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New York, 1:06 AM
Tue Dec 1
67 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/26/09
There are basically two types of cheerleading, one associated with a school, and one not. The one that isn't tied to a school is called All-Star Cheerleading. These are cheerleading gyms where the cheerleaders do nothing but compete; they don't cheer at games. Someone below talked about their cousin, they were an All-Star cheerleader. The ultimate competition for them is The Cheerleading Worlds, and winning it is basically like winning the super bowl. All Star cheerleading is highly regulated, much more so than school teams. They're regulated by the USASF (US All Star Federation) and are split by age and levels. The levels go 1-5 and specify what skills you can do. There is also a level 6 which is 17+ years old and is basically just adult teams that let older cheerleaders keep cheering. The levels are really good because it means your team competes against teams with similar skills and promotes the safe progression of skills. If you don't have the skills to be on a level 5 team, you'll be on a lower level and are much less likely to hurt yourself doing skills you aren't ready for. All Star cheerleading is relatively new and is basically advancing and basically defines the sport of cheerleading, there's no arguing that these cheerleaders are athletes. Teams can be co-ed or all girl.
There is also cheerleading in schools (obviously). In high schools, I think, they're mostly considered sports, but they don't get the attention or money that other teams get. Not all teams compete, but as far as I know, all HS teams cheer at games. Many do both. Again, teams can be coed or all girl.
It gets kind of crazy in college. Cheerleading isn't controlled by the NCAA and for the most part the only regulation is for teams that compete, and those regulations are set forth by NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) and UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association). In 2006, the NCAA did place restrictions on what skills can be performed on a basketball court at games after a cheerleader was hurt. In college, some schools do actually consider cheerleading a varsity sport and the team doesn't cheer at games. (University of Maryland, for example) [www.umterps.com]
Some school's teams don't do games but aren't considered a sport.
Some schools have cheerleading teams and spirit squads, the cheerleading teams don't do games, just compete, and the spirit squads do both. But at most schools the teams do both (and this gets to be crazy stressful because you have to do multiple games a week and then practice for competition). Many schools give out scholarships, but most don't. At my college (D1), everything related to competition, we paid out of pocket, including the $600/person to go to nationals in Florida. Our school didn't support us competing.
In college cheerleading, there are 3 classifications, All-Girl, Small Coed (1-4 guys), and Coed (5+ men). Many schools, especially cheer dynasty schools have 2 or 3 teams, so title IX could get really tricky in this case, especially because most of the biggest cheer schools put the focus on their coed team.
Almost any cheerleader who competes and cheers at games, only does games because they have to. At my school, they threatened to ban us from competing and almost the entire team said they would quit if that was the case. The skills they do at games are usually not the best show cases of their abilities, because it's not the venue to throw your hardest stuff, most of the skills are watered down. Cheering games is basically just practice for getting out in front of a crowd.
11/26/09
As for the belly-baring crop top uniforms, at the school level, that trend is fading. In MA in late 2005, a rule was passed that teams couldn't have midriff-baring tops. Most college teams are ditching their crop tops as well, because it doesn't promote a good image. In the rule book for college competitions there also are explicit guidelines for how long your skirt must be and you lose points if your uniform is too revealing.
I'm not really making a point with either of these post, although I think my take is pretty obvious. I just wanted to clear up some confusion that I saw elsewhere in the comments.
11/25/09
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11/25/09
I did cheer in high school, and I know how ridiculously dangerous it is. I am still dealing with an injury 9 years after it happened. This injury was not life-threatening, but with body weight slightly shifted by a few centimeters, it easily could have been. I still feel it every day.
Defining cheer as a sport is not just a matter of pride or respect. It is a matter of safety. When cheer teams are not given proper funding from athletic departments (and are forced to raise money independently), they have to skimp on coaching, reserving practice space, and mats. This amplifies the already insane dangers of the sport.
11/25/09
11/25/09
So, I don't know.
11/25/09
Competitive cheerleading has suffered trying to become recognized as a sport because of its name. My cousin has participated in competitive cheerleading for almost 10 years and about 4 years ago her squad won Worlds. So yes, misguided commentors, there are real competitions and they are insanely hard to compete in and win. Strength, flexibility, comprehensive training, coordination, dance skills, gymnastics, teamwork and athleticism are among the talents required to be a good "cheerleader." Kids are trained from just as in any other recognized sport from a young age and could not advance without dedicating time, money, and passion.
Having seen the dangers, the pressures, the competitiveness, the heartache, and the glory all up close I would hate to deny the validity to these athletes. Please don't undercut them because you think all they do is prance around with pom-poms and ponytails. Frankly I'd be afraid to meet some competitive cheerleaders in a dark alley cause they could probably kick my ass.
11/25/09
[www.metacafe.com]
11/25/09
11/26/09
Though it doesn't matter too much what they're wearing I suppose, since women doing anything physical will automatically be judged on the sex appeal of the activity, and of their bodies. *grumble*
11/26/09
11/26/09
As for crop tops, I can't really explain it, they're most a dying trend in school cheerleading though.
11/26/09
We still wear them because of tradition, just like field hockey continues to wear skirts.
11/27/09
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11/25/09
Well, that and cheerleading.
11/25/09
If wearing less fabric makes a player better, then I'd expect to see male volleyball players wear speedos, don't you think?
11/25/09
Non-sexualized female athletes are an exception, not a rule.
11/26/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Fall rolled around...and no one noticed.
God I love my little hippy-dippy school.
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11/25/09
It's true that cheerleading is consistently relegated to the fluff-pile because it is dominated by women - but what institution isn't at least in part marginalized because "girls do it"? It's sad that people still think this way about cheerleading when it has clearly evolved into something that more resembles a contact sport from the days of rah-rah yore.
What they should do is give it the athletic recognition it deserves, while also actively promoting women's involvement with male-dominated sports as well, including integrated teams when applicable.