Sideline Trophy Co · buyer guide
Cheer Banquet Awards: 33 Categories by Position, Skill and Spirit
Good cheer banquet awards from Sideline Trophy Co, shipped worldwide, recognize what cheerleaders actually do: stunt positions such as flyer, base, backspot and front spot; tumbling, jumps and motions; leadership; sideline spirit; and character. Give each award a clear reason, a short engraving line and an award format that suits it.
Reviewed 2026-09-05 · AI-assisted editorial review. General buying guidance; illustrative scenarios are not customer case studies. Images are AI-generated concepts.
Below are 33 categories in six groups. Each one says who it is for, what to engrave (with an exact character count) and which of our products fits. Use the ones that match your squad, rename them in your own words, and keep the reason for each award clear enough to read aloud at the banquet.
How do you choose cheer banquet award categories?
Choose categories in three steps: decide whether every athlete gets something, pick the skill and position awards your coaches can judge fairly, then add spirit and character awards for athletes whose value does not show on a score sheet. Write one sentence for each award explaining why it is given.
Most squads mix two kinds of recognition. A keepsake for every athlete, often the same small award with each name, makes sure nobody leaves empty-handed. A smaller set of named awards picks out stunting, tumbling, leadership and spirit. Decide the mix before you order, because it sets the quantity and the budget.
Let coaches pick skill awards and consider a team vote for spirit awards. Announce the criteria early in the season so athletes know what is being recognized. Our guide on organizing a cheer banquet packing list covers the logistics once the list is set.
Stunt position awards: flyer, base, backspot and front spot
Stunting is a team skill, so position awards should credit the job each athlete does in the group. A base award recognizes a steady grip and timing; a backspot award recognizes calling counts and protecting the flyer. Name the position on the award so it means something to the athlete years later.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fearless Flyer Award | The flyer who stays tight, trusts the group and hits every body position | “Fearless Flyer - Varsity 2026” (29 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Rock-Solid Base Award | The main or side base whose grip never moves, even on a long count | “Rock-Solid Base - Varsity 2026” (30 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Backspot of the Year | The backspot who calls counts clearly and protects the flyer's head and shoulders | “Backspot of the Year 2026” (25 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Front Spot Award | The front spot who keeps the stunt square and catches the details others miss | “Front Spot Award - Season 2026” (30 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Stunt Group of the Year | A whole group that hits clean, safe stunts all season | “Stunt Group of the Year 2026” (28 characters) | Cheer Team Photo Plaque |
| Most Improved Stunter | Any position, for the biggest gain in confidence and technique | “Most Improved Stunter 2026” (26 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
Tumbling, jump and motion awards
Skill awards recognize the parts of a routine that judges and crowds notice first: tumbling passes, jumps, sharp motions and the dance section. Base them on consistency and clean technique, not only on the hardest skill, so athletes at every level have a fair shot at them.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tumbling Award | The athlete with the cleanest, most consistent passes this season | “Tumbling Award - Season 2026” (28 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Most Improved Tumbler | The athlete who landed a new skill through steady work | “Most Improved Tumbler 2026” (26 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Jump Award | The best height, timing and toe-touch form on the team | “Jump Award - Varsity 2026” (25 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Sharpest Motions Award | Crisp arms, tight lines and every motion on the count | “Sharpest Motions 2026” (21 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Dance Section Award | The athlete who brings energy and precision to the dance | “Dance Section Award 2026” (24 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Most Consistent Athlete | Hits skills in practice, at games and at competition | “Most Consistent Athlete 2026” (28 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
Leadership awards: captain, mentor and coach's pick
Leadership awards honor athletes who make the whole squad better. Captains can receive a recognition piece for their role, and a separate Leadership or Mentor award can go to someone without the title. Use the school year, such as 2025-26, when the role covers the full season.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain's Award | Each captain, to thank them for leading the squad | “Varsity Captain 2025-26” (23 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Leadership Award | An athlete who leads without the title | “Leadership Award - 2026” (23 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Mentor Award | An upperclassman who teaches younger athletes new skills | “Mentor of the Year 2026” (23 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Coach's Award | The coach's own pick for effort, attitude and growth | “Coach's Award 2026” (18 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Rookie of the Year | The first-year athlete who grew the most | “Rookie of the Year 2026” (23 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
Total keepsakes and named cheer awards
The illustrative varsity banquet has 24 athletes with one keepsake each, plus 10 named awards and one coach plaque entered as 11 additional pieces. The total is 35 items. Replace the numbers with your roster and award list, and add spares only if you choose to.
