I have received an email about the Cheerleading Championships, which says that the children will perform in small, level-appropriate groups and complete a routine.
Could you please clarify how this will work when it comes to the placings on Sunday? Will Members be placed based on their group performance, or will they still be marked individually?
Personally, I feel it may be a little unfair if placings are based only on the group, as children can perform very differently within Cheerleading. I am hoping they will perform as part of a small group but still be marked on their individual performance.
Could you please shed some light on this? Last year, it was an individual performance. (21st April 2026)
Thank you for your message - this is a really important question, and we’re happy to clarify.
The changes to this year’s Cheerleading event at the AAAsports Championships have been made directly in response to feedback from our Members. A large number of Cheer Members told us very clearly that they didn’t want to be judged individually, didn’t like the idea of competing against their teammates, and were already feeling nervous about performing on the competition floor by themselves.
In fact, having Cheer Members perform individually was the single biggest area of feedback we received following last year’s event. We had already been reviewing ways to improve this following last year’s event and even since announcing the date of this years event, we already received further requests from Cheer Members and their parents to move away from the solo competition structure.
Cheerleading is, at its core, a team sport. Whilst we have supported solo performances previously, it’s become clear that the preference from the overwhelming majority of our Members is to perform as part of a team rather than individually. As a result, this year there will be no individual solo scoring in any category.
Members will instead perform in small, level-appropriate groups, and scoring will be awarded at a group level. These groups are carefully created to ensure they are appropriate in ability, giving every group the best possible opportunity for success.
We understand that this is a change from last year, but it has been made with the clear aim of creating a more positive, supportive, and enjoyable experience for our Cheer Members - based directly on what they and their parents have told us they want.
We hope that helps explain things, but please do let us know if you have any other questions.