Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate in competitions. Cheerleading originated in the United States, and remains a predominantly an American activity, with an estimated 1.5 million participants in all-star cheerleading.
I have been a cheerleader for about 7 years. In stunting there are originally four spots a back, flyer, main base, and side base. For my 7 years of cheering, I have been a flyer, base and back. I am currently a back, for Nichols College. Cheerleading is a very risky sport, I have gotten busted lips, sprained ankles, and bad back problems. It really bothers me when people try and tell me that cheerleading is not a sport. It would be a different story if they told someone that was not a cheerleader. There is very valid evidence for both sides of the argument.
Cheerleaders are seen on sidelines at football and basketball games supporting our teams. Fans just see them as other people supporting their team. However, we go through training and practice al the time to perfect our routines displayed at games. Along with cheering on the sidelines at games, we participate in heated competitions to show our athleticism.
For many years cheerleading has been not considered a sport. According to Wayne Drehs article on ESPN "Athletes are Cheerleaders, too" explains the situation.
The Birth of Cheerleading:
The birth of Cheerleading was in 1898, where the University of Minnesota's "pep club" developed a new plan of getting their crowd to get more pumped up for there game on 2 November 1898. One of the students Jack "Johnny" Campbell, takes full credit as the very first to pick up a megaphone, jump onto the field and lead the crowd with a cheer. The crowd got motivated and their American football team, Minnesota won the game 17-6 and cheerleading was born.
Kayla i have seen you guys practice and cheer leading is no joke. i hope you go pro or something because your a amazing cheerleader. i saw you one football game doing flips and all these other stunts and i was amazed. keep up the good work. Also i think cheerleading is now a sport that i seen you do all those cool stunts.
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DeleteKayla,
First I would like to say Cheerleading is a sport. Cheerleaders put a lot of hard work into perfecting routines. Also they have to be in great shape due to each routine only being roughly 2 and a half minutes. People that tend to say cheering is not a sport hasn’t either been to a competition or seen a true practice. All start cheering is no joke. Girls travel all around the United States to compete. I have two sisters that cheer. Every year they go on multiple trips to Florida, South Carolina or Pennsylvania. As these all-star cheering teams compete, the best teams are shown on ESPN. Cheerleaders have to be in great physical shape to pull off back tucks, layouts and fulls. I have a few cheerleader friends that are working on a double full and I’m sure you know how difficult this is. Without the strength of the bases the routine would never go up. Cheering is scored on a based point system. The judges judge everything not only the routine but facial expressions, landing spots, if you fix your uniform and much more.
East Celebrate Elite is one of the best gyms around. Ive actually seen them compete many times agains my sisters teams, Integrity Cheer and Spirit Central. Good Luck this season!
Tyler