The Panic at the NCA All-Star National Championship Never Should Have Happened

Pandemonium broke out at NCA Nationals in downtown Dallas on the afternoon of March 1st after a fight between two guests prompted an “active shooter” evacuation. The fight caused two poles to fall, which the Dallas Police Department states was the cause of the loud noise that contributed to the panic. In the aftermath, 10 had been taken to surrounding hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries as gym owners and coaches took to social media to share with anxious families at home that their athletes were safe and accounted for. The competition was canceled for the remainder of Saturday but resumed on Sunday with the increased police and security presence outside the convention center a chilling reminder of the fear that had gripped athletes, parents, and coaches the day before. The incident has sparked conversation about athlete and spectator safety and has prompted action from Varsity, with President Bill Seely announcing increased security measures moving forward, including increased police presence, weapon detection technology, a clear bag policy for spectators, and the continued enforcement of a strict zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Those in attendance at this weekend’s One-Up Grand Nationals in Nashville state that the increased security was noticed with the presence of uniformed officers and police dogs on site.

So, it seems that the incident has been swiftly and appropriately handled. However, some are still left with further concerns and questions for Varsity Spirit. Namely, why did it take a traumatic event such as this to prompt more apt security measures? Varsity claims that the NCA All-Star National Championship is the largest All-Star cheerleading event in the world, greater than Worlds, Summit, or Cheersport, just to name a few. The 2025 competition weekend drew more than 30,000 athletes from across the country and world to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, and the number of spectators, coaches, employees, and more in attendance can only be estimated. With crowds of that size, it is not unreasonable to consider NCA Nationals a major sporting event, yet there were no metal detectors, bag checks, or clear bag policies in place. Those who attended NCA this year noted that although they were later told police and security detail were at the competition, they were not clearly recognizable or identifiable, further adding to Saturday’s panic.

The rate of mass shootings has been on the rise at a dangerous pace since 2020, with CNN reporting that there have already been at least 63 in the United States so far this year. Increasingly, events that draw women and girls primarily seem to be the target of violence, such as the planned attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Vienna, which caused them to be canceled in August 2024. As cheerleading is an activity that has often been surrounded by such vitriolic hate, it is not outlandish to think that someone might see an event such as the NCA National Championship as an opportunity to harm America’s most controversial athletes: cheerleaders. It is pure luck that the incident at NCA was not an active shooter situation—it very well could have been; however, the fear and trauma it caused young athletes is very real, whether the presence of a shooter was or not.

In the days following March 1st, many athletes took to social media to share their terrifying experiences. TikTok videos and Instagram reels captured the flight of frantic spectators and athletes who believed they were running for their lives. A video posted by TikTok user @kkyleebobbitt shows the horrific scene as the cheerleader’s mom repeatedly tells her, “We are not going to die,” while screams of terrified children can be heard in the background. Yet, despite the pure terror that can be seen on Kylee Bobbitt’s face and in the videos of countless others, those who have posted these viral videos have been faced with belittlement and disdain from many once the details of the fight surfaced. The lack of an active shooter does not erase the terror felt by thousands on March 1st, nor does the recent implementation of greater security excuse the fact that panic such as this was even allowed to occur. It is too sad a reality and too great a cost that our young athletes had to pay the price for greater security with their terror. Our current generation of cheerleaders has been raised in a post-9/11 world where active shooter drills have been routine in their schools for their entire lives. It should not be a surprise that they were quick to react to sights and sounds they perceived as a threat—it is what they have been trained to do.

The recent event at NCA is one in a long history of mistrust between parents, athletes, and Varsity Spirit. Although some have reported greater security at events throughout March, many expressed their distrust of Varsity and their commitment to upholding the new safety features at competitions. Some on social media even believe the Dallas Police Department’s report to be falsified, posting videos of damaged glass at the Kay Bailey Convention Center, which they believe to have been caused by bullets. Is it a conspiracy theory to say that Varsity paid off the DPD to keep a shooting quiet from the masses? Perhaps. However, what does it say if Varsity’s athletes have so little faith in the company’s commitment to their safety that they would believe a cover-up to be possible? Only time will tell if Varsity will continue to uphold its commitment to increased athlete and spectator safety, but with all the finger-pointing as to who is at fault for the panic at NCA, there is only one answer: Varsity Spirit. While some may blame the individuals who caused the fight or those around them who raised the first alarm, it is Varsity that we place our trust in when it comes to protecting our athletes while they pursue their dreams. During a time with such frequent acts of violence against not only the public but women and girls, athletes should have been able to be assured of their safety at “the largest All-Star cheerleading event in the world.” Now, we can only hope that Varsity will ensure that future cheerleaders do not ever have to feel afraid to pursue the sport they love.