USA Cheer currently offers memberships that cover varying levels of participation. All members receive regular e-newsletters with updates on the US National Team, safety initiatives related to cheerleading, the new sport of STUNT, and any other important information that pertains to cheerleading.

Proper training and trust in an organization and its credentialing is paramount in providing safety to all of our athletes. USA Cheer, with its commitment to furthering cheer safety, has compiled vital training into comprehensive memberships that focus on coaches education surrounding program and athlete safety.

It is the policy of USA Cheer that all USA Cheer Professional members, Coach members, and STUNT Official members must complete a background check every year. Further, all coaches and anyone who works regularly with youth athletes should receive a primary screening from the hiring organization in addition to this secondary background screening.

Primary Screening

It is the responsibility of the hiring organization to utilize a selection process that includes screening for any behavior or history that would warrant prohibiting someone from working with youth. Such screening should include an application, information and reference check, interviews, a criminal background check, and comparing the information to any organizational disqualifiers (see NAYS: Background Screening in Youth Sports).

Secondary Background Screening

To obtain a USA Cheer Professional, Coach level membership (Cheer Coach and STUNT Coach), or Dance Membership, an applicant must successfully pass a criminal background check. Background screening is one step to help ensure a positive and safe environment. It is important to note that background screening is a snapshot in time of recorded and reported criminal behavior or potential criminal behavior. A successful background screening should never warrant relaxing protocols for preventing abuse as outlined in the free USA Cheer Athlete Protection Course and the Athlete Protection Course for Athletes.

This secondary screening, which is done during the membership application and eligibility process with USA Cheer, serves to establish criteria that would disqualify from membership those persons who have something in their background that would preclude them from working with children. The USA Cheer screening is consistent with the standards used by similar youth serving organizations, sport organizations and governing bodies.

USA Cheer Background Check Policy