Cheerleading combines elements of aerobics, acrobatics, dance and gymnastics. The name comes from two English words "cheer" and "lead", which in translation means an encouraging exclamation and manage, lead, respectively. The sport of cheerleading as a direction appeared in the second half of the 19th century, when it became fashionable to support athletes in sports competitions.

For the first time this direction appeared in Great Britain in 1960. A little later, cheerleading gains its popularity in the USA. The first cheerleading union was organized in New Jersey in 1965. The appearance of the first chants, without which cheerleading competitions are currently not possible, is attributed to the same period of time. The popularity of cheerleading is growing at a tremendous rate due to the creation of a perky, fun, vibrant atmosphere at sporting events.

1898 is considered to be the official year of the formation of cheerleading as a sport. Jack Campbell is considered the first cheerleader. This is due to the fact that initially only men took part in the cheerleading competitions, since they were considered the most active fans. But after the Second World War, the situation changed dramatically in the opposite direction and 90% of cheerleading participants began to be women.

The appearance of the fair sex in the team led to major changes: The performance of the cheerleading groups has become brighter and more spectacular due to the introduction of elements of gymnastics and dance performed to music into this sport. Around the same time, in 1985, the first pompom appeared, which was later slightly modified and acquired the same appearance which we are used to seeing.

In 2001 was established international association cheerleading, and in the same year, the first world championship in this sport was held in Tokyo.

In our country, cheerleading has existed for a little over ten years. The appearance of the first cheerleading team dates back to 1996. In 1998, the formation of the leisure club "Assol" was noted, the main task of which was the development of a program for this sport. The rapidly growing popularity of cheerleading led to the fact that already in 1999 the first competition of teams for the Federation Cup took place at the Dynamo Sports Palace in Moscow.

February 12, 2007 is considered the year official registration cheerleading as a sport in Russia.

In 2008, Russia took 5 prizes at the first stage of the Cheerleading World Cup.

Currently, there are two areas in cheerleading: competitions held between members of the cheerleading group, the main goals of which are to improve the sportsmanship of teams and identify the best teams, exchange of experience between team coaches; and second - work with sports clubs, teams and federations.

The objectives of such cooperation are: controlling the aggression of fans by involving them in chants, clapping, etc., introducing diversity into competitions, promoting healthy lifestyle life, attracting a large number of fans to the stadiums, directly supporting the team participating in the competition.

Competitions between teams are held in several main categories.

Chir is a nomination in which, during a beautiful and unusual dance, acrobatic numbers, various lifts, rebuilds, and jumps are performed. The main thing is the musical accompaniment, which stops at the moment of scoring the chants. The main rule is that only girls are allowed to participate in this nomination.

Cheer - dance - the main direction of this nomination is choreographic. Splits, pirouettes, jumps are evaluated here. The main requirement is that the third part of this program must be done with pom-poms.

Cheer - dance show - a nomination, which, as a rule, does not have any strict requirements. Everything is possible here. The main thing is the brightness, emotionality and entertainment of the performance and the presence of pirouettes - rotation on one leg around its axis. There are also chir - jumps and lip - jumps - jumps with the transition to one leg.

Cheer - mix - a nomination that is identical to the nomination of a cheer in all requirements. The main difference is that mixed groups consisting of both boys and girls are involved here.

Group stunt is a type of support in which two to five people take part. When performing this nomination, team members lift up or throw up one of the cheerleaders. The person holding upper part pyramids are commonly called a flyer. Pyramid - several stunts connected to each other. In this nomination, participants try to make the pyramid as high as possible in order to attract the attention of fans occupying distant places.

Individual cheerleader - the performance of one, usually the most prepared member of the team, most often this is the leader of the participants.

Partner stunt - pair performance of a boy and a girl.

Mention should also be made of the so-called Cheerleader's Code, which is also a promotion of a healthy lifestyle and a regulator of the behavior of members of support groups. The rules of this code prohibit the use and possession of alcoholic beverages, narcotic substances, smoking, obscene expressions. It is also forbidden to express your disrespect, or negative attitude towards the coach, or members of other teams.

