Kristian Ferrell
Cheerleading is a common fixture of American high school sports, with squads cheering on teams in basketball, football, and wrestling. While the presence of cheerleaders at high school basketball games is common, there is some debate about whether they should be allowed to cheer. Some argue that cheerleaders are a part of the game and should be left alone as long as they are not interfering with the game. Others argue that they are unnecessary and can be a distraction. Ultimately, the decision of whether to include cheerleaders at high school basketball games is left to individual schools and communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheerleaders at high school basketball games | Yes |
| Sitting cheers | More common in college |
| Stunts | Restricted during gameplay |
| Tumbling | More common in elementary school |
| Pyramids | Restricted during basketball games |
| Cheerleading squads | Usually two per school: varsity and junior varsity |
| Cheerleading competitions | Hosted by many high schools |
| Cheerleading as a sport | Not recognized by NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheerleading squads for basketball teams are common in high schools
- Cheerleaders are expected to inhabit the end lines and not interfere with the game
- Cheerleading is not considered an athletic activity by NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA
- Cheerleading squads may compete against other local schools
- Cheerleading is becoming a year-round activity
Cheerleading squads for basketball teams are common in high schools
High school cheerleading squads are typically divided into two groups: varsity and junior varsity. These squads are part of a year-round cycle, starting with tryouts in the spring, followed by year-round practices, cheering on teams in the fall and winter, and participating in cheerleading competitions. During the summer, squads usually practice at least three days a week for about two hours each session, and many teams also attend separate tumbling sessions outside of practice. During the school year, cheerleading practices typically increase to five to six days a week, and during competition season, it can ramp up to seven days a week with practices twice a day.
Cheerleading squads play a crucial role in promoting school spirit and hyping up the crowd at basketball games. They cheer, support, and energise the audience, contributing to the excitement and atmosphere of the game. However, it is important to note that cheerleading squads should not interfere with the actual gameplay. The NFHS basketball rules specify that cheerleaders should be left alone as long as they are not interfering with the game.
While cheerleading squads are a common fixture at high school basketball games, there is a societal norm for these squads to primarily cheer for boys' sports. This tradition has been challenged in recent years, with initiatives advocating for equal support for both boys' and girls' basketball teams. By cheering at both boys' and girls' home games, the cheerleading squad can promote equality and bring a large following to all the games, fostering school spirit and supporting women in sports.
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Cheerleaders are expected to inhabit the end lines and not interfere with the game
Cheerleading is a common fixture at basketball games in high schools across the United States. While they are expected to remain at the end lines, cheerleaders are an integral part of the game, hyping up the crowd and cheering on their team.
Cheerleading squads have become a year-round fixture at high schools, with tryouts in the spring, year-round practice, cheering on teams in the fall and winter, and participating in cheerleading competitions. Most squads practice several times a week, and many teams also attend separate tumbling sessions outside of practice. During the competition season, it is not unusual for squads to practice twice a day, seven days a week.
Cheerleading is not just about supporting the team; it is also about promoting school spirit and encouraging audience participation. In fact, some sources suggest that cheerleaders should be present at girls' basketball games as well as boys' to promote equality and encourage attendance at both. However, one potential issue with this plan is the significance of the games played. For instance, if the boys' basketball team has an away game, the fans will likely attend that game instead of a potentially less important home game.
While cheerleading is a fun and important part of the game, safety is also a major concern. There are different cheerleading organizations that put on competitions, and many of these have started applying universal safety standards to decrease the number of injuries and prevent dangerous stunts, pyramids, and tumbling passes from being included in the routines. For example, certain upper-level skills are restricted during basketball games, and more complex routines may only be performed during halftime and post-game on a matted surface.
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Cheerleading is not considered an athletic activity by NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA
Cheerleading is a common fixture at high school basketball games, with squads cheering on their teams and "hyping up" the crowd. However, despite the athleticism and dangers involved in competitive cheerleading, it is not considered an athletic activity by the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA, the three main organisations governing US college sports.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) are the governing bodies for college sports in the United States. The NCAA, the largest and most well-known of the three, does not recognize cheerleading as a varsity sport, and courts have ruled that it does not meet Title IX guidelines. This means that there are few to no scholarships offered to athletes who wish to pursue cheerleading at the collegiate level.
The lack of recognition as a sport by the NCAA has significant implications for cheerleading athletes. Without NCAA support, cheerleading struggles to gain legitimacy as a sport and is often dismissed as merely "shaking pom-poms." Cheerleading athletes put themselves at risk of serious injury, with stunts, pyramids, and tumbling passes being inherently dangerous. Despite this, they do not receive the same respect and recognition as other collegiate athletes.
