The past year has been one of the most significant in the history of cheer and STUNT. From new collegiate opportunities and growing international participation to professional opportunities and athlete-centered initiatives, several developments continue to strengthen the future of the sport.
The Many Pathways of Cheer
One of the greatest strengths of cheer is the wide variety of opportunities available to athletes. Participants can enter through recreational programs, school-based teams, all-star programs, collegiate cheerleading or STUNT, depending on their interests and goals.
All-star programs provide a competitive environment where teams often travel throughout the season. School-based programs allow athletes to support their schools, often while competing locally, regionally and nationally. Recreational programs offer an accessible entry point for younger athletes and families.
For athletes interested in continuing beyond high school, collegiate cheerleading and STUNT provide additional opportunities. STUNT, developed by USA Cheer, utilizes traditional cheerleading skills in a competition format and continues to grow at the high school and collegiate levels.
Athletes can also aspire to represent the United States through the U.S. National Team Program and compete internationally at events such as the ICU World Championships and FISU competitions. Together, these pathways create opportunities for virtually every athlete, from recreation to international competition.
NCAA STUNT Championship
Just after the turn of the year, the NCAA moved STUNT out of the Emerging Sports for Women program and designated it a full championship sport. This milestone creates additional opportunities for female athletes to continue competing at the collegiate level.
STUNT uses traditional cheerleading skills such as tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids and tosses in a head-to-head format. Athletes compete solely as a team without the crowd-leading aspect of traditional cheerleading. STUNT was developed by USA Cheer to create additional collegiate opportunities and a clear pathway for long-term participation.
The inaugural NCAA STUNT Championship is expected to be held in spring 2027, marking a historic moment for female athletics. USA Cheer is excited about the opportunities this development will create for athletes and institutions across the country.
One of STUNT’s advantages is its accessibility for colleges and universities. It requires minimal facility modifications, can be hosted in existing gymnasiums and utilizes equipment many schools already have available.
Pro Cheer League
Another notable development in 2026 was the launch of the Pro Cheer League, produced by Varsity Spirit. The league featured four 24-person coed teams competing in events across multiple cities.
Athletes received compensation for their participation, representing a unique opportunity within the cheer industry. Teams competed in skill-based challenges before live audiences with judging in real time, creating an exciting new format for fans and athletes alike.
The action was broadcast on ION Television and shared widely on social media. For 2027, the league has announced the addition of two new teams and it will be exciting to watch its continued evolution.
Guidance on Uniforms and Social Media
Some of the most meaningful developments within cheer have focused on athlete experience and wellbeing.
In 2025, USA Cheer released updated uniform guidance encouraging programs to consider options that provide athletes with greater choice, comfort and confidence while maintaining the traditions of their programs.
As cheer has evolved into an increasingly athletic activity, many athletes expressed interest in having more uniform options available to them.
USA Cheer also encouraged organizations to review social media policies and consider practices that allow athletes greater input regarding the use of their images and content.
The hope is that these efforts continue to foster positive environments where athletes feel confident, respected and supported. The response from athletes, coaches and parents has been overwhelmingly positive.
U.S. National Teams Shine in International Competition
The U.S. National Teams recently competed at the ICU Cheerleading World Championships, where athletes represented the United States across multiple divisions, including Premier Coed, Premier All Girl, Junior divisions, Adaptive Abilities and Performance Cheer disciplines.
The U.S. National Team Program earned multiple gold and silver medal performances while competing against some of the best teams in the world.
While cheerleading originated in the United States, the sport has experienced tremendous international growth over the past decade. Strong teams from countries including Canada, Germany, Japan, Norway, Finland, Mexico and the United Kingdom demonstrated the continued expansion of cheer worldwide.
Countries around the world continue to invest in the growth of cheerleading and STUNT, resulting in increasingly competitive international events and expanded opportunities for athletes globally.
Social Media
Social media continues to play an important role in exposing new audiences to cheer. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube allow athletes and programs to showcase the athleticism, dedication and teamwork involved in the sport.
While competition highlights often receive the most attention, training and behind-the-scenes content help demonstrate the preparation required to achieve success. For many young athletes, social media serves as their first introduction to cheer and can be a powerful source of inspiration.
Training, Education and Rules
USA Cheer offers a comprehensive education platform for coaches, administrators and industry professionals. USA Cheer continually evaluates and improves these resources to ensure they remain relevant, accessible and valuable.
USA Cheer encourages coaches, program directors and others working directly with cheer athletes to become USA Cheer members and take advantage of educational and safety resources, including concussion education, safety training, athlete protection training and background screening resources.
USA Cheer also oversees and updates safety rules for youth, junior high, middle school, high school and collegiate cheer programs and works collaboratively with NFHS on high school safety recommendations and rule interpretations.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Positive Coaching Alliance, NFHS and True Sport, we continue to promote positive experiences for athletes.
Athlete protection remains one of USA Cheer’s highest priorities. Through the Safe Sport Program, Athlete Protection Policies and ongoing education efforts, USA Cheer continually works to implement best practices that create safe and supportive environments for participants.
The Future of Cheer and STUNT
While cheerleading is not currently included on the Olympic Games program, the International Cheer Union (ICU) has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), an important milestone in the sport’s continued growth and development.
Cheerleading continues to gain visibility through major international events, including the World Games, Pan American Championships and FISU competitions, providing athletes opportunities to represent their countries on the global stage.
In 2018, U.S. cheer athletes participated in Olympic-related cultural and ambassador activities during the Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. With the Summer Games taking place in Los Angeles in 2028, there may be future opportunities to further showcase cheerleading and engage fans through related activities and events.
With continued growth at the youth, school, collegiate and international levels, strong educational initiatives and expanding competitive opportunities, cheer is exceptionally well-positioned for the future.
Together, cheer and STUNT now provide athletes with more opportunities than ever before — from youth participation and school programs to collegiate competition, international
representation and emerging professional opportunities. SDM
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