Regional cheer competitions down the road from where you live are one thing, but when you travel to a national competition it changes the game. There’s so much to remember, a lot is happening, and don’t even get me started on the ultimate cheer hangover once it’s all over. Every cheer competition is different, but there are some hard and fast, universal rules when it comes to traveling for cheer.
We’re breaking down everything you need to know and prepare for cheer competition travel, including:
What to expect leading up to the event
What to pack
Getting to the cheer competition
Fun traditions you can create
The Cheer Hangover
Food tips
What to Expect at Specific Cheer Events (like NCA, CHEERSPORT, and High School Nationals)
Click to jump to the following events:
- High School Nationals (NHSCC)
- Cheer Events at ESPN Wide World of Sports (including Summit, UCA, and The Cheerleading Worlds)
- CHEERSPORT Super Nationals
- NCA All-Star Nationals
First, let’s cover some basics of cheer competition travel:
Why Travel for Cheer Competitions?
If you’re new to competitive cheer, you might be thinking, ‘I’m sorry, but why does my seven-year-old need to travel for CHEERLEADING?’ It’s a solid question, but the short answer is that it’s a chance for teams to really compete and show what they’ve got on a national stage, and most of the events I talk about in this post award a very high number of bids. Don’t know what a bid is? Read all about bids. Plus, these cheer competitions can be a really fun experience.
What to Expect the Week Leading Up to a National Cheer Competition
During travel season and going to these big national events, the coaches want to prepare athletes to put their absolute best foot forward. It’s not that they don’t want them to do their best during the regional competitions, but there is a lot of pressure on these bigger stages, and preparation and extra practice are keys to success.
The work and events leading up to your big travel weekend will vary on the program and team. Be prepared for the following:
- A mandatory practice period. This is usually a one to three week period, depending on your gym and the event, when athletes cannot miss practice for any reason, or they may risk being pulled from the routine for that event.
- Additional team practices. Practices may be added last-minute and they may run long during the week leading up to a nationals event.
- Themed practices. Team coaches or parents might organize themed practices or other fun activities to help bond the athletes and get them excited.
- A showcase. The team might have the chance to perform for friends and family who won’t be traveling with them, to get another full-out in before performing for the judges in a different city.
- More stress for your athlete. The pressure cheer athletes face leading up to a nationals event will likely drive them to their limits. You can help them by making sure they get enough rest and healthy food.
What to Pack to a Cheer Competition
Knowing what essentials to pack is always one of the first questions on a cheer mom’s mind. Here are a few tips to help you feel prepared:
- Pack all uniform items in the carry-on bag. Anything your athlete needs to compete should be with you at all times. Pack hair accessories, shoes, and anything you can’t buy on a moment’s notice in the carry-on bag or backpack.
- Spiritwear. Bring your team spirit and wear spirit gear all weekend.
- Comfortable shoes. Wearing comfortable shoes is rule #1 for cheer parents. The venues at Nationals events are usually huge, and moving from your hotel to the performance hall to awards could be many, MANY steps (like, 20,000 in one day). Wear comfortable shoes at all times! Here are my absolute favorites.
- Wine bottle opener. Just trust me on this one.
- Something familiar or calming. When we travel for cheer, I love to bring essential oils, a pillow, or something that reminds us of home, to feel more centered during the stress of traveling and competition. My daughter has a stuffed duck that goes with her to every event, even College Cheer Nationals!
Want the full list of what to pack, complete with checkboxes? Let me send you a free list, complete with checkboxes, so you don’t forget a thing!
Traveling to a Cheer Competition
Getting to the actual competition city and venue will look different depending on whether you’re traveling for school or All Star cheer. High school cheer will typically travel together as a team, with coaches and a few parent chaperones. In my experience, the school coaches will book all the travel and tell the athletes when and where to meet for their flight. Then, they arrange for buses and other transportation throughout the event. Athletes room with other athletes in the hotel, and parents are very much hands-off.
When it comes to All Star cheer, you are responsible for getting your athlete to the competition. Sometimes the gym will set up transportation to get the team from the hotel to the venue, but parents must be more involved in coordination at All Star events. As the parent, you room with your athlete and are responsible for them almost at all times.
