Ideas for Competition Cheer Routines

The world of competitive cheerleading is complex and challenging. Those who compete within it understand the importance of constantly performing fresh, innovative routine ideas that will entertain judges with elements they have not seen before. There are four main elements of cheerleading routines that should be considered when creating a competitive cheerleading routine. They are choreography, sidelines, stunts and chants.

  1. Choreography

    • One of the most important elements of a competitive cheerleading routine is choreography. Because a large part of a cheerleading routine involves dance, showing dance technique and skill through great choreography is extremely important. Choose upbeat, fast-tempo music and incorporate the use of dance choreography as transitions between other elements, such as stunts and chant formations. Choreography is also the element of a competitive cheerleading routine that allows team members to use maximum floor space, something that judges appreciate.

    Sidelines

    • Sidelines are an element of most competitive cheerleading routines. A sideline is a series of simple movements, usually done in perfect synchronization between a line of 6 to 8 cheerleaders, that takes place during the routine on the floor, but off center, while another element of the routine is taking place. Sidelines are often used when a major stunt is being performed in the center of the floor. Sidelines allow judges to focus on the most major moments in the routine while still ensuring that all team members are actively contributing.

    Stunts

    • Second only to choreography, good stunts are one of the most imperative elements of a competitive cheerleading routine. Incorporating as many well-done stunts as possible into your routine is necessary; stunts provide the wow factor that judges get excited about. When considering stunt ideas, choose age and level appropriate stunts for your routine. For example, a younger or more inexperienced squad may want to stick to cartwheels and split jumps while older, more advanced squads can try a variety of pyramid stunts.

    Chants

    • Chants are a great way to incorporate some school or squad spirit into your competition routine. Chants often add a little something extra to a routine because typically, not all squads choose to compete with the difficult combination of chanting and executing a technically correct routine. Some examples of a chant may be a school`s fight song or a simple sports cheer such as "Defense" or "Hey, Oh, Let`s Go!." Keep your chant short if you decide to include one in your competitive routine to keep the focus on your movements.