Cheerleading

Cheerleading  /ˈtʃɪərlidɪŋ/  ranges from yelling to intense physical activity for sports team motivation, audience entertainment or competition based upon organized routines. The routines usually range anywhere from one to three minutes, which may contain many components or tumbling, dance, jumps,cheers and stunting in order to refer to the audience as directly or events to cheer for sports teams at games or to participate in cheerleading competitions.The yellers, dancers and athletes involved in cheerleading are called cheerleaders. Cheerleading originated in the United States, and remains predominantly American, with an estimated 1.5 million participants in all-star cheerleading. The presentation of cheerleading as a sport to a global audience was led by the 1997 start cheerleading competition or broadcast or by ESPN International and the worldwide release of the 2000 film Bring It On. Due in part to this recent exposure, there are now an estimated 100,000 participants scattered around the rest of the world in countries including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Japan,[1 ] the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

History
Minnesota Gophercheerleader Johnny CampbellOrganized cheerleading started as an all-male activity. [3 ] As early as 1877, Princeton University had a "Princeton Cheer", documented in the February 22, 1877, March 12, 1880, and November 4, 1881, issues of the Daily Princetonian. [4 ] [5 ] [6 ] This cheer was yelled from the stands by students at games, as well as by the baseball and football athletes themselves.The cheer, "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! S-S-s-t! Tree! A-h-h-h! "remains in use with slight modifications today and is now referred to as the" Locomotive ". [7]

Princeton class of 1882 graduate Thomas Peebles moved to Minnesota in 1884, and transplanted the idea of organized crowds cheering at football games to the University of Minnesota. [8 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" len="190" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9 ] The term "Cheer Leader" had been used as early as 1897, with Princeton's football officials having named three students as Cheer Leaders: Thomas, Easton and Guerin from Princeton's classes or 1898, 1898 and 1899, respectively, on October 26, 1897; these students would cheer for the team also at football practices, and special cheering sections were designated in the stands for the games themselves for both the home and visiting teams.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [10 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">It was not until 1898 that University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell directed a crowd in cheering "Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-u-mah, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah! ", making Campbell the very first cheerleader and November 2, 1898 the official birth date of organized cheerleading. Soon after, the University of Minnesota organized a "yell leader" squad or six male students, who still use Campbell's original cheer today.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ICFHandbook_12-0" len="204" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [12 ] In 1903 the first cheerleading fraternity, Gamma Sigma, was founded.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ACFeb2003_13-0" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [13]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Women joined cheerleading 1923 and began to dominate it during World War II, when few people were involved in organized sports. Gymnastics, tumbling and megaphones were incorporated into popular cheers, and are still used.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-history1_3-1" len="199" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [3]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Statistics show that around 97% of all modern cheerleading participants overall are female. At the collegiate level, cheerleading is co-ed with about 50% or participants being male.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-popwarner_14-0" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]

Cornell University cheerleader on a 1906 postcard<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1948, Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer, of Dallas, Texas, a former cheerleader at Southern Methodist University, formed the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) in order to hold clinics for cheerleading. In 1949, The National Cheerleaders Association held its first clinic in Huntsville, Texas, with 52 girls in attendance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-popwarner_14-1" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [14 ] Herkimer contributed many firsts to the cheer: the founding of the Cheerleader & Danz Team cheerleading uniform supply company, inventing the herkie (where one leg is bent towards the ground and the other is out to the side as high as it will stretch in the toe-touch position),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cheerleading.about_15-0" len="211" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15 ] and creating the "Spirit Stick".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ACFeb2003_13-1" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [13 ] By the 1960s, college cheerleaders began hosting workshops across the nation, teaching fundamental cheer skills to high-school-age girls. In 1965, Fred Gastoff invented the vinyl pom-pon, which was introduced into competitions by the International Cheerleading Foundation (now the World Cheerleading Association or WCA). Organized cheerleading competitions began to pop up with the first ranking of the "Top Ten College Cheerleading Squads" and "Cheerleader All America" awards given out by the International Cheerleading Foundation in 1967. In 1978, America was introduced to competitive cheerleading by the first broadcast or Collegiate Cheerleading Championships on CBS.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ICFHandbook_12-1" len="204" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [12 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ACFeb2003_13-2" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13]

