When I was in high school, cheerleading was somewhat over-looked.
We saw the cheerleaders on the side of the field during football games or in the middle of the court at half-time of the basketball games.
But we didn’t really pay much attention to them.
Maybe that’s because we just weren’t interested in what they were doing, or maybe it was because what they were doing just wasn’t that interesting.
Either way, one thing that I do know for sure is that if the cheerleaders at my high school would have put on a performance like the one that the Connally Stars put on in this video, we would have noticed.
As they walk out in their matching green and white outfits, you can sort of feel that an awesome routine is about to take place.
Wearing their cowgirl hats, boots, and skirts, the cheerleaders line up in the middle of the court with their heads down, waiting for the music to start.
You can feel the anticipation in the room–both from the cheerleaders and the audience.
Then the music starts. “Cotton Eye Joe,” by Rednex comes on over the speakers.
The girls lift their heads one at a time which creates a really satisfying wave of human movement.
After their heads go up, their arms swing over and catch the shoulder of the girl next to them.
Once again, this happens one at a time so the human wave rolls down the line.
Then it’s into the high-kicks which are really the meat and potatoes of this dance.
With their arms linked, they jump and kick and turn all in unison.
It is a really satisfying thing to watch and not a single girl is out of place or out of sync.
It’s performances like these that convince me that cheerleading should get more credit as a legitimate sport.
I considered myself pretty athletic in high school, playing football and basketball.
But I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be able to pull off what these girls did in their video.
And it’s not just me that thinks that cheerleading deserves its spot in the realm of actual sports.
Since the Netflix Docuseries, Cheer came out, the realities of cheerleading have come into the public eye.
Not only is the talent level for cheerleading extremely high, but the danger level is too.
According to The Independent Florida Alligator, “A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics in October found that cheerleading is the most dangerous sport for females because of the high risk for concussions and ‘catastrophic’ injuries, which are classified as injuries that result in long-term medical conditions, permanent disabilities or a shorter lifespan.”
If these young men and women are willing to go through exhaustive practices, high-intensity athletic training, and risk their health and safety for an activity that they love, I think that it’s about time that we considered it a real sport.
So if you’re in the mood to see some impressive cheerleading, then check out the video below.
And the next time that you find yourself at sporting event make sure to give the cheerleaders a little love.
Because what they’re doing on the sideline required just as much effort and sacrifice as what’s going on on the field.
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