Short skirts. Skinny blonde girls. Snobs. Queen bees. These are just some of the things that come to mind when you hear the words cheerleading and cheerleaders. Truth is there is more to those glamorous outfits and well made up pretty faces. Confidence, bravery, self discipline and determination are just some of the traits that you will eventually develop if you venture into this sport. Yes, cheerleading is indeed a sport. With the physical and mental effort and stamina required, modern cheerleading is now considered a sport which combines glamour and athleticism in any routine.

Being a cheerleader is not an easy thing. It takes a lot of practice and dedication. You need to be physically fit and flexible in learning different routines. You need to have the enormous talent, the bubbly personality and the effective ability to encourage spectators in any event.

Constant practice makes perfect. This is basically the reason why practice embraces more than half of a cheerleader’s life. Cheerleading routines especially the harder ones take days and even weeks to master. Practicing will take your cheerleading skills to the next level. It is also the first step in avoiding damages and ensuring your safety.

-Schedule your Practices

Organize the time of practice so you’ll have more productive practices and less physical exhaustion. Spend at least 4 times a week with about 3 to 4 hours each. If you are a high school student, remember that school should be on top of your priority so practices should be done before or after school and best on weekends. Remember to let your fellow cheerleaders know exactly the date, time and place of your practice to avoid delay. Be on time and on track.

-Wear Comfortable Clothing

Clothing is an important part of cheerleading. Yes, the short skirts are cute and sexy but there is a larger factor why they are that short. Basically, it is the most convenient outfit to wear to be able to make those high jumps and cartwheels. These garments are usually made of microfibers that keep moisture like sweat away and will keep you dry. Investing in a good workout bra is also very important. Also make sure to wear the proper shoes.

-Have a Break

Breaks are important in any sport. Drink lots of water to replenish what you sweat out. Resting will help you avoid physical exhaustion and it will also help you relax and be energized for the next batch of routines.

-Avoid Injuries and Be Safe

In every practice, make sure that your coach is there to supervise you and the routines you are doing. There is nothing more important than being able to prevent injuries from happening. Use rubber mats on hard surfaces especially if the routine you’ll be practicing includes lots of throwing and jumping. Always pay attention to what you’re doing and stay alert. Most cheerleaders have to spend late night practices at the school gym. Carrying your pen stun gun or pepper spray on your way home wouldn’t hurt.

To sum it up, cheerleading is not all about being cute and looking hot on those uniforms. It involves hard work and lots of determination.

Author Bio: Annabelle Lehoux is Judo instructor and the co-founder of Self Defense Products Depot which offers large variety of gadgets such as steel baton, dummy camera, metal detector and bear spray for your personal and home security. To learn more on how these products can help your situation, please visit http://www.self-defense-products-depot.com/

Category: Sports
Keywords: Cheerleading, cheerleader, pen stun gun, microfiber, pepper spray, cheerleading safety