Gymnastic Classes

There are cheerleading clinics that train cheerleaders how to execute their stunts properly and effectively. Among the cheerleading stunts perfected throughout the years are toe touches, pikes, hurdlers and herkies. Toe touch is the most popular stunt and the easiest to execute. It s done by making one clean jump with both legs spread in the air while the hands touch the toes. The least favourite is the pike, because one virtually has to fold their body in half while in mid air. Stomach muscles have to be strong in order to jump high and perform the stunt. Tumbling is also a big part of cheerleading. It includes back tucks, back handspring, back walkovers, cartwheels, aerials and round offs. The easiest is the cartwheel, as almost all kids are required to this in physical education classes. Aside from the spectacular stunts performed, cheerleaders are also responsible for spotting and catching their teammates who do the potentially dangerous stunts. If teammates are not caught prope …

Today, cheerleaders use gymnastic moves and athletic ability to flip, somersault and even catapult one another into the air, with stunts that can rival the excitement of any football or basketball game. In fact, “[Cheerleading has] evolved from a school-spirit activity into an activity demanding high levels of gymnastics skill and athleticism,” according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. It has also become much more dangerous, with the increasingly complex moves putting cheerleaders at risk of potentially serious head, neck and other injuries. Cheerleading Injuries Double Since 1990 The Pediatrics study found that cheerleading injuries have more than doubled from 1990 through 2002. Participation, however, grew only 18 percent during that period. Over the 13-year study, 208,800 5- to 18-year-olds were treated at U.S. hospitals for cheerleading-related injuries. Almost 40 percent involved leg, ankle and foot injuries. Researchers say the actual number of injuries is likely much grea …

It has been said it started at Princeton University as a way of stimulating the crowd at football games. After a few years, a Princeton graduate, Thomas Peebles, introduced this idea to the University of Minnesota. A student named Johnny Campbell reportedly got so excited at a game that he led the crowd in an organized chant, making Johnny the first cheerleader. By the 1920 s, women started participating in cheerleading, and by the 1940 s, cheerleading became mainly a female activity. In 1948, Lawrence Herkimer, better known as Herkie, established the first cheerleading clinic. The National Cheerleading Association held its first clinic with 52 girls in attendance. Herkie made slogans, buttons and ribbons to raise money. By the following year, the clinic grew to 350 cheerleaders. By the 50 s, most schools in America had formed their own cheerleading squads, and by the 60 s, competitions began to appear. The annual Top Ten College Cheer Squads and Cheerleader All-America were two o …

AAI Octagon Action Shape AAI Octagon Action shape Features: - Two new larger sizes, which are great for teaching older kids and cheerleaders tumbling skills, - 18 oz. vinyl covers, - Polyurethane filler,