Method: Multiplies athletes by keepsakes per athlete, then adds the additional named-award and coach pieces you enter and any spares you choose. It does not decide who wins or suggest a spare allowance.
Build your plan
Set spares yourself. This calculates the quantities you enter; it does not assume a recommended buffer.
Use the article’s example files
All 33 categories with who each is for, the sample engraving line, its character count and the suggested product. Delete the awards you will not use and add your athletes' names; the rows are sample ideas, not an approved order.
Spirit and sideline awards
School cheer squads spend much of the year on the sideline leading the crowd, so spirit awards deserve their own group. These awards recognize voice, crowd energy and game-day presence. A megaphone-shaped trophy suits the sideline awards especially well because the shape itself tells the story.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sideline Voice Award | The loudest, clearest voice on the sideline every game | “Sideline Voice Award 2026” (25 characters) | 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy |
| Crowd Leader Award | The athlete who gets the stands on their feet | “Crowd Leader Award 2026” (23 characters) | 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy |
| Spirit Award | Positive energy at every practice, game and event | “Spirit Award - Varsity 2026” (27 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Game Day MVP | The athlete who shows up big on game days | “Game Day MVP - Fall 2026” (24 characters) | 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy |
| School Pride Award | The athlete who represents the school best in public | “School Pride Award 2026” (23 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
Character awards and senior recognition
Character awards honor the teammate everyone relies on: the hard worker, the good sport, the student who balances grades and practice. Senior recognition belongs here too. Give every senior the same keepsake with their years on the squad, so the gift marks their time rather than a ranking.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of the Team | The teammate who holds everyone together | “Heart of the Team 2026” (22 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Hardest Worker Award | First to arrive, last to leave, never complains | “Hardest Worker Award 2026” (25 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Sportsmanship Award | Respect for teammates, opponents and judges | “Sportsmanship Award 2026” (24 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Scholar Athlete Award | Strong grades alongside a full season; let the school set the criteria | “Scholar Athlete 2025-26” (23 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Senior Recognition | Every senior, as a keepsake of the years on the squad | “Senior - 4 Years Varsity” (24 characters) | 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy |
Fun and kind awards
Fun awards keep a banquet light, but they should make the athlete smile, not wince. Pick titles that celebrate a good habit or a happy trait. Skip anything about appearance, mistakes, falls or being late. Ask yourself whether the athlete’s parents would be happy to see the title on a shelf.
| Option | Who it's for | Engraving line | Product that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Always Smiling Award | The athlete whose smile never drops | “Always Smiling Award 2026” (25 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Bow Boss Award | The one who keeps every bow and uniform in order | “Bow Boss Award 2026” (19 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Team Encourager | The first to cheer for a teammate's new skill | “Team Encourager 2026” (20 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Most Likely to Hype the Bus | The athlete who makes the long drive fun | “Bus Hype Award 2026” (19 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
| Comeback Award | An athlete who returned strong after a setback | “Comeback Award 2026” (19 characters) | Spirit & Leadership Award |
| Team Choreographer | The athlete who helped build the routine | “Team Choreographer 2026” (23 characters) | Pom Motif Acrylic Award |
How do school cheer and all-star awards differ?
School cheer and all-star cheer recognize different seasons. School squads cheer at games and may also compete, so spirit and sideline awards matter. All-star teams are club teams built mainly for competition, so their awards lean toward routine skills, team results and gym traditions. High school spirit rules come from the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee.
All-star cheer and dance are organized around the U.S. All Star Federation, founded in 2003 to set rules and competition standards. For an all-star banquet, swap the sideline group for awards such as Most Improved Team Member or Gym Spirit Award, and use team names exactly as the gym registers them.
Whichever kind of squad you have, use event and division names only as the program writes them. Our guide on how to proof cheer division names helps with that check.
Sources: U.S. All Star Federation: About; National Federation of State High School Associations: Risk Minimization Focus of 2025-26 High School Spirit Rules Changes
What should you engrave on a cheer award?
Engrave three things on most cheer awards: the award title, the athlete’s name and the season. Add the squad name, such as Varsity or JV, if the program has several. Keep the award line short. The lines in the tables above run from 18 to 30 characters, which leaves room for the name on its own line.
Check the length of every line in the Sideline Trophy Co engraving checker before you send the list. The checker counts spaces and punctuation, like the counts shown here. We do not publish a fixed character limit per product; the actual-size proof shows what fits.
Ask each athlete or parent how the name should appear. Nicknames belong on fun awards only if the athlete likes them.
