Learn. Perform. Compete. Belong.
Cheerleading is for everyone.
At Phoenix Van Isle, we believe cheerleading is for everyone. Whether your athlete is stepping onto the mat for the very first time, looking for a fun recreational activity, or dreaming of competing at a high level, we offer programming designed to meet athletes where they are and help them grow.
Our cheerleading program includes Recreational Cheer, Prep Cheer, and All Star Cheer, creating a pathway for athletes to develop their skills, confidence, strength, teamwork, and love of the sport.
Our programs are built around safe, age-appropriate skill development and follow the Canadian cheerleading framework established by Cheer Canada, Canada’s National Sport Organization for cheerleading. Cheer Canada uses age divisions and skill levels to help athletes progress safely while competing against athletes of a similar age and ability. You can see when each squad trains on our class schedule.
Three ways to cheer
Recreational Cheer
A fun and welcoming introduction to the sport.
Recreational Cheer is designed for athletes who want to experience cheerleading in a fun, lower-pressure environment. It is a great choice for beginners, athletes who are not ready for competition, or anyone who simply wants to learn the fundamentals and enjoy being part of a team.
Athletes are introduced to the major components of cheerleading, including:
- Jumps
- Dance and choreography
- Basic tumbling
- Motions and cheer technique
- Flexibility and strength
- Introductory stunting
- Teamwork and performance skills
No previous cheerleading experience is required. Our focus is on building strong fundamentals, confidence, coordination, and a positive relationship with sport. It’s about learning the basics, having fun, making friends, and discovering what cheerleading is all about.
Prep Cheer
The bridge between recreational and competitive cheer.
Prep Cheer is designed for athletes who are ready to take the next step toward competitive cheerleading but may not yet be ready for the time commitment or difficulty of a full All Star program.
Cheer Canada describes Prep as an opportunity to introduce athletes to competitive cheerleading, with a shorter routine, fewer recommended training hours, and no tosses. Prep teams follow the applicable IASF level rules with Canadian modifications.
Prep is an excellent option for athletes who want to:
- Experience performing in a competition setting
- Develop stronger stunting and tumbling skills
- Learn competitive choreography
- Build confidence performing in front of an audience
- Learn how a cheer team works together
- Develop the commitment and skills needed for future All Star participation
What skills are expected?
The exact skills depend on the athlete’s age and team level, but Prep athletes generally work toward solid fundamentals such as:
Tumbling
- Forward and backward rolls
- Cartwheels
- Walkovers
- Handstands
- Round-offs
- Level-appropriate tumbling progressions
Stunting
- Safe two-leg stunts
- Prep-level stunts
- Basic transitions
- Dismounts
- Partner and group stunt technique
Performance
- Jumps
- Motions
- Dance
- Timing and synchronization
- Routine performance
Prep does not mean that an athlete has to already have advanced tumbling or stunting skills. Teams are placed according to age, experience, ability, and developmental readiness.
All Star Cheer
Competitive cheerleading for athletes ready to train, perform and compete.
All Star Cheer is the competitive club stream of cheerleading. Athletes train as a team throughout the season to prepare routines for competitions at the local, provincial, national and potentially international level.
All Star is ideal for athletes who are looking for a greater challenge, enjoy competition, and are ready to make a larger commitment to their sport.
Training focuses on developing athletes in all areas of cheerleading, including:
- Tumbling
- Stunting
- Jumps
- Dance
- Flexibility
- Strength and conditioning
- Body positions
- Performance quality
- Teamwork and timing
- Safe progression of skills
All Star is divided into age divisions and skill levels. The level indicates the difficulty of skills permitted within the routine, while the age division helps ensure athletes compete in an age-appropriate category. Cheer Canada explains that these levels are intended to provide safe progression as athletes develop increasingly complex skills.
Ready to get started?
Register through our Class Manager portal, or book a free trial and we’ll help place your athlete on the right team.
Understanding the levels
The level system progresses from foundational skills toward increasingly advanced tumbling, stunting and pyramid skills.
Level 1 · Foundations
The beginning of the All Star competitive pathway. Athletes develop strong fundamentals in motions, jumps, tumbling and basic stunting.
- Cartwheels
- Round-offs
- Walkovers and other foundational tumbling
- Basic two-leg and single-leg stunts
- Introductory pyramids
- Basic dismounts
Level 2 · Intermediate
Athletes begin developing more advanced tumbling combinations and more challenging stunt sequences.
