Cheer It On! What Kids Need to Know About Cheerleading

When we see people standing on the sidelines of our favorite NFL games, cheering, tumbling, and doing everything they can to egg on the players, many of us are struck with a sense of wonder for how difficult that must be. Forget about just having to remain positive for the entirety of the game, cheerleading itself requires an immense amount of athleticism; more than many people might assume, in fact.

The truth is, cheerleading is more than just pom-poms and chants; it’s a dynamic sport that combines strength, agility, teamwork, and spirit. It also happens to be a good sport for children or teens to get involved in, because it fosters a sense of friendship and camaraderie that few other sports can match. From stunts and tumbling to cheering on the sidelines, cheerleading has something for everyone.

In this guide, we will explore the history of cheerleading, discuss the skills required to join a team, and teach parents how to get kids involved in the sport. If your child is interested in joining a cheerleading team or learning more about what the sport involves, this guide should help them find their way into the uplifting world of cheer!

What Is Cheerleading?

Cheerleading is a sport where teams work together to lead players and spectators in cheers. This is the very least of what cheerleaders do, though it is their most important function in most cases. Besides that, cheerleaders are expected to perform stunts and execute choreographed routines to support teams or compete in events against other cheer squads. Thus, this sport combines elements of dance, gymnastics, and at higher levels, circus-level acrobatics, making it an exciting activity that builds physical fitness and confidence, while fostering trust and teamwork.

There are two main types of cheerleading:

• Sideline Cheerleading: This type focuses on leading the crowd in chants and cheers during sports games. Most of the time, sideline cheerleading takes place during football or basketball games.
• Competitive Cheerleading: This is the more exciting and independently focused of the two and it involves performing routines filled with stunts, tumbling, and dance at cheer competitions.

The History of Cheerleading

Most people don’t realize it, but cheerleading has a rich and fascinating history. There has been an evolution of sorts for cheerleading throughout that time. It has gone from simple sideline activity to a high-energy, globally celebrated sport that draws some of the most fervent fans and athletic performers around.

Cheerleading first began in the late 1800s when American college football games started gaining popularity as a form of mass entertainment. It was in about 1898, when a student named Johnny Campbell led the first organized cheer at the University of Minnesota. Campbell surely wasn’t the first person in the history of sports to rally fans to support their team with rhythmic chants and motions, but he was the first to be widely recognized for it.

This pivotal moment is widely recognized as the birth of modern cheerleading and at the time, cheerleading was an all-male activity at the time. These early cheerleaders were seen as leaders of school spirit, their role extending beyond the sidelines to organizing rallies and fostering a sense of camaraderie among fans. The idea spread like wildfire and by the early 1900s, the idea of cheering for sports teams began spreading to other colleges and universities.

Many began to recognize cheerleading as a key component of athletic events of the day. This led to the introduction of cheer clubs, which allowed participants to collaborate and refine their routines. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that women began joining cheer squads, marking a significant shift in the sport’s demographics.

The inclusion of women brought new energy and creativity to the still-burgeoning sport of cheerleading. Women began to introduce dance moves and acrobatic elements into cheerleading and started shaping the sport in ways that we still recognize today. The start of World War II saw many young men carted off to war, and by the time it was over, cheerleading went from mostly male-dominated to a predominantly female sport. It’s around this time that schools began designing uniforms and pom-poms to enhance the visual appeal of these now all-female squads.

Cheerleaders became iconic symbols of school pride and have been featured in movies and television shows from the 1940s onward, which helped to further popularize the activity. By the time the swinging sixties hit, gymnastics was being incorporated into the routines. The rapid popularization also led to the creation of national organizations like the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), which were established to standardize cheerleading practices, train coaches, and organize competitions.

Before too long, cheerleading expanded beyond high schools and colleges, joining competitive teams on the professional sports field. The 80s and 90s bolstered its popularity and by the time the movie Bring it On, hit theaters, cheerleading was a whole different animal. These days, cheerleading has spread beyond the United States, with cheer teams thriving in countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Modern cheerleaders participate in everything from traditional sideline cheering at games to high-energy competitive routines on a global stage.

Cheerleading Basics for Kids

Cheerleading Equipment

One of the best things about cheerleading for kids is that it doesn’t require a lot of equipment. Most teams do have a few essential basics that parents need to have on hand, however:

• Pom-Poms: Bright, colorful pom-poms add flair to routines and help cheerleaders to emphasize choreographed movements.
• Cheer Uniforms: Wearing your team’s colors is part and parcel to cheering them on. As such, cheer teams often wear matching uniforms to represent their school or club.
• Cheer Shoes: Athletes should have lightweight and supportive shoes designed for jumping, tumbling, and stunts. Despite the gymnastic elements involved, most cheerleading is not done in bare feet, and many squads prohibit cheerleaders being barefoot for safety reasons.

Basic Cheerleading Skills

• Cheers and Chants: Cheerleaders are expected to memorize catchy chants and rhythmic claps as part of sideline cheerleading. These chants are less essential in competitive cheerleading.
• Motions: Sharp arm movements like high Vs, low Vs, and claps add structure to routines. These are popular motions in the sport.
• Jumps: Skills like toe touches and pike jumps showcase an athletes flexibility and strength, and are often used in both cheerleading types.
• Tumbling: Gymnastics skills like cartwheels, round-offs, and back handsprings are often included in competitive cheerleading routines, though sideline cheerleaders may do these routines once in a while.
• Stunts: Building pyramids and lifting teammates into the air requires strength, balance, and trust.

