ALL-STAR CHEER
All-Star Cheerleading
All-star cheer is gym-based, competition-only cheerleading with no school or football affiliation. Athletes compete on gym teams organized by age and skill level (L1–L7). The top of the pyramid is The Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando every April.
GOVERNING BODY
USASF (US) + ICU (International)
SEASON RUNS
Aug/Sept – April (Worlds)
ROUTINE LENGTH
2 min 30 sec maximum
ROSTER SIZE
5–36 athletes (division dependent)
TOP EVENT
The Cheerleading Worlds (IASF)
SCORING SYSTEM
United Scoring (primary), OCS
USASF LEVELS — L1 THROUGH L7
L1
Youth / Junior / Senior
Forward rolls, assisted back walkovers, beginner stunts (waist level), basic jumps. No inversions.
L2
Youth / Junior / Senior
Cartwheels, round-offs, prep level stunts, extension preps. Limited inversions.
L3
Youth / Junior / Senior
Back walkovers, back handsprings, extension stunts, full-up liberties. More complex pyramids.
L4
Junior / Senior / Open
Standing backs, back tucks, extended stunts, single-leg inversions, free flying. Complex pyramids.
L4.2
Senior / Open
Between L4 and L5. Includes some L5 elite skills. Created as a stepping stone. Also called "Level 5 Prep" informally.
L5
Senior / Open
Standing fulls, double-ups, elite stunts and pyramids, advanced toss variations. High competitive density.
L6
Senior / Open
The competitive ceiling for most gym teams. Elite stunts, double-downs, complex 3+ high pyramids. Worlds-eligible.
L7
Senior / Open
Highest all-star level. Extremely limited participation. Skills include full-twisting double-downs, elite combination skills.
AGE DIVISIONS
Tiny
Ages 4–6
Mini
Ages 5–8
Youth
Ages 5–11
Junior
Ages 5–14
Senior
Ages 11–18+
Open
No age cap
FLEX
Ages 18+ (non-traditional)
Age eligibility determined by USASF Age Grid (published annually). Birth year determines eligible division for the full season.
View Age Grid document →SCORING SYSTEMS
United Scoring
Primary system at USASF events. Organized into Performance, Execution, and Difficulty. Uses ranges, MAXes, and quantity charts. Judges score digitally.
OCS (Open Cheer Scoring)
Alternative system designed for Prep and Rec all-star divisions. Simpler rubric structure. Used at events that want a more accessible scoring model.
MAJOR EVENTS
The Cheerleading Worlds
Pinnacle of all-star cheer. ESPN Wide World of Sports. Bid required.
The Summit
End-of-season championship for L1–L4.2. Sometimes called "Worlds for younger teams." Bid required.
NCA All-Star Nationals
Major early-season bid event. Televised on CBS Sports Network.
UCA All-Star Nationals
UCA-branded all-star events throughout the season offering bids.
JAMfest / JAMfest Cheer Super Nationals
Major bid event in the Midwest. Pop Warner-affiliated non-USASF option also available.
D2 Summit / D2 Championships
For D2 (smaller/developing) programs. Growing popularity for mid-size gyms.
Also see: All-Star Scoring Docs · Worlds & International Docs · Scoring Glossary