Acrobatics and tumbling combines elements from both gymnastics and cheerleading, but has distinct characteristics that set it apart:

• Equipment: Unlike artistic gymnastics, which uses apparatus like bars and beams, acrobatics and tumbling primarily utilizes spring floors and mats12.

• Focus: The sport emphasizes team-based performances, blending individual tumbling skills with partner stunts and synchronized group elements13.

• Scoring: Routines are judged on factors like difficulty, execution, and overall performance, with a unique scoring system that differs from both traditional gymnastics and competitive cheerleading34.

While sharing some tumbling techniques with gymnastics, acrobatics and tumbling incorporates more partner-based skills and choreographed team elements, creating a hybrid discipline that showcases both individual athleticism and group coordination15.

Collegiate acrobatics and tumbling competitions typically feature 2-4 teams competing in six events: Compulsory, Acro, Pyramid, Toss, Tumbling, and Team Event12. Each meet lasts about two hours and teams can score up to 300 points total13. The format includes:

• Compulsory: Four heats (acro, pyramid, toss, tumbling) with identical pre-determined skills2

• Acro: Three heats demonstrating strength and balance in groups of 2-4 athletes2

• Pyramid: Three heats building three-layer pyramids with different requirements4

• Toss: Three heats of aerial tosses, including synchronized tosses4

• Tumbling: Six heats of powerful synchronized and individual passes4

• Team Event: A choreographed routine set to music showcasing all previous skills4

Teams are evaluated on difficulty and execution by a panel of officials, with the highest overall score determining the winner34.

Acrobatics and tumbling have ancient roots, with evidence of acrobatic performances dating back to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and China12. The sport evolved from traditional circus acts and gymnastics, incorporating elements of both disciplines. In the United States, tumbling was included in Amateur Athletic Union events as early as 1886, with women's tumbling added in 19383. The modern form of acrobatics and tumbling as a collegiate sport emerged more recently, gaining recognition from the NCAA in 2020 as an Emerging Sport for Women4. This designation has led to rapid growth, with programs expanding from a handful of schools to over 40 institutions in just a few years5, marking a significant evolution from its historical origins to a formalized competitive collegiate sport.