The age requirements for Senior teams vary based on the level the team is competing in and what type of Senior team they are:
Senior Level 1 – Level 5: ages 11 to 18
Senior Level 6: ages 13 to 18
Senior Open Level 4 & Level 6: ages 14 and older
Author: Charis Ovwigho
Junior
The age requirements for Junior teams vary based on the level the team is competing in:
Level 1 – Level 3: ages 5 to 14
Level 4: ages 8 to 14
Level 5 – Level 6: ages 9 to 14
Youth
The age requirements for youth teams are dependant on the level the team is competing in:
Level 1 – Level 3: ages 5 to 11
Level 4: ages 8 to 11
Level 5: ages 9 to 11
Youth teams are not able to compete in the level 6 division.
Mini
Mini teams consist of children ages 5-8.
There are a few differences between the Mini and Tiny divisions. The first difference would be age. Mini teams can also have children who are 7-8 years old, while Tiny teams are limited to ages 5-6. Mini teams are also able to compete in both level 1 and level 2, while Tiny teams can only compete level 1.
Tiny
The tiny division is ages 5 to 6. The routines for this age focus on basic skills and knowing basic motions.
Tiny teams are only able to compete in the level 1 division.
This would be the division to start your child in if they are beginning cheer at a young age. They will be able to learn key basics that will help them develop more complex skills and prepare them for future teams.
Level 6
Tumbling Requirements:
- standing full
- running double full
- whip passes
- toe-touch to a back tuck
Stunting Requirements:
- double down from one leg
- extended level tick-tock with one base
- 2 1/4 twists
- extended inverted stunts
*Junior, Senior, and Open (ages 17+) teams can compete in the level 6 division, but Junior participants must be 9 years of age or older.
Level 5
Tumbling Requirements:
- standing and running fulls
- standing back handspring multiples to a full
Stunting Requirements:
- extended tick-tocks
- extended single leg stunts
- front flips and twists
- double downs
*Youth, Junior, and Senior teams can compete in the level 5 division, but you must be age 9 or older.
Level 4
Tumbling Requirements:
- standing back tuck
- standing two back handsprings to a tuck
- layouts and layout step outs
- whip passes
- front handspring front tuck
Stunting Requirements:
- double skill tosses
- extended to extended tick-tock
- switch up to extended one leg
- double down from two legs
* Youth, Junior, Senior, and Open (ages 17+) teams can compete in the level 4 division, but you must be age 8 or older.
Level 3
Tumbling Requirements:
- aerials
- punch fronts
- round-off tucks or round-off back handspring tucks
- standing multiple back handsprings
Stunting Requirements:
- single leg preps
- extended single leg stunts
- prep to extended tick-tocks
- single skill baskets and hand connected front flips
- full ups
*Youth, Junior, and Senior teams can compete in the level 3 division.
Level 2
Level 2 is a large division and one of the hardest to compete in for that reason. Just about every gym has a level 2 team that competes. Technique is one of the most important things in this division.
Tumbling Requirements:
- front handsprings
- standing back handsprings
- round-off back handsprings
- T-jump back handspring
Specialty skills for this level include a fly-spring, back handspring step out, and round-off back handspring step out.
Stunting Requirements:
- stunts allowed at shoulder height (prep level)
- two leg extension (shown in the image on the left)
- half ups, switch ups, and basic tosses
- prep to prep level tick-tocks
* Mini, Youth, Junior, and Senior teams can compete in the level 2 division.
High school & all star cheer 