Cheerleaders at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1948<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the 1960s National Football League (NFL) teams began to organize their own professional cheerleading teams. TheDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders soon 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.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The 1980s saw the beginning of modern cheerleading with more difficult stunt sequences and gymnastics incorporated into routines. All-Star teams started to pop up, and with them the creation of the United States all-star Federation (USASF). ESPN first broadcast the National High School Cheerleading Competition nationwide in 1983. Cheerleading organizations such as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA), founded in 1987, started applying universal safety standards to decrease the number of injuries and prevent dangerous stunts, pyramids and tumbling passes from being included in the cheerleading routines.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AACCA_16-0" len="198" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [16 ] In 2003, the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE) was formed to offer safety training for youth, school, all star and college coaches. The NCAA requires college cheer coaches to successfully complete a nationally recognized safety-training program. The NCSSE or AACCA certification programs are both recognized by the NCAA.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Even with its athletic and competitive development, cheerleading at the school level has retained its ties to the spirit leading traditions started back in the 1890s. Cheerleaders are quite often seen as ambassadors for their schools, and leaders among the student body. At the college level, cheerleaders are often invited to help at university fundraisers.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" len="306" style="line-height:1;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading is very closely associated with American football and basketball. Sports such as association football (soccer), ice hockey, volleyball, baseball and wrestling will sometimes sponsor cheerleading squads.The ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2007 was the first international cricket event to have cheerleaders. The Florida Marlins were the first Major League Baseball team to have a cheerleading squad. Debuting in 2003, the "Marlin Mermaids" gained national exposure and have influenced other MLB teams to develop their own cheer/dance squads.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">​

All-Star
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the early 1980s, cheerleading squads not associated with a school or sports leagues, whose main objective was competition, began to emerge. The first organization to call themselves all stars and go to competitions were the Q94 Rockers from Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1982.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ACFeb2007_23-0" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [23 ] All-Star teams competing prior to 1987 were placed into the same divisions as teams that represented schools and sports leagues. In 1986, the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) addressed this situation by creating a separate division for teams lacking a sponsoring school or athletic association, calling it the all-star Division and debuting it at their 1987 competitions. As the popularity of this type or team grew, more and more of them were formed, attending competitions sponsored by many different organizations and companies, each using its own set of rules, regulations and divisions. This situation became a concern to gym owners because the inconsistencies caused coaches to keep their routines in a constant state of flux, detracting from time that could be better utilized for developing skills and providing personal attention to their athletes. More importantly, because the various companies were constantly vying for a competitive edge, safety standards had become more and more lax. In some cases, the so-called coaches and inexperienced squads were attempting dangerous stunts as a result of these expanded sets or rules.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-varsity2004_24-0" len="204" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [24]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The USASF was formed in 2003 by the competition companies to act as the national governing body for all star cheerleading and to create a standard set of rules and judging standards to be followed by all competitions sanctioned by the Federation, ultimately leading to the Cheerleading Worlds. The USASF hosted the first Cheerleading Worlds on April 24, 2004.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-varsity2004_24-1" len="204" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [24 ] In 2009, the first All-Level Worlds was hero. It included teams from all levels, with each winner continuing to the online championships, where teams from across the nation competed to win the Worlds Title. At the same time, cheerleading coaches from all over the country organized themselves for the same rule making purpose, calling themselves the National All Star Cheerleading Coaches Congress (NACCC). In 2005, the NACCC was absorbed by the USASF to become their rule making body.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ACFeb2007_23-1" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [23 ] In late 2006, the USASF facilitated the creation of the International all-star Federation (IASF).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">As of 2012 all-star cheerleading as sanctioned by the USASF involves a squad or 6 – 36 females and/or males. The squad prepares year-round for many different competition appearances, but they only actually perform for up to 2 ½ minutes during their team's routines. The numbers or competitions a team participates in varies from team to team, but generally, most teams tend to participate in eight to twelve competitions a year. These competitions include locals, which are normally taken place in school gymnasiums or local venues, nationals, hosted in big venues all around the U.S. with national champions, and the Cheerleading Worlds, taken place at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. During a competition routine choreographed stunting, a squad performs carefully, tumbling, jumping, and dancing to their own custom music. Teams create their routines to an eight-count system and apply that to the music so that the team members execute the elements with precise timing and synchronization.

