How to Start a Cheerleading Team

Cheerleading is one of the fastest growing sports for girls and young women. While men can participate (and usually do at the collegiate level), it is primarily a sport for women. There are cheerleading squads in 43 countries that participate in competitions and almost 4 million people participate in some form of cheerleading in the United States.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pom poms
• Website or newsletter
• Funds to start a team
• Uniforms
• Shoes
• Association affiliation

Start a Cheerleading Team

1. Decide which type of team you want to have. High school teams are the most common and are typically used to support the school's sports teams at games, pep rallies and media events. Collegiate cheerleading includes supporting school spirit but also adds a greater level of difficulty.
2. Join a cheerleading association. You have a variety of options to consider as most associations host competitions and summer/holiday camps for their members. Most squads join associations to gain access to the latest safety guidelines and regulations.
3. Purchase the essentials. Cheerleaders need uniforms with a school or team logo on them. Part of the uniform is a short skirt with matching bloomers (or briefs) underneath, a sweater or shell top, cheerleading shoes and pom poms.
4. Develop your routine. The easiest way to begin is to create a series of chants. Chants follow a rhythmic counting like "1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4" or "1-2-3, 1-2-3". Each count can be an arm movement, a clap or a leg movement, so listen and watch other squads perform chants to get a better idea of what they sound and look like.
5. Start a newsletter for parents to stay up to date on plans and upcoming events or changes. An economical solution would be to start a team website.
6. Purchase a cheerleading video such as "Cheer" at Amazon (See Resources below) to learn basic cheers, chants and moves.
7. Read "The Ultimate Guide to Cheerleading" for steps needed to start your own team (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Ask family or friends to volunteer their services to maintain the website or produce a newsletter.
• Collegiate competitions are where you will see the most advanced level stunts and most difficult moves, so starting a team at this level will increase the difficulty.
• Don't offer to pay for services that can be volunteered from squad members or their parents. School teams rely on the volunteering of team members and their families.