CHEERLEADING
IS IT, OR IS IT NOT A SPORT?
Before going into the different opinions about whether or not this activity is a sport or not, here is a brief history of cheerleading, and how and where it began....
The first pep club was established at Princeton University in the 1870's and the following decade brought about the first organized yell.
The University of Minnesota is credited with the first school "fight song".
Although it had been in use on the day cheerleading began in 1898, the 1900's saw the popular use of the megaphone.
The first "homecoming" was held at the University of Illonois in 1910.
In 1920, "yellleaders" brought in drums and noisemakers. As football became more popular so did cheerleading.
Women became active in cheerleading in the 1920's.
The University of Minnesota cheerleaders began to incorporate gymnastics and tumbling into their cheers and the first flash card cheering section was directed by Lindley Bothwell at Oregon State University.
In the 1930's universities and high schools alike began performing pom-pom routines and using paper poms, still the most widely recognized cheerleading prop.
In the early 1940's, when men went to war, women not only went to work, but also onto the cheerleading squads. Cheerleading then became more of a female sport.
When the men returned from war, new twists and turns were added. Gymnastics were always done by men, while the girls danced which gave rise to dance teams.
In 1948, Laurence Hurkimer (founder of the spirit industry) organized the first cheerleader camp at Huntville's Sam Houston University, with just 52 girls in attendance.
In the 1950's, college cheerleaders began conducting cheerleading workhops to teach fundamental cheerleading skills.
The Baltimore Colts organized the first professional cheerleading squad in history. Up until then, high school squads were used on the sidelines to promote spirit. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders created a pure pom-pom "Broadway Style" dance entertainment for crowds.
In 1976, the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders performed at Super Bowl X and started an evolution of "dancing cheerleaders." The 1970's also saw the beginning of collegiate and High School cheerleading competitions.
Today, collegiate pom and dance is a fast growing segment of the spirit industry.
MY LINKS
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHOM WERE ONCE CHEERLEADERS
MY OPINION: CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT, AND HERE'S WHY I THINK SO
CHEERLEADING IN THE USA: A SPORT AND AN INDUSTRY (USA TODAY ARTICLE 04/26/02)
SPORTS VS. ACTIVITY? IT'S A TOSSUP (USA TODAY ARTICLE 04/26/02)
CHEERLEADING NOW A VARSITY SPORT AT UNIV. OF MD (ESPN COLLEGE SPORTS 09/27/03)