerleading bloomers is for modesty. To put it plainly, you are not really being modest if you have your underwear hanging out of your spankies. Not to mention that you are likely to become the subject of gossip and jokes for your entire school career if you show off your real underwear during your tumbling routine. With that said, some girls, especially those who are very new to cheerleading, find it very uncomfortable to wear spankies by themselves. If that describes you, here are a few wise words to live by:

• Never let them see your undies! If you must wear underwear, wear undies that are cut in such a way so that they don't peek out of your spankies. Do some cartwheels around the house or in your yard, and ask your mom to make sure that you're not showing anything you don't intend to.

• Get the same color underwear as your spankies. Take it from cheerleaders that have gone before you, dark underwear will show through light colored spankies. Make sure you have white or similar colored underwear.

You should buy your spankies where you buy your uniform so that you can make sure the color matches your uniform perfectly. In fact, if you order a complete uniform package, the spankies will be considered part of the uniform and come with the order. Make sure to keep your spankies in tip top shape. While the crowd won't be watching them, one small hole or a peek of your underwear could be very embarrassing!

• Cute Hello Cheers
• Freshman Cheers for a Pep Rally
• School Cheers
• Cheerleading Quiz

• Words for Cheerleading Cheers
• Popular Cheers for Cheerleading
• Cheerleading Chants
• Football Cheers Chants
• Cheerleading Routines

• Spankies
• Cheerleader Skirt
• How to Make Cheerleading Pom Pons
• Cheerleading Locker Signs
• Cheerleading Spirit Signs