Abstract

Since cheerleading’s introduction in 1998, it has developed rapidly in Chinese schools, with competition rules revised seven times to align with international standards. However, the absence of a scientific and systematic referee assessment indicator system has led to inconsistent judging, leaving Chinese pom-poms dance cheerleading behind developed nations. This qualitative study collected open-ended questionnaire responses from eight referees at international, national, and regional levels across China. Thematic analysis identified four key issues in the current choreography evaluation system: overly broad indicators, uneven referee competence, lack of feedback mechanisms, and insufficient inclusion of essential choreographic elements. The study recommends establishing a scientific and comprehensive assessment indicator system to provide clear judging criteria, reduce subjectivity, and enhance fairness and consistency. Strengthening referee training and feedback mechanisms is also essential for promoting the standardization and professionalization of Chinese pom-poms dance cheerleading.