Cheerleading: The Newest Sport

Cheerleading has gotten a bad rap  in the past, due to its emphasis  on looks rather than physicality.  However, that has all changed  within the past few years.  Cheerleading is now an intense  and viable sport, showcased in  heated competitions around the  country.

Both women and men can be  cheerleaders, but only if they  are highly skilled. Today’s  cheerleaders must be able to  perform risky stunts such as  basket tosses, standing back  tucks, and field-length tumbling  passes. This requires a strong  background in gymnastics and  flexibility.

Even if you have already  graduated school, there are  plenty of ways to get involved in  the sport. The most popular way  is through adult private lessons.  Gymnasiums and rec centers  usually offer individual  instruction by trained  professionals.

These sessions generally last  around 30 minutes to one hour,  and focus specifically on  cheerleading skills such as hand  motions and tumbling. Depending  on how many people live in your  area, you may also have the  opportunity to join a  cheerleading squad to hone your  skills.

Now that cheerleading has  developed into a full-time sport,  it’s the perfect time for you to  start it as a hobby. The  high-intensity skills will  certainly help tone your muscles  and get you into shape for  swimsuit season. Most  cheerleaders say they continue in  the sport because of the sense of  pride it gives them – pride in  their bodies as well as their  abilities. Contact your local  recreation center to get started  with this life-changing hobby!