10 REASONS CHEERLEADERS ARE AWESOME
You find yourself reading this because you are a cheerleader - You already know you're awesome, you just want to be reminded. Or you're not a cheerleader and you're wondering what all the fuss is about. Maybe you're a sceptic and you're waiting to scoff at #3 talking about how all cheerleaders get the boys and #7 talking about how skinny and pretty we all are... sorry sceptics, this isn't 'that' sort of blog.
Cheerleading is one of those unique sports which really does become a large part of your life. There's no denying that you're the person you are today partly because of the time in your life you spent as a cheerleader.
Let's get straight into it.
1. CHEERLEADERS KNOW HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM
Cheerleading is a unique team sport on the most level playing field. When everyone on a cheer team is expected to perform the same skills to an equal standard there can be no 'star' players. And no stunt or pyramid will happen without just a little bit of team cohesion and effort! When tired or hurt, any member of the team is expected and will push themselves to continue their routine to their highest standard - for the benefit of the team. Our scorecard is based on every man on the team doing their job to the best of their ability. No dropping stunts or pulling out of tumble passes here!
2. CHEERLEADERS ARE AS TOUGH AS NAILS
Yes our heads get knocked around, the flyer will punch you in the eye socket, your arms and legs turn purple and a few fingers may bend sideways. Under all circumstances a real cheerleader will do their best to save a stunt and finish a routine until they limp off that floor or are forced off.
3. CHEERLEADERS ARE STRONG, STRETCH AND FIT.
Imagine needing all the qualities of a weightlifter, ballerina, gymnast, acrobat and entertainer - yep that's us. We condition to become great at everything and aim to have no weaknesses. We care less for how our quads explode out of our Nike Pros or how our biceps are suffocating in our long-sleeved uniform. So long as they can do a whip-thru-double-full, followed by a toss-left stretch-tick-tock-right scorp-hitch-kick-double-down then who cares! Cheerleaders' bodies do amazing things.
4. EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR GOES TO..
We've already covered the important quality of being able to work as a team in #1, but there are so many other qualities that cheerleading instils in athletes that is best summarised in your future "employee of the year" award speech from your boss
TIME MANAGEMENT - Juggling school/university/work, cheer, family and social life whilst eating well and keeping sane? Yeah we have that skill mastered. Finding calm in chaos is our specialty.
COMMITMENT - "I can't - I have cheer" Cheer training and performances tend to take up a lot of our evenings and weekends, but we have learned that commitment is key (even when things don't always go your way). We know the outcome of commitment to a project or a job will either end up with a reward or a valuable lesson learned.
ENTHUSIASTIC - "Give me an.. "- no. Ok the sideline chants are not for the workplace, but just like we smile like we're hiding a secret we can turn on that enthusiasm for any task or situation which really lifts the spirits of those working around you.
PERFORMS WELL UNDER PRESSURE - I mean, hello. There are 150 seconds when your life depends on performing your butt off to your judges, friends, family, strangers and peers, and if you're at Worlds or a sporting event... the entire INTERNET too! If you can pull this off you can definitely slay that video presentation to your company's next investor.
5. CHEERLEADERS HAVE THEIR PRIORITIES RIGHT
Bows before bros right? We are team players and a true cheerleader will put their health and their team above birthday parties, movies, sleepovers, dinners by showing up to every single training session.
6. CHEERLEADERS ARRIVE ON TIME
The threat of 100 burpees if you are late to cheer training is enough fear to last a thousand lifetimes. Because of this cheerleaders will be punctual for the rest of their lives.
7. CHEERLEADERS WILL FIND THE 8-COUNT IN ANY SONG
Yeah that's right. we've got rhythm. And when the right song comes on at the party all those dance breaks of every single cheer routine you've ever performed in your lifetime can be executed like it was yesterday.
8. CHEERLEADERS'S SMILES ARE INFECTIOUS
We have literally been conditioned to smile even after we get kicked in the face or when we just almost died during the last pyramid practice. When we're nervous, scared, tired, angry, upset... we still smile. Smiling is muscle memory - we don't need to think about it and people really notice!
9. WE TAKE THE BEST TRAVEL PHOTOS
No need for explanation here.
10. CHEERLEADERS ARE WELL CONNECTED
The cheer industry is big... huge! Every cheerleader knows a cheerleader or someone who used to be a cheerleader. As you grow in the sport you find out just how interlinked these networks are and how you can use these to your advantage for new jobs, a favour, a stunt buddy or a couch to sleep on for the weekend.
