Cheerleading is an activity that uses organized routines made up of elements from dance, gymnastics, and stunting to cheer on sports teams at games and matches, and/or as a competitive sport. A cheerleading performer is a cheerleader.

History

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Cheerleading first started at Princeton University in the 1880s with the crowd chant, "Rah rah rah, tiger tiger tiger, sis sis sis, boom boom boom ahhhhhhh, Princeton Princeton Princeton!" as a way to encourage school spirit at football games. A few years later, Princeton graduate Thomas Peebles introduced the idea of organized crowd chanting to the University of Minnesota in 1884, but it was not until 1898 that University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell stood in front of the crowd, and directed them in a chant, making Campbell the very first cheerleader. Soon after that, the University of Minnesota organized a "yell leader" squad of 4 male students. Although it is estimated that 90% of today's cheerleading participants are female(50% of collegiate level cheerleaders male), cheerleading started out as an all-male activity. Females started to participate in cheerleading in the 1920s, due to limited availability of female collegiate sports. By the 1940s, it was a largely female activity. Cheerleading is most closely associated with American football, and to a lesser degree basketball. Sports such as soccer, ice hockey, and wrestling, baseball rarely have cheerleaders.

In 1948, Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer formed the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) as a way to hold cheerleading clinics. The National Cheerleaders Association held its first clinic in 1949 with 52 girls in attendance. The next year, the clinic had grown to 350 cheerleaders. By the 1950s, most American high schools had formed cheerleading squads. By the 1960s, cheerleading had grown to be a staple in American high school and collegiate sports. Organized cheerleading competitions began to crop up with the first ranking of the "Top Ten College Cheerleading Squads" and "Cheerleader All America" awards given out by the International Cheerleading Foundation (now the World Cheerleading Association or WCA) in 1967. In 1978, America was introduced to competitive cheerleading by the first broadcast of Collegiate Cheerleading Championships on CBS. In the 1960s National Football League (NFL) teams began to organize professional cheerleading teams. It was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who gained the spotlight with their revealing outfits and sophisticated dance moves, which debuted in the 1972-1973 season, but were first seen widely in Super Bowl X (1976). This caused the image of cheerleaders to permanently change, with many other NFL teams emulating them. The 1980s saw the onset of modern cheerleading with more difficult stunts and gymnastics being incorporated into routines. Cheerleading organizations started applying safety guidelines and offering courses on safety training for coaches and sponsors. In 1984, Cheer Ltd. Inc. (sic) established the National Cheer Conference (NCC) for cheer coaches to receive instruction and hands-on course work in cheerleading techniques. AACCA is the nationally recognized safety organization, conducting safety courses since 1987. A more recent organization to conduct safety courses is the NCSSE. The spirit industry leaders were united with the unprecedented 2004 establishment of SITA, the Spirit Industry Trade Association. Founded by leaders of nine major cheerleading companies including American Championships, America's Best, AmeriCheer, Athletic Championships, Atlantic Cheer & Dance, Cheer Ltd. Inc, COA, ECA, and UPA, the industry trade association includes both cheerleading companies, affiliate companies, and safety organizations. Another trade organization, OSIP, the Organization of Spirit Industry Providers, consists of over 33 member organizations including Universal Cheerleaders Association, National Spirit Association, USASF, Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders, Ross Athletic, CheerSPORT, and others. Today, cheerleading has grown to an estimated 4 million participants in the United States alone.

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Ulrich wins three gold medals
AAU Katrina Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:21:13 -0000
Originally posted at www.publicopiniononline.com on August 1, 2008 Click here for original article CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Danielle Ulrich competed and at the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games for cheerleading on July 28 in Detroit, Mich. Ulrich received gold medals in three divisions including cheer solo, jump and tumbling. She competed against two other contestants in the solo division, six [...]
2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games honors athletes
AAU Katrina Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:43:31 -0000
Click for results Baseball | Cheerleading | Dance | Girls Basketball | Track&Field | Weightlifting | Wrestling By Matt Pocket Celebrating Junior Athletes From its founding, the Amateur Athletic Union has served to introduce America’s youth to discipline, teamwork and persistence. The public can show their support and enjoy a chance to meet some of the athletes, coaches and [...]
The Cycle Continues at 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games
AAU Katrina Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:09:30 -0000
Click for results Baseball | Boys Basketball | Cheerleading | Girls Basketball | Karate | Multi-Events | Powerlifting | Weightlifting By Matt Pocket Here is what happened July 27 at the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games No-No In the 2:30 p.m. game, Cincinnati Storm SP Max Barden threw no-hitter in the regulation seven inning match, shutting down the MGBA Eagles [...]

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