Cheergirls from Australia'sNational Rugby League<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There are many different organizations that host their own state and national competitions. Some major companies include: Universal Spirit, AmeriCheer, Cheersport, Planet Cheer and Dance Spirit, Eastern Association, and the JAM Brands. This means that many gyms within the same area could be state and national champions for the same year and never have competed against each other. Currently, there is no system in place that awards only one state or national title.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Judges at the competition watch closely for illegal moves from the group or any individual member. Here, an illegal move is something that is not allowed in that division due to difficulty and/or safety restrictions. They look out for deductions, or things that go wrong, such as a dropped stunt. They also look for touchdowns in tumbling for deductions. More generally, judges look at the difficulty and execution or jumps, stunts and tumbling, synchronization, creativity, the sharpness of the motions, showmanship, and overall routine execution.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">All-Star cheerleaders are placed into divisions, which are grouped based upon age, gender, size of the team or participants, and ability level. The age levels vary from under 4 year of age to 18 years and over. The divisions used by the USASF/IASF are currently Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Junior International, Junior Coed, Senior, Senior Coed, Special Needs, and Open International. It originally began with "all girl" teams and later co-ed teams began to gain popularity. That being said, the all-girl squad remains the most prevalent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USASF_Ages_07-08_25-0" len="209" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [25]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">If a team places high enough at selected USASF/IASF sanctioned national competitions, they could be included in the Cheerleading Worlds and compete against teams from all over the world, as well as receive money for placing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nw20007_2-1" len="198" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [2 ] Each team receives a bid from another cheerleading company and goes in the name of that company. One must get a bid from a company in order to compete at the Cheerleading Worlds. For example, a team could get a bid from Cheersport, and they compete as a team representing that company.Cheerleading companies give out three types of bids to go to Cheerleading Worlds, Full Paid Bid, Partial Bid, or an Un-paid bid. The Cheerleading Worlds are only for teams that are level 5 and up.

Professional
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Professional cheerleaders and dancers cheer for sports such as football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, or hockey. There are only a small handful of professional cheerleading leagues around the world; some professional leagues include the NBA Cheerleading League, the NFL Cheerleading League, the CFL Cheerleading League, the MLS Cheerleading League, the MLB Cheerleading League, and the NHL Ice Dancers.Although professional cheerleading leagues exist in multiple countries, there are no Olympic Teams.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In addition to cheering at games and competing, professional cheerleaders also, as teams, can often do a lot of philanthropy and charity work, modeling, motivational speaking, television performances, andadvertising.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [26 ] <sup class="noprint Inline-Template" len="342" style="line-height:1;white-space:nowrap;">[unreliable source?]

Associations, Federations, Organisations
Borregos Salvajesassociated with the Cheerleaders, called "Borreguitas" at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico City.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Americheer:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[27 ] Americheer was founded in 1987 by Elizabeth Rossetti. It is the parent company to Ameridance and Eastern Cheer and Dance Association. In 2005, Americheer became one of the founding members of the NLCC. This means that bids to The U.S. sacrifice Americheer events Finals: The Final Destination. AmeriCheer InterNational Championship competition is held every March at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">International Cheer Union (ICU):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28 ] Established on April 26, 2004, the ICU is recognized by the SportAccord as the world governing body of cheerleading and the authority on all matters with relation to it. Including participation from its 105 member national federations reaching 3.5 million athletes globally, the ICU continues to serve as the unified voice for those dedicated to cheerleading's positive development around the world.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Following a positive vote by the General Assembly on May 31, 2013 SportAccord, in Saint Petersburg, the International Cheer Union (ICU) became SportAccord's, and 93rd 109th SportAccord's member international sports federation to join the international sports family. In accordance with the SportAccord statutes, the ICU is recognized as the world governing body of cheerleading and the authority on all matters related to it.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The ICU holds training seminars for judges and coaches, global events and the World Cheerleading Championships. The ICU is also fully applied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is compliant under the code set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">International Federation of Cheerleading (IFC):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29 ] Established on July 5, 1998, the International Federation of Cheerleading (IFC) is a non-profit federation based in Tokyo, Japan, and is the world governing body of cheerleading. The INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION objectives are to promote cheerleading worldwide, to spread knowledge of cheerleading and to develop friendly relations among the member associations and federations.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">National Cheerleaders Association:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30 ] The NCA was founded in 1948 by Lawrence Herkimer. Every year, the NCA hosts the NCA High School Cheerleading Nationals and the NCA all-Star Cheerleading Nationals in Dallas, Texas. The NCA/NDA Collegiate They also host Cheer & Dance Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Universal Cheerleaders Association:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [31 ] Universal Cheerleaders Association was founded in 1974 by Jeff Webb. Since 1980, UCA has hosted the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Walt Disney World Resort. They also host the National all-Star Cheerleading Championship, and the College Cheerleading National Championship at Walt Disney World Resort. To qualify for these events, all teams must submit a video. All of these events air on ESPN.

