It’s now officially fall (at least for many of us) which means it’s officially cheer season 🍂 Even though getting back in the gym can be…a struggle, we cannot wait to see what this season brings!

We have a feeling it will be VERY special...

In today’s newsletter:

• New invite-only competition announced
• Upcoming showcases
• Free leadership webinar on Thursday
• Varsity Brands loan update
• & more!

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main news 🗞️

New Invite-Only Competition Announced

📰 The news: A brand-new competition is coming in 2026, called the Tournament of Champions - an invite-only cheer and dance event set for April 12, 2026, in Texas. For the first time, teams will face off by level, not age division, bringing a fun twist to the sport. Expect bracket-style battles, high-end production, livestream coverage, specialty awards, and more.

🌟 Why it matters: This is reportedly the first event of its kind, designed to showcase the top All-Star Cheer, School Cheer, All-Star Dance, and School Dance teams in the U.S. With only 8 teams per level or category invited and no registration fees, it might become one of the most exclusive stages in cheer.

📅 What’s next: The 10-week nomination period is now open (Sept. 19 - Dec. 31), allowing anyone to submit teams for consideration. A selection committee will determine the final lineup, with invited teams announced the week of January 12–16, 2026.

📲 Follow along: Stay updated by following the tournament on Instagram & subscribing to this newsletter if you haven't already!

This is not sponsored.

25/26 Season Showcase Dates

Showcase season is almost here! We'll finally get to see what teams worldwide have been working on since last season 👀

Our annual list of upcoming showcases is here to make sure you don’t miss anything. Find the dates plus any livestreams if available:

👉 Help us add dates!

Reply to this email or comment on the post with the date, gym name & location (+ any livestream).

Any gym in any country is welcome!

📘 Free Quickstart Kit for coaches

Planning your cheer season can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to!

Our new Season Planning Quickstart Kit walks you through everything step by step:

• Map out your season in under an hour
• Set clear, realistic goals that actually stick
• Ready-to-use templates

It’s all in one simple PDF, and completely free.

buzzing this week 🐝

🤸 Free Leadership Webinar on Thursday

• "Haley will present ten lessons shaped by her career in competitive cheer and business, offering structured insight into how leadership is applied under pressure, how goals shift over time, and what it takes to develop systems that sustain long-term success." (Thursday, September 25 at 2 PM EST). Register here.

🧡 SMOED on Notice, Ops Under Pressure | Cali Cheer Show, Episode 2

• "At SMOED, Eddie, Nat, and Dillon are quietly putting athletes under a secret evaluation mid-practice. Meanwhile at Black Ops, Neda and Mike are refining their roster of 26 returning World Champions. But even a championship team isn’t safe — pregnancy, end-of-summer cuts, injuries, and shifting attitudes mean nothing is guaranteed." Watch now.

💰 Varsity Brands Inc.'s Proposed Repriced $2.37 Billion Senior Secured Term Loan B Facility Rated 'B' [S&P Global]

• Varsity Brands is changing its $2.37B loan so it pays less interest. S&P gave it a “B” rating, meaning it’s risky but not the riskiest. If Varsity ever went bankrupt, lenders would likely get back around half their money. Learn more.

Competitions 🏆

RESULTS & BIDS:

🇦🇺 AU/NZ: VIC AASCF State Championships (Australia), NZ Cheerfest Cheer Factor (New Zealand)

UPCOMING:

🇦🇺 AU/NZ: DCE NSW Nationals (Australia), SA AASCF State Championships (Australia)

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

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