Through interviews with young cheerleaders, their coaches and parents, "Cheerleader" explores the All-American pastime of cheerleading through the eyes of some of its youngest participants. While yesterday's cheerleaders stood on the sidelines, today's cheerleaders are, more and more, taking center stage. They dance like pop stars, and back-flip like gymnasts. They get pumped up less by touchdowns than by the adrenaline rush of their own competitions. Near the top of the competition hierarchy for 8-11-year-olds are the Los Gatos Tigers of San Jose, CA. The film tracks the Tigers to practices and competitions, uncovering the mounting pressure these young girls face in getting to Nationals.

The film also examines two sides of an ongoing controversy: Is cheerleading a good thing, encouraging young girls' self-esteem, or is it an outdated, sexist relic? Are risqué moves cute, or dangerous? Through the Tigers' story and the unfolding of cheerleading's own varied history, "Cheerleader" looks at the complexity of the sport today and shows how cheerleading remains a robust image in our society - one that influences how we see women and how women see themselves.