Efforts have been made to change this situation. USA Cheer, a non-profit organization governing cheerleading activities in the US, created a new women-only sport called STUNT. STUNT focuses on the technical and athletic components of cheerleading, removing the crowd-leading element. It was specifically designed to meet Title IX requirements, and its application to the NCAA's Emerging Sports program is currently under review. If accepted, STUNT will have 10 years to achieve championship status, requiring a minimum of 40 varsity programs nationwide.
Additionally, the NAIA, which governs 250 colleges and universities, recognized competitive cheerleading as a championship sport in 2016. This decision provided a pathway for cheerleading athletes to gain legitimacy and compete under official regulations. As of 2020, 74 schools sponsored competitive cheer programs under NAIA regulation. These developments indicate a growing recognition of cheerleading as a legitimate athletic activity, challenging the traditional view held by organizations like the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.
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Cheerleading squads may compete against other local schools
Cheerleading squads in high schools are a common occurrence, with squads cheering on basketball teams, football teams, and other sports teams in their schools. These squads are not just limited to games and can also perform at pep rallies and competitions.
The competitive aspect of high school cheerleading is not limited to competing against other schools but also involves internal competition within the squad. In high schools, there are usually two squads per school: varsity and junior varsity. These squads hold tryouts in the spring, and members are selected based on their performance.
Cheerleading squads in high schools serve to promote school spirit and encourage audience participation during sporting events. They are an integral part of the school's athletic culture, cheering, supporting, and "hyping up" the crowd at games. The squads also perform at pep rallies, further boosting school spirit and morale.
While high school cheerleading squads primarily cheer for male sports teams, there has been a growing movement to support girls' basketball teams equally. This initiative aims to give equal recognition to both girls' and boys' sports and promote women supporting other women, ending the outdated tradition of cheerleaders exclusively cheering for male teams.
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Cheerleading is becoming a year-round activity
Cheerleading is an activity that involves participants cheering for their team as a form of encouragement. It is usually associated with American football and basketball. In high school, there are usually two cheerleading squads: varsity and junior varsity. These squads have become part of a year-round cycle, with tryouts in the spring, year-round practice, cheering on teams in the fall and winter, and participating in cheerleading competitions.
Cheerleading can be divided into two categories: spirit squad and competitive cheer. Spirit squad is the more traditional form of cheerleading, where students cheer for school teams. Their main purpose is to support others, and they do not usually compete. Competitive cheer, on the other hand, combines gymnastics, cheer, and dance into a team event that often requires year-round training and practice.
Cheerleading in middle school and high school can be a year-round activity, with squads cheering for basketball, football, and other sports teams in their schools. In high school, cheerleading squads also participate in competitions and perform at pep rallies. During the summer, squads may practice three days a week for about two hours each practice, and many teams also attend separate tumbling sessions. During the school year, cheerleading practice typically increases to five to six days a week and can even become a daily practice during competition season.
The movement toward recognizing competitive cheer as a sport is gaining momentum, especially at the high school level. In 2016, the International Olympic Committee designated cheerleading as a sport, and 30 states recognized competitive spirit as a sport in the 2021-22 school year. However, the NCAA does not currently sanction cheerleading or plan to do so in the future, which creates barriers to resources for college cheerleading programs.
Cheerleading is a physically demanding activity that requires athletic skills and year-round dedication from its participants. With the increasing recognition of competitive cheer as a sport and the year-round nature of cheerleading squads, it is clear that cheerleading is evolving beyond its traditional role of supporting school sports teams.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, high schools usually have two cheerleading squads: varsity and junior varsity. These squads cheer at football games, basketball games, and wrestling meets.
The NFHS basketball rules state that cheerleaders are allowed to cheer as long as they are not interfering with the game.
Yes, cheerleaders perform stunts at high school basketball games, but certain skills are restricted during gameplay or time-outs. These include basket tosses, 2+1⁄2 high pyramids, one-arm stunts, twisting or flipping stunts, and twisting tumbling skills. These skills may only be performed during halftime and post-game on a matted surface.
Traditionally, yes. However, there is a growing movement to end this stigma and encourage cheerleaders to support both boys' and girls' basketball teams.
Yes, high school cheerleading squads compete locally, regionally, and nationally. Competitions are hosted by organizations such as the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and judged by IHSA judges.
