Best Cheerleading Coaches Conferences to Attend in 2027

The best cheer coaches never stop learning.

As cheerleading continues to evolve, coaching education remains an important part of athlete development, safety and competitive success. From changes in scoring and skill progression to gym operations and leadership, coaches have more to manage than ever before.

Across the United States and internationally, cheerleading conferences bring together coaches, gym owners, program directors and industry leaders for professional development, hands-on instruction and networking.

Whether you're coaching All Star, school, recreational or collegiate cheerleading, choosing the right conference can help prepare your program for the season ahead.

Cheer Daily has compiled a guide to some of the top cheerleading coaches conferences and educational opportunities to consider in 2027, including confirmed events and established conferences awaiting their next announcements.

Which Cheer Coaches Conference Is Right for You?

Not every cheerleading conference serves the same audience. Some focus on athlete safety, certifications and technical coaching, while others emphasize business operations, leadership, scoring systems and program development.

For coaches looking to improve their technical knowledge, hands-on instructional conferences may provide the most immediate value. Gym owners and directors may benefit more from events focused on financial management, employee development, retention and building sustainable programs.

Here are Cheer Daily's selections by category.

Best Overall Educational Conference

USA Cheer & USASF National Conference

The joint national conference brings together representatives from across cheer, dance and STUNT, offering education on athlete safety, rules, scoring, coaching techniques, leadership and program operations. Its broad range of educational tracks makes it a strong option for coaches and administrators working at different levels of the sport.

Best Conference for All Star Coaches

Varsity University

Varsity University offers coaching education through in-person events and online resources. Its programming covers leadership, athlete development, program management and competitive preparation, with education available for school and All Star coaches.

Best Conference for Youth & Recreational Coaches

YCADA Coaches Conference

A conference designed specifically for youth and recreational cheerleading, YCADA places an emphasis on safety, scoring, routine construction, skill progression and coaching fundamentals.

Best Conference for Leadership Development

Next Generation Gym Owners Conference

Focused on the business of running successful cheer programs, Next Gen brings gym owners, directors and coaches together for education on leadership, staffing, marketing, profitability, athlete retention and organizational growth.

Best Conference for Athlete Development

The Spirit Network Coaches Conference

The Spirit Network combines coaching education with opportunities for athlete development. Its Palm Springs conference takes place alongside the Cheer Up USA athlete skills camp, creating professional development opportunities for coaches and training experiences for athletes.

Best Conference for Skill Development

Spring CDT Coaches Conference

Spring CDT emphasizes technical instruction, including tumbling, stunting, spotting and skill progression. Its hands-on approach makes it an option for coaches looking to strengthen their teaching methods and improve athlete development.

Best Emerging Coaches Conference

The Open Academy & Conference

The Open Academy focuses on making coaching education and industry resources more accessible. Its programming has included instruction on coaching strategy, athlete development, leadership and competitive preparation.

Best International Cheer Coaches Conference

AASCF Coaches Conference

Australia's AASCF Coaches Conference provides professional development opportunities for cheer and dance coaches, with education covering technical instruction, choreography, scoring, athlete preparation and business operations.

2027 Cheerleading Coaches Conferences: Dates, Locations and Details

YCADA Coaches Conference

Best for Youth & Recreational Coaches

Dates: May 5-6, 2027
Location: The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

The YCADA Coaches Conference returns to Las Vegas in May, bringing together youth cheerleading coaches, recreational program directors and industry educators for two days of professional development.

The conference focuses on the challenges of coaching younger athletes, with sessions covering stunt progression, safety, scoring, routine construction and competition preparation.

Attendees can participate in hands-on training, review score sheets, ask questions of rules judges and connect with representatives from other youth cheerleading organizations.

For coaches working in recreational and youth cheerleading, YCADA provides education tailored to the athletes, rules and competitive environments they encounter throughout the season.

Official website: https://www.ycada.org/coachesconference

Next Generation Gym Owners Conference

Best for Leadership & Business Development

Dates: June 4-6, 2027
Location: Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel, Addison, Texas

The Next Generation Gym Owners Conference returns for its ninth year with three days of education, networking and professional development for gym owners, coaches and industry leaders.

The 2027 conference will focus on business growth, marketing, leadership, staffing, profitability, athlete retention and building stronger gym cultures.

Beyond traditional educational sessions, the event provides an opportunity for gym owners to exchange ideas with others facing similar operational challenges.

Optional preconference programming includes hands-on spotting instruction and an artificial intelligence intensive, expanding the event's offerings beyond business and leadership topics.

For gym owners looking to improve operations while maintaining a competitive and athlete-centered program, Next Gen offers education focused on the business side of cheerleading.

Official website: https://nextgenowners.com/conferences/

The Spirit Network Coaches Conference

Best for Athlete Leadership & Program Development

Dates: June 15-18, 2027
Location: Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, Palm Springs, California

The Spirit Network Coaches Conference returns to Palm Springs with educational sessions designed for cheer and dance coaches, gym owners and program directors.

Programming covers business operations, athlete progression, technical training and approaches to developing successful programs.

A distinguishing feature is its connection to Cheer Up USA, an athlete skills camp scheduled for June 15-17 in Palm Springs.

