This content was generated with AI assistance. Always refer to the official USASF age grid for the exact current-season age cutoffs and division rules.
Divisions & Levels
All-star teams are placed into divisions based on three things: the athletes' ages, their team's skill tier, and the size of the roster. Each combination gets its own bracket so teams compete on a level playing field.
Every athlete on a team must fall within the division's age window. USASF sets specific birth-year cutoffs each season — the ranges below are approximate and may shift slightly year to year.
- Tiny Ages 4–6
Entry-level age division. Routines focus on foundational skills, basic tumbling, and beginner stunts.
- Mini Ages 5–8
Building on the basics with slightly more advanced skills. A popular division for young athletes getting their first taste of competition.
- Youth Ages 5–12
A wide and competitive age range. Youth teams span many skill levels and are often the largest bracket at regional events.
- Junior Ages 5–14
Routines become more technically demanding. Stunting and tumbling expectations increase significantly at higher levels.
- Senior Ages 11+
The highest age division and the most competitive. Senior Elite teams at Level 6 and 7 represent the top of the sport.
- NOV
Novice
Designed for athletes new to all-star cheer. Skills are limited and the environment is welcoming and low-pressure — a great entry point for gyms and athletes just starting out.
- PRE
Prep
A step up from Novice. Teams competing at the Prep tier have mastered the basics and are ready for more structured competition, but aren't yet at the Elite level.
- ELI
Elite
The main competitive tier. Elite is where most experienced all-star teams compete, with levels 1 through 7 defining the skill ceiling. This is what you'll see at the vast majority of sanctioned events and championships.
Within the Elite tier, teams compete at a specific skill level (1–7) that defines the maximum difficulty allowed for tumbling, stunts, and pyramids. Moving up a level means adding harder skills — and stricter judging.
- 1
Forward rolls, cartwheels, basic stunts at shoulder level. No inversions.
- 2
Back walkovers, back handsprings, extended stunts. Entry-level inversions in stunts.
- 3
Standing back handsprings, running tumbling passes, twisting dismounts.
- 4
Standing tucks, running layouts. More complex pyramids and release moves.
- 5
Standing fulls, running fulls. Inversions in more complex positions.
- 6
Double fulls, highly complex pyramid and stunt elements. Elite-level tumbling.
- 7
The highest skill level. Triple fulls and above. Only the most advanced Senior Elite teams.
Some divisions use a split-level notation (e.g. 2.1) — the first number governs building skills like stunts and pyramids, the second governs tumbling. This lets divisions fine-tune what's allowed for each skill category independently.
Judges score each section of the routine separately, then combine them into a final score. Key scoring categories include:
- Stunts & Pyramids— difficulty, technique, and synchronization of building elements
- Tumbling— skill level, execution, and number of athletes tumbling
- Jumps— height, technique, and synchronization
- Motions & Dance— sharpness, timing, and crowd appeal
- Performance— overall showmanship and athlete energy
Deductions are applied for safety violations, out-of-bounds, or illegal skills. A routine can score perfectly on difficulty and still lose if execution is sloppy or a stunt drops.
Teams are also divided by roster size — common size labels include Extra Small (5–8 athletes), Small (typically up to ~20), Medium, and Large (up to 36). Smaller teams require every athlete to carry more of the load; larger teams allow more complex pyramid and stunt group configurations.