Currently, cheerleading is gaining more and more popularity and attracting an increasing number of participants in cheerleading groups. Bright, emotional performances by children of different age groups demonstrate the benefits of regular classes sports, healthy lifestyle.

But do not forget that a lot of work is going on before the bright moments of the performance. sports orientation and in the field of aerobics, and acrobatics, and gymnastics. Indeed, cheerleading is a sport that requires great strength will, endurance, firmness of character, regular training and the desire to be the best.

Those who have ever attended the home matches of their favorite teams will undoubtedly remember the charming girls with bright fluffy pom-poms who run out onto the platforms during the break and delight thousands of fans with their incendiary numbers.

They rhythmically bounce and dance, and all movements and rearrangements perform surprisingly smoothly. At first glance, their exit serves only to defuse the tension of the match. But everything is not so simple - dancing girls make up a specially trained support group sports teams. Their performances are called cheerleading. Translated from English: cheer - a welcome exclamation and lead - to manage. Conditionally means: “the leader of those who shout at the stadiums”, “applause management”. And often emotions.

Cheerleading exists in two forms. On the one hand, this is a colorful show that complements the sports action, on the other hand, it is a completely independent sport: teams compete with each other, national and world cheerleading championships are held. Cheerleading came from America. It developed in Russia with the advent of American football. The first sports cheerleading squad was formed in 1996 under the Children's League of American Football.

Soon, girls' interest in the original sport increased so much that in January 1998, the Autonomous non-profit organization Assol Leisure Club, established by DLAF, appeared, main task which was the development of the sports team support group program. In August 1999, at the initiative of the Assol Club, the Cheerleaders Federation - Support Groups for Sports Teams NGO was registered. The popularity of cheerleading continued to grow rapidly, already in 1999 the first cheerleading competition for the Federation Cup took place at the Dynamo Sports Palace. Subsequently, these competitions began to be held annually according to a specific program.

It should be noted that success came to cheerleaders in Russia instantly. There isn't a single decent event right now - whether it's the MTV awards or hockey match can't do without them. There was even corporate cheerleading. This is when large firms or banks organize leisure activities for their employees. They can create their own football team- and your own support group. They will recruit senior managers who are far from model standards, buy them pom-poms, sew suits with the label of their oil or brewing office. But on big holidays, professionals are still invited, who receive about 1000 rubles per person for each performance. The money is small, but when there are a lot of orders or it is possible to conclude a long-term contract, it works out well.

By the way, becoming a cheerleader is not so easy. Too much is mixed in this movement: a girl entering the close ranks of cheerleaders must have a clear diction, impeccable sports training, with the obligatory knowledge of the elements of gymnastics and acrobatics, choreographic data and an ideal appearance. For example, members of Russia's most prestigious cheerleading team basketball club CSKA are required to visit the solarium twice a week. "Why?" - you ask, because no one forces boxers to do pedicures regularly. And then, that cheerleading is not just a sport, but a way of life. The main task of pom-pom girls is not to support their team, as it was in the good old days, but to please their fans and the fans of their opponents.

Thus, it is possible to relieve emotional tension in the stands and avoid a showdown between heated fans. Here, all means are good: dazzling smiles, exciting plasticity, short skirts and bright pompoms. No less attention is paid to the moral character of cheerleaders: the rules require them to show respect towards coaches, cheerleaders and fans of other teams, monitor their speech, not allow rude and obscene expressions addressed to the above persons, refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Although what kind of cigarettes and alcohol can there be? With loads like this...

Training takes up almost all free time, and during the competition, the girls on the median strip sometimes give more than the players themselves on the field. Yes, and without injuries, things can not do here: according to statistics, 50 percent of all sports injuries in the United States occur in cheerleaders. And yet, millions of girls around the world dream of getting into a prestigious school or university cheerleading team. Indeed, in this case, honor and respect from the opposite sex are guaranteed to them. At least that's how it usually happens in Hollywood movies. Yes, cinema!