Either way, I suggest arriving 18-24 hours before your first scheduled event, whether it’s practice or warmup before the competition itself, and give yourself a chance to get settled and get the lay of the land. Doing this will also mitigate stress around potential travel delays. There is almost nothing worse than comin’ in hot minutes before your athlete has to be somewhere in a new city. Do everything you can to reduce stress around traveling.
Cheer Travel is a Business Trip, Not a Family Vacation.
I know this is a tough pill to swallow, but before you pack up the whole family and make your trip to Orlando a huge Disney vacation or your trip to Dallas a chance to catch up with your Texas relatives, make sure you know the cheer schedule first. You should expect that there will be extra practices and even a team meeting while you’re there so that the team can focus or regroup. You also never know if or when the competition could run long, so making solid plans is not a great idea, especially on a day when your athlete competes.
Have a Fun Tradition
Even though you’re sort of a prisoner to the ever-changing schedule, you can still have special moments and fun traditions when you travel for cheer competitions. Starbucks has those “Been There” mugs in every big city, and I love picking one up every time we go somewhere new. Most of the mugs we have are from cheer competitions!
Another thing my daughter and I love to do is to try creme brulee from every hotel we stay in. Find ways to make your cheer trips memorable, outside of the two minutes and thirty seconds they compete. Maybe you can get ice cream after dinner every day, make spirit pins to give to peole, or take a picture at a landmark of the city.
Cheer Hangovers Are a Real Thing
When it’s all said and done, the competition has ended, and all the bobby pins have been lost (you WILL lose bobby pins); you, cheer mom, will have what we call a cheer hangover. Your head will pound, and your ears will ring from all the cheer music. You will feel as though you went hard at a college party or that one big birthday party. Only maybe you only had one or two glasses from that bottle you got at the beginning of the weekend. You were busy making sure makeup was done, lipstick didn’t smear, and every hair was in place. You probably have no voice because you screamed your head off during your cheerleader’s routines.
I’m a home body, so I like to fly home ASAP and take like, a 4 hour nap to recover from cheer competitions. If you can, plan for an extra day of rest after the competition. Either fly back home super early in the morning, or spend the day exploring the city so you can come back to your regular routine at least somewhat refreshed.
Food Tips for Cheer Competition Travel
As you’ll see below, the food scene at these competitions is hit and miss (usually it’s miss). There aren’t many healthy options, to say the least, and most of the food in these venues either sells out, or it’s not worth eating.
When I get to a city for a cheer competition, the first thing I do after I check into the hotel is to order breakfast food and snacks from Instacart. If you haven’t used Instacart, I HIGHLY recommend downloading the app and checking it out. It’s like Uber for groceries. You choose the grocery store near you, add your items, and a personal shopper will pick them up and deliver them right to your hotel. It’s a game-changer for me, whether I’m at home or on the road.
When you need a full meal, consider using services like Uber Eats or Door Dash. Many times, the restaurants near the competition venue are absolutely packed. You will usually have to wait a long time for a table, and the staff is so overloaded that the service can sometimes be slow. At the end of a competition day, the last thing I want to do is fight more crowds, so we Door Dash. You can meet your delivery person outside the venue or in your hotel lobby for convenience!
How to get information
Most big events will have a dedicated website, complete with an information packet and sometimes even its own Band channel. The block schedule for these bigger Nationals competition sometimes comes out weeks in advance, so you have an idea if you’re competing early in the morning or late at night and so you can plan on when to book flights, etc. As always, the specific performance order usually doesn’t come out until the week before the event, and it’s always subject to change.
What to Expect at Specific Cheer Events
Now that we’ve covered the basics of cheer competition travel, let’s look at some specific events and what you can expect at each one. These are all events I have been to, and my observations and experience:
Cheer Events at ESPN Wide World of Sports
There are many cheer events that take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, on the Disney World property in Orlando, Florida. Here are some general things to know when traveling and competing at this venue:
Parking
Traveling to and from ESPNWWOS: General parking is usually free, but they will offer “premier” parking up closer for an added fee. You typically have to purchase these passes from Varsity in advance, and they sell out fast!