Competitions and companies
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Asian Thailand Cheerleading Invitational (GREIG):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32 ] Organised by the Cheerleading Association of Thailand (CAT) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the International Federation of Cheerleading(IFC). The GREIG is held every year since 2009. At the GREIG many teams from all over Thailand compete, joining them are many invited neighbouring nations who also send cheer squads.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading Asia International Open Championships (CAIOC): Hosted by the Foundation of Japan Cheerleading Association (FJCA) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION. The CAIOC has been a yearly event since 2007. Every year many teams from all over Asia converge in Tokyo to compete.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [33]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading World Championships (CWC):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[34 ] Organised by the IFC. The INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998 and based in Tokyo, Japan. The CWC has been held every two years since 2001, and to date the competition has been held in Japan, the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany and Hong Kong. The 6th CWC was held at the Hong Kong Coliseum on November 26-27, 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [35]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">ICU World Championships:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[36 ] The International Cheer Union currently encompasses 105 National Federations from countries across the globe. Every year the ICU host the World Cheerleading Championship.Unlike the USASF Worlds, this competition uses Level 6/Collegiate style rules. Countries assemble and send only one team to represent them.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">National Cheerleading Championships (NCC):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[37 ] The NCC is the annual IFC-sanctioned national cheerleading competition in Indonesia organised by the Indonesian Cheerleading Community (ICC).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [38 ] Since the NCC2010 the event is now open to international competition, representing a significant step forward for the ICC. Teams from many countries such as Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, participated in the ground breaking event.

The competition floor at Final Destination<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">NLCC Final Destination:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[39 ] nation's Leading Cheer Companies is a multibrand company, partnered with other companies such as: American Cheer & Dance Academy/Ameridance, Americheer, Eastern Cheer & Dance Association, and Spirit Unlimited. Every year, starting in 2006, the NLCC hosts The US Finals: The Final Destination or Cheerleading and Dance. Every team that attends must qualify and receive a bid at a partner company's competition. In May 2008, the NLCC and The JAM Brands announced a partnership to produce The U.S. Finals-Final Destination. There are nine Final Destination locations across the country. After the regional events, videos of all the teams that competed are sent to a new panel of judges and rescored to rank teams against those against whom they may never have had a chance to compete.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Pan-American Cheerleading Championships (PCC):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40 ] The PCC was hero for the first time in 2009 in the city of Latacunga, Ecuador and is the continental championship organised by the Pan-American Federation of Cheerleading (PFC). The PFC, operating under the umbrella of the INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION, the non-profit continental body of cheerleading whose aim it is to promote and develop cheerleading in the Americas. The PCC is a biennial event, and was held for the second time in Lima, Peru, in November 2010.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The JAM Brands:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[41 ] The JAM Brands, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, provides products and services for the cheerleading and dance industry. It is made up or approximately 12 different brands that produce everything from competitions to camps to uniforms to merchandise and apparel. JAMfest, the original brand of The JAM Brands, has been around since 1996 and was founded by Aaron frozen blocks Flaker and Emmitt Tyler. Then Kessler has since become a co-owner of The JAM Brands along with frozen blocks Flaker and Tyler.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">USASF/IASF Worlds:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[42] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[43 ] Many United States cheerleading organizations form and register the not-for-profit entity the United States All Star Federation (USASF) and also the International All Star Federation (IASF) to support international club Cheerleading cheerleading and the World Club Championships. The first World Cheerleading Championships, were hosted by the USASF Cheerleading Worlds, or/IASF at the Walt Disney World Resort and taped for an ESPN global broadcast in 2004. This competition is only for all-star/Club cheer. Only levels Junior 5, Senior 5, Senior Open 5, International 5, 6, and 5 International Open, International International Open 6 may attend. Teams must receive a bid from a partner company to attend.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Varsity:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[44 ] Partnered with the UCA National High School Cheerleading, Varsity created the Championship in 1980. Varsity all-star owns or partners with many of the largest cheerleading events in the country.