The list of cheerleaders of the past has more than enough famous names: Madonna, Michael Douglas, Meryl Streep, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hillary Clinton, Sandra Bullock. Curiously, four people who at various times were entrusted by the people of America with the leadership of the country also grew out of the support group. So, Dwight Eisenhower organized the fans in Nebraska, Ronald Reagan ignited the crowd in Illinois, George W. Bush easily controlled the megaphone in Massachusetts, and Franklin Roosevelt shouted from the stands of Harvard that same “boom-boom-boom”.

Cheerleading is familiar to Russians mainly from youth American TV shows. Of course sports direction has over a century of history. But in Russia, cheerleading began to develop relatively recently: in 2007 it was officially recognized as a sport in our country. In the Kuban, the regional Cheerleading Federation appeared only a few years ago.

“Today, several Sochi teams are training in the Krasnodar Territory, as well as guys from Anapa, the village of Pavlovskaya and Korenovsk,” says Svetlana Galitskaya, president of the regional Cheerleading Federation. - Children and adults like this bright and interesting sport. Yes, and how can you not like it, because cheerleading promotes not only a healthy lifestyle, but also positive relationships between people.

Cheerleading is not only beautiful sport. In many ways, it helps to attract the attention of the mass audience to other sports. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

Chir, stunts and chants

Cheerleading is divided into two areas: performances as a support group at matches and separate view sports with their competitions according to the rules approved by the Ministry of Sports.

Cheerleading (from the English cheerleading, cheer - an approving, welcoming exclamation and leading - leading, advanced) is the art of supporting sports teams in competitions. The first cheerleading club was organized in New Jersey at Princeton University in the USA in 1865. The main task of the cheerleading groups was to support the morale of the teams during breaks, as well as to attract the attention of the audience to their team. At one time, Alicia Silverstone, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Sandra Bullock, Madonna and even future American presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George Bush Jr. were engaged in cheerleading.

“We often receive offers from sports clubs to provide a permanent support team. it a good option development for cheerleaders, - says Svetlana. - But many guys choose for themselves exclusively sports career, improve their own technique and advocate for the assignment of ranks.

The Sochi group Zhemchuzhina often performs at sports matches, she is invited to perform by the teams of the most different types sports.

The most interesting thing in cheerleading is, of course, championships. They are held in several categories:

• in the nomination "chir" elements of acrobatics and gymnastics, building pyramids, as well as dance movements to rhythmic "chants";
• nomination "cheer-dance" includes sports dances with elements of gymnastics, plastique, choreography and synchrony.

“Many people think that cheerleading is a purely female sport. This is absolutely not true! If the fans want to watch the performance of a mixed team, the Cheer-Mix nomination cannot be ignored,” Svetlana Galitskaya explains.

In addition, the cheerleading program necessarily includes such elements as stunts, pyramids, jumps, acrobatic elements and chants.

This is how the "stunt" figure looks like. Cheerleading competitions in Krasnodar were held on April 9th. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

“Stunt is a figure in which one person is tossed or lifted up. A pyramid is a series of stunts connected to each other. The athlete who is at the top of the pyramid (as a rule, this is a girl) and performs the most striking elements of the performance is called a flyer (from the English “fly”),” says Svetlana.

Despite the fact that cheerleading is the performance of teams, there are also solo nominations.

Athletes from 4 to 30 years old

Svetlana Galitskaya claims that you can become a cheerleader at any age. For example, on last championship and the championship of the Krasnodar Territory in cheerleading, which took place in Krasnodar on April 9, the smallest cheerleaders were only 4 years old, and the oldest athletes recently turned 30 years old.

