Cheerleading Health Benefits Cardio Supremacy. LEADERSHIP in Cheerleading: Bringing nothing but your Best. Cheerleading teaches important life values such as preparation, dedication and working together as a team. “Studies have found that athletes are better able to make split-second decisions, have better focus and concentration for longer periods of time, better memories, and they are better able to predict outcomes,” she said. When we give without expecting anything in return, we are improving our psychological health. It can be beneficial to build self-esteem, encourages health social development between the squad to form lifelong friendships. In “Cheer,” the athletes often describe their team as a family and share how cheerleading saved them from toxic life circumstances. Your team does become your family, you spend so much time with them and you all become so close. This... Keep the Weight Down. And while football and basketball players get some time on the bench, cheerleaders have to be “on” much more consistently. “There is a social aspect of the sport that allows cheerleaders to feel connected with their teammates. It may evoke comforting memories from happier times. Through their training, they become more flexible and cultivate muscle memory. “When you put your identity into your role as a cheerleader and think cheerleading is the only thing that will help you grow as a person, there’s a motivation to participate through pain and do things you wouldn’t normally do,” he said. If you or your child wants to start cheering, here are some of the benefits that can be … “The body image issue is a major one, especially with the outfits cheerleaders wear and so forth” Czech said. Social connectedness in sports can help athletes deal with in-sport and out-of-sport stressors, increase motivation and improve interpersonal relationships,” Hennessy said. Through winning, losing, and hours of practice and hard work, cheerleading helps girls bond and form lifelong friendships. Cheerleaders frequently have to run, jump and remain physically active for long periods of time. Read on for the pros and the cons. The injuries may be even more significant in cheerleading than in other sports because of the nature of the stunts and need for immense trust in yourself and your teammates. Getting young girls involved in cheerleading will benefit them in many ways. Flexibility. In Cheerleading there are a range of roles that different members of the squad carry out but whether you are a base, a backspot or a flyer, physical strength is probably the most important element of cheerleading. Emotional Cheerleading not only forms relationships among the girls on the squad, but also helps bring families of team members together. So if a cheerleader consistently hears that she doesn’t look right, or he isn’t strong enough, that will be the message they start saying to themselves.”. Required fields are marked *. The main benefits of Cheerleading. “The psychology behind that can be very detrimental and can cause eating disorders, exercise addiction and other negative things.”. You’re at a major risk for severe issues like head trauma and broken bones when you cheer. Last but not least there’s the emotional side to cheerleading. 12375 World Trade Drive San Diego, CA 92128. In cheerleading, learning to communicate is critical. These good messages can change pathways in the brain and in turn, boost self-esteem and even athletic performance. “There is an emotional lift when searching for the gift.” Better to give than to receive, gift-giving is also an act of altruism — unselfish concern for the well-being of others. “Similar to any elite skill training, cheerleading can strengthen important neural pathways in our brain,” said Chelsea Pierotti, a mental performance coach for dancers and an instructor in the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. Cheering is a team sport that requires trust in one another especially when doing difficult stunts. Morgan knew that she wanted to be a cheerleader when she saw her cousin show her family her cheerleading skills at a family picnic, and now cheer is what her life revolves around. For many athletes it’s a feeling of panic and fear,” she explained. 1. the actual benefits of cheerleading In addition to its physical merits, cheerleading is also a sociable, group-based activity that can help boost kids' self assurance and leadership capabilities. Cheerleading allows you to improve your flexibility and balance and is a good way to increase cardiovascular activity, keeps your weight down, and builds muscle (Livestrong.com), (Healthline.com). Hennessy noted that cheerleading offers many cognitive and emotional benefits, as athletes tend to have “highly fine-tuned” brains compared to nonathletes. Negative messages from coaches, parents and teammates can foster negative self-talk in cheerleaders who may develop degrading personal mantras, lack of motivation, decreased skill level and even mental health disorders like severe depression and anxiety. Apart from being a great physical activity, it is a team-based activity that helps in boosting self-confidence and leadership skills. “The brain’s neuroplasticity is its ability to change and adapt to our environment. Social Benefits include encouraging fair competition, developing strong morals, protecting from negative outside influences, and decreasing the likelihood of developing depression or anxiety. Experts explain the pros and cons of the sport at the center of the Netflix "Cheer" craze. Diaphragmatic breathing reduces the … The identity issue that Czech observed can also play into the injury risk. HuffPost spoke with experts to find out what exactly happens to your body and mind when you participate in the sport of cheerleading. The yelling may help them handle the transitions and demands of college more easily, due to the conditioning they endure during the season from their coaches. “Psychologically, you’ve got to be mindful of that a little bit because it can lead to unhealthy behavior out of desperation to remain part of that group which forms your identity.”. Lochbaum also noted that dehydration is a risk on long game days, and that there’s a sense of emotional exhaustion as well with the ups and downs of the action. Cheering is a team sport that requires trust in one another especially when doing difficult stunts. “You’ve got cardiovascular exercise for those long football games, but then also high-intensity interval training with the stunts. Morgan is currently a sophomore in high school and has been cheerleading since she was five. Cheerleading is the most physically challenging sport in the world. The teamwork and commitment to the sport teaches skills in leadership, communication, and helps develop self-confidence among other things. Cheerleading is simply practicing for the larger arena of life. So if a cheerleader consistently hears that she doesn’t look right, or he isn’t strong enough, that will be the message they start saying to themselves.”, very detrimental and can cause eating disorders, exercise addiction and other negative things.”, inspired by the Texas college team’s story. When stunting, if a girl isn’t caught she can get seriously injured, or if he/she is jumping or tumbling and gets hurt when landing, cheer is definitely dangerous. Young girls (and boys) who get involved in cheerleading develop mental, physical and emotional advantages. It increases the risk of injury as well. “I can’t think of a sport that has such an enormous variety of physical demands in an extended period,” he said. Hennessy noted that cheerleading offers many cognitive and emotional benefits, as athletes tend to have “highly fine-tuned” brains compared to nonathletes. A loving relationship can be an oasis in uncertain times, but nurturing it requires attention, honesty, openness, vulnerability, and gratitude. “Physically, cheerleaders are strong and flexible, as they combine elements of dance and gymnastics,” said Lauren Hennessy, owner and director of MVP Mentality Sports Psychology in Boca Raton, Florida. The Emotional Benefits: The oil of uplifting and cheerfulness Supports you when you’re frustrated, discouraged, exhausted and overwhelmed by showing you life is good Lifts spirits, encourages, brings a sense of relief, and increases hope, happiness, and light-heartedness Children in gymnastics or cheerleading programs meet new mates, make friends, have fun that ultimately keep their mental health in a good condition. 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