Cheer For Your Favorites In Cheerleading Competitions!
Cheerleading competitions are everywhere; different schools and universities each battle it out every year at the national cheerleading competitions; all star cheerleaders also have the cheer competitions against other groups from different places, even different countries; and now, even in television, cheerleading competitions can be watched and cheered for. There was a time when cheerleaders were only at the side of courts, cheering for football and baskteball teams; but now, they are the ones who need cheering for. Different people of different ages can join, and all they need is dedication and discipline to do well in this sport.
Cheerleading wasn’t officially a sport until in 2003, but it should have been ages ago! In preparation for a cheerleading competition, teams practice day and night only to perfect their complex routines and maneuvers. If you don’t have enough physical strength, you might have to think twice before joining a team, because most practices are non stop, or done whenever there are no school classes. And you can’t perform in a competition unrehearsed, because one mistake in the routine can lead to many other mistakes, and destroy the whole dance routine, wasting all the efforts of the other devoted and well-practiced members.
There are different cheerleading groups, with basically the same ultimate goal: win competitions! The first cheerleading squad you’ll get to see is the one in your high school, which is called High School Cheerleading for obvious reasons. High school students of the school are encouraged to try out at auditions, and those qualified will be able to join on the squad on practices for school games, like basketball or wrestling for example, and their main objective is to cheer for the team, motivate them in a way, and energize the crowd and get them involved in cheering for the team as well.
Cheering in school games is just the first part in High School cheerleading, and it serves as their practice for the bigger event, which is the national cheerleading competition. Getting there is not as easy as it sounds; there are many competitions to win first before advancing to the next levels. There’s the state competition, regional competition, and then the nationals. In some states, there are still more competitions before reaching the state level. At the nationals, held every year in Orlando, Florida, qualified cheer squads are tasked to perform routines for around 2 minuets and 30 seconds. Only few reach this level, and preparing for this takes months and even years.
Once you graduate High School and still persistent in pursuing your cheering career, better pick a college or university with a well known cheerleading squad! Cheering at the collegiate level can be more difficult, because more complex physical stunts are usually performed and there are more men who participate in College Cheerleading than in High School. There are less cheer competitions to participate in at the collegiate level, but the school games to cheer for are always there and won’t be missed.
Other than school squads, there is the All Star Cheerleading where people of almost all ages are accepted and are put under the training of coaches in preparation for a cheer competition. They must not be part of any school squad for them to be accepted. The sole purpose of all star cheerleading is for competition, which can begin as early as one year before the actual competition. Different ages groups are divided and have their own competitions. Most all star cheerleaders compete with other all star cheerleaders from different states and countries. Like in High School cheerleading, the competitions are fierce and the steps and routines must be practiced and perfected before performing in front of the judges.
There are many injuries that can result from cheer practices, and safety standards must be observed at all times, especially by the captain. Any wrong move can break bones, create sprains, and unfortunately remove the opportunity of cheering from those who really have the passion for it. It might be wise to have at least one person in the squad who knows first aid and can give immediate care for any sudden injuries.
A good cheerleader has to have discipline, dedication, and most importantly, love for the sport. If you put your heart and mind into one thing, the higher your chances of doing good in it. Choose which squad you want to join, and give all you can give to make the team best it can be.
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