Middle School Cheerleaders

Give me a Y! Give me an E! Give me an A! Give me an H! YEAH!  Okay, so maybe it isn’t that rudimentary, but is being in middle school and being a cheerleader two things that really go together?

Since when does playing dodge ball in gym class constitute the need for cheerleaders?  Do middle school cheerleaders even exist or are they just miniature bombshells with short skirts and pom-poms? Let’s take a
look at the reasons why having middle school cheerleaders can be a good – or a bad thing.

Being a middle school cheerleader is more than just being a cheer squad and having fashionable outfits, it’s also about making and being friends. To be a part of a middle school cheer squad is to be a part of a club, one where everyone is working toward the same goal: getting people pumped up and ready to go!

In order to even become a cheerleader you have to try-out. This requires creating and practicing a routine that will impress the coaches. It also means that you have to have a certain GPA in order to join and stay on the squad.  With so many responsibilities, is it sensible to have 11 to 13 year olds participating?

Realistically, pre-teens have so many things going on already. They have puberty (this is huge), they have a whole new set of expectations to meet, they have brand new friends to make, and they have a whole new set of issues with their parents. Is giving them the responsibility of being a middle school cheerleader asking too much?

True, they have a lot on their plates at this age, but shouldn’t they also be a part of something they enjoy doing that is also keeping them out of trouble. Sure, not every kid is going to have discipline problems, but isn’t it better to keep them on the right path, rather than having to drag them from the wrong one?  Not only does cheerleading create a sense of importance, it also instills a sense of belonging. Being an essential part of something can be a big deal to a kid who is just starting to discover who she is.