The camp offers athletes opportunities to participate in masterclasses, workshops and hands-on training with experienced coaches and athletes.

Together, the events create an opportunity for programs to invest in both coaching education and athlete development during the same trip.

Official website: https://www.thespiritnetwork.net/california-coaches-conference

USA Cheer & USASF National Conference

Best Overall Educational Conference

2027 dates and location: To be announced

The USA Cheer and USASF National Conference is one of the sport's broadest educational gatherings, bringing together coaches and leaders from school, All Star, college, recreational, dance and STUNT programs.

The organizations joined forces for the 2026 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, offering instruction and professional development across multiple disciplines.

Sessions have addressed athlete safety, scoring, rules education, coaching techniques, leadership and the operational challenges facing cheerleading programs.

The conference also provides networking opportunities with industry organizations, educators and other program leaders.

For coaches seeking education that extends beyond one particular competitive discipline, the joint conference offers a wide-ranging perspective on the sport.

Official website: https://events.usasf.net/

Varsity University

Best for All Star Coaches

2027 conference dates and location: To be announced

Varsity University provides educational resources for coaches, gym owners and athletic program leaders through specialized online courses and in-person programming.

Its educational offerings address coaching techniques, athlete development, safety, leadership and the management of competitive programs.

Varsity University also supports judges' education and training for the competitive cheerleading season.

For All Star and school coaches, the combination of digital resources and in-person learning opportunities provides options for continuing education beyond a single conference weekend.

Additional information about 2027 in-person programming will be available through Varsity University.

Official website: https://www.varsity.com/varsity-university-education/

The Open Academy & Conference

Best Emerging Coaches Conference

2027 conference dates and location: To be announced

The Open Academy & Conference is an educational initiative from The Open Championship Series designed to expand access to coaching education and professional development.

The conference has brought together coaches, educators and industry professionals for sessions focused on athlete development, coaching strategy, competitive preparation and leadership.

Its 2026 conference took place in Orlando, Florida.

As The Open Championship Series continues developing its educational offerings, The Open Academy remains an event for coaches interested in additional training opportunities and perspectives from across competitive cheerleading.

Official website: https://openchampionshipseries.com/open-academy/

Spring CDT Coaches Conference

Best for Technical Skill Development

2027 dates and location: To be announced

The Spring CDT Coaches Conference offers a technical approach to cheerleading education, with an emphasis on teaching skills, athlete progression and improving coaching techniques.

Its programming has focused on stunting, tumbling, spotting and instructional methods coaches can apply directly to their training programs.

Unlike conferences centered primarily on business development or administrative education, Spring CDT emphasizes the practical elements of coaching athletes.

For coaches looking to strengthen their technical knowledge and introduce new training approaches, the conference provides an opportunity for hands-on professional development.

Official website: https://springcdt.com/

AASCF Coaches Conference

Best for International Coaching Education

2027 dates and location: To be announced

The Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation's Coaches Conference brings an international perspective to coaching education, with programming developed for cheer and dance coaches and industry professionals.

The 2026 conference is scheduled for Dec. 1 at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Queensland, Australia.

Its educational offerings include cheer choreography, stunt fundamentals, tumbling, baskets and dismounts, dance technique and musicality.

Industry-focused sessions also cover mental preparation, season planning, business operations and competition judging.

For international coaches, the conference offers an opportunity to explore different approaches to athlete development, training and competitive preparation.

Details for the 2027 conference have not yet been confirmed.

Official website: https://www.aascf.com.au/

Why Continuing Education Matters for Cheer Coaches

Cheerleading is constantly changing. Scoring systems are updated, new skills are introduced, safety standards evolve and the responsibilities of coaches extend well beyond practices and competition weekends.

Continuing education helps coaches stay informed and better prepared to make decisions that affect their athletes and programs.

For newer coaches, conferences can provide foundational training and access to experienced educators. For veteran coaches and gym owners, the value often comes from learning new approaches, discussing common challenges and connecting with others across the industry.

Investing in professional development can also benefit entire coaching staffs. Programs that prioritize education have opportunities to establish more consistent training methods, strengthen communication and develop a shared approach to athlete safety and performance.

Planning Your 2027 Cheerleading Conference Calendar

Before registering for a conference, coaches should consider their professional development goals, the experience levels of their staff and the specific challenges facing their programs.

Coaches focused on youth and recreational cheerleading may find YCADA particularly relevant, while gym owners seeking business and leadership education should consider Next Gen.

Programs interested in both coaching education and athlete training may benefit from The Spirit Network's Palm Springs events.

Those looking for broader industry education should follow announcements from USA Cheer, USASF and Varsity University.

Conference dates, registration details and programming are subject to change. Coaches should consult official event websites before making travel arrangements.

Know a Cheerleading Coaches Conference We Missed?

Cheer Daily continues to update its guide to cheerleading coaching conferences, educational events and professional development opportunities.

If your organization is hosting a cheerleading coaches conference in 2027, contact Cheer Daily with event dates, location and registration information for consideration.

Visit CheerDaily.com to follow the latest cheerleading news, competition coverage and industry updates.