Just as not everyone will be good at football or basketball, not everyone will be good at cheerleading. By the time a girl is old enough to get onto an all star squad (usually around age eight or nine), girls should have already been taking gymnastics for several years and have mastered several tumbling skills. While girls can learn these skills later, it's often more difficult. In addition to tumbling, there are a few other things a competitive cheerleader needs:
- Excellent upper body strength: Cheerleaders must have good upper body strength both for remaining stiff and for performing stunts.
- Confidence: Cheerleaders must feel like they can perform a stunt, that they are able to do it and that they will not fail.
- Excellent physical conditioning: Cheerleaders have to be in good cardiovascular shape. It takes a lot of effort to dance, stunt, cheer and tumble to the beat of cheerleading music.
- Determination and commitment: Competitive cheerleading requires daily practice as well as off season practice and conditioning.
- Good sportsmanship: Competitive cheerleaders must work as a team. The old cliché "There is no I in team" is very appropriate.
