High School Cheerleading Teams

High school cheerleading teams are different than college or pro squads in more ways than just the ages of the participants. They are a pivotal part of any school's sports program, and also provide skills and experiences for the cheerleaders that they can take into the rest of their lives.

High School Cheerleading Teams: Two Programs in One

High school cheer squads have two missions: a year-round commitment to support their school's teams and also a responsibility to represent their schools in cheer competitions. Cheer squads in high school meet almost every day in order to both physically train and also to organize the various other activities they take part in.

School Spirit

What is involved with pumping up the school spirit of a high school? A cheerleader's responsibilities start long before the game. Their activities to get the school excited about supporting the team include things like:

• Making posters, banners, and locker signs to hang around the school
• Organizing and performing at pep rallies
• Making sure the entire student body is excited about supporting their team
• Some cheer squads also hold fundraisers like bake sales and car washes to help raise money either for sports boosters or for charity

When the day of the game comes the high school cheerleading squad may ride in a bus to the away games or simply drum up support in their own community, drawing more than just student fans to the bleachers. Once the event fills up, it's the cheerleaders who drive the crowd into a frenzy, using

• Hello cheers as the players enter the field or court
• Sideline cheers during the game itself
• Floor cheers in the center of the court during halftime and time-outs
• Special routines and acrobatic stunts

Cheer Competitions

The other side of high school cheerleading teams are the competitions. Put on by various national organizations around the country, these are events that cheerleaders train for year round, both at their high-schools and also at intensives such as cheer camps and workshops with special trainers. There are district, regional, and national levels of competition, run by places such as the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) which has its main event in Orlando, Florida.

The rules for competition are created by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA). They are changed on a regular basis in order to keep things new, interesting, and also fair for new cheerleaders. Routines usually are expected to last about two and a half minutes, incorporating chants and cheers, dance, tumbling, and stunts. Not all high school cheerleading teams choose to participate in competitions, but those that do usually take them as seriously as any other sport.

Concerns About High School Cheerleading

Another major difference between pro and college cheerleading versus high school cheerleading is the fact that the members of the squad are minors. While their commitment to their school spirit is valued, parents, teachers, and coaches all recognize that academics need to be a priority. The AACCA recommends that squads be limited to competing only three or four times a year, and then only if it does not cause their school subjects to suffer. The organization is also very concerned that ethical conduct and good sportsmanship be observed in all phases of the competitions, as the rivalry between cheer squads can become quite intense.

Injuries are also more common among high school cheerleaders, with the drive to show off with bigger and more dangerous stunts sometimes outreaching the skill levels of the coaches or cheerleaders themselves. The AACCA has established an accreditation program that helps make sure that the high school cheer teams are supported by professionals who know how to evaluate the abilities of the cheerleaders and keep the routines fun, exciting, and safe. Many schools now mandate the use of safety equipment such as mats for both practice and performances.

Once these safety issues are mitigated, high school cheerleaders can have a positive experience of making their school's spirit as strong and powerful as they are.

• Cute Hello Cheers
• Freshman Cheers for a Pep Rally
• School Cheers
• Cheerleading Quiz

• Words for Cheerleading Cheers
• Popular Cheers for Cheerleading
• Cheerleading Chants
• Football Cheers Chants
• Cheerleading Routines

• College Cheerleading Stunts
• NBA Cheerleaders
• Cheerleading Safety Issues
• Cheerleading Uniforms
• Cheerleading Locker Signs