Cheerleading helps children to be active, physically healthy and well-rounded. In addition, the lyrics of the chants are always positive and support a positive attitude and team spirit. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

“Children and adults learn cheerleading to work in a team. Absolutely come to class different people. But they are forced to be friendly to each other, if only because otherwise they simply won’t be able to perform in front of the stadium, ”Svetlana shares. - Also important is good physical training, plasticity, flexibility and endurance - these are the four pillars on which cheerleading stands.

Cheerleaders of any age spend a lot of time in training, working out not only dance elements but also doing stretching, flexibility, strength and endurance exercises. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

In addition to all the advantages of cheerleading, it has another undoubted advantage. Education in Kuban cheerleading schools is absolutely free. True, athletes still bear some costs: they need to buy pompoms and costumes for competitions on their own.

“Pipidastres - that's how pompoms for competitions are correctly called - cost an average of 300 rubles per pair. Prices for costumes for girls start at 2,000 rubles,” says Svetlana Galitskaya.

The President of the Regional Federation of Cheerleading Svetlana Galitskaya dreams of teaching this sport in Kuban schools. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

Ahead of the winners of the regional championship is preparation for the All-Russian competitions, which will be held in Yekaterinburg. In the meantime, the head of the regional cheerleading federation dreams of the colorful sport being included in the school curriculum.

“How great it would be if children in the Kuban at least once a week, instead of one physical education class, attended a cheerleading lesson,” Svetlana Galitskaya shares her plans.

Young cheerleaders in anticipation of their performance. Competitions in Krasnodar on April 9th. Photo: AiF / Yana Toporkova

General characteristics of cheerleading as a sport.

Cheerleading (English cheerleading, from cheer - an approving, invocative exclamation and lead - to lead, manage) is a sport that combines elements of a show and spectacular views sports (dance, gymnastics and acrobatics).

Cheerleading can be divided into two main areas:

1.Competitions of teams in programs prepared according to special rules;

2. Work with sports teams, clubs, federations to perform the following tasks:

Attracting spectators (fans) to stadiums and Sport halls in order to promote physical culture and sports, a healthy lifestyle;

Creation of a favorable moral and psychological climate at the stadium, mitigation of the aggressive mood of fans-fans, creation of an environment of "positive fanaticism" and management of fans' emotions;

Support for sports teams participating in the match;

Cheerleading - separate independent sport. February 12, 2007 Order No. 67 was issued Federal Agency on Physical culture and sports "On the recognition of a new sport" Cheerleading ". In 2009, "Cheerleading" was included in the new All-Russian Register of Sports. It hosts Russian, European and world-level competitions. Cheerleading championships are held in several categories:

Chir - elements of artistic gymnastics and acrobatics, the construction of pyramids and dance changes to loud chants;

Dance - sports dances with elements of gymnastics, with the presence of plasticity, good choreography and grace, amazing synchronism;

Chir-mix - performances of mixed teams (male and female);

Group Stunt - collective building of pyramids;

Individual cheerleader - solo number from the main instigator of the team;

Cheer dance show;

Corporate cheerleading.

The origin and development of cheerleading is associated with American football, at the end of the 19th century. cultivated primarily in US universities. In 1870 in Princeton, the first association of students providing organized support to the team arose: lining up along the sideline of the field facing the stands, they called on the audience to actively support their players with the help of special chants. Soon, similar support groups appeared in other American universities. November 2, 1898 A fundamental innovation was introduced into the practice of cheerleading: student John Campbell spontaneously jumped during a match in front of the fans, after which cheerleaders began to support their teams not only with words, but also with movement. In 1920 drums and other devices are used to help create the necessary noise background, and a little later - special paper pompoms (since the mid-1960s, synthetic materials have been used instead of paper), which very soon became an integral decorative element of cheerleaders' performances. It becomes more complex and diverse sports equipment cheerleading, cheerleading groups present to the public whole numbers and programs with gymnastic and acrobatic elements. In the 1920s, the first female cheerleaders appeared: before it was considered exclusively male occupation. Second World War contributed to the final "feminization" of cheerleading. In cheerleading, this trend continued after the war. The numerical predominance of girls led to qualitative changes - in particular, to the emergence of such a variety of support groups as dance teams, over time they became the main cheerleading "genre" on major competitions. This type of cheerleading acquired its current appearance after in 1970. cheerleading team "Dallas Cowboys", consisting of girls with professional choreographic training, for the first time presented dance numbers in the "Broadway spirit".

