In these modern times sporting events are often spectacular. The supporters are hyped and they wear the colours of their team. Souvenirs, food and drink are all available everywhere. And, of course, there are cheerleaders. Each team has its own squad of cheerleaders and the competition between these squads is often as fierce as the competition between the sports teams themselves. Cheerleading squads are found everywhere, from Morganville NJ to Buffalo NY.
In modern times cheer leading is almost synonymous with sporting events but the practice has an age old history. Descriptions of battles in the Bible include many references to special squads of men that blew their bugles, banged their drums and clashed their cymbals to instil fear in their enemies and to motivate their own armies. These special squads were nothing but cheerleaders. The tradition of employing special motivational squads during battle persisted throughout the ages.
The modern form of cheer leading was first recorded at Princeton University in 1877. At that time, all the male spectators at football matches chanted a special cheer, now known as the locomotive, in unison. Their efforts were directed by a small squad of cheerleaders. When a Princeton student emigrated to the United States in 1884, the tradition was established at the University of Minnesota. The tradition of organized cheering quickly became popular at other universities and schools.
It was only in 1923, also at the University of Minnesota, that females entered the picture of cheerleaders. However, the idea of using females did not become popular until the nineteen forties. Being a cheerleader quickly became a popular ambition for girls of all ages and by the early nineteen sixties cheerleaders were almost exclusively a female activity. By the mid seventies there were more than half a million active cheerleaders in the USA.
The main purpose of organized cheering has not changed over the ages. The task of the cheerleader is to direct the spectators to cheer in unison, to chant special cheers and to motivate the team to perform better. In latter years, cheerleaders also started to fulfil an entertainment need. They would perform special cheers and movements prior to, during and after matches.
The popularity of cheer leading has shown astonishing growth. At many schools and universities it is deemed a great honour to be selected for the cheerleader squad. The activity has become so demanding and exact that some sporting experts day that it has become a sport in itself. There are now special tournaments for cheerleader squads and the routines performed by these squads have become intricate, difficult and thoroughly entertaining.
Cheerleaders have many critics. They say its modern form is exploitative and sexist. They also point out that cheer leading has proved to produce the highest rate of serious injuries in any sport. Participants need to be extremely fit and fierce competition lead to the development of ever increasing dangerous stunts. Critics are calling for a review of the rules governing this activity in order to increase safety.
There can be no doubt that cheer leading is a demanding sport. Participants need to master complicated movements and they need to be very fit. Competition is fierce and only the very best can expect to be selected to the top squads.
In modern times cheer leading is almost synonymous with sporting events but the practice has an age old history. Descriptions of battles in the Bible include many references to special squads of men that blew their bugles, banged their drums and clashed their cymbals to instil fear in their enemies and to motivate their own armies. These special squads were nothing but cheerleaders. The tradition of employing special motivational squads during battle persisted throughout the ages.
The modern form of cheer leading was first recorded at Princeton University in 1877. At that time, all the male spectators at football matches chanted a special cheer, now known as the locomotive, in unison. Their efforts were directed by a small squad of cheerleaders. When a Princeton student emigrated to the United States in 1884, the tradition was established at the University of Minnesota. The tradition of organized cheering quickly became popular at other universities and schools.
It was only in 1923, also at the University of Minnesota, that females entered the picture of cheerleaders. However, the idea of using females did not become popular until the nineteen forties. Being a cheerleader quickly became a popular ambition for girls of all ages and by the early nineteen sixties cheerleaders were almost exclusively a female activity. By the mid seventies there were more than half a million active cheerleaders in the USA.
The main purpose of organized cheering has not changed over the ages. The task of the cheerleader is to direct the spectators to cheer in unison, to chant special cheers and to motivate the team to perform better. In latter years, cheerleaders also started to fulfil an entertainment need. They would perform special cheers and movements prior to, during and after matches.
The popularity of cheer leading has shown astonishing growth. At many schools and universities it is deemed a great honour to be selected for the cheerleader squad. The activity has become so demanding and exact that some sporting experts day that it has become a sport in itself. There are now special tournaments for cheerleader squads and the routines performed by these squads have become intricate, difficult and thoroughly entertaining.
Cheerleaders have many critics. They say its modern form is exploitative and sexist. They also point out that cheer leading has proved to produce the highest rate of serious injuries in any sport. Participants need to be extremely fit and fierce competition lead to the development of ever increasing dangerous stunts. Critics are calling for a review of the rules governing this activity in order to increase safety.
There can be no doubt that cheer leading is a demanding sport. Participants need to master complicated movements and they need to be very fit. Competition is fierce and only the very best can expect to be selected to the top squads.
About the Author:
The NJ premier gymnastics offers cheerleading classes to all the local girls. To take part today, visit this website now at http://NJPremierGymnastics.com.
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