Renting a car in Orlando can get expensive, especially when you have to pay $25-$50 per day for parking at any given resort. While renting a car has some advantages, especially if you plan to stay for more than just the weekend, I recommend taking Uber or Lyft when traveling for cheer in Orlando. Many hotels have a shuttle service to the parks, and although that does not include trips to ESPN, a ride share is fast and cheap, especially if you share with a teammate.
If you’re at ESPNWWOS for the first time, download a map of the complex. Competition events are happening in several different locations and buildings inside the complex, and it can be overwhelming if you don’t know exactly where you’re going. For example, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen parents almost miss their team’s performance because they were in the right building, but on the wrong side. It’s a thing.
Allow plenty of time to get into the complex. It can take up to 20-30 minutes to park and get to your seats in the venue, especially during peak hours.
Buying tickets
The ticketing at ESPNWWOS events can be confusing. If you buy park hopper passes through Varsity, you can use those to get into the event all weekend. Use your My Disney Experience app or a MagicBand if you purchase one.
If you have park hopper passes to the Disney parks, you will need to make a reservation, so be sure to register your tickets and make your reservations WELL in advance of your trip. The parks will fill up fast, especially during cheer competition events!
If you are not planning on visiting the parks, you will need to buy a one-day ticket to ESPN to see your athlete perform each day. Tickets are usually $30-$45 per day, and can be purchased in advance or at the venue by scanning the QR codes posted just outside the gate.
One thing to consider is that your athlete’s registration includes a park hopper pass. It’s part of the deal that Varsity makes with Disney to use their venues. It’s a necessary evil, and it really sucks for the parents of littles who automatically have to buy a ticket for themselves to accompany their athletes in the parks. Something you can look forward to is when they’re a little older and you can put them on a shuttle and let them play in the parks for the day with their friends. For now, my heart goes out to you.
The Field
One of my favorite parts of cheer events at ESPNWWOS is watching all the teams practice and warm up on the big field near the Field House and the Athletic Center. There are sometimes food trucks, which always have fun and delicious options.
Celebration Party
Every cheer event that’s held on Disney property has a celebration party, usually on the last night of the competition. It’s a way to let loose and celebrate the weekend. The tickets are an additional $40-$100, depending on the event.
This is where my insight on the celebration parties ends…because I have never been. You couldn’t pay me to be part of a mob of cheerleaders after a long weekend of competition, especially when the party doesn’t start until 8 or 10pm. It’s a big nope for me.
The Cheerleading Worlds
When: 3rd or 4th weekend in April
Event Website: https://thecheerleadingworlds.net
Visit here for Frequently Asked Questions about this year’s event.
The Cheerleading Worlds is a very special event where only the most elite teams receive a bid – or invitation – to attend. In most cases, only Senior level 6 and 7 teams compete (see here for the breakdown of divisions). The world’s most famous cheer teams compete here, and for many athletes it’s their last time ever to perform on an All Star cheerleading stage. Emotions and traditions are high and intense at this competition. For me, it’s almost indescribable until you actually experience it.
In addition to the tips above about the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, here are a few things to consider about The Cheerleading Worlds:
- Most of the athletes competing are older, so the vibe will be different.
- Every single one of the athletes competing at The Cheerleading Worlds takes this competition seriously. Emotions are extra high and intense at The Cheerleading Worlds.
- The competition will occur in the Field House, The Athletic Center, and The Arena. In years’ past, the parent VIP viewing area is a little trickier to get to. There is signage, but it takes a few extra minutes to get to the correct entrance, which is usually outside of the venue. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the viewing area so you don’t miss your team’s performance.
- This competition is another that has elimination rounds. Check the schedule for your specific division to see how many rounds your team might compete in.
- Worlds is highly competitive, so to make it to finals is an achievement in and of itself. “Globing” at Worlds (getting top 3) is, in my book, just about as good as winning.
