Cheerleading Routines

Preparing Cheerleading Routines for Competition

Before you to even start to choreograph your cheerleading routine, you must check the scorecard for the competition.

The Competition Scorecard

The competition scorecard will give you an idea of what the judges are looking for. Generally, the judges will score a cheerleading routine based on:

• Skill level
• Technique
• Creativity
• Consistency (no wobbles/falls or accidents)
• Enthusiasm
• Safety (points are generally taken off for poor spotting)
• Transitions or formation changes

You also need to make sure that you check for any stipulations on your routine. These might include:

• Illegal moves or stunts
• Length of routine
• Other stipulations of elements that MUST be included

Elements of a Basic Cheerleading Routine

For planning purposes, you can divide your cheerleading routine into three sections: the beginning, the middle and the end. Routines generally include dance, cheering, stunt combinations and/or pyramids and tumbling; depending on the skill level of your squad.

The Beginning of a Routine

You only have one chance to set the tone of your routine for the judges. Your athletes are the strongest at the beginning of the routine. They're not tired from having to dance a high intensity routine for several minutes. Consequently, the most difficult tumbling and stunts should occur near the beginning of the routine.

• Do. . .
  • Choreograph tumbling lines as an opening to the routine.
  • Only choreograph tumblers with clean elements that your team can execute consistently. A difficult tumbling line is only impressive if the athlete can consistently hit it every time.
  • Put the best tumblers in front.

The Middle of the Routine

The middle of your cheerleading routine is the best time to incorporate cheers and dance. You can also use less difficult stunts but don't over do it because you do want to finish big. This is also the point in your routine where you should pay special attention to your transitions. You will need to get from your stunts in the first part of the routine, to your dancing position, and then onto your ending formation.

• Do. . .
  • Put your best dancers in front.
  • Use "and" counts to add difficulty to basic dance steps.
  • NOT dance as a full team in the middle of the routine. Instead, choreograph small pockets of the squad separately.
  • Use appropriate dance moves for the age of your team and for the competition. Suggestive moves are likely to cause your routine to lose points.
  • Choreograph stunts in combinations. This is one case where two is definitely better than one.

The End of the Routine

Like your beginning, your end should leave a lasting impression. There are several tricks but it's important to remember to choreograph elements that your team can do while finishing strong. Consider that your athletes will be tired as their routine ends.

• Do. . .
  • Dance in full team formation near the end. It's impressive visually and also generally easier for your squad to do.
  • End with an easy pyramid.
  • End your routine cleanly and crisply.

A Routine Planning Form

You will need to know exactly how many eight counts there are in your music. Once you know how many eight counts are in your music, consider creating a table similar to the one below with divisions for the beginning, middle, and end of music. Here is a sample of what you might include.

Make a copy for the entire squad so that they can begin to visualize the routine. Remember a well-planned routine leads to a well-executed routine. A well executed routine wins competitions..