At games a cheerleader’s goal is to move the crowd, to drive spirit, and to raise energy. But what goes unnoticed for many at cheer competitions is the cheering that pushes the team to success. Parents, friends, team members, and more yell, clap, chant, anything they can to make their support be known by the girls on the mat.
Junior Varsity and Gameday cheerleader, Clare Emery, shares how crowd cheering helps her throughout her performances, “Having people cheer for me off mat reminds me that the relationships I’ve built through cheer are bigger than what I’m doing.” Emery says, “Having a strong support system of people that truly want you to succeed is a feeling unlike any other.”
Maggie Wolf, Junior Gameday cheerleader, credits crowd cheers for getting her excited, however she says they can be nerve racking knowing she is about to perform.
Cheerleaders often support one another by cheering each other on while performing. They find moments in the routine where they can turn to their teammate with a nod or yell of encouragement. Cheerleaders can be seen standing behind stunts cheering the stunting group on, quickly patting each other on the back before throwing a tumbling pass, and many other moments of reassurance.
For Emery, on mat encouragement from fellow teammates helps lock her into the routine, keeping her steady in where she needs to be. “Having people cheer me on mat helps ground me and bring me into the moment.” Emery says, “With the fast nature of cheerleading, it’s easy to lock out and get unfocused in just a split second. Having people on mat who are also doing a hard routine and focusing builds confidence that I can do it too.”
Wolf feels the same as Emery, “I know that we are a team and that we can lock in and support each other during the routine,” Wolf says when she hears her teammates supporting her on the mat.
Both Wolf and Emery reflect on the times they have been on the other side of the mat, cheering on a competing team and how that experience affects their perspective of cheerleading. “When I’m preforming, it can be so stressful to make sure that you execute your role perfectly that I usually only focus on my jobs, getting them done, and doing them well.” Emery says, “But when cheering on another team, I’m able to take it in as a whole and look at the bigger picture.” As for Wolf, cheering on a team brings reflections on the nature of the sport, “It makes me realize how much of a supportive sport this is.” Wolf says, “Everyone cheers for everyone.”
In competition cheerleading, a sport built on precision and trust, the crowd becomes part of the routine. Every shout, every chant, every voice of encouragement reminds them to “push” and carries the team through the music to success.
