15 Reasons You Should Cheer

Jo Holland
Dec 2, 2015
5 min read

After I begged my best friend to go with me to the practices to learn the tryout material for the team that everyone talked about -- and not in a good way, she caved. I had dreamed of being a cheerleader since I learned what a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader was.

So finally, after I figured out that spandex and knee-pads weren't for me and I proved to everyone that I was NOT a runner in my *epic* attempt at a season of cross country, I decided to listen to Gandhi and be the change I wished to see in the cheerleading program and give it my all. I began my cheerleading career on the junior varsity team my sophomore year of high school. The excitement that came with the news quickly faded away as I learned that JV only cheered at home meets. I was in uniform for a whole two meets that season and I was devastated. I wanted more from the sport that I loved.

I feel that it is important to insert here my feelings towards football, the sport itself, to allow for some background information: I know absolutely nothing about football nor do I have any desire to watch or learn about football and I seriously rather be anywhere but in the stands for an entire game.

Yet, I found myself on the track at kickoff with my pom poms shaking in the air at the home opener the very next year. Life is created outside of your comfort zone... or maybe it was practice makes perfect. Either way, the athlete in me knew that I had to expose myself to the training in every aspect to get the results that I wanted. I was just happy that I had an excuse to wear my uniform on a regular basis.

Fast forward through the next two football and wrestling seasons; flying in a one-man, improving my jumps, and finally to my senior year as captain of our winter season squad as well as every milestone in between, I learn of an opportunity to cheer at a collegiate level with a scholarship provided and I take it. I commit to running all summer to train, I set personal records in the weight room on campus, and I find myself basing things I thought I would only ever see on TV.

On the day of my last cheerleading event, I sat wondering why I had ever questioned committing myself to cheerleading-- there were so many priceless lessons learned that have shaped me into the person I am today. If you're on the fence about cheering, here's some reasons why you should just *toe touch*:

1. Cheerleading builds confidence. Waving your pom poms above your head with a big cheesy smile in front of hundreds of people for hours at a time requires a bit of self-assurance. Actually, performing anything in front of any number of people gives quite a boost of self-worth.

2. You will surpass bars you didn't even know you set. Let's go all the way back to the beginning and ask if I would be cheering at a collegiate level in four short years. I would answer with a laugh and respond with something about how I wasn't even on the cheer squad. Fast forward to what I have accomplished: three wrestling seasons, two varsity football seasons, one wrestling season as captain, flying in a one-man, basing back tucks, willingly running in the summer to train, weight room personal records, a college scholarship. You never know what opportunities come from committing yourself to something you love.

3. You become a role model. You will quickly learn that you have little eyes constantly watching. Those "when I grow up I want to be just like you" comments and huge hugs from little arms are heart warming, but more so they are eye opening. If you are ready to build character and take on the responsibility of becoming an idol, you will find it's pretty cool being someone to look up to.

4. Self-discipline is developed unknowingly. Morning practice. Morning weights. Morning leave time. Morning anything. Even though it may not seem like it, you have the option of pulling the covers back over your head and waking up when the sun actually comes up. The little part where that is not an option? That's the discipline you build to show up for your team and your personal goals.

5. Patience is required. Coaches. Teammates. Weight trainers. My mom. Dropped stunts. Long runs. Unwanted advice. Unprepared routines. Wrong counts. You name it, you'll contemplate quitting over it. Things are frustrating. Anger might be a good release, but patience builds strength. And chances are roles have been reversed many times.

6. You will always be surrounded by laughter. KP spontaneously deciding to demonstrate a "sledgehammer" aka cross-face on me mid-practice. Coaching preschoolers. Way too late conversations in the hotel room at State Wrestling. Farting mid-basket in a silent gym. Laughter has surrounded me all these years and you are sure to make your very own pee-your-pants funny memories with your squad.

7. You will develop a wide vocabulary. Cheer puts a whole new meaning to pretty girl. Double down. Three high. 2-2-1. Fish flop. Liberty. Cross face. Sledgehammer. Tech foul. Half Nelson. Cradle (there are two very different definitions). Stair step. Full. Full out. Back tuck. Offsides. First and 10. ... Yeah, I'm still working on the football. But the language cheerleaders speak is a key part of feeling like your own little family.

8. Opportunities are endless. Sitting mat-side in Wells Fargo. Performing in the UNI Dome at State Football. Becoming a collegiate athlete. Weight training. Surpassing bars set too low. Making your loved ones proud. The chance to get better at a sport you love. Front row spots to your favorite teams' events. Travel. Competition. Networking. You just don't know what is waiting for you.

9. Passion.

10. Cheer is motivation. If you think I would have gone to school winter trimester my senior year without cheerleading, you are very wrong.

11. Disappointment builds character. Things don't always work out the way you want. Stunts will be dropped. Dance counts will be forgotten. It will be an embarrassing performance at the worst possible time. You just can't seem to reach the level you want to achieve. You'll get sick at the worst time. Your team will let you down. Your coach will let you down. You will let yourself down. You will let your team down. It is from that point that you can grow as an athlete and as an individual.

12. Cheering takes courage. Trying out to be on the team everyone laughed at in high school. The team that none of your friends are on. Leaving the sport you had been playing for five years. Performing with a squad of three people. Cheering even when your team is losing. Cheering even when the crowd is booing. Cheering even when names are being thrown around about your team. Spiriting after a stunt drops in front of a crowd. Smiling all the way off the performance floor. Whatever circumstances you are in, cheering makes you brave.

13. Scars. The stories always end up with you laughing so hard you're crying or trying to explain in detail whatever stunt you were attempting to the outsider who asked about your marks. Either way, you get to relive your glory days each time someone asks.

14. Satisfaction is the best feeling. Pushing yourself to be your best for your team. Taking your career as far as is beneficial to your life goals. Having a routine hit. Loving on your teammates. Gratitude for your coaches. You are sure to look back and be filled with contentment at the end of the road.

15. You gain the world's best fan club. You will never ever be able to thank any of them enough.