The parents guide to all-star competitive cheer.
For parents new to All-Star. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just how the sport actually works, who runs what, what levels mean, and how to pick a gym.
It’s not sideline cheer. Think gymnastics + dance + stunt acrobatics, choreographed to music. No pom-poms.
Summit (L1–5) or Worlds (L6/L7). Teams earn bids to get there.
What is all-star cheer?
The short version: All-Star cheer is a club sport. Your kid joins a gym (not a school), practices year-round, and competes in choreographed 2:30 routines against teams from other gyms. It looks nothing like the Friday-night football cheer you might remember.
A modern All-Star routine packs tumbling passes, partner stunts, basket tosses, jumps, pyramids, and dance into two-and-a-half minutes of precisely-timed music. It’s judged on difficulty, execution, and showmanship — and the scoring rubric changes every couple of years. The main competition season runs November through May, ending at national events like Summit, NCA All-Star Nationals, or (for the elite teams) Worlds.
There are three worlds parents encounter, and understanding which one you’re in matters for cost, time, and what “good” looks like.
School cheer
Tied to a school. Sidelines football and basketball games, sometimes competes in the spring. Season follows the school calendar. Uniforms are school colors.
All-Star cheer
Club sport. No school affiliation. Year-round training with a competition season roughly November through May. 2:30 routines set to music, judged on tumbling, stunts, jumps, dance, and overall execution. This guide is mostly about this world.
Worlds / Elite
The top tier. Level 6 and Level 7 teams, invited by bid to The Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando each April. International competition. This is the aspirational ceiling of the sport.
Who governs it
Three organizations shape everything you’ll experience as a cheer parent. Knowing which does what saves you from a lot of confused Googling later.
USASF
Writes the rulebook. Every skill legality, safety rule, and coach credential in All-Star cheer flows through USASF. When your gym says “we can’t do that skill at your level,” USASF is why. Their Age Grid and Rules PDF update annually.
Visit siteVarsity
The dominant company running competitions in the US. Owns The Summit (D2 nationals), most bid-earning regional events, and the scoring rubric via United Scoring Partners. If your team is competing, it’s almost certainly at a Varsity event.
Visit siteIASF
The international counterpart to USASF. Runs The Cheerleading Worlds each April in Orlando — the top of the sport. Age grid harmonized with USASF so athletes can compete both domestic and international.
Visit siteTypes & divisions
Every All-Star team is defined by three axes: gender make-up, competition track, and USASF age/size division. Together they decide who your kid competes against.
Team types
All-Girl teams are exactly what they sound like. Coed teams have at least one male athlete — typically more at Levels 4.2, 5, and 6, where male stunting unlocks specific skill sets.
Prep teams are the recreational track: fewer competitions, lower cost, shorter practice weeks, no travel expectations. Novice is the entry-level competitive track. Elite is the full-year competitive track with national travel and Summit or Worlds ambitions.
Most gyms offer all three. Ask your gym how they define each — the labels aren’t federally standardized.
USASF age divisions (2025–26)
| Division | Ages |
|---|---|
| Tiny | 3–6 |
| Mini | 5–8 |
| Youth | 5–11 |
| Junior | 5–14 |
| Senior | 10–18 |
| Open | 14+ |
| International Open | 15+ (Worlds L6/L7) |
Age divisions overlap by design. A 12-year-old could compete Junior or Senior depending on team composition. Ages are determined by August 31 of the competition season.
Team size divisions
Levels 1-7
USASF defines seven skill levels. Each level unlocks new tumbling, stunts, and pyramid moves — and forbids others. Your kid’s team is placed at whatever level matches their weakest necessary skill. Here’s what each level allows.
Level 1
Feet must stay on the floor. No airborne tumbling.
Rolls, cartwheels, handstands, walkovers, and back extension rolls. Every skill requires constant contact with the performing surface — no Back Handsprings (BHS), no Round-off (RO) rebounds, no aerials. This is where the sport begins for every athlete.
