From All Star to University Cheerleading

All Star cheerleading at level 5 is different than level 6 cheerleading, and co-ed is also different from all-girl, so many All Star athletes find their roles change when they make the transition. Many bases become tops, some athletes focus on tumbling, and others find they have almost no role to fill on a co-ed level 6 team. Odds are that your coach has competed level 6, ask them how they think your role might change on a university team if you are unsure.

Another change is game cheering. This is the root of the sport, but many in the sport have never cheered a game. Games can be grueling if they go long, are rainy, or are too cold or too hot, but they can be very fun, and can help bind the team tighter. One of the best feelings is when your team is down, and some trick you do gets the crowd going, and your team feels the energy from that and makes a comeback. The message is - games aren't all that bad.

Choosing the Right School

If you are basing your school choice on cheerleading alone, this is probably a poor choice. Cheerleading is only a part of your life in university, a much larger part of your life will be your program/school/community, and the places you'll live, and people you'll meet.

Waterloo offers many "leading programs", meaning they are among the best in the country, or they are completely new and innovative programs. It also offers almost every program with a co-op option. For students that are financing their own education, this is of enormous value. But of even more value, no matter how you are financing your education, is the job experience you will gather, and the networking you'll do when on your work terms. Many students find a job they like, and go back to it year after year, getting raises each time, then graduating and keeping the job.

We have many athletes on the team in co-op programs, ask one of them in the Facebook Waterloo Cheerleading Tryouts group about it.