Differences In Competitive Cheerleading

Cheerleaders and cheerleading have always gone hand in hand with American sports since the beginning of their existence. Since then, the sport has evolved into a new branch: competitive. In this term paper I will be discussing the differences in football cheerleading and competitive cheerleading. Cheerleading was originally a sport for men . It originated in the late 19th century at the University of Minnesota when their football team was losing at a game. Johnny Campbell, a student who had attended the university, got six of his friends together and they all started chanting and cheering with each other to encourage their football team. Princeton was the next college to start an all-male pep group.

Cheerleaders are key parts to the sports

"They usually last a couple of hours and can consist of stunt practice, cheer practice, or competition practice, depending on what you have coming up," (www.varsity.com). Before the first football game, practice usually consist of practicing cheers and sideline chants. You may also practice stunting. If a pep rally is coming up, then practices will consist of going over and finalizing your dance and routine that you will be performing. If you are on a competitive team for you school and a competition is coming up your coach or advisor may have you work on tumbling, stunting, and your routine. If you are on a competition team, practices may start speeding up around October through February and weekend practices may be added. Whether you are working on cheers for a game or practicing a routine repeatedly for an upcoming competition, practices are a great way to have fun, work hard, and bond with your

“These evaluations are weighted heavily on tumbling, and coaches will expect you to have all of the required skills for a level in order to be placed on that level-specific team,” (www.varisty.com). Most athletes are assigned to a team based on tumbling skills, but that may not always be the case. Sometimes, cheerleaders are placed on higher teams than their tumbling skills due to their jumping skills, basing skills, dancing skills, or their flexibility. To be on a level one team you must usually be able to do a forward or backwards roll, and a front or back walkover. To be on a level two team, you must usually be able to do a single backhandspring. For a level four team, you must be able to do a standing tuck, standing backhandsprings to tucks or to a layout. Level five is the highest level. For this level you must be able to do a jump to a tuck, and backhandsprings to a twisting skill. Each team will also be categorized into youth, junior, or seniors. Youth levels consist of cheerleaders ages 11 and younger, junior levels consist of cheerleaders 14 and younger, and senior levels consist of cheerleaders 18 and