# Tell me about Cheerleaders **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 24, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306 "2007-09-24T15:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/1 "2007-09-24T15:13:05Z")
We don’t have to many of these in the UK so I have a few questions about this more or less American institution 1. Can any girl be one 2. Is it restricted to just the hotties 3. Or the athletic type 4. Is it regarded as some sort of a status within school 5. Much training involved? 6. Rewards are?.. if any 7. Do the girls apply or are they invited to join the cheerleading crowd 8. Who trains them, if anyone 9. Who buys the uniform, such as it is ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/2 "2007-09-24T15:23:42Z")
1 There are auditions. Some are judged only on skill and some are judged by who is your friend, etc. 2 (see number 1) 3 Depends on the style of cheering done at the school. Some styles require quite a bit of athletic ability. (Dance/Tumbling/Aerobatic) 4 Depends on the school. 5 Can involve intensive training. 6 Well, you go to all the games and get great ‘seats’. Travel to cheering competitions. Most of the girls think that it is fun. 7 usually auditions are held. The cheering squad may have an adult coach, who does the choosing, or the senior members may do it with some oversight by a teacher/advisor. 8 Varies greatly depending on school and the resources available to that school. There are sumer camps for cheerleaders. Some schools have coaches. You can study at a private gym like you may train for gymnastics. Some schools just have a teacher basically watch while the girls work out their own routines. 9 Usually the girls, or their familes have to buy the uniforms and they aren’t cheep. Considering they have home and away versions and perhaps cold weather gear to buy as well. Throw in accessories like pompons, megaphones, matching schrunchies ect. and it can add up. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/3 "2007-09-24T15:32:22Z")
Schrunchies? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/4 "2007-09-24T15:39:04Z")
1. Can any girl be one - Yes, at least at lower levels. Like youth football there is youth cheerleading. As they get older it becomes a competitive event and particularly in high school, college and pro-level there are tryouts and cuts. 2. Is it restricted to just the hotties - again, this varies by level. Still very true for pro football and to some degree for college, less so for high school and lower levels now, although it was true fairly recently for high school and might still vary based on location. 3. Or the athletic type - I’d say hot and coordinated is optimal for pros. These are more like lowly paid dance squads. There is a move to make cheering a purely athletic endeavour with it’s own competitions versus about 20 years ago when it was mainly about supporting other athletic squads. 4. Is it regarded as some sort of a status within school - now this varies by school but previously this was very true. 5. Much training involved? - like any other sport or club that involves coordination and effort among it’s participants, there is a lot of practice. For groups that do throws and catches this is akin to dancing, singing and gymnastics thrown together. 6. Rewards are?.. if any - as stated, there are competitions, plus “perks”. Interestingly, at the pro level all or most cheerleaders are prohibited from fraternizing with the team. 7. Do the girls apply or are they invited to join the cheerleading crowd - mostly or entirely apply. 8. Who trains them, if anyone - cheerleading coaches. It’s turning it to a niche industry. 9. Who buys the uniform, such as it is - girls for most amateur levels, also school and at pro-level the teams. Lower levels usually do fundraising to offset any costs, particularly for travelling to competitions. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/5 "2007-09-24T15:40:41Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Schrunchies? [/QUOTE] [Here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrunchy) It’s a rubberband for tying back a ponytail, only wrapped in colored fabric. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/6 "2007-09-24T15:41:17Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Schrunchies? [/QUOTE] Colorful things to hold hair in ponytails. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/7 "2007-09-24T15:44:21Z")
The prestige and allure varies a lot among different areas of the country. In the South and some other areas it is considered to be a REALLY BIG DEAL. There was even a case in Texas in which a mother tried to hire a hit-man to kill a rival teenager so that her daughter would make the team. That plot was caught before it happened thankfully. There aren’t that many ugly cheerleaders although I am sure there are some subprime ones around especially for that treat cheerleading as a sport with complicated formations and gymnastics. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/8 "2007-09-24T15:45:34Z")
If they are forbidden to fraternize with the team would this exlude any girl whose B/F was on the team. If so this seems a bit harsh, why forbid them anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/9 "2007-09-24T15:49:45Z")
At my high school, cheerleaders were the pinnacle of the popular set. Getting onto the squad involved a lot of politics from what I gather. Our squad did have some athletic manuevers and such for halftime shows, but nothing like you see the championship schools doing. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/10 "2007-09-24T15:50:05Z")
