Page "Cheerleading" Paragraph 20

In high school, there are usually two squads per school, varsity team and a junior varsity team.

Some schools also include a freshman level of the sport in order to develop skills as the athletes mature.

High school cheerleading contains aspects of school spirit as well as competition.

These squads have become a part of a year-round sport, starting with tryouts in the spring, to year-round practice, to sporting events to cheer at in the fall and winter, and to cheerleading competitions.

Most teams practice at least three days a week for about two hours each practice during the summer.

Many teams also attend separate tumbling sessions outside of practice.

During the school year, cheerleading is usually a five-to six-days-a-week sport.

During competition season it often becomes seven days with practice twice a day sometimes.

The school spirit aspect of cheerleading involves cheering, supporting, and " pumping up " the crowd at football games, basketball games, and even wrestling meets.

With this they also make posters, perform at pep rallies, and bring school spirit to the other students.

In May 2009, the National Federation of State High School Associations released the results of their first true high school participation study.

They estimated that the number of high school cheerleaders from public high schools is 394, 694.