All Stars at UK Cheerleading Association Nationals 2010
Figures from the Department of Education showing that 37% of schools are now offering cheerleading in PE lessons have been greeted with scorn in the media. “Schools axe real sport in the craze for cheerleading,” was one headline. The popular perception is that cheerleading is the uncompetitive preserve of blonde beauty queens rah-rahing with pom-poms. For the Ascension Eagles, a cheerleading squad of 130 children and young women – and men – aged three to 24, nothing could be further from the truth.
“Some people may have an outdated view that it’s just waving pom-poms but if you open your eyes and look at modern cheerleading it’s a lot more sporty than many other sports out there,” says Shara Brice, founder and director of the Ascension Eagles. “The exciting thing is when it empowers young people to take charge of their lives, to stay fit and active and say no to unhealthy life choices”. Patrick Barkham, The Guardian.
No it isn’t a sport and a few boys deciding to cheerlead doesn’t make it so – it’s still girls cheering on the boys – anyone who thinks different is deluded – I want to see girls playing sports not stood waving their pom-poms. In fact
They are waggling their arses near boys who are doing sport. The boys are motivated to compete harder and triumph in the subliminal (or not so subliminal) hope that they’ll get first pick of these little minxes on the sidelines. Even if you don’t think it’s sexual – and I do; I think these girls might as well be bent over a rock, waiting to be mounted by whichever caveman gets back first with a rabbit in his hand – at best, their job is to support the action rather than take part in it. Victoria Coren, The Guardian.
The Washington Redskins cheerleaders – is this really what we want our daughters to consider sport?