FREE History of Cheerleading Essay (original) (raw)

In 1880 cheerleading started with a group of men from Princeton University encouraging their football team. In 1884 after one of the original pep club members, Thomas Pebbles, graduated he moved to Minnesota and introduced cheer to University of Minnesota. That same school year two rugby players created the university's first campus "cheer." Cheerleading didn't become the cheerleading that is known today until 1898 when Johnny Campbell, considered the grandfather of cheer, took the yelling from the stands to the field itself. This is when many schools across the U.S. began implementing their own pep clubs.
In 1923 the University of Minnesota introduced the first women cheerleaders, also in the 1920s a University of Oregon cheerleader introduced the first signs. In the 1940s cheerleading became a female-dominated sport since most collegiate men were drafted into the war. This was also when stunts and tumbling were added to the sidelines. In 1948 a Southern Methodist University cheerleader by the name of Lawrence Herkimer introduced the cheer camp at Sam Houston State Teacher's College, now Sam Houston State University. The camps gained immediate popularity. Herkimer then went on to develop the "Herkie" jump, spirit stick, and pom-poms. In 1961 the National Cheerleaders Association was born, with the founder being Lawrence Herkimer. With the founding of the NCA, cheerleading began catching on fast with nearly every college and high school having a squad. By 1967 cheer became the fastest growing youth activity in the U.S. This was mainly due to many peewee and youth leagues being initiated. Also that same year the first competitions were held, with titles like "Top Ten College Cheerleading Squads" and "Cheerleading All America.".
When Title IX, the education amendment that banned discrimination based on gender, was passed in 1972 the sport of cheerleading changed dramatically and became very athletic.

1. Cheerleading

Cheerleading is a very popular sport these days. ... They first called cheerleading the "yell". ... In the 1920s woman became more active in cheerleading. ... The Baltimore Colts organized the first professional cheerleading squad in history. ... I've told you how cheerleading started, what the first organization was, and how cheerleading is today, so now you should have a better idea of what cheerleading is. ...

2. Why Cheerleading is a Sport

Cheerleading has made a remarkable transformation throughout the past 116 years. ... " By looking at the history, evolution, current legislation and the different classifications surrounding Cheerleading, some definite conclusions can be drawn about the current status of this activity and sport. ... Although high school and colligate cheerleading are not considered sports by todays definition, competitive cheerleading is a sport, as it does meet all the requirements of a sport activity. ... However, this is highly untrue when it comes to competitive cheerleading. ... Torgovnick has pro...

3. Cheerleading

Can you believe that little phrase is the origin of cheerleading? ... At University of Minnesota was where the history of cheerleading in the United States began. ... Johnny Campbell is actually who gets the credit for the innovation of cheerleading. ... Males dominated the cheerleading squads up until the war began in the 1940's, when men were shipped off to war. ... Cheerleading takes a lot of hard work, practice, and skill. ...

4. How Cheerleading Changed My Life

My senior year we had to physical and mental ability to win a state cheerleading championship. ... " This started a fire inside me and fueled my passion for cheerleading even more. ... The announcer begins again," And our five A state cheerleading championsSTARR'S MILL." Oh my, we had just won our first state cheerleading championship in Starr's Mill's school history. ... Through all my years of cheerleading, I learned different life lesson every year. ...

5. Is Cheerleading a Sport?

The criteria are "1) physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. 2) a contest of competition against or with an opponent. 3) is governed by rules which explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared" (Is Cheerleading online). ... The criteria applies to cheerleading. ... In fact, some of the most influential, important people of cheer history were men. Jack Campbell was the first ever cheerleader and Lawrence Herkimer made many developments such as pom-poms, NCA (Na...

6. Heaven Awaits

The company designs and sells shoes for just about every sport, including baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, and wrestling. ... A mystical presence, symbolizing victorious encounters, NIKE presided over history's earliest battlefields. ...

7. You Are Where You Stand

If Hamilton's students are used for a new teen movie you would probably have the most diverse cast in the history of teeny bopper movies. ... The subgroup I most commonly relate to are those in Crenshaw, consisting mainly of African - American students, the cheerleading squad, the senior tree, and football and basketball. ...

8. Hardworking Cheerleaders

How would they feel if they saw a whole different side of cheerleading? ... It was like nothing I had seen before.I Asked one of my friends on the teams mom about their history of success and was informed that the the varsity team has not only gotten a bid to nationals but has placed in the top ten the past four years even being crowned national champs in 2013. ... I feel a lot of eyes would be opened at Jefferson if people took time to go to a cheer competition and watch how talented and hard working our cheerleading team is....

9. The Disorder of Anorexia Nervosa

Genetic factors include higher risk for developing a disorder if there is a family history of a disorder. ... They are often involved in recreations that exemplify the ideal woman, like cheerleading, dancing, modeling, theater, and certain sports [CITATION NHS14 l 1033]. ...

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