Not many people are aware of the intimate details regarding cheerleading uniforms. There are several myths regarding the bottom wear in a cheerleading uniform. Some people opine that skirts are better for cheerleading, giving an elegant and attractive look to the cheer girls.
Others believe that spankies or bloomers are the safest options in terms of modesty. But, most people wonder whether cheer girls wear anything under the spankies or simply wear them next to the skin.
What do Cheerleaders Wear Under their Spankies? What else other than underwear should be the common answer. But there are indeed some rules that govern this simple yet tricky thing. Read the full article to know more.
If you are looking for a decent cheerleading spanky within a budget, I would recommend Nike Women’s Pro 3in Training Shorts considering the pros and cons.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that spankies are a substitute for underwear. Cheerleading underwear is a must under briefs and spankies to avoid any sort of indecency during a performance.
Cheer girls these days prefer wearing spankies under their skirts to prevent exposing the underwear during jumps and stunts. Most cheer girls new to the profession are often clueless about the proper undergarments to wear for competitive cheerleading.
Let’s know in detail about the cheerleading uniform to understand what should go underneath.
Evolution Of Cheerleading Uniform
Cheerleading uniforms have the spirit of athleticism associated with competitive sports while keeping the glamor quotient high. But, the uniform has undergone a sea change since the time cheerleading first started evolving.
Before the Universal Cheerleading Association, girls performed in below-the-knee skirts, thick socks, and full-sleeved sweaters, carrying the school name and logo. Cheerleading back then did not include stunts, jumps, and toe-touching kicks. The performances were more dance-centric in that era.
As cheerleading became competitive and the focus shifted to athletics, the uniform started changing to body-hugging tops and pleated skirts. When cheerleading became a recognized competitive sport, it became necessary to bring a makeover in the uniform.
Cheerleading since the 2000s shifted to complicated jumps, stunts, pyramid formation, and a range of athletic skills. Tumbling isn’t possible in poodle skirts, pleated skirts, or saddle shoes. Such performances require spandex shorts to offer convenience and flexibility.
As the definitions of modesty started changing, the pleated skirts got shorter to expose more skin. To keep up with the changing trends while offering flexibility to perform the challenging athletic moves, pleated skirts gave way to A-line short skirts with a slit.
These help the girls perform high jumps, allowing the legs to reach above the hips with ease. Cheer girls also started wearing shorts or spankies underneath the uniform skirts and over the underwear for freedom of movement without risking indecency.
This modern-day cheerleading uniform suits the athletic nature and glamor associated with the sport. Some teams even prefer bodysuits or shorts instead of skirts for more glamour and the flexibility to achieve clean kicks and jumps.
High school and college teams prefer shorts or A-line slit skirts made of polyester and spandex with patterns or stars printed on shiny fabric. Dye-sublimated fabrics have team names and designs printed on the uniform.
Along with the skirt or shorts, they wear shells with a sports bra or tank top underneath. The length of the skirts is usually 10 to 13 inches to facilitate tumbling. Spandex spankies must match the color of the skirts and is a part of the uniform for the team.
Team members must also follow undergarment rules and wear ones of similar type and color underneath the spankies.
Purpose Of Wearing Spankies
Wearing spankies under skirts serves a lot of purposes. Firstly, it gives you more coverage for a decent look on the field. Secondly, it saves the performers from embarrassment by preventing exposing their underwear when they perform their stunts and exercises.
When you kick your leg high, go up in the air as a flyer, or do a backflip, you risk exposing what you are wearing underneath the skirt. Too much skin show than necessary can be disgraceful during practice or events and invite unwanted attention from the wrong people.
Spankies matching the color and fabric of the shell top and the skirt are usually a part of the uniform these days to save you from such embarrassing incidents in public. They also give you more freedom during the performance, especially during thigh stands flyer positions, and tumbling.
A flyer wearing spankies underneath the skirt can go up in the air and spread the legs without hesitation. Too much risqué skin show isn’t acceptable for athletic cheerleading.
Lastly, spankies under the skirts or worn without skirts give the cheer girls the best flexibility for tumbling, stunting, and high kicks. You can check out this cheap yet comfortable spanky on Amazon.
Learn What Fabric Is Used For Cheer Uniforms?
What Do Cheer Girls Wear Underneath The Spankies? Why Is It Needed?
Having elaborated on the purpose of wearing spankies, one must be wondering why underwear is essential to wear underneath the spankies. Since they already give coverage under the skirt, why should you take the trouble of wearing another layer of underwear?
But, spankies shouldn’t be thought of as a replacement for underwear. Spankies or bloomers are made of thin and stretchable spandex. Skipping the undergarment can cause embarrassing camel toes, sweat stains, and discomfort.
Wearing the correct type of underwear beneath the spankies ensures you find comfort and stay assured that there would be no embarrassing exposure. Shorties or spankies may ride or roll up while you kick high in the air or hold a stunt in the air.
Underwear offers better coverage to the nether regions, avoiding accidental exposure, camel toes, sweat stains, and giving comfort during movement.
What Is Cheerleading Underwear?
