I have had the privilege of wearing a coaches’ pass to many cheerleading competitions over the past 10 years. Only coaches and athletes are allowed backstage, so I am giving you a backstage pass …
Warman Cheer Classic took place this past weekend, March 6-7-8 at the Legends Centre in Warman. The performance floor is elevated and the backstage practice area is spacious. Kudos to the city planners who envisioned this amazing building.
Backstage consists of a sequence of four separate mats. Teams are required approximately 30 minutes prior to their performance time. Some events have dedicated time-keepers at each mat to ensure the flow of athletes happens on schedule. There are a lot of athlete bodies to manage backstage. Each mat has a four-minute time allotment.
The first mat is called the “warm-up mat” and teams will do a quick routine of aerobics such as “cheer jacks” to get the blood pumping. The aerobic workout is quickly followed by stretching, specifically bases stretching their tops.
The second mat is dedicated as a “stunt mat.” It is never full size so teams have to organize their stunt sequences to fit into the space provided. If a stunt doesn’t hit, this is the time to have teammates cheer each other on until the following reps hit. Another four minutes.
The third mat is dedicated for tumbling. It is a sprung floor, but only two mats wide. Each mat is six feet wide and 40 feet long, enough for a tumbling pass. Athletes typically practice their tumbling passes with the same partner who they tumble with in the choreography of the routine.
The final mat is close to full-size depending on the venue. This allows space for a marked routine. Athletes save their explosive energy for the performance mat, which is now only four minutes away!
