Cheerleading.

Cheerleading. I INTRODUCTION Cheerleading, activity in which a trained group of individuals, traditionally female, performs athletic routines and exhorts sports teams and spectators. Cheerleading typically combines chants, jumps, and choreographed dance moves with eye-catching uniforms and props (such as colorful pom-poms). Once considered merely a social activity for girls, cheerleading has grown rapidly since the 1970s and is now often considered a sport in its own right. This change has resulted in an increased focus on athleticism and competition with other cheerleading squads, and males have become a larger part of the sport. Cheerleading is one of the fastest-growing sports for girls and women, with an estimated 3.8 million participants in the United States. II TYPES OF CHEERLEADING There are two major types of cheerleading: spirit squads and competitive teams. Spirit squads are typically limited to cheering for sports teams. Competitive teams (sometimes called drill teams) primarily focus on competing, although they also perform at athletic events and can function as spirit squads as well. Through rigorous practice, which includes strength and fitness training, competitive teams develop synchronized two- or three-minute routines. Often a coach will help choreograph and rehearse the routines, which feature a mix of tumbling, lifts, tosses, and dance moves set to music. In some routines the stronger team members, known as bases, hoist the smaller, lightweight participants, called flyers. Flyers are frequently thrown high into the air and caught before they hit the ground. Cheerleaders also create "body pyramids"--where at least five team members balance on top of one another--that require strength, agility, and teamwork. The best teams practice year-round, and summer cheerleading camps have become popular across the country. At competitions, routines are reviewed by a panel of judges and winners are determined by the overall score a team receives. Because cheerleaders often perform highrisk moves and wear no protective gear, injuries have become more common. Among high school girls, competitive cheerleading is statistically the most dangerous school activity in which they can participate. III HISTORY Cheerleading began in the 19th century when a young man yelled out an enthusiastic chant at a Princeton University football game, and appeared for the first time in an organized form at the University of Minnesota in the late 1890s. Originally an all-male activity, in the early years of the sport it often served as a way for students to demonstrate leadership potential. By the 1950s females began to dominate cheerleading, which had become a common high school activity. During this period cheerleaders became closely linked to cultural ideals of beauty and popularity. The surge in competitive cheerleading in the 1990s sparked controversy over whether the activity should be considered an independent sport. Several state high school associations now recognize it as such. In 2003 the University of Maryland became the first Division I college to sanction competitive cheerleading as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) varsity sport. In professional sports, many teams employ cheerleaders to enhance their image and marketing. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.