They grace the sidelines at nearly
every high school and college game. What high school or
college football game would be
complete without Cheerleaders? Halle Berry once
cheered for her school. Cameron Diaz and Steve Martin
did it too! Samuel L Jackson and Kirsten Dunst were members
of their school's cheerleading squads! Joining your school's Spirit
squad can be a blast! School cheerleading is a lot of fun because
you get to cheer for your
fellow classmates. You'll love being with all your friends and
supporting your school's teams too. And, you'll get to stay in great
shape!
When you
hear the word "cheerleading," what do you think of? How about
a fast-paced competitive sport for girls and guys that involves a
high level of endurance, strength and precision? For many cheerleaders,
that is exactly what cheering is. Cheerleading is coming into its own
as a competitive sport. Cheer squads compete up to the national level,
developing cheer and dance routines that include complex pyramids,
lifts and tosses.
In Cheerleading, each squad member's position is vital to completing
the
stunts safely and dazzling the crowd. Cheerleading is tons of fun and
takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and teamwork! Make sure you're
well conditioned for all those kicks, jumps, and
splits. Warm up before each practice and game, and do lots of
stretching. Focus on stretching your legs and back. If you do stunts
and build pyramids, make sure you stretch your arms and shoulders too!
Practice safe stunts! If your squad does lifts, tosses, or builds
pyramids, make sure you follow these important safety tips.
Always practice stunts on
mats or pads.
Always practice your routines
while a coach is present. Listen to your coach and heed their safety
tips!
Always use spotters for each
and every stunt.
If you are new to
cheerleading, start with easier routines and gradually move up to
harder
ones.
Remember that if someone in
the stunt yells "Down," the stunt should come down immediately.
If you're just starting out,
here are some basic cheerleading motions:
Arm Motions
Goal Post. Arms should be
above your head, straight up in the air, and
touching the side of your head. Your fists should be closed with your
thumbs facing each other.
High V. From the goal post
position, move your arms out
slightly wider to form a high V. Fists should be closed and thumbs
facing away from your body. Your arms should be slightly in front of
you so that you can see your fists out of the corner of your eyes.
Low V. For this motion, the
opposite of a high V, move
your arms down into a v-like position by your sides. Keep your fists
closed with your thumbs facing away from your body.
Basic T. Your arms should be
straight out on each side,
in line with your shoulders. Keep your fists closed with your thumbs
facing down, and your arms straight and level. Your body should look
like a T.
Jump Tips
There are four main parts to
a jump:
The Prep. Begin with your
feet together with your weight on your toes.
Move your arms to a high V position and keep your shoulders back.
The Whip. Next, lift your
body up through your
shoulders, quickly swinging your arms forward in a circle. Bend at the
knees, keeping on the balls of your feet, building up to the lift.
The Lift. When your arms
complete their circle to the
high V position, jump off the ground, pushing through your toes. Once
you are in the air, pull your legs up toward your arms. Keep your toes
pointed, your arms stiff, and your head up.
The Landing. Bring your legs
together quickly so that
your feet are together when they hit the ground. Bend your knees
slightly to absorb the weight and take the pressure of your legs.
When
practicing outside, find a soft area of
sand or grass. Walk around before you start practice and clean up any
sharp objects that you see. Remember
to always wear plenty of
sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
Cheerleading builds endurance and helps your body stay flexible! You
can get in shape and stay healthy if you work hard and enjoy a healthy
diet! Keep your body
in top shape - exercise and build your strength so you can enjoy
cheering at every game! Staying in good shape is much easier if you
exercise frequently and enjoy eating
healthy foods!
If
you've
never joined a cheerleading squad you might want to gradually build
your endurance -
and your muscles! Many cheerleaders have used gymnastics
to help them
build their muscles and strength! Some even use yoga
to maintain flexible muscles!
You
might enjoy these ten
tips for better fitness and these tips for building healthy muscles.
Take care of your body and make
stretching a part of your routine.
Cheerleading is a great way to enjoy your classmates and friends and
improve your health!