About Cheerleading Routines

Cheerleading has morphed from a sidebar at sports games to a high-adrenaline, physically demanding sport on its own. The best of the best of squads are shown in their routines, which is the focus for cheerleaders and coaches.

Identification

First, it is important to define whether this is a routine that is for competition or for a game. If a routine is being choreographed for a competition, advance research is needed. Everyone from the coach to the captains to the squad members need to understand what the particular judges are looking for. Most often, they are eyeing squads and scoring them based on: skill level, creativity, technique, enthusiasm and safety.

Considerations

Divide the routine into three sections: beginning, middle and end. Looking at each section individually, choreograph where the dancing, cheering, stunt performing and pyramid building will be inserted. Take into consideration that the adrenaline and energy is highest at the beginning, and it's where the more difficult stunts should take place.

Time Frame

Start the routines with the strongest cheerleaders in the front, executing the most complicated gymnastics possible. Bring in the rest of the squad in clean, sharp lines, performing their own tumbling lines.
Fill the middle of the routine with a mixture of cheering and dancing. Do not have the squad dance as one whole unit, and avoid using the most difficult stunts at this point. The middle of the routine should be fun, energetic and enliven the crowd but also allow for cheerleaders to perform in groups, letting others grab a quick breath and save the ultimate enthusiasm for the end.
The ending is the last big hurrah for the squad. This is the moment in the routine when cheerleaders should perform in dancing unison, with the most seasoned of cheerleaders rounding off with complicated tumbles and the entire squad ending in some kind of pyramid to give whoever is watching that last big 'Ta-Da."

Types

Keep in mind the various types of cheers to punctuate the routine. 'Hello" cheers are often the high-octane intro for the squad. This is the cheer that initially energizes the crowd. 'Crowd response" cheers are another way to fire up team spirit among the audience. An example of such a cheer is "We say, 'Spartans!' You say, 'Go, Spartans, go!'"

Warning

Safety is always of paramount importance. With competition becoming more fierce and the drive to win pushing athletes toward their limit, cheerleading squads have to make sure they avoid illegal stunts or stunts that are at any level above the performance ability of the cheerleaders.

Resources

• Cheerleading Routine Central
• Remixes and Song Ideas