The abs of Cheer Athletics

The cheer athletics are notorious for their fierce routines, flawless tumbling, unique stunting, their worlds titles, but of course it can’t go unannounced that their abs are the cream of the crop.

Whenever a cheerleader says that they want to have good abs the term that is always used is CA abs; while they might be a little too rigid and dominant on the small bodies they are hard core. I can’t say personally that I want abs like that, but they are definitely something to envy by the cheer world.

Out in the world girls are doing the ‘CA abs workout’, which no one even knows if it’s their actual workout, to achieve that perfect six pack.

 Look out, because these girls are armed and dangerous with their killer abs and worlds titles. 

"Cheerlebrities"

                Gabby Butler, Madi Gardner, Whitney Love; all cheerleaders who are known in the cheer community as ‘cheerlebrities’. While I do think that they are truly gifted athletes, it is time that other people get recognition.

                It seems to be an ongoing trend that the only names known are the flyers; while yes, they do a phenomenal job and are extremely talented, it is unfair that the girls under them aren’t getting noticed. The people under do so much work and are rarely recognized for this work. When do you ever see a backspot or a base on the front of American Cheerleader Magazine?

                It is time that everyone who works hard gets recognition and not the 10 girls in the air. Everyone works hard, and everyone deserves the same attention.

A new start

            As the previous season comes to an end with worlds, most teams begin to have their tryouts. It is a bitter sweet leaving your team, your family, and friends that you have acquired this year; yet, the new season brings new opportunities and a chance to meet new people.

            Tryouts are right around the corner or already happening and a majority of gyms are already beginning to find out their teams. It will be sad to see legends go away, Whitney Love, but it will be a time for new legends to be born.

            The 2012-2013 season brings excitement to everyone, and I’m sure everyone is already anticipating what is to come of the new teams put together. 

Memorable parts of Worlds 2012

           The final mark of the 2011-2012 season some teams when out with a bang while others not so much. There were a few memorable things that happened that will not go unnoticed.

-          Holden from Cheer Extremes Coed Elite Double, Double, Double

-          The tie between Charlotte All-Stars Teal and New Jersey Spirit Explosion in the Senior Medium Coed Level 5 division (6^th place)

-          Senior Elite stealing the title away from F5

-          Top Gun was fierce like always

-          Cheer athletics taking home 6 worlds titles

Worlds was the final competition of the season and teams really showed their true abilities, and what they can truly achieve. 

WORLDS war III

                Worlds, the biggest competition of the season; where all of your hard work finally pays off. When you get 5 minutes to prove that your team deserves to win, and get that ring. But this year is more important than any other year of worlds.

                USASF decided to make tumbling restrictions that will apply during the 2012-2013 year season that will change all-star cheerleading forever. These rules limit the creativity and freedom of tumbling that athletes have when creating their perfect tumbling passes.

                ‘Let the odds be in your favor’ as The Hunger Games would say, because this may be the last year for showing your full abilities. 

End of the Season

                Spending a whole year with your team, you become more of a family then a team. It’s sad to see the season come to a close and have to say goodbye to your friends you’ve made.

                For me, I live an hour and a half away from my gym and we practice three days a week and I sometimes spend more time with my team then my actual family. It gets hard sometimes but now thinking that I will never be on that same team with those 20 girls is disheartening. I will probably see most of them again but never again will we be Senior 3.

                Next year will also be my last year of all-star cheerleading, since I will be a senior; and that thought crushes me. I can’t believe I only have one more year, one more NCA; it’s crazy.

                Cheerleading has really become a major part of my life and I will never forget all the memories I’ve made with the people I’ve met. But sadly my journey is almost over, but I am thankful of how far I have made it and wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

Injuries

The best part about cheer for me is being a part of a team and being able to be part of something bigger than myself. Working together we make a team who will become one in order to win first place.

The worst feeling however is when you have to sit out because of an injury. Cheer is the second most dangerous sport with the amount of injuries acquired. In my season this year alone we have had 5 girls, 1/4^th of my team, sit out because of an injury.

 The worst feeling is seeing your team out on the mat while you are sitting there and all you can do is cheer them on. It’s all in their hands. And for that one moment you feel like you aren’t a part of your team; it’s crushing.

My F5avorite Team

               Just like every other sport, in cheerleading there are teams and gyms that shine above and are the top dogs. And of course I have my favorite teams; with all the different divisions however it’s hard to only have one favorite, but for me there is one team that stands out above the rest.

 In the all-girl large Senior 5 division my favorite team would have to be F5. I used to be a Senior Elite girl but ever since their win at worlds two years ago Senior Elite have yet to really wow me again. F5 however is just super fierce and a phenomenal team. Their choreography is so good, their stunting is flawless, their hair is perfect, and everything about that team is just amazing. They won worlds last year and I hope to see them win again this year.

With all of the new USASF rule changes, this may be the last worlds of real all-star cheerleading; let’s hope they go out with a bang.

             

USASF New Rules

         The United States All Star Federation decided March 28, 2012 that they would announce some of their new rules for the 2012-13 season, and boy did the cheerleading world not like them. The social networking sites blew up including the world wide of USASF trending.

        The rules in the picture below describe some of the new rules, but they did not include some of the most ridiculous ones. For example, only senior teams are allowed to wear crop tops and they can't show more than 10" of skin, which isn't even logical since there are taller girls in cheer. Also, if the team does have crop tops they are required to wear t-shirts over their uniform while they are not in warm-up or competing.

        The tumbling restrictions they made also frustrated the athletes who have worked all their life to come tho this point in their career. What is the point of a sport if you can't push yourself and be creative and one of a kind.

        The next day USASF sent a message out and is reconsidering the rules change. Good Idea.

Evolution of Uniforms

The original uniforms for cheer consisted of skirts and long sleeve sweaters. It is very apparent that uniforms have evolved through the years, some may even say they are getting ‘skimpier’: however, they are just becoming more aerodynamic.

For competitive cheer the most common trend right now is crop tops, showing the stomach, with some elaborate design usually showing a shoulder or somewhere in the arm. This can be seen in the most elite gyms, Top Gun, Cheer Extreme, Cheer Athletics, ect. However, there are some teams who still wear the full length uniform tops such as Georgia All-stars.

The most controversial part of cheerleading right now in the uniform is the debate between spandex shorts or skirts. The skirts are more traditional and honestly more flattering on the girls who aren’t a size 0. The spandex, while they are more comfortable and you wouldn’t have to worry about your butt hanging out, they can also ride up. I also have noticed the shorts are not flattering on the bigger girls. I think skirts are tradition of cheer and shorts just seem like gymnastics or dance and we need to keep something traditional in the uniform.

What do you think shorts or skirts?

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