Pinning has become one of the most recognizable traditions in cheerleading. Here’s what cheer pins are, how pinning works, and why it matters inside competition culture.
If you try to sum up a cheer competition, it rarely comes out clean. It is loud, crowded, overstimulating, and constantly moving. Music fills every corner. Athletes travel in packs. Parents track schedules like air traffic control. In the middle of that controlled chaos sits a tradition that continues to grow in scale and creativity.
That tradition is pinning.
Yes, we are talking about decorated clothespins. The same object once reserved for laundry has become a quiet form of connection inside the All Star cheer world.
What Are Cheer Pins?
Cheer pins are small, mostly handmade clothespins decorated with glitter, charms, bows, and encouraging messages. They are clipped onto another athlete’s backpack without being noticed. The goal is simple. Leave encouragement behind and disappear before being caught.
When the athlete finds the pin later, they know someone took a moment to wish them luck. The identity of the person who placed it often stays a mystery, which is part of the tradition.
Pinning is not about winning or rankings. It is about athletes supporting athletes across teams, gyms, and age levels. That is why it has lasted.
The first time I was pinned, I was carrying my athlete’s backpack through a crowded venue. I found the pin later and realized it came from a Worlds athlete. It was unexpected and oddly meaningful. That is the power of something small done well.
Giving pins can be just as fun. It adds levity to long days and gives athletes a way to encourage others without needing to say a word. Getting caught happens. When it does, everyone laughs and moves on.
How to Pin People at Cheer Competitions
Pinning takes timing. Competition venues are full of motion, which makes placement easier than execution.
Moments that work best include athletes sitting and waiting in lobbies, people standing in concession lines, photo viewing areas where athletes pause to look at action shots, backpacks with top loops or side pockets, and VIP or on-deck waiting areas.
If you get caught, acknowledge it and keep it light. The culture around pinning is friendly and playful.
How to Get Pinned at a Cheer Competition
Getting pinned does not require strategy.
Be at a cheer competition. Wear a cheer backpack. Add a “PIN ME” ribbon if you want to increase your chances.
That is it. Cheer moms are part of the tradition now too.
Decorating Cheer Pins
Making cheer pins is messy, creative, and often ends with glue where it does not belong. It is also one of the easiest ways to participate in competition culture. Many teams turn pin-making into a bonding activity.
What you need includes clothespins, either painted or pre-colored, spray paint if starting from scratch, ultra-fine Sharpies, spray adhesive, glitter, a hot glue gun or strong adhesive, and decorative elements like bows, charms, stickers, or rhinestones.
To make them, start with the clothespin base. Add glitter or decorative pieces using spray adhesive. Layer in charms or bows as desired. Finish with a short encouraging message.
Simple designs work just as well as elaborate ones.
Pin Decorating Ideas That Stand Out
Pin designs have evolved significantly over the years. Some of the most popular approaches include ducks, themed designs, and encouraging messages.
Rubber ducks became a cheer competition staple around 2023 and have not gone away. Mini resin ducks attached to pins are widely loved across age groups.
Many competitions run themes like Gold Rush, Aloha, or Rockstar. Matching pin designs to the event theme turns them into souvenirs.
Short messages work best. Examples include You Ate, You Are Enough, Good Luck, Hit Zero, and You Are Unstoppable. Adding your gym or team name helps athletes remember where the pin came from.
Displaying Cheer Pins at Home
Leaving pins on backpacks almost guarantees they will break. A better option is to display them.
Wire wreath frames work well and come in a variety of shapes. Heart-shaped frames are especially popular, but any wire frame will work. Hang it at home and clip pins directly onto the wire to create a visual record of each season.
Pinning has grown into more than a trend. It gives athletes a way to encourage each other in a sport that demands focus, discipline, and resilience. Small gestures carry weight, especially during long competition weekends.
If you are new to cheer, pinning is an easy way to participate without pressure. If you are a veteran, it is a reminder of how community shows up in simple ways.
Happy pinning.
Visit CheerDaily.com for more resources that support athletes and parents.
