Why Cheerleading Has Become A Prestigious Activity

By Richard Graham


Spectators at sporting events, regardless of whether they are junior league, school events, university tournaments or big professional sporting events, are used to being entertained and sometimes even awed by cheerleaders. Cheerleaders have almost become an accepted part of any event. Spectators even feel cheated if they are not present during a match. Indeed, cheerleading is a popular activity everywhere, Morganville NJ to Las Vegas.

Cheerleaders are mostly associated with sporting event but the tradition of cheering is ancient. The Old Testament describes battles where special groups of soldiers were tasked to bang their cymbals, blow their trumpets and display their flags, all in aid of cheering on their armies and to motivate them to try even harder. This tradition of using cheerleaders during battle persisted for hundreds of years.

The modern form of cheer leading was first recorded at Princeton University in 1877. At that time, all the male spectators at football matches chanted a special cheer, now known as the locomotive, in unison. Their efforts were directed by a small squad of cheerleaders. When a Princeton student emigrated to the United States in 1884, the tradition was established at the University of Minnesota. The tradition of organized cheering quickly became popular at other universities and schools.

For a long time, females were not allowed to become cheerleaders since the antics of the cheerleaders were seen as unladylike. It was only in 1923 that females were allowed to become part of cheer leading squads. This also happened at the Minnesota University. Females as cheerleaders did not catch on for a long time, however. Nevertheless, by 1975 cheer leading was viewed as an almost exclusively female sport.

Even after all this time the main objectives of cheer leading have not changed significantly. Cheerleaders are there to motivate the players, to rally them under a single banner and to get the supporters fully on their side. These days, however, cheerleaders also play an important role in the entertainment of the crowd. They offer special, often spectacular performances before and during games. These performances have become standard fare at matches.

The popularity of cheer leading has shown astonishing growth. At many schools and universities it is deemed a great honour to be selected for the cheerleader squad. The activity has become so demanding and exact that some sporting experts day that it has become a sport in itself. There are now special tournaments for cheerleader squads and the routines performed by these squads have become intricate, difficult and thoroughly entertaining.

There has been criticism, especially about the dismal safety record of cheer leading as a sport. In fact, statistics show that cheer leading is one of the most dangerous sports and there are numerous cases where participants sustained very serious injuries and a number of cheerleaders have even been killed during events. Other critics are dismayed by the fact squads wear skimpy uniforms. They view the sport as degrading for women.

Regardless of the risks involved, most girls still dream of being a cheer leader. A place in the squad is considered prestigious. Supporters of cheer leading point out that it is a healthy and wholesome activity that requires strict discipline and a high level of dedication.




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