1960 under the Baltimore Colts team, the first professional support group is created (before that football clubs used the services of cheerleaders from local schools and universities). Cheerleaders "master" basketball, hockey, athletics, swimming and other sports. In addition to supporting teams during competitions, they also participate in various sports shows(for example, in the opening ceremony Olympic Games 1996 in Atlanta), arrange demonstration performances.

According to the regulations, the performance time is usually no more than 2.5-3 minutes (in individual and pair events - less). The dimensions of the site are 12×12 m. The performance takes place under the musical accompaniment chosen by the participants themselves. The judges evaluate the complexity of the program, the technique and artistry of the performance (in cheer, the chanting and the reaction of the audience are also evaluated). For the use of prohibited technical elements, non-compliance with insurance rules, exceeding the performance time and other violations, the team is awarded penalty points - up to and including disqualification. Winners are determined by the total number of points scored.

In 1980, official safety standards and rules were established that prohibited some traumatic somersaults and pyramids.

In 1955, the European Cheerleading Association (ECA) was founded, which took over the leadership of the cheerleading movement in Europe. The first European Cheerleading Championship took place in 1955. In Germany, in the city of Stuttgart.

The European Cheerleading Association includes the following countries: Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Great Britain, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Italy, Denmark, Serbia, Montenegro, France, Croatia.

In 2001, the International Cheerleading Federation (IFC) was founded, which later included Japan, a country where in 2001. The first World Cheerleading Championship took place in Tokyo.

In Russia, cheerleading has existed relatively recently. It got its start simultaneously with the advent of American football in our country. The first cheerleading team in our country was created in 1996 under the Children's League of American Football (DLAF). In January 1998, the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization Leisure Club "Assol" appeared, the main task of which was to develop the program of the Sports Team Support Group.

In February 2002, the Federation of Cheerleaders Support Groups for Sports Teams joined the European Cheerleading Association and the International Cheerleading Federation. Russian teams received the right to participate in the European and World Cheerleading Championships.

2006 year - Russian teams won the first and prize-winning places at the European Championship for the first time.

2007 - Cheerleading is recognized as a sport.

2008 - the first sports ranks and cheerleading titles.

2009 - the first Russian Cheerleading Championship was held.

Cheerleading is one of the complex coordination sports, the motor activity of which is characterized by extremely high demands on the technique of movements and the quality of dexterity. Difficult-coordinating sports impose increased requirements on the musculoskeletal system, on the range of motion in the joints, on the mechanical strength of bones and joints, on the shock-absorbing function of the foot and spine bends.

An important quality of cheerleaders is the ability to keep high level performance skills in competitive conditions of muscular activity.

Cheerleading contains coordination-complex and intense movements, including elements of acrobatics, sports and rhythmic gymnastics, sports dances. In the process of training cheerleaders, a rich arsenal of motor skills is formed, which are distinguished by coordination accuracy and complexity.

Another distinctive feature of this sport is the development of power capabilities in all their most important manifestations: dynamic, static and explosive force, speed-strength endurance.

Athletes in cheerleading, when performing competitive programs, have to use a significant number of motor actions: swings, squats, jumps, falls, turns, rotations, etc. At the same time, being in constant motion, the athlete must be able to perform targeted tasks from a wide variety of body positions. motor actions, the main of which are: rebuilding and interactions in the team, accurate throws and timely catching of pom-poms, mandatory elements of complexity and basic movements cheerleading.

