Competitive Cheerleading
By Michele Blandino
Sometime in the twenty or so years since I graduated from high school, cheerleading has undergone a huge transformation.
As I remember it, cheerleading was one of those activities that the prettiest and most popular girls dominated. The squads were chosen shortly after school began in September and within a few weeks, they were ready to show their school spirit at soccer and football games. In the winter, they assembled again to root on the basketball team. Once the last free throw was made, the uniforms and pom-poms went back into storage and the cheerleaders went on to other pursuits. When September finally rolled around again, the process started all over.
Today, not only do cheerleaders perform at soccer, football and basketball games, they also match talents against other squads in organized competitions. That’s right, cheerleading has become a competitive sport.
A Year-Round Pursuit
Given the fact that there are now titles and trophies at stake, it comes as little surprise that cheerleading has evolved into a year-round sport. In fact, given the enormous surge in the sport’s popularity, cheer “academies” have become increasingly popular. These academies – which are really gyms – provide cheerleaders with the opportunity to receive intensive training.
Many academies also have teams that participate in competitions. The requirements for each team vary by age; teams with young members (ages 6-8) require 3-4 hours of training per week while older age groups can expect to spend between six and eight practicing each week during competition season.
In addition to in-season training, many cheerleaders take gymnastics lessons, tumbling classes and aerobic conditioning classes to learn new skills and to stay in shape once the competition season ends.
Not for the Weak (or Meek)
The competitive aspect of the sport has also made it more physically demanding. Strength – particularly upper body strength – is a critical requirement for anyone wanting to seriously pursue this activity. Competitive cheering involves plenty of lifting and supporting the weight of others.
It is also helpful to be somewhat fearless, especially if you are among the more petite since it is usually the smallest members of the squads are the ones that find themselves at the top of the pyramid or being tossed through the air.
What about the Costs?
Cheerleading is not an inexpensive activity. Between uniforms, gym fees, team registrations, and off-season conditioning, you can expect to spend well over $1,000 per year. If your team travels to out-of-state competitions, the amount will be even greater.