The information on ticketing, etc. can change slightly from year to year, but most of what is listed in the above section will also apply to this event. You can also join this Facebook group, just for The Cheerleading Worlds, created by cheer parents!
The Summit/D2 Summit
When: Last weekend of April or first weekend of May
Event Website: https://www.varsity.com/all-star/competitions/end-of-season-events/the-summit/
Miley said it best: “It’s all about the climb!” Varsity All Star has some marketing geniuses that have made The Summit Championship a premiere event among Junior and Senior level 1-5 teams (Junior level 6 also has an opportunity to compete at The Summit).
The Summit Championship is another event where you must receive a bid in order to compete. Although they have pared it down over the years (Youth teams are no longer eligible to compete at The Summit in Orlando), the divisions in this competition tend to be large and highly competitive. Depending on the type of bid your team has won, you have the opportunity to compete in the preliminary, the semi-finals and/or the final round.
Hunker down and get ready for a long (and WARM) weekend in Orlando! Pack lots of snacks and patience at this one!
For more detailed tips and information about The Summit Championship, there’s a Facebook group all about it!
UCA High school nationals (NHSCC)
When: Mid-Februrary
Event Website: https://www.varsity.com/uca/school/competitions/high-school-nationals/
Tips for competition:
UCA High School Nationals (NHSCC) is the biggest high school cheer competition in the country. This is where High School teams come to compete for the last time in their season. With thousands of teams competing, the divisions can get large. These large divisions are split into groups, and certain divisions will have three qualifying rounds: Prelims, Semi-finals and finals. Be aware that semi-finals and finals are on the same day in many cases!
UCA All Star Nationals
When: Second weekend in March
Event Website: https://www.varsity.com/uca/all-star/competitions/all-star-championship/
Tips for competition:
UCA is the last event of the “Triple Crown” series of events by Varsity, rounding out CHEERSPORT and NCA. It is also the only opportunity for Tiny, Mini and Youth athletes to perform at ESPN. It’s another very large competition, so be prepared for long lines and a lot of walking.
See my tips above for information on ESPN Wide World of Sports. There seem to be the most venues showing performances at this particular competition, so it’s important to know where you’re going!
This event also has a celebration party. You can go if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Is there anything worse than a Tiny athlete who didn’t get enough sleep?
The All Star World Championship – Orlando, Florida
When: First weekend in May
Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Event Website: https://theallstarworldchampionship.com/
A new event on the scene, the All Star World Championship (ASWC) was created by independent event producers, and has grown by massive proportions in the few short years it has been around. I have personally not been to this event in the past, but here’s what I do know:
- You must earn a bid to this event
- There is a preliminary round and a finals round for each division. Junior/Senior competes Thursday and Friday, and Mini/Youth/Dance compete Saturday/Sunday
- This year (2023) there are more than 1,400 teams competing, which surpasses the NCA team county, making ASWC the largest cheer competition in the world!
- The event is streamed for FREE on echeer.tv
More on this event as I know more. I can’t wait to see you there!
And of course, there’s a Facebook group for this event, too!
The One Finals – Various Locations
When: Throughout the month of April
Where: Across the US
Event Website: https://www.theonefinals.com/
The One is a unique, end-of-season event that has multiple locations and one winner who takes it all (the “ONE”). Teams must earn a bid to compete in this event, and gym directors can choose to compete at one of four locations across the US. The winning teams from each division in each location advance to the virtual finals, where one winner is chosen. In my experience, the winner was announced in June.
The One is a much less-expensive event to participate in, while still giving athletes a competitive post-season event experience. First, teams have the option to travel regionally (as of this writing the events are held in Las Vegas, Ohio, Orlando, and Virginia Beach), which could cut the cost of travel for many families. The registration cost per athlete is also much lower than most post-season events.
Tips for the Event:
Although teams must earn a bid for this event, in my experience (the one time I attended) The One is a lower-pressure event. It feels very much like a regular season event, and they make it fun for the kids.
As always, bring your walking shoes, plenty of cash, and other competition day essentials.