An important means of improving the overall and technical readiness, improving sports performance in the most various types sport is acrobatic training. Acrobatics contribute to the development of many important motor and moral and volitional qualities. Acrobatic exercises have a versatile effect on the body of those involved: they contribute to the development of strength, speed and accuracy of movements, develop the ability to navigate in space, have a great training effect on the vestibular apparatus, and improve the function of balance.

Today, cheerleading teams are created on the basis of schools, colleges, universities. Besides the fact that cheerleading acts as an independent sport, it successfully accompanies many sport competitions enhances the spectacle of other sports.

Teams can be formed according to the following age categories:

Children: 5-6 years old

Children: 7-11 years old

Juniors: 12-16 years old

Adults: 16+

The relevance of cheerleading is that it creates conditions for the promotion of students to physical perfection. Allows them to acquire various motor skills and abilities, develop the emotional-volitional sphere, form ethical attitudes, creates opportunities for choosing the ideals of spirituality and creative creativity. Cheerleading classes develop physical qualities, as well as courage, determination, purposefulness, perseverance, mutual respect, mutual assistance, responsibility, ability to work in a team, i.е. communicative, social and moral competences of students.

Children get good physical form, strengthen health, develop grace, plasticity, form the correct posture and gait. Adolescents develop coordination of movements, joint mobility, strengthen the musculoskeletal system. Musicality and a sense of rhythm, a sense of beauty are brought up. The development of a paralinguistic system(voice quality, its range, tonality).

In the sports and leisure activities of students, a harmonious relationship is established between education and health, the physical qualities of the individual develop, and stress and accumulated fatigue are relieved.

cheerleading(often spelled "cheerleading", but this is a misnomer) is a sport that successfully combines elements of show and various kinds of spectator sports such as dance, gymnastics and acrobatics. This sport originated in the United States in the 70s of the 19th century. Both teams and sports clubs, and federations. For what? This sport had to perform a number of specific tasks. Cheerleading successfully attracts spectators to sports stadiums, creates a favorable moral and psychological climate, softens the aggression of fans and fans, creates an atmosphere of a kind of positive fanaticism, manages the emotions of spectators, supports teams, and performs a huge number of other functions.

Cheerleading, as mentioned, is not only a show put on to support teams, but also a sport with its own championships, competitions and, of course, hard training. The main task of the cheerleading team is to build a pyramid of people, and the higher this pyramid, the better. Plus, when building a pyramid, you need to use as many different acrobatic numbers as possible.

Cheerleading appeared in Russia in 1996, right after the American football team from Moscow attended a friendly match in the USA. In Russia in 2007, cheerleading is recognized as a sport. However, the most high rank, which you can get is CCM, and MC will appear when Russian Federation cheerleading will be able to get accreditation from the Ministry of Sports of our country.

As a rule, classes begin with the inclusion of music and a warm-up. After, the “flyer” - athletes who are thrown to the very top of the pyramid, stretch and perform a number of training acrobatic elements. At the same time, the "base" is the base of the pyramid, and the "mounters" - athletes occupying the middle level, perform their gymnastic exercises. The bottom line is this: the “base” and “mounters” must build a pyramid, and then throw a “flyer” on its very top.

All members of the cheerleading team are divided into special categories. There are three categories in total:

Flyers - this group includes the thinnest girls, whose weight is no more than 47 kilograms. Their task is to stand at the very top of the pyramid;

Mounters - slim girls, but slightly heavier than flyers. They make up the middle part of the pyramid;

The base is the most Bottom part pyramids. The whole living structure rests on the “Base”.

Cheerleading can have several directions:

“CHIR” - the team can only consist of females. Participants perform the most difficult acrobatic and gymnastic elements, as well as build intricate figures and pyramids;

“CHIR-MIX” - the same as “CHIR”, but guys can be in the team;

"CHIR-DANCE" - is a dance direction in which there are no complex acrobatic and gymnastic tricks;

"CHIR-STANT" - based on the collective construction of pyramids;

“Individual Cheerleader” - represents the solo number of the main team member.