Washington, D.C.— Following majority votes by the NCAA Division II and Division III memberships on Friday, Acrobatics & Tumbling has officially been approved as the NCAA's 93rd national championship sport. The NCAA Division I Cabinet also approved the championship earlier this week during its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

With the votes complete, Acrobatics & Tumbling advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a National Collegiate Championship, featuring NCAA member institutions from all three divisions competing for a single national title. The inaugural NCAA Acrobatics & Tumbling National Championship will be crowned in spring 2027.

"This moment represents an unprecedented collaborative effort by the individuals and member institutions in the acrobatics & tumbling community," said Janell Cook, executive director of the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA).

"The vision, resiliency, and innovation required to accomplish this goal has been carried out with passionate resolve. Today is a celebration of every student-athlete, coach, and administrator who invested in this sport without guarantees — remaining committed to equity, safety, and opportunity."

From Emerging Sport to National Championship

Acrobatics & Tumbling was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in August 2020 and has since experienced rapid and sustained growth. The sport surpassed the NCAA's required 40 varsity-sponsoring institutions, meeting all minimum participation and competition standards needed to qualify for championship status.

"It is a major win for the NCAA to add acrobatics & tumbling as a championship sport," said NCAA President Charlie Baker. "We thank everyone who played a role in supporting this effort and look forward to continuing to provide world-class opportunities for women to compete in this incredible sport."

Currently, 52 NCAA institutions sponsor Acrobatics & Tumbling at the varsity level, with more than 1,300 student-athletes preparing to compete during the 2026 season, which begins Sunday, February 1, 2026.

About the Sport

Acrobatics & Tumbling is a fast-paced, team-based discipline featuring six events — acrobatics, pyramid, toss, tumbling, and team routines — scored on both difficulty and execution. Meets typically last between 90 and 120 minutes.

The sport draws athletes from gymnastics, cheerleading, diving, dance, and other strength-based disciplines and is currently governed by the NCATA.

"The acrobatics & tumbling community deserves a championship stage," said Lynda Tealer, NCAA senior vice president of championships. "We are excited for the high level of competition that will soon be on full display."

Governance and Oversight

An NCAA Women's Acrobatics & Tumbling Committee will be established to oversee championship administration and playing rules. The committee — composed of administrators and coaches from NCAA member institutions — will determine championship format, dates, and the bid process for host sites.

This week's approval marks the culmination of a 16-year effort to establish Acrobatics & Tumbling as an NCAA championship sport.

"Making acrobatics & tumbling an NCAA championship honors the young women whose vision, courage, and excellence brought the sport to national prominence," said Jacqie McWilliams, chair of the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact. "Today, we celebrate their journey and open the door for future student-athletes to redefine what's possible."

A Historic Path Forward

Acrobatics & Tumbling becomes the eighth sport to earn NCAA championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program, joining:

• Rowing (1996)
   

• Ice Hockey (2000)
   

• Water Polo (2000)
   

• Bowling (2003)
   

• Beach Volleyball (2015)
   

• Women's Wrestling (2025)
   

• STUNT (2026)
   

Participation in emerging sports increased by more than 20 percent in 2024–25, with nearly 7,000 student-athletes competing across all three divisions.

Sixteen Years in the Making

The approval of Acrobatics & Tumbling as an NCAA championship sport represents a journey that began in 2009, inspired by the University of Maryland's decision to elevate its all-girl cheer team to varsity status.

Administrators from Azusa Pacific, Baylor, Fairmont State, Quinnipiac, and Oregon collaborated to create a new varsity sport designed to meet the interests of student-athletes trained in cheerleading and gymnastics. Their goals included:

• Meeting Title IX standards
   

• Enhancing safety and inclusion
   

• Expanding varsity opportunities across all divisions
   

• Building a pathway to NCAA championship status
   

The founding institutions established the NCATA in 2010, hosting the first national championship in 2011. Partnerships with USA Gymnastics followed, expanding youth participation and development pathways.

In 2019, the Mountain East Conference became the first NCAA conference to sponsor Acrobatics & Tumbling, followed by Conference Carolinas in 2020.

NCAA Emerging Sport status in 2020 served as a catalyst for exponential growth, with sponsorship increasing from 27 programs in 2020–21 to more than 40 by 2023–24. In spring 2025, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics formally recommended championship legislation for all three divisions.

This week's NCAA Convention votes made that vision a reality.

"In a world dominated by long-established sports, seeing Acrobatics & Tumbling go from creation to NCAA championship status in just over a decade is truly remarkable," said Reid Amos, commissioner of the Mountain East Conference. "We are proud to have supported the sport from its earliest stages."



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