Being a guy cheerleader is harder and funner than you think! Kidzworld explores the benefits of being a male in the cheerleading world!
Stereotype
There is no denying that male cheerleaders get a bad rap. They say that cheerleading is just for girls and real men play sports like football, basketball and soccer. People believe that you are a sissy for being a cheerleader. They feel male cheerleaders are weak, unathletic and uncoordinated. People believe all male cheerleaders do is clap their hands and jump up and down and scream "rah rah" or "go team" all day, but that cannot be any farther from the truth!
Cheerleading is a Sport
Unless you have tried it or have paid close attention, you would probably be surprised how much athletic ability is required to be a cheerleader. You must have tremendous strength, skill and coordination. Throwing a cheerleader in the air is no easy task and neither is holding mutiple people at the bottom of a pyramid. If you thought catching a baseball was hard, try catching a cheerleader who is high up in the air doing flips and making sure you time it right so that she doesn't break her neck. Now that's coordination! Running and doing flips and somersaults take agility, endurance and athleticism.
Physical Benefits
Because you are constantly moving and doing routines, cheerleading helps improve you stamina, coordination and strength. Obviously with flips and cartwheels, there is a lot of gymnastics involved. Being more conditioned and coordinated will help you in other sports. Believe it or not, but a lot of male cheerleaders also participate in other sports throughout the year. It also improves your teamwork skills and helps you learn to trust your teammates. You know if you can trust someone to catch you as you fall 20-feet, they've got your back!
Other Benefits
Cheerleading improves your confidence and gives you an opportunity to learn how to bond with the opposite sex. If you are interested in the ladies, it is a good way to meet them and spend quality time for them. So anyone who says male cheerleaders are sissies are just jealous of the access you get. It also improves your confidence because it makes you learn how to perform in front of a big crowd under pressure. Also it will help you be positive. Cheerleaders know how to root for each other and the team they're cheering for through the good and the bad. Being more positive and optimistic will not only help you in other sports but also in life.
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