Cheerleading coaching: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What cheerleading coaching is

Cheerleading coaching teaches stunts, tumbling, jumps and routines, and builds team skills with safety practices and spotting. Families book it for a school or club team, for a competition season, or for a child who wants to learn the basics before trying out.

Signs you need it

  • Your child wants to learn a stunt or a jump but the team has no clear progression for it
  • Tumbling passes are inconsistent, so the routine does not come together
  • Stunts wobble or the base struggles to hold the flyer
  • The team is preparing for a competition and needs routine timing and sharper jumps
  • A child is trying out and needs to build basic skills before the try-out date

What the pro does

  • Checks each athlete's jumps, tumbling and stunt skills to find the next step for each
  • Teaches basic tumbling, such as cartwheels, round-offs and back handsprings, through progressions
  • Trains stunts with a clear base, back spot and flyer roles, using a set order of steps
  • Drills jumps and motion timing for the routine, with counts and music
  • Covers spotting, mats and the safety rules for each stunt and tumbling pass

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Group team coaching or private lessons
  • Team size and the number of coaches on the floor
  • The level of the team, from recreational to competitive
  • Length of each practice and the number of practices per week
  • Whether the gym has a full tumbling floor and the mats needed
  • Competition travel, uniforms or entry fees, if the program includes them

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of practices, practice length and the season schedule
  • Gym or facility location and whether facility fees are included
  • Whether uniforms, bows or competition fees are included
  • Team size and the number of coaches on the floor
  • Policy for missed practices and facility closures

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How many coaches are on the floor during stunt and tumbling practice?
  • What is your progression for stunts, and when does a flyer go up?
  • How do you spot tumbling and stunts, and what mats do you use?
  • What background checks do your coaches pass before they work with children?
  • Do you hold a coaching certification from a cheer or gymnastics safety program?
  • How do you prepare athletes for a competition and for try-outs?
  • What is the time commitment, and what travel is expected?

Red flags

  • Lets athletes try a stunt or a pass without spotting or the right progressions
  • Has no background checks for coaches who work with children
  • Pushes flyers up or tumbling passes before the team is ready
  • Uses mats that are worn or do not cover the floor under the stunts

What you can do yourself

A child can build jump strength and flexibility at home with simple drills, such as jumping jacks and sit-ups, and can practice arm motions and counts to music. Do not try stunts or back handsprings at home without a coach and proper spotting. Hire a coach for stunts, tumbling progressions, spotting and team routines.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to coach cheerleading. Ask whether the coaches hold certifications from a cheer or gymnastics program, and whether the gym or school requires background checks for coaches who work with children. Check with your state or local licensing agency for any rules that apply to the facility or school program.

Cheerleading coaching questions

What age can a child start cheerleading?

Many programs take children from a young age in recreational classes. Ask the program what the classes cover at each age and how it sets up its progressions and spotting.

Should my child start with a team or private coaching?

A team builds routine and team skills. Private coaching gives more time on one skill, such as a tumbling pass or a jump. Many athletes do both.

Do coaches pass background checks?

Many programs and schools require background checks for coaches who work with children. Ask for proof before you enroll your child, and ask about the program's sign-in and pickup rules.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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