Definition of cheerleading

The term "cheerleading" originated in the United States during the late 19th century as a way to encourage and rally athletes at sports events. Initially, the term "cheerleader" was used to describe a male student who led the student section in chanting and supporting their team during games. The word "cheer" is a combination of the words "cheerful" and "yell." It was used by students to describe the enthusiastic and upbeat encouragement they gave to their fellow students and athletes. The term "leader" was added to emphasize the role of these students in encouraging and directing the student section's support. The first recorded use of the term "cheerleader" was in a newspaper article in 1918 describing a group of male students at the University of Minnesota as "yell leaders" or "cheerleaders." The term quickly spread to other universities as cheerleading became more organized and formalized into a sport in its own right. In the 1920s, cheerleading became a bit more performative, as female students were first allowed to join cheerleading squads. Female cheerleaders began incorporating dance routines and stunts, which further popularized the sport and led to the widespread adoption of cheerleading today. Today, cheerleading is a varsity sport in many high schools and colleges in the United States, and competitions for cheerleading squads are held at the national level. In summary, the term "cheerleading" originated in the late 19th century as a way to describe the enthusiastic and supportive encouragement given by students to their teams during sports events. The term evolved to become more associated with organised teams and performative routines, particularly with the involvement of female cheerleaders in the 1920's.