How do you thank coaches and seniors at a cheer banquet?
Thank coaches with a plaque from the squad and recognize seniors with matching keepsakes, presented near the end of the banquet. A Cheer Coach Appreciation Plaque can carry a short message and the season. A Cheer Team Photo Plaque gives the coach the squad photo with every name listed underneath.
For seniors, a 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy with the athlete’s name and years on the squad works well, because the megaphone shape is the classic senior night keepsake. Give every senior the same piece so the gift marks their years rather than ranking them.
If the coach plaque and athlete awards go in one order, keep them on separate lines of your list. Our guide on coach gifts and competition awards in one order explains how.
Illustrative example: a 24-athlete varsity banquet
In this illustrative example, a high school varsity squad has 24 athletes and wants a keepsake for everyone, 10 named awards and one coach plaque. Every athlete gets a Pom Motif Acrylic Award with their name and the season. The 10 named awards are flyer, base, backspot, tumbling, jumps, captain, leadership, sideline voice, character and top rookie.
The coaches give the named awards on Spirit & Leadership Award pieces, and the Sideline Voice winner gets a 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy. The squad also orders one Cheer Coach Appreciation Plaque. That is 24 keepsakes plus 11 additional pieces, or 35 items in total, which the quantity calculator below confirms.
Some athletes win a named award as well as the keepsake. That is intentional, so the squad counts by award, not by athlete. The figures are an example; your roster and award list set the real numbers.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
These answers cover the questions coaches and booster parents ask most when planning cheer banquet awards: cost and ordering time, how many awards to give, whether everyone gets one, position awards, which funny titles to avoid, and how school and all-star programs differ. Each answer stands alone.
How much do cheer banquet awards cost, and when should we order?
Our planning ranges are $79 to $179 for the Pom Motif Acrylic Award or the Spirit & Leadership Award, $69 to $159 for the Cheer Team Photo Plaque, and $249 to $599 for the 3D Megaphone or Pom Trophy. Your written quote confirms the price. Production takes no more than 7 days after proof approval, plus shipping, so order three weeks before the banquet.
How many awards should a cheer banquet have?
There is no set number. Many squads give every athlete a keepsake and add 8 to 15 named awards, roughly one for each position group plus leadership, spirit and character. Count the awards, not the athletes, because one athlete can win more than one. The quantity calculator on this page totals keepsakes and named awards.
Should every cheerleader get an award?
It is a program choice. A keepsake for every athlete, with the same design and each name, recognizes the whole season. Named awards then pick out specific skills, leadership and spirit. If you skip the keepsakes, make sure the named awards cover every role, including bases and backspots, not just flyers and tumblers.
What is a good award for a base or backspot?
Name the position and the job. A Rock-Solid Base Award honors a steady grip and timing, and a Backspot of the Year award honors calling counts and protecting the flyer. Engrave the position on the award, such as “Rock-Solid Base - Varsity 2026” (30 characters), so the athlete’s role is clear on the shelf.
Which funny cheer awards should we avoid?
Avoid any title about looks, weight, falls, mistakes, crying or being late. A fun award should celebrate a habit the athlete is proud of, such as Bow Boss or Team Encourager. If a title needs an explanation to be kind, choose another one. Parents and athletes will keep these awards for years.
Do school cheer and all-star cheer use different awards?
Often, yes. School squads lead crowds at games, so spirit and sideline awards fit well. All-star cheer is a club competition sport, organized around the U.S. All Star Federation, so awards focus on routine skills, team results and gym traditions. Position, leadership and character awards work for both.
Sources: U.S. All Star Federation: About
Sources and scope
The sources below support the cited technical details. The ordering workflows are editorial recommendations. Your project specification, price and schedule are established in the written quote and approved proof.
- U.S. All Star Federation: About · checked 2026-10-03
- National Federation of State High School Associations: Risk Minimization Focus of 2025-26 High School Spirit Rules Changes · checked 2026-10-03
Which buying guide should you read next?
All buying guidesKeep coach appreciation and competitive recognition as separate categories inside one purchase, with their own wording owners, quantities and presentation deadlines.
Choose a per-athlete or per-squad recognition rule before counting crossover athletes, then keep approved achievements and presentation handoffs separate from roster appearances.
Use the event-approved division label and season, keep squad identity separate, and review every qualifier before shortening or formatting the inscription.
Separate squad trophies, athlete keepsakes and coach recognition before setting the quantities. Use the program's approved roster and category names, then group pieces by squad and presentation order. An athlete appearing on two rosters should receive the number of awards the program intends.