Cheersport Super Nationals – Atlanta, Georgia
When: Third weekend of February (sometimes lands on Valentine’s Day)
Where: George World Congress Center
Event Website: https://www.varsity.com/cs/cs-2/nationals/
Tips for the Event
The Venue. The venue is ginormous. This cannot be understated. It. Is. HUGE. There are three BUILDINGS (not halls…BUILDINGS) that make up the cheer competition portion of this massive venue. It’s a ton of walking. Do not underestimate the time it will take to get from one place to another; especially to Building C (it’s a FIFTEEN MINUTE WALK). Apparently there’s a secret connector hallway for one of the halls that cuts your time. I never found it, and now it’s just reserved for coaches.
Other than all the walking, I absolutely love this venue. It’s beautiful and airy, and there is lots of space. All of the competition takes place on the first level, so you have to go up and down escalators to get to where you’re going. Yes, they break throughout the weekend.
Tickets and Shopping. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS get your wristbands the moment you get there, or at least the night before the event. The lines for wristbands get very long! If you’re planning to buy an event t-shirt or other apparel, get it the first day you’re there, too. Things run out super fast!
Accommodations. Downtown Atlanta is hit and miss when it comes to hotels. I’ve stayed at a nice hotel about 3 miles away, and I’ve stayed at a dump hotel that should never have been offered by the organizers. Do your homework when it comes to accommodations in Atlanta.
Should I bring a car? Navigating downtown Atlanta seems easier than other metro areas. Everything is literally right there. If you do rent a car, parking can be $15-$100 and it is not very close to the venue. We took Ubers for the most part, but because all of their main stadiums and events centers are there in one place, Uber rides can get expensive during peak times. One year we were at CHEERSPORT, there was a professional sporting event, a monster truck rally, and a cheer competition, all happening at the same time. The Uber rides were astronomical. Be prepared to pay for your transportation.
Another option is to take MARTA, Atlanta’s public transportation system. My daughter and I tried it once. It was scary and it was late. That doesn’t have to be your experience. I know many people who suggest taking MARTA. But because I have very little sense of direction and apparently don’t know how to read a route map, I ditched this option very quickly.
The food. I only ate in the venue once at CHEERSPORT, but it’s pretty typical arena food. In addition to the smoothie and pizza kiosks around the venue, there’s a bigger place to order burgers and fries (also not very good) on Level 3. There’s also a large bar but be prepared to wait, because every cheer parent there wants a drink.
There’s a Chick-fil-a right next door to the venue, and several local restaurants. My absolute favorite thing to do was to go to “Der Biergarten,” a German beer place with the BEST bratwurst & mustards. My husband and I would drop our athlete off at warmup and go for a beer and sausage, every single day of the competition. It’s kid-friendly in atmosphere, but check the menu to see if it’s right for your kids’ dietary preferences.
A few special things about CHEERSPORT:
- CHEERSPORT hosts a fundraiser event for St. Jude called Friday Night Lights. It’s an event where certain teams are invited to perform; usually champion teams, Worlds teams, or those with a lot of buzz. The event is free to attend.
- I love how organized the event is. Because of how spread out the venue is, the signage is very large and very clear. I love coming down the escalator to the big welcome sign with lights and music playing. They’ve also done a church service on Sundays, and I think that’s a really nice touch for people of faith who want to get away and have a quiet moment during the busy cheer weekend.
- The performance setup at the World Congress Center isn’t the best for viewing your favorite Worlds teams like it is at NCA. The spaces crowd up quickly, and there’s definitely a lot of struggling to get seats and a view, even for the parents of the athletes on those teams. I encourage you to pack your patience and consideration for others.
Things to do nearby:
The cool thing about this part of Downtown Atlanta is that all of these things are with blocks of one another!
- The Coca-Cola Museum (super fun with free samples!)
- Georgia Aquarium
- Centennial Olympic Park
One thing I want to note is that you should never let your kids wander around by themselves, or even in small groups of two or three. There is always risk in large cities, but the consensus is that parents and athletes need to be on high alert for traffickers here. They know there’s a cheer competition in town, and they are very tricky. Be aware of strangers who strike up conversations with you or your child, and NEVER accept a ride from someone you don’t know, even if they tell you they have an athlete competing, or even if it seems harmless.
