Cheerleading

Cheerleading is a fun and exciting sport. Cheerleaders do dances, jumps, and cool tricks together. They often cheer on football and basketball teams at games. Cheerleading also has its own competitions. Teams work together to make pyramids and flip each other in the air.

How It Started

Cheerleading began in the United States in the late 1800s. At first, it was just groups of men leading cheers at college football games. Over time, girls and women joined in. Today, most cheerleaders are girls, but boys cheer too. Cheerleading has spread to many other countries around the world.

Types of Cheer

There are two main kinds of cheerleading. Sideline cheer happens at sports games to get fans excited. Competitive cheer is where teams perform routines and are judged against other teams. Both kinds include jumps, cheers, and stunts. Some teams also add tumbling, which is like gymnastics.

Fun Facts

• Two U.S. presidents were cheerleaders in college.
• Cheer competitions are held in big arenas with thousands of fans.
• The biggest cheer event in the world is called the Cheerleading Worlds.

Did You Know?

In 2021, cheerleading was made an official Olympic sport by the IOC. It may appear in the Summer Olympic Games in the future.