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Benefits of Cheerleading for Kids

Aside from the obvious benefits of just incorporating more physical fitness into your child’s routine, cheerleading offers many benefits for young athletes:

• Physical Fitness: Cheerleading improves an athletes strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination.
• Teamwork: Kids who perform on cheer squads learn how to work together and trust their teammates, especially during stunts.
• Confidence: Performing in front of crowds isn’t easy, but learning to do so helps to build self-esteem and leadership skills in young kids.
• Friendships: Being part of a cheer team helps kids to form bonds and may even result in lifelong friendships.
• Discipline and Responsibility: Practice schedules and team commitments teach children the value of time management and accountability.

How to Get Started with Cheerleading

Finding a Cheer Team

The easiest way for a child to start cheerleading is by joining their school cheer team. However, recreational leagues and competitive all-star programs exist in most places as well.

• School Teams: Many schools have cheer squads that focus on sideline cheering for sports games. This is one of the most common places for kids to start out.
• Recreational Leagues: Local community centers or gyms sometimes offer beginner cheerleading programs for young community members.
• All-Star Cheer: For those who want to compete at a higher level right from the start, all-star cheer teams provide high-level training and opportunities to participate in competitions.

Training and Practice

Cheerleading practices often include:

• Warm-ups and stretching to prevent injuries and keep the body limber.
• Drills for jumps, stunts, and tumbling. The more kids practice these moves, the more muscle memory will take over and the safer their routines will become.
• Learning and rehearsing choreographed routines. Practice makes perfect after all!

Cheerleading Safety Tips

Modern cheerleading involves a lot of movement and stunts, so safety is more crucial than it has ever been. Some of the best, most effective safety tips include:

• Wear Proper Gear: Kids should always wear cheer shoes and appropriate clothing for practice.
• Use Mats for Stunts: Practice stunts and tumbling on padded mats until those moves are mastered.
• Follow Instructions: Listen to coaches and follow safety guidelines during routines. This one of the most important guidelines! Coaches know what they are saying, heed their words.
• Stretch and Warm-Up: Make sure your child stretches before practice to reduce the risk of strains or injuries. Stretching for a bit after is also a good idea.
• Spotting and Support: Cheerleaders should always have a spotter for stunts and lifts to prevent falls.

Cheerleading Competitions

Competitive cheerleading takes the sport to the next level with high-energy routines performed in front of judges.

What to Expect at a Competition

• Teams perform a 2-3 minute routine that includes stunts, tumbling, and dance.
• Routines are judged on difficulty, execution, creativity, and synchronization.
• Cheerleading competitions can range from local events to national championships like the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) competitions.

Preparing for Competitions

• Practice, practice, and practice some more! Practicing regularly helps cheerleaders perfect stunts and routines.
• Kids should focus on teamwork and communication in order to ensure smooth performances.
• Remember, the most important thing about being a cheerleader lies in your ability to inspire others! So stay positive and cheer on other teams during the event—cheerleading is nothing if it’s not about sportsmanship!

Cheerleading Role Models

Many famous athletes and performers started as cheerleaders, including:

• Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock: Before acting, both of these movie megastars were cheerleaders in school.
• George W. Bush: That’s right! The former U.S. president was a college cheerleader at Yale.
• Gabby Butler: A star of competitive cheerleading, Gabby is well0known for her skills and appearances on Netflix’s Cheer.

These role models show how cheerleading can inspire confidence and lead to success in many areas of life.

Cheerleading Games and Activities for Kids

Even if your kids aren’t on an official cheer team, either because they are too young or none exist for their area, they can still enjoy cheerleading-inspired activities:

• Create Your Own Cheer: Write a simple cheer or chant with moves and practice performing it.
• Pom-Pom Dance-Off: Use pom-poms to create fun dance routines with friends.
• Jump Challenges: Practice toe touches, herkies, and other jumps to see who can jump the highest.
• Stunt Practice with Pillows: Use pillows to simulate stunts and practice balance safely at home.

Why Cheerleading Is So Much Fun

By now, you know that cheerleading is an exciting mix of athleticism and creativity that is exceptionally fun to young athletes. It’s important that children have fun in any sport, but particularly so in cheerleading, where that enthusiasm is one of the things that helps them to bring crowds into the excitement. Some of the elements that make it fun include:

• Performing in front of enthusiastic crowds who are really getting into the game.
• Learning cool stunts and flips.
• Bonding with teammates and make new friends that could last their whole life long.
• Feeling a sense of accomplishment after mastering a particularly challenging routine.

How Parents Can Support Cheerleaders

As you can tell, parents play an important role in supporting young cheerleaders. Here’s how you can help your child if they are interested in cheerleading:

• Encourage your child to practice and stay positive, even when they feel discouraged.
• Attend games and competitions to cheer them on whenever your schedule allows.
• Provide your child with the proper gear they need to perform
• Ensure young athletes stay hydrated and well-fed.
• Communicate with coaches in order to stay informed about schedules and events.

Cultured Athlete Says…

Cheerleading continues to grow with each passing year. New styles and competitions emerging annually as more kids discover the joys of cheering. In short, the sport’s future looks brighter than ever. Whether it’s cheering on the sidelines, competing on a national stage, or simply enjoying the energy and teamwork, cheerleading has something to offer everyone, no matter the age or skill level.