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In today’s newsletter:

• Varsity Europe announces new “MAX2” division
• Behind the scenes of the new Pro Cheer League
• World Cup Shooting Stars theme reveal
• New books about All-Star cheer
• & more!

main news 🗞️

Varsity Europe Announces New “MAX2” Division

📰 The news: Varsity Europe has introduced a new division type called MAX2 - a (kind of) new take on traditional cheer divisions that features 2:00-minute routines, compared to the standard 2:30. In this new format, jumps and dance are removed from the scoresheet, allowing teams to focus entirely on stunting and tumbling.

🌟 Why it matters: MAX2 aligns with a growing trend across Europe, where many countries already follow the European Cheer Union’s 2-minute format. Over the past years, some countries have been shifting toward cleaner skills, less choreography, and fewer jumps and dance sections, emphasizing execution and more skill-heavy routines.

📅 What’s next: Varsity advises checking each event’s age grid and division rules, as details may vary between competitions.

📲 Follow along: Stay tuned to Varsity Europe’s official channels (and ours) for updates and coverage of upcoming European competitions. Want to see what 2-minute routines look like in action? Check out our highlights from the Nordic Championships earlier this year!

Behind the Scenes of the New Pro Cheer League

In case you missed it: We covered the initial announcement of the Pro Cheer League in a past newsletter - catch up here.

Tryouts for the brand-new Pro Cheer League have begun, with athletes across the U.S. hoping to make one of the league’s first four teams!

The announcement of the league marks a new era for cheerleading, giving athletes the chance to extend their careers and compete professionally.

​As previously reported, athletes will receive training, part-time compensation, travel and lodging, uniforms, bonuses, and prize incentives 💵

Each team (Miami Metal, Dallas Drive, Golden State Grit, and Atlanta Air) will consist of 30 athletes. Behind-the-scenes episodes from tryouts are already being shared, giving us all an inside look at the selection process:

Varsity Spirit president Bill Seely has also hinted at a potential broadcast deal and an unscripted TV show showcasing the making of the new Pro Cheer League.

buzzing this week 🐝

💫 World Cup Shooting Stars Theme Reveal

• The Jersey girls' theme for the new season is... Shooting Stars the Musical! See the theme reveal here. Plus, watch a compilation of ALL their themes from 2007-2022 here.

📖 Two New Books About All-Star Cheer

• Need more books for your TBR list? Look no further! Two new books about all-star cheer have just been released. In The Pioneers of All Star Cheer: The History and Evolution of the Sport with Tips from Gym Owners and Entrepreneurs*, you can learn the complete history of the sport - from chants in 1898 to what it is today.
• ​Upside Down and Back Again: A Parent's Guide to AllStar Cheerleading*, provides a generous and honest guide on things like communication, how scoring works, supporting athletes & much more.

🤸‍♀️ Athletes Who’ve Tried Out for the Pro League

• Curious about which athletes have been trying out for the different Pro teams? Here's a Twitter thread of just that (allegedly)!

*Not sponsored, but affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you - helping keep this newsletter free!

Competitions 🏆

RESULTS & BIDS:

🇺🇸 US/CA: AmeriCheer Spooky Spirit Series (Ohio)

UPCOMING:

🇦🇺 AU/NZ: NSW AASCF All Star Classic (Australia), Infinite Spirit Spook-Tacular (Australia)

🇺🇸 US/CA: JAMZ Reload (California), Spirit Championships Best of the Bay (Florida)

We can't cover all competitions - these are only some select events.

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