Cheerleading
It's not just standing on the sidelines
Cheerleading is a team-based sport that combines elements of gymnastics, acrobatics and dance. Cheerleading consists of:
- Stunting (when a group of people lift a cheerleader, known as the flyer, in the air);
- Pyramid (where many flyers connect with each other to perform harder skills);
- Tumbling (the element of cheerleading containing the gymnastics);
- Jumps such as 'toe-touches', 'pike' and 'hurkies';
- A short dance section.
Cheerleading was initially started in the USA, and now its the fastest
growing sport in the UK. Why? Because it’s fun! To perform a
Cheerleading routine you need to be able to throw someone in the air
then immediately do your gymnastics tumble pass. You need to have a
variety of skills to compete a routine – and this variety means the
sport is always exciting!
Competitive cheerleading is a very athletic sport, that does not involve
pom-poms (like sideline cheer). It involves competing a high-energy, two
and a half minute routine at competitions across the country (and
abroad!). Teams compete against other cheer teams and a panel of judges
score the routines, to decide the rankings.