NCA All Star National Championship – Dallas, Texas
When: Last weekend in February
Where: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Downtown Dallas
Event website: https://www.varsity.com/nca/all-star/competitions/nationals/
Tips for the Event
NCA is the most-attended cheer competition in the world. This year there are almost 26,000 athletes registered. Just athletes. After you add spectators, vendors, and staff, it adds up to around 80,000 people at this event. That’s almost as much as the Super Bowl.
NCA is unique in many ways, and there is a lot of clout for winners of this competition. Champions receive a jacket, and if you have an NCA jacket, you have so much street cred. People who win jackets at NCA will wear and display them for decades. There there are several things to know about this event. Here are my tips based on my own experience, and from the cheer Facebook groups:
Tickets and Shopping. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS get your wristbands the moment you get there, or at least the night before the event. The lines for wristbands get very long! If you’re planning to buy an event t-shirt or other apparel, get it the first day you’re there, too. Things run out super fast!
The Venue. The venue is split into Halls A through E, and the Arena, which is on the far side of the venue. Only Worlds teams perform in the Arena, and it fills to max capacity for the more popular teams. Once they reach capacity, they will not let you back in; even if you just left to go to the bathroom. The fire marshall monitors the event, and I have seen them stop competition until people are compliant with fire safety rules. They mean business!
The most walking I’ve ever done at a cheer competition was at NCA. If you’ve read nothing else in this blog post, PLEASE do yourself a favor and wear the most comfortable shoes you can get your hands on.
Accommodations. Finding a place to stay in Dallas during this event can be challenging, and is always very expensive. NCA is part of the “Stay-to-Play” program, where Varsity promises business to hotels near the area (for this purpose, I am oversimplifying Stay-to-Play, but we don’t have time to get into the weeds of that right now). I don’t know how the hotel assignments work, but it seems like the bigger or more notable your program is, the closer you’re likely to get to the convention center. Not fact; just observation.
Should I bring a car? If you aren’t staying at a hotel within walking distance of the venue, I do not recommend driving. Parking fees really add up, and it took us up to thirty minutes to get there from two miles away. I one 100% recommend taking a ride share, and having them drop you off a few blocks away to avoid the traffic around the convention center.
The food. The food options inside the venue were actually okay! I found quesadillas, a really good pizza, and they had a few healthy options like acai bowls. Food can sell out quickly, so eat early and often to avoid a hangry situation. I would also recommend getting outside of downtown Dallas if you plan to eat out anywhere. Every single restaurant is packed with long waiting lists, unless you’ve made a reservation, and even then you have to make the reservation months in advance.
If you’re planning to stay at the venue for a long period of time, you might also consider doing DoorDash and having it delivered to you on a street corner nearby. That sounded weird. I am in no way suggesting that you “stand on a street corner.” You just need a solid place to meet your Door Dasher.
A few special things about NCA:
- Teams perform twice: some on Friday/Saturday, and some on Saturday/Sunday.
- Some programs will meet for practice or other activities as early as Thursday evening, so be prepared for an extra long weekend.
- They have a kickoff event called Return to the Arena in the main arena on Friday night, with presentations and a tumbling competition.
- The Arena packs out for the popular teams. Be prepared to get there early and sit for hours if you want to watch certain famous cheer teams (spoiler: they ALL compete at NCA!)
- NCA has a famous “stairway,” where they personalize the steps for the competition. These are located near Hall E. The further you get into the weekend, the longer the line is to take pictures, so consider that when planning out your weekend.
Things to do nearby:
- The Dallas Aquarium
- Dick’s Last Resort
- The Rebel Pop-Up boutique
I will be adding more events soon, including Jamfest, The Summit, The Cheerleading Worlds, and the All Star World Championship, so be sure to mark or pin this page for updates! In the meantime, listen to this episode of The Cheer Mom Podcast for more tips on traveling to cheer competitions.
