Cheer competitions can be overwhelming. I can tell you, as an introvert, that I am WAY overstimulated on competition days. There’s so much going on: The bass-loaded music, the strobe lights, adults you don’t know fixing your kid’s lipstick, and the walking…so much walking. Then come the sitting and the waiting while they keep playing the bass-loaded music. There was a time when I thought if I never heard Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” again, it would be too soon.
Even if it’s a short, one-day competition, I always make time for a nap.
I don’t mean to scare you. Cheer competitions can be exciting. And certainly, during pandemic times, I miss those energy drainers they call cheer events…I really do.
Here are some competition day essentials every cheer parent should be thinking about on the big day:
What to do:
Wear comfortable shoes
IF YOU DO ONE THING…Wear comfortable shoes. I beg of you! At larger competitions, there is always a LOT of walking. I once walked over 30,000 steps in a single day at a cheer competition.
Learn the “chants”
Many gyms have a specific chant they use before their team hits the mat. Make sure you know it! Don’t have one? Make one up and get everyone involved!
Make a friend
Those long days go by much faster when you have someone to talk to and help you pass the time.
Stay Hydrated
It’s a long day that starts with lots of coffee and can end with adult beverages if you’re lucky. Drink lots of water!
Allow plenty of time.
Especially when you’re at an event that isn’t close to home (all of them, for us!), give yourself plenty of time to get from point A to point B…and then add an extra 1/2 hour. There’s nothing worse than a frazzled mom and athlete on competition day, simply because they got stuck in traffic (remind me to tell you about the time when we forgot my daughter’s Summit credentials and had to drive 1.5 hours round trip to get it, and she almost missed competing).
Don’t wait until the end of the competition to buy t-shirts, etc.
Especially at those big events, stuff sells out FAST. Get it as soon as you get there!
What to Bring:
A Backpack
Ditch the purse for the day and carry a backpack instead. Even if you don’t start out with much inside of it, you’ll accumulate stuff throughout the day. If nothing else, use it as a seat-saver… even though saving seats is “not allowed” at some competitions (yeah, okay, whatever).
A reasonable amount of cash
Almost every competition requires cash at the door, and I’ve never seen a venue take a credit card for parking.
Snacks – My favorites? Mixed nuts, crackers, and protein bars.
Earbuds
…or earplugs! I once brought my noise-canceling earbuds and turned on classical music while I worked in between divisions. It was heavenly.
Advil
Please, just trust me on this one.
Portable phone charger
Taking videos uses a ton of battery on competition day. Make sure you’re prepared!
Extra no show socks
Hairspray
Makeup wipes
Cotton Swabs
Makeup kit
Bobby pins
Deodorant
Hand sanitizer
What are your essentials for competition day? Comment below!