Title IX sports status
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There is a large debate on whether or not cheerleading should be considered a sport for Title IX purposes. Supporters consider cheerleading, as a whole, a sport, citing the heavy use of athletic talents<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cheerleading1_45-0" len="206" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[45] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[46 ] while critics see it as a physical activity because a "sport" implies a competition among all squads and not all squads compete, along with subjectivity or competitions where — as with gymnastics, diving, and figure skating— scores are assessed based on human judgment and not an objective goal or measurement of time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-stanford_47-0" len="201" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [47 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SFU_48-0" len="196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[48 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On January 27, 2009, in a lawsuit involving an accidental injury sustained during a cheerleading practice, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that cheerleading is a full-contact sport in that state, not allowing any participants to be sued for accidental injury.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [50 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[51 ] In contrast, on July 21, 2010, in a lawsuit involving whether college cheerleading qualified as a sport for purposes or Title IX, a federal court, citing a current lack of program development and organization, ruled that it is not a sport at all.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [52]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading can be a dangerous activity. There is much contact in this activity as there is lifting and tumbling.

Dangers of cheerleading
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The risks of cheerleading were highlighted when Kristi Yamaoka, a cheerleader for Southern Illinois University, suffered a fractured vertebra when she hit her head after falling from a human pyramid.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [53 ] She also suffered from a concussion, and a bruised lung.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CWT_54-0" len="196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [54 ] The fall occurred when Yamaoka lost her balance during a basketball game between Southern Illinois University and Bradley University at the Savvis Center in St. Louis on March 5, 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CWT_54-1" len="196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [54 ] The fall gained "national attention",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CWT_54-2" len="196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54 ] because Yamaoka continued to perform from a stretcher as she was moved away from the game.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CWT_54-3" len="196" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [54 ] Yamaoka has since made a full recovery.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The accident caused the Missouri Valley Conference to ban its member schools from allowing cheerleaders to be "launched or tossed and from taking part in formations higher than two levels" for one week during a women's basketball conference tournament, and also resulted in a recommendation by the NCAA that conferences and tournaments do not allow pyramids two and one half levels high or higher, and a stunt known as basket tosses, during the rest of the men's and women's basketball season.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aacca.org_55-0" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [55 ] On July 11, 2006, the bans were made permanent by the AACCA rules committee: <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The committee unanimously voted for sweeping revisions to cheerleading safety rules, the most major of which restricts specific upper-level skills during basketball games. Basket tosses, 2 1/2 high pyramids, one-arm stunts, stunts that involve twisting or flipping, and twisting tumbling skills may only be performed during halftime and post-game on a matted surface and are prohibited during game play or time-outs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aacca.org_55-1" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [55] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Of the United States ' 2.9 million female high school athletes, only 3% are cheerleaders, yet cheerleading accounts for nearly 65% of all catastrophic injuries in girls ' high school athletics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NCSIR_2011_56-0" len="203" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [56 ] The NCAA does not recognize cheerleading as a collegiate sports; there are no solid numbers on college cheerleading, yet when it comes to injuries, 67% or female athlete injuries at the college level are due to cheerleading mishaps.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" len="301" style="line-height:1;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]  Another study found that between 1982 and 2007, there were 103 fatal, disabling or serious injuries recorded among female high school athletes, with the vast majority (67) occurring in cheerleading.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [57]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the early 2000s, cheerleading was considered one of the most dangerous school activities. The main source of injuries comes from stunting, also known as pyramids. These stunts are performed at games and pep rallies, as well as competitions. Sometimes competition routines are focused solely around the use of difficult and risky stunts. These stunts usually include a flyer (the person on top), along with one or two bases (the people on the bottom) and, one or two spotters in the front and back on the bottom. The most common cheerleading related injuries are: sprained ankles, sprained wrists, back injuries, head injuries (sometimes concussions), broken arms, elbow injuries, knee injuries, broken noses, and broken collarbones.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [58 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[59 ] Sometimes, however, injuries can be as serious as whiplash, broken necks, broken vertebrae, and death.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The journal Pediatrics has reportedly said that the number of cheerleaders suffering from broken bones, concussions, and sprains has increased by about 100 per cent between the years of 1990 and 2002, and that in 2001 there were 25,000 hospital visits reported for cheerleading injuries dealing with the shoulder, ankle, head, and neck.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [60 ] Meanwhile, in the UNITED STATES, cheerleading accounted for 65.1% of all major physical injuries to high school females, and to 66.7% of major injuries to college students due to physical activity from 1982 to 2007, with minors being admitted to hospital with 22,900 cheerleading-related injuries in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IE300609_61-0" len="201" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [61 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[62]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In October 2009, the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA), a subsidiary of Varsity Brands, released a study that analyzed the data from Emergency Room visits of all high school athletes. The study asserted that contrary to many perceptions, cheerleading injuries are in line with female sports.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [63]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading (for both girls and boys) was one of the sports studied in the Pediatric Injury Prevention, Education and Research Program of the Colorado School of Public Health in 2009/10 – 2012/13.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [64 ] Data on cheerleading injuries is included in the report for 2012-13.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [65]

