A brief history of cheerleading
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:38 am
cheerleading in Japan
An activity that was first seen in America, cheerleading is now practised around the world, china mobile database and most certainly in Japan.
Cheerleading conjures images of young women waving pom poms and performing acrobatics. But Cheerleading was originally an all-male activity and is now enjoyed by people of all ages. The history of cheerleading is somewhat surprising as is the nature of the famous Japan Pom Pom cheerleading group.
A brief history of cheerleading
First came the cheers and then the cheerleaders! In 1877 Princeton University developed a “Princeton Cheer”. This was a specific chant that was shouted by spectators and athletes alike. Seven years later, Princeton graduate Thomas Peebles moved to Minnesota and took with him the idea of organized crowd cheering at football games.
The practice of organised chanting began to spread and became somewhat competitive. It was thought that he who shouted loudest could help to win the day! Perhaps that is why Princeton eventually designated three male students as cheerleaders and created cheering sections in the stands. The first known example of a cheerleader actively directing a crowd to chant took place in 1898 at the University of Minnesota. Organised cheerleading had arrived!
After student Johnny Campbell began directing the Minnesota crowd, the University established a squad of six male students to lead the cheering and the practice caught on. It wasn’t until 1923 that women were permitted to participate in cheerleading at the University of Minnesota and it took a little time for other universities to follow suit. Female cheerleaders didn’t come to the fore until the 1940s when many young men were drafted into the armed services to fight in World War II, leaving opportunities for women.
In 1949, former cheerleader Lawrence Herkimer founded a cheerleading camp in Texas and patented the pom pom.
The popularity of cheerleading continued to grow and by 1975, over 500,000 students were participating in the USA. 95% of these were female. Cheerleading competitions began in 1978. By the 1980s, gymnastics and stunts were included in routines and cheerleading groups were established that were not associated with academic institutions.
An activity that was first seen in America, cheerleading is now practised around the world, china mobile database and most certainly in Japan.
Cheerleading conjures images of young women waving pom poms and performing acrobatics. But Cheerleading was originally an all-male activity and is now enjoyed by people of all ages. The history of cheerleading is somewhat surprising as is the nature of the famous Japan Pom Pom cheerleading group.
A brief history of cheerleading
First came the cheers and then the cheerleaders! In 1877 Princeton University developed a “Princeton Cheer”. This was a specific chant that was shouted by spectators and athletes alike. Seven years later, Princeton graduate Thomas Peebles moved to Minnesota and took with him the idea of organized crowd cheering at football games.
The practice of organised chanting began to spread and became somewhat competitive. It was thought that he who shouted loudest could help to win the day! Perhaps that is why Princeton eventually designated three male students as cheerleaders and created cheering sections in the stands. The first known example of a cheerleader actively directing a crowd to chant took place in 1898 at the University of Minnesota. Organised cheerleading had arrived!
After student Johnny Campbell began directing the Minnesota crowd, the University established a squad of six male students to lead the cheering and the practice caught on. It wasn’t until 1923 that women were permitted to participate in cheerleading at the University of Minnesota and it took a little time for other universities to follow suit. Female cheerleaders didn’t come to the fore until the 1940s when many young men were drafted into the armed services to fight in World War II, leaving opportunities for women.
In 1949, former cheerleader Lawrence Herkimer founded a cheerleading camp in Texas and patented the pom pom.
The popularity of cheerleading continued to grow and by 1975, over 500,000 students were participating in the USA. 95% of these were female. Cheerleading competitions began in 1978. By the 1980s, gymnastics and stunts were included in routines and cheerleading groups were established that were not associated with academic institutions.