In America, we praise and celebrate many athletes for their skills and talents. Whether our affections extend to the strength of football players or the agility and focus of baseball players, we in America tend to focus our praise and attention on traditional athletic sports. However, that is where our attention and praise as a nation ends as it does not extend to other respective sports.
At the heart of such neglect is cheerleading. Often characterized as a silly and feminine activity, cheerleading has been collectively reduced and simplified to just a foolish activity for girls. Ignoring all the skills, talents, and practices that are key factors that make up the activity, cheerleading is often neglected and forgotten as a serious sport.
I would like to highlight and showcase the many skills and talents required to participate in the sport of cheerleading. Needing agility and flexibility, a person is required to be flexible to complete the skills and cheer routine. Often comprised of moves such as splits, cartwheels, and somersaults, a person needs to be flexible in order to complete the moves and routine, which is an important factor that pertains to the sport of cheerleading. Additionally, requiring strength, a person is also required to have enough muscle mass. Needing enough strength to lift, carry, and toss their fellow teammates, cheer is also comprised of acrobats and stunts that are often performed during a cheer routine.
These two skills are only a fraction of the talents and abilities needed in order to perform the athletics of a cheerleader. Possessing many similarities with other sports and athletics, such as speed, endurance, hand-eye-coordination, and focus, cheerleading is a difficult yet rewarding sport that should be respected among people in America.