Two-leg stunts up to prep level (base’s chest height). Single-leg stunts at prep level only if braced. Maximum 1/4 twist in transitions. Top person stays in contact with a base at all times.
Basket tosses are strictly forbidden. Waist-level cradles are not allowed either.
No Back Handsprings or airborne tumbling — constant contact with the floor is required; two-leg stunts cap at prep level unless braced; basket tosses are prohibited.
Level 2
One back handspring unlocks. No twisting flips yet.
Single Back Handspring (BHS) allowed from standing. BHS series (multiple BHS in a row) allowed from running only, never standing. Front Handspring (FHS) series allowed running. No jump connected directly to a handspring. No twisting flips.
Extensions (two-leg extended stunts) unlock. Prep-level single-leg stunts allowed unbraced. Ground-level inversions allowed if they immediately return to upright. Maximum 1/2 twist in transitions.
Straight-ride tosses only. No tosses allowed in the Mini division at all.
Standing Back Handspring unlocks (single only). Extensions unlock. Single-leg stunts allowed at prep level without a bracer. No twisting flips yet.
Level 3
Running tucks unlock. Standing tucks still forbidden.
Standing BHS series (BHS-BHS) unlocks. Jump-connected handsprings (Toe touch to BHS) unlock. Running back tucks, aerial cartwheels, Punch Fronts unlock. No standing flips. No twisting in the air except round-offs.
Extended single-leg stunts (Extended Libs) unlock with a bracer. Full-twisting transitions unlock at prep level. Release moves from ground to prep level allowed.
Up to 1 1/4 twists OR 1 trick. Toe touches, full-twist tosses, kick arches all unlock.
Running back tucks, punch fronts, and aerials unlock. Standing BHS series unlocks. Standing back tucks and any twisting flips remain forbidden.
Level 4
Standing tucks unlock. Running layouts allowed. No Fulls yet.
Standing Back Tuck unlocks. BHS to Tuck unlocks. Running Layouts, Layout Step Outs, X-Outs, Whips, and Switch Legs all unlock. But: no twisting in flips. A running Full (full-twisting layout) is still forbidden.
Extended single-leg body positions (Heel Stretch, Arabesque, Scorpion, Bow-and-Arrow) allowed unbraced. Braced pyramid flips unlock. Release moves landing at extended level allowed.
Up to 2 1/4 twists OR 2 tricks. Doubles (non-flipping) allowed. Kick fulls, ball fulls all unlock.
Standing back tucks, running layouts and whips unlock. Braced pyramid flips unlock. Twisting inside a flip (the Full) is the one skill that still separates L4 from L5.
Level 5
The Full unlocks. Twisting layouts. Two-plus-one stunts.
Fulls (full-twisting layouts) unlock. Baranis, Arabians, Whip-through-Fulls all unlock. Standing tumbling can include jump flips (Toe touch to Tuck) and back-to-back tucks. Standing full twisting is still forbidden.
Twisting flipping dismounts unlock. Advanced released transitions to extended level unlock. Twisting inversions to extended level unlock.
Up to 2 1/4 twists with flipping tricks. Kick doubles, kick full-tricks all allowed.
The Full is the emblem of L5. Twisting inside a running layout finally unlocks. This is the ceiling of USASF All-Star competition for most senior teams that aren’t chasing Worlds.
Level 6
Worlds-eligible. Doubles unlock. Handspring pyramids.
Doubles (double-twisting layouts) unlock in running tumbling. Standing Fulls unlock in Senior L6. Standing tucks in series with handsprings allowed. This is elite Worlds territory.
Twisting released transitions to extended level. Braced handspring pyramid transitions. Rewind pyramid skills (with specific catcher and bracer requirements).
Kick doubles, kick full-tucks, ball double-fulls. High-difficulty flipping tosses.
Worlds-level skill. Doubles unlock. Rewind and handspring pyramid transitions unlock. Senior L6 gets rewinds; Junior L6 does not.
Level 7
Elite Worlds. Twist-and-flip tosses. 2½-high tower pyramids.
