Varsity Brands Wants to Expand Its Global Presence

cheerleading varsity

Cheerleading is a sport that requires hard work, discipline and time. It’s a great way to improve your skills, learn teamwork, and gain confidence.

There are two types of cheerleading: sideline and All-Star, which is year-round and not affiliated with a school. The two are regulated by the International Cheer Union, which acts as the world governing body for cheerleading with 109 member nations.

USA Cheer, the main cheerleading federation in America, is controlled by Varsity Brands, which has a dominant market share in all of it. The firm controls the collegiate level and has established Stunt, a female competitive cheer spinoff that it is pitching to the NCAA for emerging sports status.

The company has also established a global presence for itself with the founding of the nonprofit International Cheer Union, which has 109 members. This gives it a presence around the world and allows it to trumpet its international reach to investors.

When I interviewed Varsity, it told me its goal was to be the governing body of cheerleading in America. It has done that, but it’s still trying to expand its influence beyond that.

I spoke to many people in the cheer world, from gym owners and event producers to athletes and coaches. Most of them were pretty apprehensive about Varsity.

They were worried about their health, the safety of their athletes and what would happen if they didn’t pay attention to their bodies or didn’t follow rules. They were afraid of liability, as well.