33 cheerleading quiz questions with answers on stunts, jumps, squad roles and competition. Reveal each answer as you go, or read the answer key at the end.
Every question comes with three options and keeps the correct one behind a button, so a squad can play it fairly. The answer key under the scoring table brings all 33 cheerleading trivia questions and answers together in one list. Coaches use these cheerleading quiz questions as a safety and terminology check at the start of a season, and the questions about cheerleading that cover bases, flyers and spotters are the ones worth getting right.
1. Which cheerleading arm motion forms a V above the head?
- A) The T motion
- B) The High V
- C) The Low V
2. What is the name of the original American cheerleading organization?
- A) American Cheerleading Association
- B) National Cheerleaders Association
- C) United States Cheerleading Union
3. What does the term “flyer” refer to in cheerleading?
- A) A type of cheer
- B) The person who is lifted or thrown into the air
- C) The base who supports the flyer
4. What is a “spirit stick” in cheerleading terminology?
- A) A wooden stick given to the team with the most spirit
- B) A move performed during cheers
- C) A type of award given at competitions
5. Which country hosts the annual ICU World Cheerleading Championships?
- A) United States
- B) Canada
- C) Japan
6. In which year did the International Olympic Committee grant cheerleading full recognition as a sport?
- A) 2004
- B) 2016
- C) 2021
7. In what sport did cheerleading originate?
- A) Baseball
- B) American Football
- C) Basketball
8. Which of these is NOT a type of stunt in cheerleading?
- A) Basket Toss
- B) Back Handspring
- C) Cradle
9. Which part of a competitive cheer routine is danced to music with pom-poms?
- A) The basket toss
- B) The cradle
- C) The pom dance
10. Which U.S. President was a cheerleader?
- A) John F. Kennedy
- B) Theodore Roosevelt
- C) George W. Bush
11. What does IASF stand for in all-star cheerleading?
- A) Independent All Star Federation
- B) International All Star Federation
- C) International Association of Sport Cheer
12. What is the term for the planned arrangement of motions, jumps and stunts in a routine?
- A) Choreography
- B) Sequence
- C) Formation
13. Which of the following is NOT a part of a cheerleading uniform?
- A) Skirt
- B) Shell
- C) Helmet
14. Which of these is a jump commonly performed in cheerleading?
- A) Spread Eagle
- B) Toe Touch
- C) Split Leap
15. Who led the first organized cheer at a University of Minnesota football game in 1898?
- A) Johnny Campbell
- B) Lawrence Herkimer
- C) Tom Peebles
16. What is the term for transitioning from one formation to another in cheerleading?
- A) Traveling
- B) Transition
- C) Shifting
17. Which type of cheerleading does NOT involve stunts or tumbling?
- A) Non-Competitive
- B) Sideline
- C) All-Star
18. What is the nickname for the person who calls out the cheers and sometimes acts as the main base?
- A) Captain
- B) Leader
- C) Choreographer
19. What is the meaning of “LIB” in cheerleading?
- A) A type of cheer
- B) A one-legged stunt
- C) A choreography term
20. What is the term for a cheerleading group that represents a specific school, college, or university?
- A) Recreational Cheer team
- B) Varsity Cheer team
- C) All-Star Cheer team
21. What is the National High School Cheerleading Championship commonly referred to as?
- A) Nationals
- B) UCA High School Nationals
- C) High School Worlds
22. What is a cradle in cheerleading?
- A) A type of tumbling pass
- B) A change of formation
- C) A dismount in which the bases catch the flyer in their arms
23. What is the term for a motion passed one person at a time along a line so it looks like a wave?
- A) A cradle
- B) A ripple
- C) A herkie
24. Which country did competitive cheerleading originate from?
- A) United States
- B) England
- C) Japan
25. Who invented the herkie jump?
- A) Lawrence Herkimer
- B) Johnny Campbell
- C) Tom Peebles
26. Which three roles make up a basic cheerleading stunt group?
- A) Base, flyer and spotter
- B) Captain, coach and flyer
- C) Tumbler, dancer and base
27. What is a cheerleading routine typically judged on?
- A) Difficulty and execution
- B) Spirit and enthusiasm
- C) Synchronization and costumes
28. How do the bases catch the flyer in a cradle?
- A) With one arm under the back and one under the thighs
- B) By the ankles only
- C) By the wrists
29. What is the famous cheerleading movie series starring Kirsten Dunst?
- A) Hairspray
- B) Bring It On
- C) Stick It
30. What are the two primary types of cheerleading squads?
- A) All-Star and School-Based
- B) Regional and National
- C) Competitive and Non-Competitive
31. What is the name of the mat used in cheerleading competitions?
- A) Spring Floor
- B) Cushion Floor
- C) Tumble Track
32. What is the purpose of a “spotter” in cheerleading?
- A) To direct the routine
- B) To ensure the safety of the flyer during stunts
- C) To time the music and call out counts
33. What iconic item do cheerleaders often use during routines?
- A) Flags
- B) Whistles
- C) Pom-poms
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Cheer NoviceArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Pom Pom PerformerRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Stunt SpecialistMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Spirit LeaderAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Cheerleading ChampionLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Cheerleading Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this cheerleading quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of cheerleading trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which cheerleading arm motion forms a V above the head? | B) The High V |
