ASAA makes changes to high school cheerleading

New changes are coming to cheerleading in Alberta schools following the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association’s (ASAA) decision to cancel cheerleading as a provincial sport under the association’s umbrella.

“When you get to high school, you cannot do both school cheer and all-star cheer, you had to make a decision,” said Dianne Greenough, a retired cheer coach.

This was the case before the ASAA decided last week to remove cheerleading from the schools as a recognized sport by the association, a decision that was welcomed by the cheer community in Alberta.

“We still will have a provincial championship for them that they can compete under. It’s just not under the umbrella of ASAA. That’s gonna be supported by the Alberta Cheerleading Association,” explained Kaylynn McCormack, the president of the Alberta Cheerleading Association.

Greenough who started the Alberta Cheerleading Association almost four decades ago and helped bring the sport to schools, says the association’s decision will help cheerleading grow even more in the province.

“When you can pick one, some of the elite athletes chose to go to all-star, and now they can do both and so now we’re bringing the sport back home, and now have the chance to refire and reignite and be something special,” said Greenough.

The Alberta Cheeleading Association says having cheerleading in schools recognized by the ASAA is no longer necessary for the sports.

“Back in the day, it was really important to get that sport title in scholastic system,” said McCormack. “We had about 35 teams at one point, now we have ten, so I think this will help grow the sport again.”

Greenough adding, “This sport has grown so much. That being part of the ASAA no longer needed, we outgrown it.”

CityNews reached out to Edmonton Public School Board for comment. While the school board responded, they didn’t have anything to share.