Cheerleaders

A Dallas Cowboys
Cheerleading is the
quintessence of American
sports. Most American high
schools and colleges have
cheerleading groups. The
students (or athletes)
involved are called
cheerleaders.
Cheerleading began as a
male activity. The first
cheerleader was a student,
Johnny Campbell. In 1898,
during a football match, he
taught the crowd a chant to
support the University of
Minnesota football team:
Rah, rah, rah,
Sku-u-mah
Hoorah, hoorah
Varsity, varsity
Minn-e-so-ta!
The University of Minnesota
immediately organized a
group of 6 male students to
support all their matches. In
1948 Lawrence Herkimer, of
Dallas, formed the National
Cheerleaders Associa-
tion, NCA. In 1965 Fred
Gastoff invented the
vynil pom-pom. In
the 1960s the Natio-
nal Football League
(NFL) teams began
to organize professional
cheerleading groups.
The Dallas Cowboys,
an American professional
football team, launched
their Cheerleaders in 1972.
They had a great success
for their sexy uniform and
sophisticated dance moves.
Today 97% of cheerleaders
are female and cheerleading
is associated most with
American football and
Cheerleader’s Profile
Cheerleading soon deve-
loped from simple jumps to
difficult gymnastic stunts
and complex dance NAME: Starr
movements. You need great SURNAME: Spangler
athletic skills and strength
to become a cheerleader. It AGE: 21
is also dangerous: the BIRTHPLACE:
number of injuries during California
training is worrying
American parents. OCCUPATION:
The spirit of cheerleading Student
involves different aspects: MARITAL STATUS: Single
the stunts require constant
training, supporting a team HOBBIES: diving, rollercoasters,
requires a positive attitude, running. dancing, gymnastics
the choreographies require
FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME: Grey’s
c o o p e ra t i o n … a n d y o u r
Anatomy
appearance is also
important! FAVOURITE FILM: Pretty Woman
Some famous moves:
FAVOURITE ACTOR: Denzel Washington
FAVOURITE ACTRESS: Julia Roberts
FAVOURITE FOOD: Chicken and rice
FAVOURITE TYPE OF MUSIC: Country
DOUBLE NINE FAVOURITE SPORT: Football
IDEAL JOURNEY: to Australia
WORST HABIT: not changing the oil in
the car
PIKE
TOE TOUCH
Stunts =
Strength =
Injuries =

A CHEERLEADER’S OUTFIT

POM-POMS: Cheerleaders use pom-

poms to attract the attention of the Famous
crowd, to accentuate movements, Cheerleaders:
distract the opposing team, add energy Madonna
to their chants and dance. Pom-poms are used Cameron Diaz
in pairs, one for each hand. There are pom-poms in a Reese Witherspoon
great variety of shapes, styles, colours and sizes.
Christina Aguilera
MEGAPHONES: Generally, one cheerleader uses her
megaphone and the rest of the group dances. The Halle Berry
megaphone is important because the crowd can hear
the chant.
UNIFORMS: Cheerleaders wear uniforms with the