I cheered for two years in high school and I was a competitive gymnast. The college that I attended did not have a sports program because I was at a commuter campus. :(

I can't be the only guy
 

I was a cheerleader in high scholl, captain of course. Then when I got to college one of the other guys on the squad told the coach about me and he made me join the team. In my second year I pulled both hamstrings and my groin. This was my third pull. It forced me into retirement. I loved it. Every now and then I'll toss a few stunts or a tumbling pass. It was funny while I was online there were two other guys pledging KAPsi. It's odd to have that many black male cheerleaders in frats. At the same time one guy was ATO and another was in another org.

Amen Sister!!!

I have an injury sheet from cheering and gymnastics that would make most athletes (esp. football players) weep just at the sight of it.

I would dare any football player to have your spotter drop you from the third level of a pyramid onto a hard gym floor, and still have the guts to get back on their and do it again day after day.

-Lil Snakey K

famous cheerleaders
 

Well, I figured I would add my little spill along with everyone else. I used to cheer in high school. I cheered for Greenup County which is pretty well known for cheerleading. I was actually on the squad the year they wrote the book about Greenup and I was one of the characters the author focused on. The book is called "We've Got Spirit". If you like cheerleading it is a pretty good book to read. As for cheering in college....I have thought about it a couple of times but in all actuality I don't think I could handle it on top of all the other things I am involved in. I remember how much time it took during high school and it is something I would rather not live through again no matter how much attention it would or could bring.

I was a cheerleader in HS and wanted to try out for college... but practice interferes with meetings it's kinda like sorority or cheerleading at my school unfortunately there is time conflicts... :(

;)
 

ahh, memories! I cheered in junior high, then went on to be captain of the Pom squad for 4 years, then i did cheerleading for soccer, and cheering for my senior year too (they combined the cheer & pom girls together--what i describe as HELL for a girl who was all about the Poms & dancing!)
But for college i just didn't want to do it anymore (ok, i went to the informational meeting, but seeing my competition & the lil outfits i decided i could do other things) Plus its a HUGE time commitment!
this thread brings back so many good memories!

Rach_DG,
I love that book!:) I have read it soo many times...I can't say enough how great it was. I even went to the extent to have one of my close friends read it, to prove to her how amazingly competitive and great cheerleading is (and it worked...she no longer disses cheerleading!)

And this may be pathetic....but after reading the book, I went on some university sites just to see if the squad members in the book had made the teams they tried out for! I get really into every book I read and I feel as though I'm "in" the book....and I was curious to see what had happened to all the girls!:D I really did love it!:)

Okay I'm done babbling about that!:)

Now I was a 6 sport letterman through high school but the only injuries I ever got were from cheerleading. I would take a hit from a 250lb linebacker but my stunt partner's elbow in the face found it's way to send me to the doctor w/ a broken nose.

Hmm...I find this very hard to believe..... 7-10 year olds throwing back tuck baskets, full baskets and double full baskets? Basket tosses where the flyer's head goes below waist level (as in a back tuck) are illegal to any team under college level cheering. Also, 7-10 year olds don't have the strength to generate the height required for these baskets. And don't even get me started on them not having the spatial awareness.....

actually...
 

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I cheered in junior high and I loved it, but where are my dance team girls??? That's what I did in high school. Much love to all of ya!!!

My cheer squad was more pom/dance than straight out cheer. We did the cheers, but no stunts-- had dances to all the band songs and danced half time shows.

Sisterplum,
I am glad you liked the book!!! Alot of the people in my town didn't like it much because it really got down and dirty when it came to some aspects of some of the girls' lives. I'm sure you know what I mean. Luckily though, I didn't feel like I personally was portrayed bad in the book. I wasn't particularly fond of how the author continuously played on my nickname "Olive" or the fact that he pretty much said I was the ugly duckling (I've finally blossomed into the beautiful dove) but I have to honestly say that he didn't do me too much injustice. If you would like to know what happened to all of the girls after the book was published just let me know and I can update you!!!

Re: actually...
 

What all-star group are you with? It's amazing for me to hear how far cheerleading has come in the past 10 years. I was a gymnast who made the switch to cheerleading in high school, and at that time (it's been awhile now), a squad standing tuck was UNBELIEVABLE. We competed coed showcheer at USA & UCA competitions, and the level that is it at today is just unbelievable.

I joined the first all-star group that my city had (again, it was awhile ago but out here in CA we were a little behind Southern Sts.) when I was a Sophomore, and agree that it is a different brand of cheerleading than high school is.

Love and AOE from the Pacific Coast :cool:

Re: actually...
 

You have 10 year olds with triples and 5 year olds with fulls??? WOW! I coach gymnastics, and that is pretty impressive! According to the current FIG Code of Points a layout full is a B-value skill and a triple is an E-value skill. For those of you not familiar with the COP, it gives each gymnastic skill a value (by letter) and each Level of competitive gymnastics are allowed to do skills from a group of skills. For example, a skill with an E-value (such as a triple full) is a skill that international elite gymnasts will perform (and not all of them do).

What gym is this at? I'd love to find out what training methods are used for tumbling, maybe we can implement them here. Will the owner/head coach be at USA Gymnastics National Congress in a few weeks? I'd love to meet with them and discuss training methods....
VT-TriD please respond or PM me with the info! Thanks!