Everything L6 allows, plus higher-complexity combinations. This level exists only at Worlds and only for International Open teams.
2½-high tower pyramids unlock. The pyramid is literally three people tall — a base standing on the floor, a second athlete standing on that base, and the flyer at the top. Extremely rare, extremely elite.
Multi-trick, multi-twist flipping tosses. The ceiling of legal skills in the sport.
The ceiling of the sport. 2½-high tower pyramids are the emblem of L7 — you’ll see them at Worlds Finals and almost nowhere else.
Every skill claim above is drawn from the current USASF Cheer Rules (effective June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026, updated July 21, 2025) and cross-checked against Varsity’s Level Appropriate documents. If your gym describes a skill differently than what you read here, trust your gym — they may have the newer bulletin.
What it costs
Cheer is not cheap. The honest range for an Elite team runs $4,000 to $12,000 per year, and true elites chasing Summit + Worlds can clear $15,000. Ranges below are national — coastal metros (LA, Bay Area, NYC-area) typically run 30–50% higher than the Southeast and Midwest.
Annual cost breakdown (national ranges)
| Category | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly tuition | $150 | $400 | Higher in coastal metros |
| Choreography fee (annual) | $200 | $600 | One-time per season |
| Music fee (annual) | $75 | $250 | |
| Uniform | $200 | $500 | Usually multi-year |
| Practice gear + warm-ups | $150 | $400 | |
| Competition fees (per event) | $85 | $200 | 6–10 events typical |
| Travel comp registration (Summit, Nationals) | $250 | $450 | |
| Travel per big comp (hotel, flights, food) | $800 | $2,500 | Highly regional |
| Bows, shoes, accessories | $100 | $250 | |
| Private lessons (optional) | $40/hr | $100/hr | Extra tumbling work |
Costs vary wildly. A Level 1 Mini in the Midwest might run $3,500 all-in. A Level 5 Senior at a coastal elite gym flying to Summit and NCA might clear $12,000. Ask your gym for their season packet — every reputable gym publishes one before tryouts. If they won’t hand you a written cost breakdown, that’s information.
Gear
Cheer’s gear list is smaller than most sports — but every piece matters. Here’s what your kid actually needs, in the order you’ll buy it.
Cheer shoes
Light, split-sole, white. Nfinity and Kaepa are the most common brands. Replace every season — the grip goes fast.
Practice wear
Sports bra plus shorts is standard for practice. Most gyms sell branded practice tees for team days. Comfortable, breathable, easy to move in.
Uniform
Assigned by the gym, worn only for competitions. Don’t wash it wrong — the rhinestones and crystals do not survive a hot dryer. Follow the gym’s care instructions to the letter.
Bows
Team-issued bows for competitions, gym-branded practice bows for the rest of the week. Cheer athletes go through a lot of bows — keep spares.
Competition day bag
Competition day means a rolling bag or backpack loaded with: change of clothes, snacks, water, phone charger, athletic tape, extra hair ties, pain relievers, and a small mirror. Team-branded rolling bags are common.
Rankings
The Summit is the D2 (Division 2) All-Star cheer national championship, hosted by Varsity every April at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Unlike Worlds, Summit is bid-only — teams have to earn a paid or at-large bid during regular season to compete. Below is a 3-year snapshot of Summit champions across the major divisions.
