Rooting your team to victory is not the only benefit of being a cheerleader. Cheering is a physical activity that develops and maintains muscle strength and cardiovascular health. Cheering with a squad helps you learn the value of teamwork. Cheerleading can open doors for college scholarships and other opportunities, such as travel. Cheerleading is also a fun way to make lifelong friendships.
Physical Rewards
Cheerleaders are on the move the entire length of the games for which they are cheering, including half-time. The physical demands of constant jumping, stomping and clapping helps keep a cheerleader's heart rate up. This is an effective way to build cardiovascular strength and physical endurance.
Cheerleading also involves an element of gymnastics. Kids that learn tumbles and stunts at a young age develop flexibility early on and learn how to control their bodies.
Additionally, cheerleading helps develop confidence and positive self-esteem in kids.
Lessons of Teamwork
The National Cheerleaders Association reminds cheerleaders that team cohesion takes precedence over individual accomplishments and talents. Cheerleaders work together in many situations. This is invaluable in helping youngsters learn the importance of teamwork. Cheerleaders often build human pyramids. In a pyramid each of the participants relies on every other participant for proper execution. Cheerleaders also work together to execute seamless routines that wow audiences. If one person is off his mark in a cheer or dance routine, the entire performance could suffer. Because of the interdependence cheerleaders place on each squad member, young cheerleaders quickly learn the lessons of teamwork and experience the values of team cohesion.
Opportunities
The American Association of Cheerleading categorizes cheerleading in the category "athletic activity." It is an athletic activity that can open doors for its young participants. States are beginning to consider cheerleaders as student athletes. This allows cheerleaders to qualify for athletic/academic honors. Because many colleges value the importance and skill of cheerleading, they offer scholarships to cheerleaders that excel at the activity. Kids that start young have years to develop the craft of cheer helping them qualify for awards and financial aid later in life.
Developing Friendships
Because cheerleaders work so closely together for such extended periods of time, you develop friendships and bonds that can last a lifetime. Kids can make lifelong friendships at an early age through cheerleading. You get to know people very well when you spend hours every day practicing and performing together. By working in unison to execute seamless performances, you develop a bond with your fellow cheerleaders. Cheering for the same teams helps build a unique camaraderie that not many people experience in their lifetimes.
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