Athlete by Nature, Cheerleader by Choice Cheerleaders all share the same love, cheering; there is always excitement about being known as a cheerleader. Sometimes cheering can be a good and bad thing, but in the end it 's never a boring activity. With tons of people in the crowd, just staring at you waiting for what cheer you will call next, waiting to see who will mess up first, or who will say the wrong words. So many things going on at a football game, yet all you can do is stand there, look pretty, and smile. It 's the same thing everyday: going to school, eating lunch with the other cheerleaders, working, going to cheer practice, then home and doing homework. Just one simple routine and the day is already over, and …show more content…
For example, is how our coach told us if we don’t have makeup on we will receive a demerit. A demerit is a form of punishment which the coach will record in her books and if more than five are received it is automatic dismissal from the team. This shows how the coaches conform the girls because they make a rule that they want the cheerleaders to follow and will punish them if they don’t. Another way that the coaches try to have the girls comply is by always having us wear our glittery and bold uniforms; which everyone can see down the hallways. Many people that see cheerleaders in their uniforms will most of the time move out of the way just to look at your uniform. The uniform is one of the status symbols for a cheerleader, because if the uniform is bold and eye catching then everyone will always pay attention to us. Which is very important to coaches, because they want the crowd watching the cheerleaders and waiting to see the next cheer we will
During the first year of cheerleading, I learned a lot about what it means exactly to be a “cheerleader” whether it be how to act, what to say, how to look, or who I should be talking to. I like to compare this to the symbolic interaction theory. This theory is all about shared meanings or symbols, events, and socialization and how society interprets these interactions. When sharing these symbols and thoughts, common ideas are formed as well as the expectation of them within society itself (Ballantine, 29). I can relate this to my experience with cheer because there almost always is a stereotypical view of a cheerleader. Just because someone sees you wearing a skirt with a bow in your hair, people will automatically make assumptions about you
Ironically, cheerleaders get the name of a “snob” or a “brat”, however a cheerleaders job is to bring positivity and spirit to their school. To be conceited or a bully is the complete opposite of what a cheerleaders job is; which means their primary responsibility is to pump up the student body for the big game or to get others involved and support school functions. Aside from the stereotype that cheerleaders are snobby, another assumption is that cheerleaders only hang out with other cheerleaders, that they are very exclusive. In films, cheerleaders are seen as the girls that always sit at the same lunch table and no one else is allowed to sit with them, or the ones that walk the halls in the same cluster while they laugh and gossip about other girls. A cheerleader is taught to be inclusive and to get others engaged in activities throughout the school, and if cheerleaders are pushing others away by being exclusive they are not doing their
Next year, as I embark my first year at university, I hope to fully integrate myself into the community by getting involved in the Students' Union, joining the cheer team, volunteering where I can and making many new friends along the way. At university, I hope to maintain a high grade point average, granted that my education is extremely important to me and that I am extremely ambitious about achieving my goals.Therefore, I will commit lots of my time to my studies in hopes of being a successful student. Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to being a part of the community by devoting my extra time to helping those around me. In classes, I intend on being an active learner, a respectful student, and a helpful classmate; someone who is always willing to lend a hand to others. Through engaging in my community, I hope to bring joy to others around me by spending my time supporting local events, volunteering for fundraisers, and helping plan and organize campus activities.
Cheerleading is fun! Of course we cheerlead because it’s fun! From cheer camp to laughing on the sidelines, cheerleading is always a good time, especially with your friends. The memories made my cheerleaders whether they be from practices, games, or spirit activities (like decorating for senior night or baking treats for football players) are memories that will be cherished for a cheerleaders lifetime. Cheering is such a positive and happy experience because we are always doing something fun or accomplishing something new, like learning our new pyramid or mastering our routine. I get to get dressed up in my uniform with my bow in my hair and my white, red-track stained cheer shoes and not only cheer on my favorite football team but run around and cheer and stunt with a team of fun-loving girls and bring my community
Why should 12-14 year old girls be able to wear their school provided cheerleading uniform to school? You open the closet trying to find something to wear to school, but then you remember that tight, uncomfortable outfit that you have to wear to school that day. Your cheerleading uniform! You want to run away, but you already know that you have to wear it or face the consequences (even if that means getting kicked off the team!). Twelve through fourteen-year-old girls should not be able to wear cheer uniforms to school. There are many complaints about the uniforms that the girls are forced to wear. They are uncomfortable, their parents and family members buy them clothes, and the uniform doesn’t even meet the school dress code. If they can’t meet the school
For example, they have practices every day after school to practice their routines and stunts (Remnick). They have to make posters for all sport teams, go to all of the sporting events, and support and volunteer for the community. Also, everything they do represents the school in some way, so they have to be on their best behavior all the time. Sometimes they even have to cheer for more than one sport at a time, so they will be cheering for a game every night of the week, and they are expected to get homework done and get to bed at a reasonable time for school the next morning. They are more busy than regular athletes, and sometimes cheerleading isn’t the only sport or activity the girls are involved in.
The young people of the cheer world have helped create a new and exciting way to show spirit, which needs to be recognized. Cheerleading is a sport. A sport that is still coming out of the wood work. This sport is only going to grow with or without recognition. To cheerleaders it's official, and now it's time for the whole world to be on the same page.
