• Originated in Great Britain on the late 19th century where in 1860s

• In the late 1880s, the first organized yell was recorded at Princeton
University.
• Thomas Peebles
• University of Minnesota in 1884
• Johnny Campbell
• Officially began in November 2, 1898
• It was just during 1920s when women cheerleaders participated in
cheerleading. They began to incorporate gymnastics and tumbling
into their cheers.
• On 1930s they began performing pompon routines and using paper
pompons.
What is Cheerleading?
•An event that consists of cheers and organized
routines for sports team motivation, audience
entertainment, or competition.
•Cheers, jumps, dance, gymnastics and stunting.
•Cheerleaders
•Grouped together called squad
 Elements of
Cheer Dance Routine
1.Dance Techniques
2.Elements of Cheers
3.Basic Gymnastics Skills
DANCE TECHNIQUES
Some squads prefer contemporary dance
techniques, while others incorporate several
techniques such as jazz, hiphop, modern
dance, contemporary ballet and ethnic or
folk dance.
ELEMENTS OF CHEER
 Cheers are coordination of organized words and
movements relating to an athletic event.
These are used during a sport event when play has
been stopped on the field or court.
Cheer motions are also used
to lead the crowd and
emphasize words for crowd
response.
 HAND
POSITIONS
BUCKET
Buckets are performed when
you hold your arms straight
out in front of you, with your
fists facing down as if you
were holding the handle of a
bucket in each hand.
CANDLESTICK
•Buckets are performed
when you hold your arms
straight out in front of you,
with your fists facing each
other like as if you were
holding a candle in each
hand.
JAZZ HANDS
•extension of a
performer's hands
with palms toward
the audience and
fingers splayed
BLADE
•Your hands are open and
your fingers are straight
and together. Keep your
hands in blades with your
palms facing down and
your pinkies facing back.
CLAP
•have your palms
flat and fingers
glued together.
CLASP
To do a clasped palm
clap, clap your hands
and clasp them
together. Closing them
makes a quieter sound.
ARM POSITIONS
HIGH V
Arms are in a "V"
formation and your fists
are facing OUT.
LOW V
Arms are in a "V"
formation and your fists
are holding 2 buckets of
water.
T Motion
• With the "T" motion, your
arms are in a "T" formation
with your fists holding 2
buckets of water.

Half T
Same as the "T" motion, just
bend your arms in.
 High Touchdown
• This motion has both arms straight
over your head with your fists
facing IN. *Note the difference
between the High Touchdown and
the High V - one has your fists
facing out and the other facing in.

Low Touchdown
This motion has both arms
straight down with your fists
facing in.
 BOW and ARROW
Right Bow and
Arrow: YOUR right arm
is in a "T" and your left arm
is in a Half T.
Left Bow and
Arrow: YOUR left arm is in
a "T" and your right arm is
in a Half T.
 MUSCLE MAN
bring your arms to the side -
like muscle arms. Make sure
your arms are parallel to the
floor.
OVERHEAD CLASP
• Extend both arms straight up,
and bring them in line with
your body so that your arms
touch your ears. Keep your
hands wrapped around each
other, in the clasp position.
Your thumbs should be facing
behind you.
DAGGER
Bend your elbows and bring
your arms in tight to your
body. Your elbows should be
pulled in and pointed down,
and your hands should be just
below your chin
PUNCH
Extend one arm straight up
(into the Touchdown
position). The other arm is
resting on the hip, with the
hand in a fist.
L Motions K Motions
DIAGONAL
Right arm is in a
High V position
and left arm is in
a Low V position.
 BODY
POSITIONS
 BEGINNING STANCE
Stand up straight with your shoulders
back, keep your head up and face
forward. Your legs should be together
with your feet facing forward. Your arms
can either be straight and against your
sides (with your palms in) or you can fist
your hands
CHEER STANCE
SIDE LUNGE
•In a side lunge, the
foot on your
straight leg is
facing front and
the bent leg foot is
facing the side.
KNEEL