In popular culture
See also: List of cheerleaders in fiction <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The revamped and provocative Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders of the 1970s — and the many imitators that followed — firmly established the cheerleader as an American icon of wholesome sex appeal. In response, a new subgenre of exploitation films suddenly sprang up with titles such as The Cheerleaders (1972), The Swinging Cheerleaders (1974), Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1975), The Pom Pom Girls (1976), Satan's Cheerleaders (1977), and Cheerleaders's Wild Weekend (1979). In addition to R-rated sex comedies and horror films, cheerleaders became a staple of the adult film industry, starting with Debbie Does Dallas (1978) and its four sequels.
 * Movies and television

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On television, the made-for-TV movie The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (which aired January 14, 1979) starring Jane Seymour was a highly rated success, spawning the 1980 sequel The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Dallas squad was in high demand during the late ' 70s with frequent appearances on network specials, awards shows, variety programs, commercials, the game show Family Feud and sitcoms such as The Love Boat. The Sci-Fi sitcom Mork & Mindy also based a 1979 episode around the Denver Broncos cheerleaders with Mork (Robin Williams) trying out for the squad.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading's increasing popularity in recent decades has made it a prominent feature in high-school themed movies and television shows. The 2000 film Bring It On, about a San Diego high school cheerleading squad called "The Toros", starred real-life former cheerleader Kirsten Dunst. Bring It On was a surprise hit and earned nearly $ 70 million domestically. It spawning five direct-to-video sequels: Bring It On Again in 2003, Bring It On: All or Nothing in 2006, Bring It On: In It to Win It in 2007, and Bring It On: Fight to the Finish. Bring It On was followed in 2001 by another teen cheerleading comedy, Sugar & Spice. In 1993, The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering ' Mom was a TV movie which told the true story of Wanda Holloway, the Texas mother whose obsession with her daughter's cheerleading career made headline news.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2006, Hayden Panettiere, star of Bring It On: All or Nothing, took another cheerleading role as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with an accelerated healing factor on NBC's hit sci-fi TV series Heroes, launching cheerleading back into the limelight of pop culture. Claire was the main focus of the show's first story arc, featuring the popular catchphrase, "Save the cheerleader, save the world". Her prominent, protagonist role inHeroes was supported by a strong fan-base and provided a positive image for high school cheerleading.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2009, Panettiere starred again as a cheerleader, this time as Beth Cooper in the film adaptation of the novel I Love You, Beth Cooper .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2006, the reality show Cheerleader Nation was featured on the Lifetime television channel. Cheerleader Nation is a 60 minute television series based on the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School cheerleading team's ups and downs on the way to nationals, of which they are the three time champions. The show also believes that cheerleading is tough. The show takes place in Lexington, Kentucky.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The 2007 series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team shows the process of getting on the pro squad of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. Everything from initial tryouts to workout routines and the difficulties involved is shown. The series was extended a year to show the process of getting the 2008 Cheerleaders ready.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2009, Universal Pictures signed music video and film director Billie Woodruff (Barbershop, Honey) to direct the fifth film in the series titled Bring It On Bring It On: Fight to the Finish. The film stars Christina Milian(who previously played cheerleaders in Love do not Cost a Thing and Man of the House) and Rachelle Brook Smith, and was released directly to DVD and Blu-ray on September 1, 2009.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The series Glee, which began in 2009, features Dianna Agron as Quinn Fabray, the captain of her high school cheerleading squad, the Cheerios. Quinn becomes pregnant, leading to her expulsion from the squad, but two of the other Cheerios, Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce also feature heavily in the show. In "The Power of Madonna" Kurt Hummel joins the Cheerios along with Mercedes Jones.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The CW Television Network created the short-lived series Hellcats (2010-11). This drama was about the ups and downs of being a college cheerleader. It starred Alyson Michalka as Marty (a former gymnast forced to become a cheerleader after her academic scholarship is canceled) and Ashley Tisdale from High School Musical .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Nintendo has released a pair of video games in Japan for the Nintendo DS, ''[http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FOsu!_Tatakae!_Ouendan Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan] and its sequel Moero [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMoero!_Nekketsu_Rhythm_Damashii_Osu!_Tatakae!_Ouendan_2 ! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii] ''that star teams or male cheer squads, or Ouendan that practice a form of cheerleading. Each of the games ' most difficult modes replaces the male characters with female cheer squads that dress in western cheerleading uniforms. The games task the cheer squads with assisting people in desperate need of help by cheering them on and giving them the motivation to succeed. There are also a All Star Cheerleader and We Cheer for the Wii in which one does routines at competitions with the Wiimote & Nunchuck. All Star Cheerleader is also available for Nintendo DS.
 * Video games

