How to Get Nominated for The Cheer Awards

Start with the official nomination form

A cheerleading awards nomination is a way to put someone’s contribution forward for consideration. It is not an automatic place on the ballot, a finalist announcement or a promise of an award. For 2027, begin on the official nomination page, which shows the season’s availability and current form.

Nomination dates and voting dates are separate. Check the official page before launching a campaign, rather than relying on a previous season’s schedule. The 2026 awards are complete; this guide is for preparing a 2027 submission.

1. Match the nominee to the right category

The Cheer Awards recognize people and organizations across the cheerleading community, including athletes, coaches, programs, event producers, brands and creators. Use the category options in the current form, not an old social post or a category from another awards event.

Choose the category that best reflects the nominee’s actual role and contribution. If the form offers help with placement, use it. The team reviews eligibility and category placement before approved nominees appear on the official ballot.

2. Gather a clear, accurate nominee profile

Before submitting, confirm the nominee’s official name and organization. Search for an existing profile when prompted so that alternate spellings do not split one person or program into multiple entries. The 2027 form requires a nominee name, your valid email and a reason for the nomination. Supporting evidence and profile details are optional.

• Identify the person or organization: use the name they actually compete, coach or operate under.
• Provide useful links: an official website or public profile helps distinguish similarly named nominees.
• Prepare the reason for recognition: describe the work and who benefited, rather than only saying “they are the best.”
• Check your contact details: use an email address you can access and keep your submission confirmation.

3. Tell the story with specific evidence

A useful nomination explains what happened, when it happened and why it matters. For an athlete, that might be a documented achievement or leadership contribution. For a coach, it could be athlete development or a concrete example of mentorship. For a program, explain the initiative and its effect on athletes or the wider community.

These are writing suggestions, not a published scoring rubric. Keep claims factual, link to public evidence where the form allows, and avoid sharing private athlete information without permission.

A simple way to structure your nomination

“I am nominating [name] for [category] because of [specific contribution]. During [time period], they [achievement or action]. This mattered to [people or community] because [documented impact]. More information is available at [public link].”

Make it your own. A short, specific account of real work is more useful than a list of unsupported superlatives.

4. Submit, then let the review happen

Review the details before submitting and save your reference number. The Cheer Awards team checks eligibility and placement. If additional information is requested, respond with accurate details so the team can assess the submission.

Do not announce that someone is a finalist just because a nomination was submitted. Link to the official ballot or announcement when the nominee’s status is confirmed.

5. Mobilize genuine community support

During nominations, tell the nominee’s story through your program’s channels, athlete spotlights or a coach’s message. Explain the contribution and share the official nomination page. Aim for accurate visibility, not repeated identical submissions or claims that volume guarantees selection.

When voting opens and an approved nominee is on the ballot, share the official 2027 voting page. A good message names the nominee, identifies the category and explains why supporters care.

• Invite supporters to vote for themselves using their own email address and emailed verification code.
• 2027 voting allows one vote per verified email per category. A submitted vote cannot be changed.
• Do not create extra accounts, collect other people’s codes or promise to vote on their behalf.
• Use respectful reminders while voting is open, and do not present unofficial totals as results.

Community enthusiasm should reflect real people supporting real contributions.

What does the board look for in finalists?

Nomination review, community voting and finalist decisions are different steps. The team reviews nominees for eligibility and appropriate category placement. The finalist review tools allow the team to review nominee rankings and make recorded finalist decisions before the official announcement is released.

This guide does not claim a board scoring formula, vote weighting or guaranteed finalist threshold. No specific board rubric is stated here. Follow the current official season information and treat the official finalist announcement as the source of confirmed status.

How to win cheer awards: focus on what you can control

There is no guaranteed strategy for winning The Cheer Awards. You can control the accuracy of your nomination, the quality of the story you share and the integrity of your community outreach. You cannot turn nomination volume, follower counts or an unofficial ranking into a promised result.

Celebrate the contribution regardless of the outcome. Recognition is strongest when the people behind it feel seen, not pressured.