| 2 | What is the name of the original American cheerleading organization? | B) National Cheerleaders Association |
| 3 | What does the term "flyer" refer to in cheerleading? | B) The person who is lifted or thrown into the air |
| 4 | What is a "spirit stick" in cheerleading terminology? | A) A wooden stick given to the team with the most spirit |
| 5 | Which country hosts the annual ICU World Cheerleading Championships? | A) United States |
| 6 | In which year did the International Olympic Committee grant cheerleading full recognition as a sport? | C) 2021 |
| 7 | In what sport did cheerleading originate? | B) American Football |
| 8 | Which of these is NOT a type of stunt in cheerleading? | B) Back Handspring |
| 9 | Which part of a competitive cheer routine is danced to music with pom-poms? | C) The pom dance |
| 10 | Which U.S. President was a cheerleader? | C) George W. Bush |
| 11 | What does IASF stand for in all-star cheerleading? | B) International All Star Federation |
| 12 | What is the term for the planned arrangement of motions, jumps and stunts in a routine? | A) Choreography |
| 13 | Which of the following is NOT a part of a cheerleading uniform? | C) Helmet |
| 14 | Which of these is a jump commonly performed in cheerleading? | B) Toe Touch |
| 15 | Who led the first organized cheer at a University of Minnesota football game in 1898? | A) Johnny Campbell |
| 16 | What is the term for transitioning from one formation to another in cheerleading? | B) Transition |
| 17 | Which type of cheerleading does NOT involve stunts or tumbling? | B) Sideline |
| 18 | What is the nickname for the person who calls out the cheers and sometimes acts as the main base? | A) Captain |
| 19 | What is the meaning of "LIB" in cheerleading? | B) A one-legged stunt |
| 20 | What is the term for a cheerleading group that represents a specific school, college, or university? | B) Varsity Cheer team |
| 21 | What is the National High School Cheerleading Championship commonly referred to as? | B) UCA High School Nationals |
| 22 | What is a cradle in cheerleading? | C) A dismount in which the bases catch the flyer in their arms |
| 23 | What is the term for a motion passed one person at a time along a line so it looks like a wave? | B) A ripple |
| 24 | Which country did competitive cheerleading originate from? | A) United States |
| 25 | Who invented the herkie jump? | A) Lawrence Herkimer |
| 26 | Which three roles make up a basic cheerleading stunt group? | A) Base, flyer and spotter |
| 27 | What is a cheerleading routine typically judged on? | A) Difficulty and execution |
| 28 | How do the bases catch the flyer in a cradle? | A) With one arm under the back and one under the thighs |
| 29 | What is the famous cheerleading movie series starring Kirsten Dunst? | B) Bring It On |
| 30 | What are the two primary types of cheerleading squads? | A) All-Star and School-Based |
| 31 | What is the name of the mat used in cheerleading competitions? | A) Spring Floor |
| 32 | What is the purpose of a "spotter" in cheerleading? | B) To ensure the safety of the flyer during stunts |
| 33 | What iconic item do cheerleaders often use during routines? | C) Pom-poms |
Hungry for More? Check out these Resources!
- Our posts about Cheerleading
- Wikipedia
- International Cheer Union (ICU)
- ICU YouTube Channel
- More posts about Athletics & Endurance Sports
FAQ
How many questions are in this cheerleading quiz?
There are 33 questions, each with three options and the correct answer behind the reveal button.
Where can I find the cheerleading trivia questions and answers together?
The answer key under the scoring table lists all 33 questions with their answers in order, so a squad can mark a full round at once.
Are these cheerleading trivia questions hard?
The terminology and uniform questions are easy for anyone on a squad. The history, governing body and competition questions are harder.
Can I use these cheerleading questions for a team night?
Yes. Read the question and the three options out loud, let everyone write down a letter, then work through the answer key and count the correct ones.
Is there a cheerleading quiz for kids?
The questions on motions, jumps, uniforms and pom-poms work well for younger cheerleaders. The questions on federations and competition formats suit adults.
What is a good score on this cheerleading quiz?
More than half is a good result. The scoring table turns your total into a rank, from Cheer Novice at the bottom to Cheerleading Champion at the top.
What is the difference between a base, a flyer and a spotter?
Bases lift and hold the stunt, the flyer is the athlete lifted into the air, and the spotter watches the stunt and protects the flyer’s head and shoulders in a fall.
Where did cheerleading come from?
From American college football. Johnny Campbell led the first organized cheer at a University of Minnesota game in 1898, and the first squads were all male.
Who invented the herkie jump?
Lawrence Herkimer, founder of the National Cheerleaders Association, whose name the jump carries. One leg is bent under the body, the other is straight out to the side.