There was an article in the _Washington Post_ on the 21st (registration required) about a cheerleading team entirely of girls with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental issues. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/11 "2007-09-24T15:50:19Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] If they are forbidden to fraternize with the team would this exlude any girl whose B/F was on the team. [/QUOTE] That’s **at the pro level**. The cliche of the head cheerleader dating the QB (quarterback, or star of the football team) isn’t challenged by this at the high school or college level. Yikes – why am I reading this thread, let alone participating in it? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/12 "2007-09-24T15:51:14Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] If they are forbidden to fraternize with the team would this exlude any girl whose B/F was on the team. If so this seems a bit harsh, why forbid them anyway? [/QUOTE] Yes, but this is only on professional football teams. Not sure why the rule exists, other than maybe to keep groupie types from trying out in an effort to pester the professional football players. That’s what upscale bars and clubs are for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/13 "2007-09-24T15:51:24Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] We don’t have to many of these in the UK so I have a few questions about this more or less American institution 1. Can any girl be one 2. Is it restricted to just the hotties 3. Or the athletic type 4. Is it regarded as some sort of a status within school 5. Much training involved? 6. Rewards are?.. if any 7. Do the girls apply or are they invited to join the cheerleading crowd 8. Who trains them, if anyone 9. Who buys the uniform, such as it is [/QUOTE] My responses are based on my daughter having been a cheerleader in middle school. 1. Yes, if she tries out and can impress the judges – our school district is required to use non-partisan judges from the ACA, so that it is no longer a popularity contest like it was when I was in school. 2. No, not by any means, although usually only the “hotties” have the self-confidence to try out. 3. There were a couple of “fatties” on the team with my daughter, but being athletic definitely helps 4. Depends on the school – at the middle school where my daughter went, it was definitely a status thing, but at the high school that is connected to that middle school (we moved and she goes to another school now) the cheerleaders are considered scummy/skanky. 5. My daughter was required to practice 5 days/week at the school for 2 hours/day and had a 3 hour practice at a local gymnastics school every Friday. 6. My daughter’s coach was a c\*\*t, so there were no rewards other than the increased popularity and the boost to her self-confidence. 7. Auditions 8. Training is a mixture of coaches and gymnastics studios here 9. The uniforms are purchased by the school, the girls pay a rental fee for the uniform and have to buy incidental stuff – such as shoes, socks, hair bows, sweatsuits, etc. The cheerleaders are also responsible for having the uniforms dry-cleaned. My daughter chose to stay in band in high school instead of trying out for cheerleader, because there is more long-term benefit with band. (More/better scholarships available to colleges as well as proven benefits of music in one’s life) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/14 "2007-09-24T16:02:28Z")
There are male cheerleaders as well. Not all schools have them but they are almost necessary for some things like large pyramid formations and throwing and catching girls. In some places, male cheerleaders are about 100 rungs down the ladder from the football players but not always. There obvious benefits like throwing and catching the hottest girls many times a day with nobody thing anything of it. I believe George Bush was a cheerleader at one time. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/15 "2007-09-24T17:01:34Z")
A friend of mine is starting her daughter in cheerleading this year. The child is 5 years old. I have no idea how this single mother of 3 is paying for all the bullshit she is telling me about - $12 t-shirts, uniforms, traveling to competitions, trips to Disney World and Gatlinburg…and this is not even in support of an athletic team. She goes to cheerleading school three days a week and tumbling school one day a week. I totally do not understand this. I can understand her 12 year old being in baseball; there is a possibility of a college scholarship from it. Are there scholarships for cheerleaders? ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/16 "2007-09-24T17:12:11Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Yikes – why am I reading this thread, let alone participating in it? [/QUOTE] 'Cause you know, deep down inside, you have a longing to shake your pom-poms. Go ahead. Admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/17 "2007-09-24T17:16:14Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady] I totally do not understand this. I can understand her 12 year old being in baseball; there is a possibility of a college scholarship from it. Are there scholarships for cheerleaders? [/QUOTE] Yes. Most parents put their kids in cheerleading for the popularity at that age rather than the prospect of college scholarships. I will reiterate that my daughter chose to not pursue further involvement in cheerleading because band scholarships far outnumber cheerleading ones – particularly at the colleges in which she is interested. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/18 "2007-09-24T17:18:19Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] [Here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrunchy) It’s a rubberband for tying back a ponytail, only wrapped in colored fabric. [/QUOTE] Ah, scrunchies. And, as noted in the Wikipedia article, rarely or never seen in Manhattan. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/19 "2007-09-24T17:23:30Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I believe George Bush was a cheerleader at one time. [/QUOTE] I recall an interview with Samuel L. Jackson where he said he was one too. I defy anyone to find me a football player with higher status than Samuel L..! ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306/20 "2007-09-24T17:24:28Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady] \ I totally do not understand this. I can understand her 12 year old being in baseball; there is a possibility of a college scholarship from it. Are there scholarships for cheerleaders? [/QUOTE] Yep, that’s why I played baseball growing up, hoping to play college ball on a full ride someday… :dubious: And, yes, I’m sure there are scholarships for cheerleaders. Why wouldn’t there be? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cheerleaders/420306.md?page=2)