The best leadership accomplishment that demonstrates my potential to make significant contributions to the campus community and broader society is cheerleading. Cheerleading has made a huge impact on my life and has created many opportunities for me. It has paved the way for my high school career. Cheerleading provided me with opportunities to lead, volunteer, perform and show the athletic ability of our squad.
The New York Times states that cheerleading is the fastest growing girls’ sport, yet more than half of Americans do not believe it is a sport. A sport is defined as “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature” (dictionary.com). Cheerleading at a competitive level is physically demanding and requires team work to be the best. The misconception of cheerleaders being weak, nonathletic crowd entertainers makes people believe cheerleaders are not athletes and that cheerleading is just a hobby but cheerleaders that compete at a competitive level are in fact athletes because it meets the standards of what a sport is, which includes rules and regulations, and overcoming air resistance.
Football players need to make plays and so do basketball players; Cheerleader also need to “make plays” but we call our plays ‘motions’ and when you put the motions together you have a routine. According to article Is Cheerleading a Sport? “ The Women’s Sports Foundation has narrowed the field to these elements: It must be a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. Stunting… check! “Contesting” or competing against/with an opponent is required. Competition… check! It must be governed by rules that explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. Time limit, mat size, score sheets… check, check, check! Acknowledgement that the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. You know those competitions on ESPN? Those are national championships… check! ” If cheerleading isn’t a sport then why does it meet all of the requirements? Cheerleaders go through numerous hours of workouts plus the hours of perfecting the routine and at the very end of the day we have nothing to show for it because no one respects us. As it states in the article, 10 Reasons Why Cheerleading is Considered One of the Hardest Sports in the U.S, “ We have to deal with the stereotypes, the gossip, and the social standards that society puts on us and for some of us this is in addition to the drama and pressure that High School already inflicts upon us. This is a lot of stress to put on young individuals who are still trying to find their identity and it just gets buried and spit on by those who don't even know the HALF of what we really do.” People put a lot of stress on cheerleaders by causing drama saying that it’s not a sport. When you watch NFL cheerleaders it may look easy and they are not the main part of the game - so people think
Traditionally, cheerleaders have not always competed, and many people do not consider routines to be a “sport” like basketball or football. Mariah Burton Nelson, author of “The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football: Sexism and the American Culture of Sports.” believes that cheerleading should not be considered a sport. Nelson states “Cheerleaders are not athletes as long as their primary position is along the sidelines.” (Is Cheerleading a Sport? par. 7). Many people fail to realize that cheerleaders do much more than just cheer on the sidelines. Many high school and college cheerleaders compete in addition to sideline cheering. The article “Is Cheerleading a Sport?” states “Unlike traditional cheerleading, competitive cheerleading featured acrobatic stunts that often required intense practice and considerable athletic ability. Furthermore, competitive cheering teams did not simply ‘root’ for football and basketball teams, but rather battled other cheer teams in national tournaments.” (Is Cheerleading a Sport? par. 4) As a former competitive cheerleader, I have experienced first hand just how hard competitive cheering can be. All of the rigours routines and long practices would leave me aching and exhausted just like any other sport
I decided to join the competition team my first year. They had regular game-time cheer and performance cheer. Game-time was just performing a cheer, chant, and dance; while performance
Cheerleading is a very extreme sport that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. It is a sport for everyone, whether you are a boy or girl and whether you are five or fifteen years old. In cheerleading there is teams for all ages, for both boys and girls, and for all levels. Cheer is a great sport that everyone should try, It helps build teamwork skills, teaches discipline, keeps you active, and allows you to travel.
Ask some cheerleaders what comes to their mind when they think cheerleaders. Gonzalez thinks, “sassy, loud, and outgoing”. Others said, “dedication, bruises, acrobatics, stretches, hard work, makeup, elite skills, adrenaline, power, hard work, competitive, effort, and creative. Next ask,” What does it take to be a cheerleader?” Gonzalez said,” They have to be able to pick up routines fast, dedication, and have some type of skill in dance or gymnastics.” Most people believe that you have to be skinny and have blonde hair. In reality, cheerleaders are not just skinny. They're all types of male and female personalities. They do not have to have blonde hair or white. Cheerleaders are in all types of races, all types of skin color, eye color, and hair color. Coaches do not go off on your appearance. They go by your dedication, attitude, and skill. Now ask the cheerleaders,” How do you feel when majority of people stereotypically believe that you are stupid, snobby, annoying, mean, and slutty. Gonzalez sighed and said,” It's annoying because not everyone is like that. Most people feel that way because how cheerleaders are in the movies. Yes, some may be all those things but many are really nice, smart,
A jolt of energy rushed through my body and hit my heart when they call me up to get the team trophy. Not fourth, third, or second, but first place for the third year in a row. Being a captain of a team is an amazing experience. You get to see your team physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare for competition. It's a lot of hard work, but if you try your hardest, make all the practices and have a passion for cheerleading its worth it. Every year we take a few weeks to build a competition routine, the out come is incredible, but the celebration is the best part.