How to be a good cheerleader

Cheerleading has come such a long way since it's founding. There are so many aspects to cheerleading, so much more to it than standing on the sidelines and looking cute. Cheerleading is no longer about pompoms and short skirts. Today's cheerleader is competitive, intelligent, athletic, and persevering. To be a good cheerleader takes a lot of hard work. It takes dedication, team work, sportsmanship, practice, and a true love of the sport. The weak or partially interested will not go far. Cheerleaders today must maintain high GPAs, must serve as role models to fellow students and admiring youngsters, must be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team, and must be strong and able to take criticism. Cheerleading is by far, not all fun and games but the experiences you have as a cheerleader and as a member of your cheerleading team will stick with you forever more. They will help shape who you are and who you become. You will have good times and bad, there will be moments you cry of pain and frustration and moments you shed tears of joy. But you are prepared, because you have your team mebers there to support you. To be the best cheerleader you can be, you must take this to heart. You must also learn to some of the Basic Rules of Cheerleading. Of course, each squad has its own style and rules, but these are the understood rules each individual cheerleader should follow- the unspoken rules.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Good grades
• A great, positive attitude
• Patience
• Persistance
• Confidence
• Athleticism
• Perseverence
• Physical and mental strength
• Sportsmanship
• COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION

1. Show those pearly whites! Cheerleaders should always SMILE during a game or performance. Look like you are having fun (even if you’re not). Look like you're proud of your team and your school(even if they're losing the tenth straight game in a row). People are watching you at every moment. You want them to think you're having the time of your life.
2. Keep an eye on the game so you don't look like this. Pay attention to the game. (Is your team offense or defense? Are you winning or losing? Who has the ball?) The game should effect how you cheer and what you say. Few things look worst than a cheerleader cheering offense when her team is DEFENSE or vice versa. You should know at least a little about the sport you are cheering for!
3. Ask questions BEFORE you go out to perform. Pay attention to what your cheerleading team is doing and what they are planning to do. Keep an eye on your captains. Don’t wait until the last minute before a stunt or performance to ask questions. Walking out to perform is not the time to ask “What are we doing!?” or “Where do I go!?”
4. Don't freeze up or make a big deal out of a mess-up. Just keep going. If you make a mistake, don’t draw more attention to yourself. Do NOT stop in the middle and tell your neighbor; do NOT double over laughing; just keep going. I’ve seen many cheerleaders do this and it isn’t attractive or cute. If you mess up, chances are not many people noticed. Mistakes are inevitable, it’s how you react to your mistake that is important.
5. Stay in your formation. If you are standing on the sidelines or side court, don’t EVER walk to another position to talk to a friend. Stay in line.
   Cheerleaders are supposed to be cheering on the team, not carrying on a conversation amongst each other. It’s Ok to look like you’re having fun, you can even chat about the game with the cheerleader next to you- but this isn’t the time to talk about boyfriends and what you did last weekend.
6. Do one stunt, one tumbling pass, or one toe touch. During halftime, most cheerleading squads go to meet the opposing squad. Most teams even introduce the opponent's cheerleaders to their own crowds. They may partner up, make a brief introduction (your name and year), and then you are supposed to do some skill: a tumble pass, a jump, or a partner stunt. Don’t be a showoff, if you can do ten toe touches in a row that is great, but don‘t do it during intros.
7. Pracitce Rules:
   1. Pay attention- the coach or faculty advisor is taking HER afternoon so you can practice and look good. Get with it or get out! If one person acts silly, it hinders the rest of the team's concentration. In cheerleading, someone (or several people) could get physically and severely hurt if you fail to pay attention.
   
   2. If you don't understand the routine or stunt, ask BEFORE attempting it.
   
   3. If you are honestly not comfortable executing a stunt, tell the captain or coach.
   
   4. NEVER stunt or tumble without mats and a coach/spot/responsibile adult present.
   
   5. Don't miss practice, one missing person can hold the entire team back from praticing a routine.