- Handsprings
- Running tumbling combinations
- More advanced stunt transitions
- Increased stunt difficulty
- More complex pyramids and choreography
Level 3 · Intermediate / Advanced
Athletes continue building combinations and consistency while introducing more advanced tumbling and stunt skills.
- Back handspring series
- More complex tumbling combinations
- Advanced stunt transitions
- Increased stunt and pyramid difficulty
- Greater emphasis on execution and synchronization
Level 4 · Advanced
Athletes are working toward advanced tumbling and stunting and require a strong technical foundation.
- Advanced tumbling combinations
- Advanced handspring variations
- Layout progressions
- More complex stunt transitions
- Advanced pyramids and dismounts
Level 5 · Elite
A high-difficulty competitive level requiring significant strength, skill, consistency and technical ability. Athletes may perform advanced tumbling combinations, high-level stunting, advanced pyramids and other skills permitted by the current competition rules.
Level 6 · Elite
An extremely advanced level of All Star cheerleading. Athletes typically have extensive experience and highly developed tumbling, stunting and performance skills.
Level 7 · Premier
The highest level in the All Star progression, representing exceptional technical ability and high-performance cheerleading.
Competing by age & ability
Cheerleading uses an age-grid system rather than simply placing athletes according to the age they are on the day of registration. Cheer Canada publishes an annual division list identifying the eligible birth years for each division.
For the 2026–2027 season, the current Cheer Canada framework includes the following age groups for Prep and All Star Cheer:
| Age Division | Approx. Age | Prep | All Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| U6 | 5–6 | Level 1 | – |
| U8 | 5–8 | Levels 1–2 | Levels 1–2 |
| U12 | 8–12 | Levels 1–2 | Levels 1–4 |
| U16 | 12–16 | Levels 1, 2, 2NT | Levels 1–5 |
| U18 | 14–18 | Levels 1, 2, 2NT | Levels 1–4 and 4.2 |
| U18 All Girl / Coed | 14–18 | – | Levels 5–6 |
Cheer Canada also offers Open and other specialized divisions at the higher competitive levels. The exact divisions offered by a competition can vary, so athletes are always placed according to the current season’s official age grid and competition requirements.
Why does the age grid matter?
The age grid helps create developmentally appropriate teams and allows athletes to compete against other athletes within comparable age categories. Cheer Canada specifically identifies age grids as part of its long-term athlete-development approach.
What it takes to move up a level
There isn’t one single skill that determines whether an athlete is “ready” for the next level. We look at the whole athlete, including:
- Tumbling ability
- Stunting ability
- Jump technique
- Strength and body control
- Flexibility
- Skill consistency
- Safe execution
- Coachability
- Confidence
- Teamwork
- Attendance and commitment
- Ability to safely perform the skills required for the team’s level
An athlete does not need to have every advanced skill before joining a competitive team. Our coaches evaluate each athlete’s current abilities and developmental potential and place athletes where they can be challenged while still being successful and safe.
Cheerleading is a progression. Our goal is not simply to move athletes up levels quickly; it is to build strong, confident and technically sound athletes who can enjoy the sport for years to come.
Qualified coaching & athlete safety
Your athlete’s safety and development are our highest priorities.
Our coaching program follows the Canadian sport system and the coaching education framework supported by Cheer Canada and the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). Cheer Canada maintains coach-education resources and incorporates requirements related to safe sport, ethical decision-making and responsible coaching.
Athena Ethier is a qualified cheerleading coach through BC Cheer Sport and the NCCP, holding Cheer Sport Level 2.
This means our coaching is grounded in recognized sport education rather than simply relying on personal experience as an athlete. Continuing education, safety training, background screening and sport-specific education are important parts of responsible coaching.
We are committed to creating a training environment that is:
Safe. Supportive. Inclusive. Athlete-centred.
A program for every athlete
Whether your child wants to cheer for fun, perform on a Prep team, or pursue competitive All Star cheer, there is a place for them here.
Each pathway provides opportunities to learn, build confidence, develop athletic skills and become part of a team. We want athletes to leave every practice feeling stronger, more confident and more excited about the sport than when they walked in.
Ready to find the right program?
Register now, or contact us to learn which program and team level may be the best fit for your athlete. Placement is based on age, experience, current skills and developmental readiness, not simply on how long an athlete has been cheering.