Gear Up: When to Upgrade Your Cheer Equipment & Clothing

Let’s face it: cheerleaders are fierce, intense athletes that jump, stunt, and tumble daily. Not much can keep up with them when they are cheering, even their sports gear – from equipment to clothing. In order to keep safe and comfortable when practicing and performing, it’s important to know when it’s time to retire your current cheer gear and upgrade. Equipment At your gym, your squad most likely uses at least a few different mats and other supplies. Mats and pads are there to protect cheerleaders; but if they’re too worn in or damaged, they won’t do their job. After a few months when your equipment has been broken in, take the time to check for damage or wear every so often. During practice, see if the mats and pads react the way they should. Do they cushion falls? Are they solid? Do they stay in place? Even if your equipment is supposed to last for years, things break, rip, and tear. Based on popular equipment used, here are a few things to look for in particular: Cheerleading stunt stand: Is it wobbly or shaky? Check to see if something is loose and can be easily fixed. If it continues to shift or wobble, it might be time for a new one. Pads, mats, and floors: These are generally made of a dense foam in order to cushion impact. If you notice that the pad or mat isn’t reacting to landings or is falling flat, you may need to upgrade. After a long period of time, the foam will slowly lose its density and fall flat. When this happens, falls and landings can’t be cushioned, which can cause injuries. Braces. Cheerleaders use braces to alleviate pain and strain on weaker body parts, particularly the back, wrist, and ankle. If you notice the strap is stretched out, the Velcro isn’t sticking, or the brace is losing its form, it’s time to get a new brace. Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories You might be surprised to know that even the most experienced cheerleaders and coaches often don’t realize when it’s time to upgrade their cheer clothing. It’s important to know when to shop for new practice and performance wear so you don’t incur any injuries or embarrassing accidents (ripped uniform in front of a crowd, anyone?). While it all depends on the quality of your cheer wear, you should purchase new apparel and accessories on a regular basis. Uniforms. It’s best to upgrade your uniforms every year. Most teams do this or, if they compete, use one uniform for game season and another uniform for competition season. If you wash your uniforms properly, your uniforms will last all season. While they can last longer, new trends are always popping up. New uniforms help your squad look fresh, up-to-date, and stylish. Practice wear. Practice shorts, skirts, tees, and tanks endure a lot of sweat, stretch, movement, and wear. While practice wear is more durable than other clothing, you will have to upgrade practice wear every season or year. Thanks to the weather and seasons, it’s easy to designate certain practice wear for spring and summer and other practice wear for fall and winter. Set aside shorts and tanks for cheer camp and spring and summer practice. Wear thicker clothing for fall and winter practice. After one year or season of use, shop for new practice wear. Shoes. While it all depends on the brand and type, cheer shoes can last up to an entire cheer year if you take proper care of them. This includes regularly cleaning them; not wearing them on tough surfaces like asphalt or cement; and transporting them carefully in a bag with a separate shoe compartment. If you keep your cheer shoes clean and only wear them for practice and performances, they should easily last for an entire season, if not one year. Body basics. Sports bras, briefs, bloomers, shape wear, and socks should be upgraded more often than any other clothing or accessory. Cheerleaders need their body basics in top shape for ultimate support. Once they start wearing down, they can’t do their job anymore. Upgrade your body basics every few months. As important as it is to upgrade your gear regularly, it can get expensive. Save money on clothing and practice wear so you can spend more on proper equipment, like mats and pads. Shop around for budget-friendly uniforms and practice wear at low price guarantee companies, like Omni Cheer or Campus Teamwear. By saving money on cheer clothing, you can upgrade more often and make sure you’re receiving the proper support from your gear. How often do you upgrade your cheer gear?