Throughout this segment I will reference different companies that host or sponsor events in which cheerleaders can participate. If you’re in the industry, you know who these entities are and why there are so many. For those of you that may not understand the business part of cheerleading, it’s just like any other business in many ways.

The first company to emerge was National Cheerleaders Association. This organization is credited with many of the developmental aspects of cheerleading. They introduced the instructional camp, the pompon and the Herkie jump (named for the company’s founder Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer) to name a few.

Over twenty years later, another company came on the scene called Universal Cheerleaders Association. This company, founded by Jeff Web, quickly earned a reputation for excellence in instruction and made significant athletic advances by promoting cheerleading gymnastics.

Most recently, a company called American Cheer Power has begun to elevate the idea of competitive cheerleading by offering a multitude of competitive opportunities for different age and ability levels. ACP was founded by Regina Symmons.

There are several others out there, each offering their own unique style to accommodate what people want. While some of these companies may focus on just one or two elements of the activity, there are others that do everything from providing skill training to hosting competitions all the way to dressing the athletes.

Ultimately, it’s just a choice. Based on your goals as a competitive team or a school program, you just decide which organization meets your needs the best.

Subscribe to this comment's feed