Acrobatics & Tumbling is the evolution of different disciplines of gymnastics, which includes the athletic aspects of competitive cheerleading. The format was created at the collegiate level in 2009 to address the interests and abilities of young women competing in this skill set. Individuals and small groups execute acrobatic lifts, tosses, and tumbling.

Yes. Acrobatics & Tumbling was adopted as a NCAA emerging sport in all three divisions effective August 1, 2020.

Acrobatics & Tumbling is currently the emerging NCAA championship status. 

The NCATA is comprised of members from NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII.  As the sport continues to grow all teams currently compete across divisions, though the NCATA schedule prioritizes divisional, regional, and conference competition.

Student-athletes in collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling primarily come from a variety of gymnastics and cheerleading disciplines, primarily women’s artistic and Xcel programs, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic, youth acrobatics & tumbling, all-star cheer, high school cheer and STUNT, and sideline cheer.  Student-athletes also have backgrounds in diving, track & field, weightlifting, and dance or are multi-sport athletes.

Competition expenses will run similarly to the Xcel/Artistic Gymnastics competitions. For the 2024-2025 year, the plan would be 2-3 potential travel meets and 1 in-house meet. As we grow, the number of meets will increase to 5-7 (to include Nationals, if qualifications are met). Expenses (these include coaching costs for airfare, travel, coaching fees, etc.) are typically divided up by the number of athletes and then split over 3 months. Estimated expenses could be approximately $300/month for 3 months (October-December) with the competitive season running from January - June.

Cost of uniforms would run approximately $400 and will be used for two years. This would include shoes, gloves, competition uniforms and warmups. All teams have an admin fee added to the monthly tuition once we officially start the competition year. This ranges between $5-$20/month — the exact amount will be determined closer to the time.

The schedule will run from January 2024 - June 2024 and will not consist of any competitions. All classes will be held at the Training Center and at this time are drop off only, due to limited space.

Level 2-3 group — 6hrs ($353)
Fridays (3hrs) 5:30pm-8:30pm
Sundays (3hrs) 5:00pm-8:00pm

Level 1 — 3hrs ($216)
Saturdays (3hrs) 12:15pm-3:15pm

The summer schedule will be determined based off of size of team and levels, as will the following school year. The goal would be to slightly increase, but it will take into consideration the other activities that current team members are involved in, and how they can all be accommodated

As with any other sport or competitive program, the expectations are that all athletes participate and are able to attend all required competitions. While we are growing the program, we hope to allow for some flexibility for those wanting to add this as a discipline. This MAY be possible, given that multiple athletes can hold multiple spots within a given heat, which may allow for allowing some athletes to forfeit attending a meet, should they have a conflicting competition from another sport. Keep in mind that this is very indefinite and has a lot of factors that may affect the final decisions

Athletes may wear leotards, or fitted tanks or t-shirts with shorts or leggings (eg. Nike pro shorts or spandex type material). Loose clothing is not advised other than for warming up. Tops must cover the entire upper body (no sports bras or midriff dance tops). Shoes will be required for practice and should be shoes that are only worn for Acrobatics and Tumbling only and are put on once inside the building — an example is Nike Pegasus

All practices are held at the Westside Training Center

Two or three teams compete at a meet in head-to-head competition.  A meet is made up of six events: Compulsory, Acro, Pyramid, Toss, Tumbling, and Team Event.  Teams alternate taking the mat to compete each heat, the home team competes last in each heat.  In total, there are 20 heats.  Meets typically last 1.5 to 2 hours.  For more detailed info, visit our Meet Format page. Youth competitions follows a similar format.

Acrobatics & Tumbling teams compete in a standard basketball or volleyball arena with hardwood surface.  The competition floor is made up of 13 mats of carpet-bonded foam, which are 2 inches thick and measure 6 x 42 feet each.  Youth competitors compete on a spring floor surface.

It is a form fitting numbered jersey and shorts, much like a university volleyball team uniform. A tennis shoe is also worn by all participants (brand and style may vary from team to team). If a potential student-athletes is not used to performing in shoes, they will have ample time to adjust to wearing shoes during pre-season training.

Up to 28 student-athletes may be listed on the competition roster for each meet.  There are opportunities for student-athletes to compete in a variety of events or to specialize in events. If a team’s best player competed in every possible heat, she would participate in fourteen heats. An ideal roster size for an Acrobatics & Tumbling team ranges from 24-45 student-athletes. At the youth level, the number of athletes is slightly lower.

Teams are scored on the execution of skills based on pre-determined start values in a standardized scoring system (similar to those used in gymnastics). Trained officials evaluate skill execution and apply deductions if technical errors occur. 

Acrobatics & Tumbling meets draw crowds both from the campus community and the general public. Crowds often include families with girls and young women who are involved or interested in activities using these skill sets, but also include students and others who enjoy the fast pace of meets (usually under 2 hours) and demonstration of strength, agility and teamwork that the Acrobatics & Tumbling student athletes demonstrate. 

Yes, NCATA members offer Acrobatics & Tumbling as a varsity intercollegiate sport within their athletics programs and do so in compliance with Title IX. A varsity sport is defined as being recognized and supported by an institutions athletic department, in contrast to being a club sport or other campus activity. To be considered a varsity programs, institutions must demonstrate programmatic resources are available in similar fashion as other varsity programs on campus. In addition, programs must compete in regular season competition against other varsity programs and have opportunities to qualify for post-season play in an established national championship format.

Acrobatics & Tumbling meets include six events, all of which are competed on the floor and in varying group sizes. Collegiate gymnasts compete in four events on different apparatus as individuals. Competitive cheer is a program that provides an opportunity for sideline cheerleaders to compete beyond their campuses. STUNT is also a type of cheerleading competition in which participating teams compete identical skills outlined in a video in varying group sizes.

In NCAA Gymnastics, student-athletes compete in the artistic gymnastics format four events (bars, beam, floor, vault).  Included in those events are different apparatus. Acrobatics & Tumbling includes student-athletes from a variety of gymnastic disciplines – artistic, acrobatic, trampoline, power tumbling - and those who participate in competitive cheerleading. The sport includes six events, all of which are competed on the floor. Currently, there are no competitive opportunities at the NCAA level for gymnasts competing in disciplines other than artistic gymnastics.

In cheerleading, students participate in competition through their participation in their university’s spirit program or sideline cheer. In STUNT, students participate on a mixture of club and varsity programs. Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes at NCATA member institutions are members of varsity intercollegiate programs and train year round with their team, including sport specific strength and conditioning. Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes are treated like other varsity student-athlete on campus, with support for their physical health, mental health, academic success, career development, and community service.

Students participating in Acrobatics & Tumbling may not also participate in traditional cheer to ensure they are considered and treated as student-athletes. Students who have previously participated in sideline or traditional cheer are not prohibited for trying out for, and competing on, the Acrobatics & Tumbling team in subsequent years. However, they then relinquish their participation in cheerleading or cheerleading related activities. When institutions first establish an Acrobatics & Tumbling team, some already enrolled students may move from traditional cheer to Acrobatics & Tumbling; however, upon doing so, they may not continue their participation in traditional cheer. This only applies at the college level.

College scholarship opportunities are currently available and are on the rise in this emerging sport.