Cheer Glossary
Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Cheer.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Example | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sideline Cheer | Cheer performed at games to support a team and lead the crowd. | The squad leads a chant during a timeout. | Game cheer |
| Competition Cheer | A judged cheer routine performed at an event according to rules and a score sheet. | The team performs once during its division's competition window. | Comp cheer |
| Chant | A short repeated cheer with words, rhythm, and crowd response. | Defense chants may repeat several times during a game. | Cheer |
| Motion | A named arm and body position that cheerleaders hit together. | High V and low V are common beginner motion names. | Arm motion |
| Counts | Numbered timing cues, often in sets of eight, used to keep the team moving together. | The coach counts five, six, seven, eight before the cheer starts. | Eight-count |
| Formation | The planned places where athletes stand during a chant, routine, stunt, or transition. | The team opens in two lines and then moves to a triangle formation. | Spacing |
| Transition | A planned movement from one formation or routine section to another. | The squad transitions from a sideline line into a stunt-group setup. | Move |
| Jump | A cheer skill where athletes leave the floor and land under control, using coach-taught technique. | A team may include beginner jumps in a routine. | Cheer jump |
| Tumbling | Floor skills such as rolls, cartwheels, walkovers, or other skills, depending on level and program rules. | A beginner team may allow only basic tumbling or none at all. | Floor skills |
| Stunt | A skill where athletes work together in assigned roles to lift, support, or catch within allowed safety rules. | Some youth teams practice no stunts, while others allow limited coach-supervised stunts. | Lift |
| Base | An athlete in a stunt group who supports the flyer according to coach instruction and safety rules. | Bases listen for counts before any stunt movement. | Main base; side base |
| Flyer | An athlete in a stunt group who is lifted or supported when stunts are allowed. | A flyer role requires listening, body control, and trust in the group. | Top person |
| Spotter | An athlete or coach assigned to help protect the flyer and stunt group under program rules. | A back spot may help the group stay organized and safe. | Back spot; front spot |
| Stunt Group | A small group of athletes assigned to work together on a stunt when stunts are allowed. | The coach may adjust stunt groups based on safety and timing. | Group |
| Routine | A planned performance made of chants, motions, dance, jumps, formations, tumbling, stunts, and transitions as allowed. | The team practices the full routine before competition. | Performance |
| Rubric | A judging guide that explains how competition routines are evaluated. | The event rubric may score execution, difficulty, synchronization, and overall performance. | Score sheet |
| Sharpness | The clean, strong, matched quality of motions and stops. | The same chant looks better when everyone hits motions sharply. | Clean motions |
| Synchronization | The team performing words, motions, jumps, and transitions at the same time. | The routine improves when synchronization matches the music and counts. | Timing together |
| Warmup | Coach-led preparation before practice or performance to get athletes ready for movement. | Warmup may happen before jumps, tumbling, stunts, or a full routine. | Stretching and prep |
| No-Stunt Team | A cheer team or division that does not include lifts or stunts under its rules. | A no-stunt team can still perform chants, motions, jumps, dance, and formations. | Non-stunt division |