Would you be okay with your dd being a cheerleader?

[Anonymous]

No. I wouldn't completely prohibit it, but I'd all but ban it. Let's see, the hyper-sexualization of young girls, the constant focus on appearance, the huge potential for injury, the lack of any "future" to it (even e.g. an adult rec league)... What's not to like???

[Anonymous]

Daughter: Yes

Son: No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not to derail this thread, but do you really find ballet more active than sideline cheering? My daughter does ballet and it does not seem very active at all. I've been thinking about suggesting cheering because it seems like much better exercise. I have encouraged soccer and more traditional sports in the past, but she is only interested in the girly stuff.

How old is your daughter, and what level of ballet is she in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I wouldn't completely prohibit it, but I'd all but ban it. Let's see, the hyper-sexualization of young girls, the constant focus on appearance, the huge potential for injury, the lack of any "future" to it (even e.g. an adult rec league)... What's not to like???

what about the men who do it?

And there is no "future" to a lot of sports. I don't know that many 40 year olds who are running around playing lax or tackle football or doing the long jump or shotput.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be horrified if my dd decided to become a cheerleader. What a trashy and degrading thing to do.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not to derail this thread, but do you really find ballet more active than sideline cheering? My daughter does ballet and it does not seem very active at all. I've been thinking about suggesting cheering because it seems like much better exercise. I have encouraged soccer and more traditional sports in the past, but she is only interested in the girly stuff.

How old is your daughter, and what level of ballet is she in?

Ballet is a gateway to eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Do some research!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I wouldn't completely prohibit it, but I'd all but ban it. Let's see, the hyper-sexualization of young girls, the constant focus on appearance, the huge potential for injury, the lack of any "future" to it (even e.g. an adult rec league)... What's not to like???

Are you sure you are not from Plymouth Rock, writing from 1620s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Believe it or not, it is a scholarship sport. My cousin's daughter receives a scholarship for cheerleading at a division 1 school. It is a university with a strong cheerleading program. It's football and basketball teams often get national tv coverage (they are on ESPN instead of a local channel).

It was my understanding that coaches don't recruit for it though? And that they have to try out once enrolled in college? If you have some links with colleges that offer cheer scholarships, that would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no. it's silly and not a real lifelong sport like swimming, tennis or soccer.

Very few people are still playing soccer on anything resembling a regular basis by the time they are in their 40s.

Disagree. My DH and one of best female friends both play on adult leagues. My therapist swims on a master's team. I know TONS of ladies who play in social tennis leagues. I do not know any adult cheerleaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know the Dubya Bush was a cheerleader and he went on to become the president of the United States of America.

wait! was it Nixon? I just might google and verify.

definitely not points in cheerleadings' favor ;P

Eh, my mom was so upset when I came home and said I wanted to be a cheerleader in 4th grade, but she kept that shit to myself because she liked to let me decide on activities. I did it for several years and really enjoyed it. Only did half a season in HS because I wanted to do marching band instead.

My child has brought it up, but she has so many other activities and I truly do not want to give up THAT much more time. She's doing ballet, which is much more active than the sideline cheerleading for peewee leagues that I did (and she wants to do).

Several of her friends are into the competitive stuff, which I said absolutely not to. That's a lifestyle.

Not to derail this thread, but do you really find ballet more active than sideline cheering? My daughter does ballet and it does not seem very active at all. I've been thinking about suggesting cheering because it seems like much better exercise. I have encouraged soccer and more traditional sports in the past, but she is only interested in the girly stuff.

Ballet dancers are incredibly strong and fit witu great stamina and flexibility. Ballet is HARD even though it looks easy. Keep in mind, ballet is a slow burn where the difficulty is gradually, purposely and methodically increased, where cheer can be everything all at once without the building of a strong technical base (see gymnast post above).

If your daughter loves ballet and dance and you want to add more cardio type activity, consider adding jazz, hip hop and/or tap to her training. All of those will have her moving and sweating at a faster pace than ballet.

[Anonymous]

I was a high school cheerleader.

Our coach was no nonsense, didn't allow heavy makeup, and no sexy moves.

We focused on gymnastics, form, deep cheering voices (no high-pitched squealing) and physical fitness.

We were not to mingle with players.

She was pretty strict and I loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Believe it or not, it is a scholarship sport. My cousin's daughter receives a scholarship for cheerleading at a division 1 school. It is a university with a strong cheerleading program. It's football and basketball teams often get national tv coverage (they are on ESPN instead of a local channel).

It was my understanding that coaches don't recruit for it though? And that they have to try out once enrolled in college? If you have some links with colleges that offer cheer scholarships, that would be great.

Not for cheer, but I know many girls who have received significant dance team (very similar to cheer and pompon) scholarships to college. They try out during their senior year of high school and receive their awards packages before commiting to the school.

[Anonymous]

Cheerleading has an insanely high injury rate, so I would worry about that. I would also worry about pressure regarding looks and weight. I don't think I'd be horrified, and I wouldn't think it was trashy and degrading, but I probably wouldn't be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not to derail this thread, but do you really find ballet more active than sideline cheering? My daughter does ballet and it does not seem very active at all. I've been thinking about suggesting cheering because it seems like much better exercise. I have encouraged soccer and more traditional sports in the past, but she is only interested in the girly stuff.

How old is your daughter, and what level of ballet is she in?

Ballet is a gateway to eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Do some research!

Or talk to some ballerinas. My spouse was a professional dancer (not ballet) for a while, and we have lots of friends in the arts and dance world, and holy crap, can ballet mess people up. Girls who stopped getting their periods, ate nothing but rice cakes to maintain the body type, etc. I would not want my daughter to do ballet. Lots of other kinds of dance and exercise in the world.

[Anonymous]

So much judgement.

When you see girls who are cheerleaders do you automatically assume they are trashy and stupid? Do you think maybe you are the one with the problem?