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National Cheerleading Week kicks off every first Monday of March, honoring the incredible athleticism and dedication of cheer athletes. This week-long event celebrates their contributions to the sports world and promotes safety within the sport. Join us in recognizing the hard work of cheerleaders, supporting local teams, and advocating for cheerleading as a respected sport.
Want to sponsor National Cheerleading Week? Learn how
Expected National Cheerleading Week Deals
During National Cheerleading Week, brands and organizations often roll out special appreciation programs for cheer athletes, coaches, and teams. Expect retailers like Varsity Spirit and Nfinity to offer discounts on uniforms, equipment, and training gear. Local gyms and cheer academies may host open houses, free clinics, or discounted enrollment for new members. Look for brands such as Rebel Athletic and Chassé to highlight their commitment to the sport through special promotions or limited-edition merchandise. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as March approaches, encouraging everyone to support the cheer community.
Platform Guide for National Cheerleading Week
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCheerleadingWeek. Share photos and videos of your team’s routines, practices, or behind-the-scenes moments.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCheerleadingWeek. Create short, engaging videos showcasing stunts, cheers, or the daily life of a cheerleader.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalCheerleadingWeek. Share news, event highlights, and support messages for cheer teams and athletes.
National Cheerleading Week Hero
Linda Lundy
History of National Cheerleading Week
Pulling off stunts, jumping, tumbling, handsprings, back tucks…cheer, often undermined, isn’t just some activity you simply just glide through. Extremely vital in setting the spirit of the stage for an epic game, cheer is one of the most physically intense sports. It combines gymnastics, dance, and acrobatics, all wrapped up with poise and grace. It also requires week-long, sometimes, months-long intense training to put on a great show. Cheerleading requires agility, strength, flexibility, stamina, and an active mind ever-ready to learn new routines. National Cheerleading Week recognizes this fact and is dedicated to bringing the spotlight to the hard work and dedication of these athletes, so they get well-deserved recognition.
Did you know the art of cheerleading kicked off in Great Britain in 1869 during the first intercollegiate game between Princeton University and Rutgers University in New Jersey before spreading across the world? Although credited to Princeton University, it was in 1884 that Thomas Peebles, a graduate of Princeton after moving to the University of Minnesota, adopted Princeton cheers and popularized the idea.
On November 2, 1898, a medical student named Johnny Campbell, in the spirit of the game moved to fire on the team and the crowd picked up the microphone and started cheering with the words “Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah! Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Minn-e-so-tah!” It worked magic and the team won. This cemented his place as the world’s first-ever cheerleader. Cheerleading then became popularized in different parts of the world. Although the sport is female-dominated today, it wasn’t until the 1920s women started joining the University of Minnesota, and by the 40s as a result of men going on to fight in World War II., women began joining in large numbers. By the 1960s, cheerleading had spread around.
National Cheerleading Week timeline
The megaphone was employed by the male cheerleaders at Princeton University, so their voices could project over the cheering crowd, and has now become a fixture cheer tool today.
Thomas Peebles, a graduate of Princeton University, moves over to Minnesota University, where he adopts Princeton's cheer and is dubbed Father of American Cheerleading.
The "Grandfather of Modern Cheerleading,” Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer starts the National Cheerleaders Association (N.C.A.) and the first cheer champ a year later.
The Title IX rule officially grants permits for females to compete in sports and with that, female cheerleading launches.
Linda Lundy founds the Cheerleading Week to help create awareness about cheerleading athletes and their immense contributions.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Cheerleading Week
Local businesses can show their support for National Cheerleading Week by offering special discounts or promotions to cheerleaders and coaches. Restaurants might provide a ‘team meal’ discount, while sports retailers could offer deals on cheer-related gear. Gyms and fitness centers can host free clinics or open houses for aspiring cheerleaders, fostering community engagement and promoting the sport. Consider sponsoring a local team or donating to a cheerleading safety fund.
National Cheerleading Week FAQs
When is National Cheerleading Week?
In 2027, this important week takes place from Monday, March 1 to Sunday, March 7, recognizing the sport’s significant impact and promoting its safety.
How many people participate in cheerleading?
The sport continues to grow, with millions of young people engaging in cheerleading annually. Recent estimates suggest over 1.5 million high school and college athletes participate, alongside a large youth league presence.
Is cheerleading considered a sport?
The debate around cheerleading’s status as a sport has largely settled, with governing bodies like the NCAA acknowledging its athletic rigor. Athletes train extensively, face high injury risks, and compete at elite levels, solidifying its place in the athletic world.
What is the history of cheerleading?
From its humble beginnings as sideline spirit-boosting, cheerleading transformed into a complex athletic discipline with stunts, tumbling, and intricate routines. The first cheerleading company, the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), was founded in 1948 by Lawrence Herkimer.
National Cheerleading Week Activities
Join the Squad
Sounds exciting, right? Always dreamt of cheering for your favorite team? National Cheerleading Week presents the perfect opportunity to team up with other cheer lovers and make a difference.
Create awareness
Cheerleading teaches team spirit, and leadership builds confidence as well as helps maintain high spirits during the game which translates outside the game. National Cheerleading Week presents an opportunity to change perceptions about the relevance of cheer. Do your part to spread awareness.
Reignite passion through fundraising
Put some cheer by kicking forward a campaign fundraiser for your team which comes in handy during travel, competitions as well as props (uniforms and tools), and as coaching fees. This goes a long way!
5 Awesome Facts About Cheerleading
Some celebs were cheerleaders
From Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Blake Lively, and Sandra Bullock to even Meryl Streep and Samuel L. Jackson, the list goes on!
Men were the original cheerleaders
While today women account for almost 90%, way back in the late ‘80s cheerleading sport began by men and was male-dominated.
Cheerleading is now a recognized sport
In July this year 2021, the cheerleading sport received its long-awaited stamp of approval from the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).
First recorded cheer squad
In 1954, the Baltimore Colts rewrote history as the first National Football League (N.F.L.) team with cheerleaders.
Lawrence Herkimer is diamond
A former cheerleader himself, the Father of Modern Cheerleading made major contributions to the art of cheer, including creating the pompom, the spirit stick, the Herkie jump, and the National Cheerleaders Association.
Why We Love National Cheerleading Week
It reminds us to celebrate cheer athletes
Cheer might look all easy and glamorous, but it is very physically demanding and intense with a high risk of injuries. However, most people don't realize the dedication and passion that goes behind the scenes in cheerleading. They dismiss these athletes as just side attractions — the day brings this fact to the fore, begging for redress in orientation.
It reminds us CHEER is super important
Cheerleading is associated with boosting positive energy and keeping the spirit alive but upon a closer look, we also find the art teaches us really significant life tools such as confidence, dedication, perseverance, team spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, comportment, and dealing with pressure among others. We love this!
It reminds us to make beautiful memories
Live. Breathe. Love. National Cheerleading Week reminds us of the brutal fact that life is short. While you still have the luxury, maximize every second of it. Let go of grudges, have a good belly laugh, embrace your passions and have a blast.
National Cheerleading Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 2–8 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2027 | March 1–7 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2028 | March 6–12 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2029 | March 5–11 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2030 | March 4–10 | Monday–Sunday |
Social Media Tips for National Cheerleading Week
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