Every American high school has its own football and basketball team. Each week, they play against other schools—and cheerleaders travel with them, even to away games.
During the game, the cheerleaders dance on the sidelines. They stand in two rows, cheer with chants and dances, and, most importantly, hype up the student fan section. At my school it’s called the Krazy Krew. My host mom said every school has something like it, though the names are different. When the cheerleaders shout chants, the students usually respond with just as much energy.
There’s also halftime—a break between periods of the game. During those 8–10 minutes, the cheerleaders perform and often compete with the rival school’s squad. That’s the highlight!
The performance usually includes a few simple dances and acrobatic stunts.
Pros:
Awesome uniforms
Cheerleaders are always well-known and popular (and that’s not just a stereotype!)
Free access to all games
Travel opportunities (competitions!)
Special bond with the football and basketball teams
It’s genuinely fun
Cons:
It’s a very injury-prone sport. Something happens at practice almost every day—you need to be really strong.
It lasts nearly the whole school year, with practices almost daily.
There’s constant competition for leadership within the squad.
The uniforms are expensive.
Cheerleading isn’t just about stretching and gymnastics. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere—it’s about the special bond with the football and basketball players. Before each game, we would prepare little gifts for the team, then go around classrooms to hand them out.
It’s dancing for your school while people scream, “We love you, cheerleaders!”
It’s also fundraising: organizing events to raise money. We once ran a two-day camp for future cheerleaders, sold tickets for a pancake breakfast we cooked and served ourselves, and even put on a fashion show.
Skipping practice? Almost impossible. I even went when I had a fever.
Honestly, it’s not easy—but I truly believe it’s worth it.
Try to imagine yourself being part of this energy, the team spirit, the challenges, and the fun—and maybe one day you’ll become an exchange student and experience cheerleading too!