2025/2026 Updates

To support safe and proper progressions of skills, cheer and performance cheer teams must compete in a division appropriate to the age and skill level of their athletes. Coaches must be certified through the ACA Coach Certification program (scholastic), ACA Performance Cheer program, or the ICU Credentialing program (all-star) to the level of the team(s) they are coaching and hold all required supplemental certifications. 

All teams must have a certified coach who is not also an athlete on the team.

Coaches must be familiar with ACA and Cheer Canada policies, rules, and regulations.

Should you have questions regarding divisions, rules, or legalities, please contact the ACA legality Consultant at judge@albertacheerleading.ca

Scholastic Cheer

The ACA adheres to the Canadian Scholastic ICU Rules and Regulations and Cheer Canada's Age Grids for scholastic cheer and performance cheer. 2025/2026 updates to be released in a couple months.

All Star Cheer

The ACA adheres to the IASF Rules and Cheer Canada Age Grid & Divisions for all-star cheer and performance cheer. This includes Cheer Canada’s division-specific rules for Novice, Prep and Cheer Abilities. Below is the 2025/2026 Cheer Canada Age Grid and ACA Novice and Prep Chart:

For your reference, Alberta has included the recommended training time for both Novice and Prep levels:

• Novice Teams:

  • Practice Frequency: 1 time per week with the season lasting less than 8 months. 

  • Practice Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours per week

• Prep Teams:

  • Practice Frequency: 1-2 times per week with the season lasting no more than 9 months. 

  • Practice Duration: 2 to 3.5 hours per week