When researching college cheerleading programs, you’ll notice two main types: All-Girl and Coed. Both are competitive, both require elite skills, and both perform at games — but the skill sets, stunting styles, and team dynamics are very different. Understanding which path fits your abilities will help you choose the right program.

What Is All-Girl Cheer?

All-Girl cheer teams consist entirely of female athletes. Stunting is done in traditional stunt groups: one flyer, two side bases, one back spot, and sometimes a front spot. All-Girl teams perform at football and basketball games and often compete at UCA or NCA College Nationals.

What Is Coed Cheer?

Coed cheer teams include both male and female athletes. The defining feature of Coed cheer is partner stunting — a single male base (or “partner”) stunting with a female flyer. Coed teams also perform group stunts but emphasize partner stunt sequences. Programs like Tennessee field one varsity Coed squad of 16 females and 15 males.

Skill Differences: All-Girl vs Coed

• Flyer body control: Coed flyers must have exceptional body tension and balance since they’re supported by one person
• Base strength: Coed male bases need significant upper body strength for partner stunts; All-Girl bases rely more on leg drive and technique
• Tumbling expectations: Both require strong tumbling, but Coed programs often have higher tumbling minimums for females
• Stunt difficulty: Coed partner stunts can reach higher difficulty (cupies, stretch doubles, rewinds); All-Girl group stunts focus on synchronization and pyramid work

Comparison Table

Which Colleges Offer Which Programs?

Many large programs field both All-Girl and Coed teams. For example:

• Both teams: Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi State, Arizona State
• Coed only: Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss (coed emphasis)
• All-Girl emphasis: Some smaller programs and HBCUs

Check our college cheerleading directory to see which programs each school offers.

How to Choose Based on Your Skills

Choose All-Girl if:

• You’re a female athlete who excels in group stunting
• You have strong flexibility and synchronization skills
• You prefer a team-oriented stunting environment
• You want to compete in All-Girl divisions at nationals
• You’re a base or back spot who relies on technique over raw strength

Choose Coed if:

• You’re a female flyer with exceptional body tension and balance
• You’re a male athlete with upper body strength and stunt experience
• You want to learn partner stunting techniques
• You’re interested in competing in Coed divisions at nationals
• You thrive in a high-skill, high-pressure stunting environment

Body Type Considerations

This is a sensitive but important topic. In Coed partner stunting, flyers are typically lighter and more compact because they’re supported by one person. In All-Girl stunting, flyers can be slightly taller or heavier because the load is distributed across multiple bases. However, body type is not the only factor — body tension, technique, and skill level matter more than size.

Team Dynamics

• All-Girl: Strong sisterhood bonds, collaborative stunting environment, emphasis on synchronization
• Coed: Mixed-gender team dynamics, individual partner stunt partnerships, emphasis on individual stunt mastery

Regardless of which path you choose, having the right gear matters. Check our cheerleading shoe comparison to find the best shoes for your tryout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is All-Girl or Coed cheer harder?

Both are challenging in different ways. Coed cheer requires exceptional upper body strength for partner stunting, while All-Girl cheer demands precise synchronization and technique in group stunts. The difficulty depends on your position and skill set.

Can I switch from All-Girl to Coed or vice versa?

Yes, many athletes transition between styles. If you’re a female flyer moving to Coed, you’ll need to develop more body tension for partner stunting. If you’re moving from Coed to All-Girl, you’ll need to adapt to group stunting timing.

Do Coed cheerleaders get scholarships more than All-Girl?

Scholarship availability depends on the program, not the style. Some Coed programs offer more scholarship money because they recruit male athletes. Check with individual programs and explore our $500 cheerleading scholarship for additional financial support.

Last reviewed: July 2026 | CheerLeadersLife Editorial Team