It seems like an appropriate time to repost the original blog post from my blog, "What is Rec Cheer?" As the Rec Cheer Director for the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association I get this question a lot. And as more and more teams are competing in Washington, the lines tend to get a little blurred between All-Star and Rec, so this is a good time to put the definition out again:
I'm coming at this from a Washington State point-of-view, so here is our coaches association's definition of Rec Cheer:
"Washington State Rec Cheer programs must be non-school affiliated teams that are attached to a bona fide City Parks Department, Boys & Girls Club, Pop Warner program, recreational association or youth sports program. Recreational squads MUST NOT be formed solely for the purpose of competition. Rec cheer programs must include a sideline squad that cheers for an organized sport.
The purpose of recreational cheer is to provide the entire youth community a positive experience at an appropriate level. It is expected that recreational cheer programs will offer participants opportunity to have fun while increasing their physical fitness, learning new cheerleading skills, and learning teamwork, fair play, leadership, sprotsmanship, time-management skills, cooperation, trust, and regard for others."