History Of Cheerleading
Facts about the History of Cheerleading
Cheerleading has become a popular and demanding sport for both girls and boys, although the history of cheerleading shows that it began as merely a fun activity that involved college boys only. It has now grown to the point where there are clinics, schools and competitions that focus on competitive cheering.
The concept of cheerleading may go back to the earliest days of our civilization, when brutal and primitive fights between humans and animals alike were egged on by the encouraging yells of those standing by watching. This may very well have been the roots behind modern day cheerleading, although it has undergone many changes over the decade. Organized cheering is being attributed to the sport of football, as the first documented group that synchronized their cheering efforts occurred around 1870 at a Princeton University football event. A student at the university gathered 6 men together to stand along the sidelines during a football game, where they proceeded to cheer on the players on the field. The rehearsed words chanted over and over may not have been intelligent prose, but the words “rah”, “sis”, “boom” and “hurrah” served to ignite the crowd to cheer along their home team. The same student who began the group cheering at Princeton took the principle of cheering with him to the University of Minnesota in 1884. The concept caught on, and soon the student body of the Minnesota University was joining in with the frenzied chanting. One medical student, Johnny Campbell, is credited with being the start of the history of cheerleading as we know it today. In 1898, Johnny and a group of other young men are recorded in leading the cheer for their school’s football team that brought rhyme into cheers: “rah, rah, rah……sku-u-mah……hoo-rah…..university……minn-e-so-tah!”
The response to this type of cheering was extremely positive, with a nominated squad of cheer leaders appointed to officiate at all following football events and marking the beginnings of organized cheerleading. Every year brought new innovations into the sport, with the participants of the squad bringing noisemakers into their cheers to add more interest and zeal. Drums, pom poms made of paper and even signs to hold up to prompt the audience in joining the cheers were items used by the enthusiastic young men. The football fans in the stands were in great favor of these cheering efforts, and their hearty participation in the yelling out the cheers drowned out the cheerleading squad below. The early 1900’s saw the introduction of megaphones into the sport; tools used to be heard over the passionate crowds. Matching clothes identified the squad as the cheering group.
It wasn’t until 1920 that women began to join the sport; the history of cheerleading thus far had included only the efforts of men. Their role began as a minimal one, but that changed with the advent of the 2nd World War in the 1940’s. As the men left to fight in the war, more and more women emerged in the cheering arena. They added their own touches to the sport, introducing dance moves and routines that included gymnastic feats. When the men returned at the end of the war, they found that the popularity of women in cheerleading was irreversible. Cheerleading schools and workshops opened, and the interest in the sport grew exponentially.
Today, the sport is considered to be not only an enjoyable activity but a strong competition as well. Basic training begins often in elementary schools, expanding into the active sport into high school and beyond. It never seems to lose its fun factor, however, and is seen as an important way to build confidence and self-esteem for both girls and boys.