Cheerleading underwear is garments worn next to the skin while performing. It refers to sports bras, thongs, stockings, panties, and briefs worn underneath the spankies and shorts. Cheerleading underwear depends upon the entire uniform, type, and length of spankies, etc.
Wearing them gives you confidence and protection while performing. Cheerleading garment manufacturers offer various styles and colors of cheerleading underwear to go with your uniform.
What Type Of Underwear Goes Best With Spankies?
So how do you decide which type of underwear would best suit your spankies? Since these are an essential part of a cheerleader’s everyday uniform, you need to be sure of a few things.
Firstly, since the athletic cheerleading performance is all about visual aesthetics, a slight mistake in choosing garments can make you appear distasteful. Seams of underwear showing under spandex shorts, spankies, and bodysuits look bad.
Wearing the wrong types of undergarments with prominent seams will make the lines visible, revealing what you are wearing underneath. Choose seamless underwear to go beneath spankies so that the seams do not become visible over the spankies’ fabric.
Cheer girls wear thin, seamless underpants with narrow coverage to perfectly remain beneath the spankies without peeking out from places or becoming visible in any way.
Breathability often becomes an issue when you have so many layers of clothing. Choose breathable underwear to avoid sweating and feeling uncomfortable after wearing them beneath the spankies and skirt.
The third most important thing to consider while choosing underwear to go beneath spankies is the color. Spankies must match the fabric and color of the skirt or overall uniform for visual appeal.
Similarly, the underwear must match the shade of the spankies to conceal any unwanted exposure. Moreover, matching underwear is usually the rule for all sports requiring participants to wear shorts and skirts. Some cheer girls prefer wearing skin color underwear for discreet coverage.
Is Underwear Banned For Cheerleaders?
Some organizations have strict and weird rules for cheerleaders, including wearing no underwear. Even though the reasons are not entirely clear, but NFL and NBA have rules stating no thongs for cheerleaders.
They can only wear spankies under the cheerleading uniform skirts. Such strange rules have often made headlines because of their shocking statement. Several cheerleaders have recounted being subjected to such regulations by their team’s handbook, much to their irk. If the team has such a rule, then you have no choice but to abide by it.
In case your high school team has no such rule, it’s safest to wear the recommended type of underwear beneath the spankies for extra protection and convenience. Keep it discreet and choose what maximizes your comfort during the routine.
The Bottom Line
By now, the speculations about what cheerleaders wear under spankies or if they wear anything at all must be demystified. This is a raging question and often a topic for debate as to whether cheerleaders should wear anything beneath the spankies, and if yes, then what’s the safest option to choose. Not to forget, several people have several opinions, which are often contradictory.
You must be well aware of wearing underwear beneath the spankies for all the reasons discussed here. Invest some time in choosing the right kind of underwear that stays discreet under your spankies, makes you feel comfortable, and gives you enough coverage and freedom.
You may also select spankies with built-in underwear for a lesser hassle and reduce the number of layers. Cheerleading costumes and uniforms are changing for the best with time and increased competitiveness.
New-age costumes take care of all aspects, giving you myriad options to choose the best undergarments for comfort, modesty, and freedom of movement.
Get Ready with Your Basic Cheerleading Kit
A basic cheerleading kit consists of the minimum requirements that a beginner cheerleader needs for his/her practice and events. Proper uniform and comfortable shoes are a must and they help the cheerleader for his/her overall well-being and safety. This section will help you choose the uniform and shoes as per your requirements.
Cheerleading Uniform: Uniforms form an important part as you can well understand. Choose the proper uniform as per your school/event specifications. However, do take care to choose a fabric that is breathable and helps you stay comfortable during the performance. Relevant helpful resources:
1. What Fabric Is Used For Cheer Uniforms? A Common Question
2. Best Cheerleading Uniforms For Toddlers: Too Cute To Avoid – If you need an awesome cheerleading uniform for Halloween!
3. What Do Cheerleaders Wear Under Their Spankies? Demystified – Innerwear is important in this sport.
4. Check out Amazon’s Webpage for Cheerleading Uniforms – They have a good collection
Cheer Shoes: If you want to perform confidently as a cheerleader, you need comfortable shoes. Just as any other field sport, wearing proper shoes can make or break your performance. Choose the best fitting shoes as per your requirement. Some helpful resources for you:
1. Best Nike Cheerleading Shoes That Are Comfortable And Cheap – Comfortable and cheap cheerleading shoes from the best brand in this domain.
2. Best Cheer Shoes For Wide Feet That Fit The Way You Want – There are shoes specially designed for wide feet. This article helps you choose the proper one.
3. Check out Amazon’s Webpage for Cheerleading Shoes – They have shoes fitting everyone’s needs.
4. Check out the 7 Best Shoes For High School Cheer that are cheap yet comfortable.
Cheer Backpacks: Arranging things every time before your practice can be tedious. Keeping everything organized neatly in a backpack can be the key and help you save time and effort. I have made an exhaustive guide for you to choose the right cheer backpack for yourself at various price points. Do check it out if you need help.
