Cheerleading is a sport which includes tumbling, dance, jumps and stunting to direct event’s spectators to cheer on sports teams at games and matches. The athlete involved is called a cheerleader. Cheerleading is famous in America and soccer matches. But with cheerleading competition by ESPN International and the worldwide release of the 2000 film Bring it On they are famous now in Australia, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom. The team of cheerleading includes:
School-sponsored: Most American high schools and colleges have organized cheerleading squads made up of students. Several colleges that compete at cheerleading competitions offer cheerleading scholarships.
Youth league: Many organizations had sponsored youth league football or basketball cheerleading squads.
Gradually with their popularity in 1986 National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) was formed with rules and regulations. Even coach was appointed for keeping their routines in a constant state of flux, detracting from time that should be utilized to develop skills and provide personal attention to their athletes. The USASF hosted the first Cheerleading Worlds on April 24, 2004, where cheerleading coaches from all over the country organized and made the National All Star Cheerleading Coaches Congress. During competition routine, a squad performs choreographed stunting, tumbling, jumping and dancing to their own custom music. Teams create their routines to an eight-count system.
All-star cheerleaders are placed into divisions, which are grouped based upon age, size of the team, gender of participants, and ability level. The age levels vary from under 4 year of age to 18 years and over. There are two main forms of routines are:
1. Pompon dances: involving pompons and jumps but no stunts, tricks or gymnastics.
2. Cheer dances: involving gymnastics, jumps, cheers, stunts, signs, pomes.
Thus guideline to cheer dances includes:
1. Music – There are two snippets of music – it includes with strong beat.
2. Cheer – There are usually at least two cheers or chants involved in the routine. These are easy to make up and should be aimed at trying to involve the crowd.
3. Gymnastics: these should be incorporated into the routine by the team. From basic forward rolls and cartwheels to flicks and aerials.
4. Jumps: These must be included – tucks, toe touch jumps, straddles, pikes etc.
5. Stunts: Thigh stands, preps, full extensions, liberties, basket tosses etc.
Thus cheerleading is generally used in games to cheer the team. It is for their moral boost up, so that the team playing should have moral support.