Summit champions 2024 – 2026
| Division | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 Junior Small | Designer Athletics — FEND1 (98.99) | Nor Cal Elite All Stars – San Ramon — Pandora (98.84) | All-Star Revolution — UNITY (98.12) |
| L1 Senior Small | The California All Stars – San Marcos — White Gold (97.97) | The California All Stars – Ontario — Crystal (97.25) | Cheer Extreme – Raleigh — Lovespell (97.75) |
| L2 Junior Small | The California All Stars – Ontario — Steel (98.47) | Top Gun All Stars — Golden Ops (99.07) | Cheer Express All Stars — Red Reign (98.93) |
| L2 Senior Small | Woodlands Elite – Katy — Admirals (99.00) | Woodlands Elite – Katy — Admirals (99.33) | The California All Stars – Livermore — Bluettes (97.93) |
| L2 Senior Medium | California Pride — Aftershock (98.87) | The California All Stars – Mesa — Obsession (98.87) | Cheer Express All Stars — Senior Heat (98.40) |
| L3 Junior Small | Woodlands Elite – Katy — Spartans (98.53) | Rock Solid All Stars — POWER (98.53) | The California All Stars – Mesa — Crush (98.60) |
| L3 Junior Medium | Central Jersey All Stars — Bombsquad (98.47) | CheerForce San Diego — Rage (99.27) | Louisiana Cheer Force — Pink (98.33) |
| L3 Senior Small | South Coast Cheer — Blush (98.80) | NFINITE All Stars — CODE BLACK (97.87) | GymTyme Illinois — Gossip (98.67) |
| L3 Senior Medium | The Stingray Allstars — Lime (98.80) | South Coast Cheer — Scarlet (98.93) | The Stingray Allstars — Lime (99.53) |
| L4 Senior Small | South Coast Cheer — Scarlet (98.80) | GymTyme Illinois — Lady Red (99.20) | GymTyme Illinois — Lady Red (97.67) |
| L4.2 Senior Coed Small | California Pride — Blizzard (97.88) | Nor Cal Elite All Stars — Poseidon (98.67) | The Stingray Allstars — Moonlight (99.13) |
| L5 Senior Small | Dakota Spirit — Apollo (97.13) | Rock Solid All Stars — SAVIORS (98.47) | Dakota Spirit — Apollo (99.07) |
| L5 Senior Medium | ATA — Fusion (98.40) | Cheer Extreme – Raleigh — Medu5a (98.87) | California Pride — Breeze (98.60) |
Notable multi-year winners
- Woodlands Elite – Katy (Admirals) — back-to-back L2 Senior Small champion 2024 & 2025
- The Stingray Allstars (Lime) — L3 Senior Medium champion 2024 and 2026
- Dakota Spirit (Apollo) — L5 Senior Small champion 2024 and 2026
- GymTyme Illinois (Lady Red) — back-to-back L4 Senior Small champion 2025 & 2026
- South Coast Cheer — three podium wins across L3 Senior Small (Blush 2024), L4 Senior Small (Scarlet 2024), and L3 Senior Medium (Scarlet 2025)
- Nor Cal Elite All Stars – San Ramon (Pandora) — L1 Junior Small 2025 champion, back-to-back into 2026 following division rename
- Top Gun All Stars (Golden Ops) — consecutive L2 Junior Small titles across the Small/Flex rename
Ties and sub-group splits are common at Summit. In 2024 and 2025, L1, L2, and L3 Junior Small divisions were divided into Small A and Small B sub-groups — the highest-scoring winner is shown above. By 2026, several divisions were renamed with “Flex” subcategories. Program showings vary year to year based on athlete graduation cycles, bid earnings, and division structure changes.
Sources: Cheer Theory 2024, 2025, and 2026 Summit finals results.
Find a gym
There’s no perfect way to pick a gym. The best families we know tried 2 or 3 before landing on one that fit their kid’s level, the family’s budget, and the car’s driving radius. Here’s what to look for and where to look.
What to look for
- USASF-credentialed coaches (ask, and verify — the credential is publicly listed)
- Insurance and safety certifications visible at the front desk
- Honest level placement (a good coach places your kid where they are, not where you wish they were)
- Culture around losses (do they punish, or coach?)
- Fee transparency — a written season packet published before tryouts
- Practice schedule that fits your family’s actual life
- Gym-parent community (visit a practice, watch how the parents interact — the culture is the culture)
How to find gyms near you
- USASF gym directory
- Varsity’s gym locator
- Reddit r/cheerleading — search for your metro plus “gym”
- Local Facebook groups — search “[your city] cheer parents”
- Ask at your kid’s school — other cheer families always know
Glossary
Every sport has a language. Here’s the vocabulary you’ll hear most often in your first season.