If you’re a cheer mom, cheer dad, or cheerleader, check out this cheerleading essentials guide along with a free cheer competition packing list to make travels a lot easier!
Grab your FREE Cheer Competition Packing List at the bottom of this page!
This is officially my third year as a cheer mom.
If you are starting out as a cheer mom, can I just say, you are in for a WILD RIDE.
When I signed my kids up for cheer I had no idea what I was getting myself (and the whole family) into.
Three years ago, my daughters were 4 and 6 when they started cheer.
My husband thought I was signing them up for sideline cheer but I told him I didn’t want them cheering on the side for boys, I wanted them competing!
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So when they first started, they were competing on the same half-year team, which meant 3 competitions and 2 practices a week.
Then they started loving it so much, we moved to a full year team, which was 6 competitions, however, that year was the first year they were on different teams, and of course, practice fell on different days.
Therefore, I was there every Monday-Thursday.
Now my oldest daughter is on an elite team, which has up to 8 competitions and she practices 3 times a week.
My youngest daughter is on a mini prep team and has up to 6 competitions, and she practices 2 times a week.
Fun fact, they still don’t practice on the same day, so I am at the cheer gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
It’s my second home.
So I went from not knowing a lot about cheer to knowing an extreme amount!
We even started an Etsy shop for cheer pins!
Sister Squad Pins
So fun, right?!
I wish I had something like the cheerleading essentials list when I first started out because it’s a lot to figure out on your own.
Which is why I wanted to put together this cheerleading essentials post along with a free cheerleading packing list for those who may be new to cheer or just starting to figure it all out like I was.
If you have any questions at all please feel free to leave a comment below and I will happily get back to you!
Cheerleading Essentials for Parents
There’s tons of energy and excitement in cheerleading competitions!
Just keep in mind there are a ton of people, super loud music, and lots of walking so be sure to pack the cheer essentials for the day, or the whole cheer weekend.
This list below is cheer competition essentials for parents.
For most of the competition, you will be with your kid waiting around, so this list is for the things you either should be wearing or taking with you throughout the day.
Cheerleading Essentials
Comfortable Walking Shoes
This is incredibly important.
There are cheer competition venues (like Georgia World Congress Center) that you will be walking a ton.
I’m talking about 20,000 steps a day kind of walking.
No one wants to wear uncomfortable shoes!
Granted, some venues are a lot smaller but you will still be on your feet and walking around a lot.
Bring A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE
Although there are places that say you can’t bring any water bottles in, we’ve never had any issues.
I bring one clear water bottle for each kid and often a refillable water bottle for myself.
The bigger venues typically have a great water fountain station that you can often refill your water bottle.
This will keep you hydrated and you won’t have to wait in line to spend a ton of money on water bottles.
Bring Snacks
Bring your own snacks for you and your kids!
In the past I’ve forgotten to eat because there is so much going on and the food lines are so long that I just don’t have time to wait.
Pack snacks like meat sticks, nuts, fruit, protein bars, and granola to stay energized throughout the day.
Time Management
There will be situations where report time is as early as 6:30 am.
That means uniform, hair, makeup are all on and they need to be ready to go.
Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to drive, park, and walk to the venue.
If you don’t live close, I recommend staying at a hotel the night before the competition for piece of mind.
Quick Hacks for Booking Hotels
The majority of us have to stay at a hotel during cheer competitions.
However, we are quite lucky because we actually live within 2 hours of most of our cheer competitions and can drive up day of or just stay at a hotel for one night.
I had put together a spreadsheet of my cheer spending and realized there were certain areas I could save money… hotels were one of them.
One way I am saving money this year is through loyalty programs or hotel credit cards.
Hilton Honors
I just recently signed up for Hilton Honors, which is a free loyalty program where you can earn points through stays, and partners (like Lyft), which can be redeemed for free nights, exclusive experiences, and more.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
We also recently signed up for a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase because we also stay at a lot of Marriott hotels and the rewards are totally worth it.
You can earn:
- 6X points on Marriott purchases
- 2X on all other purchases including Groceries, Gas & Dining
- +1X additional point on Grocery stores, Gas stations, & Dining up to $6K
Cheerleader Essentials
Now that the parents have their list of cheerleading essentials, it’s time for a list of things the actual cheerleaders need.
There have been so many questions about what to pack for a cheer competition so the list below covers that for you!
It’s a cheerleading packing list that covers things from uniforms all the way to essential travel documents.
Cheerleading Packing List
Clothing Items
- Uniform Top
- Uniform Bottom/Skirt
- Cheer Shoes
- Socks
- Bow/
- Under Garments
- Team Warmups/Coverups
That is where you will need to pack to have all the essential clothing items for the day.
If you are traveling nearby, you will probably be asked to be dressed and ready to go before the competition.
Traveling by plane or have a long drive in a car? Pack these in a garment bag when traveling to keep your clothing items organized and all in one place.
Trust me, it’s much easier to do it this way!
Backpack
- Water Bottle
- Headphones
- Phone
- Phone Charger
- Wallet/ID
- Snacks
- Compact Mirror
Each child typically receives a cheer backpack at the beginning of the season.
We stock our kids backpacks up with the things above (except for a phone, charger and wallet because my kids are still very young).
Just remember, when the kids go to warmups and on stage you will be carrying their backpacks around because they can’t bring anything with them.
We’ve definitely made the mistake of overpacking and let me tell you, lugging around 2 backpacks plus my purse is no fun.
Toiletries
- Hair Brush
- Hair Ties
- Hair Spray/Gel
- Hair Piece
- Bobby Pins
- Makeup
- Lashes
- Deodorant
I use a cute cheer bag and place all of these inside so they don’t get lost.
Some cheerleaders don’t use a hair piece or fake lashes, or your kids may be too young for deodorant, but this is just the basic essentials that most cheerleaders will need.
Extras
- Documentation
- Cash
- First Aid Kit
- Change of Clothes
- Non-Cheer Shoes
- Makeup Remover
- Chapstick
- Tissues
You will need certain documentation for certain events and if you are traveling as well so be sure to check ahead of time!
Some places also don’t take credit and don’t have ATMs so having cash on hand is always a good idea.
A change of clothes/shoes for the competitor is important so they aren’t walking around in their uniform all day.
Makeup remover is great because with the amount of makeup these kids wear, it feels nice to take it all off.
Chapstick, tissues, and a first aid kit are great cheerleading bag essentials to have just in case.
Free Cheer Competition Packing List
Yes, cheer competitions are wild, full of energy, and exhausting but remember to have fun too because that’s what it’s all about!
My kids love cheer so much that they take classes and private lessons on days they don’t go to cheer.
Have questions? Send me a message in the comments and I’ll be happy to help as much as I can!
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