Cheerleading in Canada
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Cheerleading in Canada is rising in popularity among the youth in co-curricular programs. Cheerleading has grown from the sidelines to a competitive activity throughout the world and in particular Canada.Cheerleading has a few streams in Canadian sports culture. It is available at the middle school, high school, collegiate and best known for all-star. There are multiple regional, provincial and national championship opportunities for all athletes participating in cheerleading. Canada does not have a provincial teams, just a national program referred to as CCU or Team Canada. Their first year as a National team was in 2009 when they represented Canada at the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships International Cheer Union (ICU).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [66]

Canada as a competition
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There is no official governing body for Canadian Cheerleading. The rules and guidelines for cheerleading used in Canada are the ones set out by the USASF.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [67 ] However, there are many organizations in Canada that put on competitions and have separate and individual rules and score sheets for each competition. Cheer Evolution is the largest cheerleading and dance organization for Canada. They hold many competitions as well as provide a competition for bids to Worlds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [68 ] There are other organizations such as the Ontario Cheerleading Federation (Ontario), Power Cheerleading Association (Ontario), Kicks Athletics (Quebec) and the International Cheer Alliance (Vancouver). There are over forty recognized competitive gym clubs with numerous teams that compete at competitions across Canada.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [69]

Canada at the World Championships of Cheerleading (USASF/ICU)
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There are two world championship competitions that Canada participates in. There is the ICU World Championships where the National Teams compete against each other and then there are the Club team World Championships. These club teams are referred to as "all-star" teams who compete at the USASF World Championships or Cheerleading. This is where teams must have earned a bid from their own country to attend.National team members who compete at the ICU Worlds can also compete with their "all-star Club" teams.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [70 ] Although athletes can compete in both International Cheer Union (ICU) and USASF, crossovers between teams at each individual competition are not permitted. Teams compete against the other teams from their countries on the first day of competition and the top three teams from each country in each division continue to Finals. At the end of finals, the top team scoring the highest for their country earns the "Nations Cup". Canada has multiple teams across their country that compete in the USASF Cheerleading Worlds Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [71]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The International Cheer Union (ICU) is built-in or 103 countries that compete against each other in four divisions; Coed Premier Premier, All-girl, Coed Elite and All-girl Elite. Canada has a national team ran by the Canadian Cheer Union (CCU). Their Coed Elite Level 5 Team and their All-girl Elite Level 5 team are 4-time world champions. They are found from all over the country. In 2013, they have added two more teams to their roster. A new division that will compete head-to-head with the United States: in both the All-girl and Coed Premier Level 6 divisions. Members have been and are selected on the basis of their tryout skills and potential to succeed. Athletes are selected from all over. Canada's national program has grown to be one of the most successful programs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72" len="192" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [72]