Cheerleaders backflips across the floor. The crowd claps along to the music's driving beat. Powerful athletes toss their partners high into the air. Those "flyers" twist, spin, and somersault before landing in their teammates' arms. The fans roar.
This daring squad isn't here to fire up the crowd during a football game. The star athletes at this event are the cheerleaders themselves. They're facing off against other teams in a competition.
The original purpose of cheerleading was to stir up school spirit. That time-honored tradition is still going strong. But this acrobatic activity has also become a high-flying sport that stands on its own.
Rah, Rah, Rah!
Cheerleading arose in the late 1800s. That's when American football was kicking off at colleges. People shouted out encouragement from the stands during games. Then, in 1898, one Minnesota fan made a big move. Johnny Campbell left his seat. He stood by the field and yelled. "Rah, rah, rah!" he began. The crowd chanted along with him.
Campbell has been called the country's first cheerleader. However, he didn't stand alone for long. Over the next two decades, cheerleading became an organized activity. Groups formed at colleges and high schools across the United States. "Yell leaders," as cheerleaders were called then, were male. Women and girls weren't allowed to join them until the 1920s.
Big G, Little O, Go, Go, Go!
By the late 1940s, most cheerleaders were girls and women. They introduced dance moves, jumps, and stunts. Cheerleading training camps appeared in the late 1940s and 1950s. They taught skills like tumbling. Around the same time, National Football League teams began hiring cheerleaders.
As the decades passed, routines changed. They became more difficult. Cheerleaders wowed the crowds at games. Today, spirit squads proudly carry on the tradition, urging teams to "go, go, go!"
In It to Win It
In the late 20th century, a new form of cheerleading sprang up. In competitive cheerleading, teams try to get prizes and titles. These athletes are in it to win it!
Some groups from schools enter competitions in addition to supporting sports teams. All Star cheer clubs, however, concentrate on competitions. Teams present 2.5-minute routines. Tumbling, dance moves, and stunts are included. All Star cheer is fun for many age groups and levels. Beginners and experts can take part.
Hey, Hey, Are You Ready?
There are about 3.5 million cheerleaders in the U.S. today. In other countries, there are many thousands more. In 2021, the global committee for the Olympic Games recognized cheerleading as a sport. This means it could be an event at the Olympics someday. If that happens, fans will be charged up and ready to cheer on these amazing athletes.
Think about and discuss these questions:
Which three events do you think are the most important in the history of cheerleading? Why?
What does cheerleading have in common with other sports?
Credit: Tino Pham (video); osmusic/123RF (music)
TO-DO
NOTES
VOCABULARY
QUESTION 3
QUESTION 3 OF 8
3 / 8
According to the article, why did schools form the first cheerleading squads?
A.To help young gymnasts practice their skills
B.To encourage students to go to football games
C.To wow crowds with new, high-flying stunts
D.To stir up school spirit during sports events