> I was working under the assumption that cheerleaders were just a bunch of teenage girls doing dancing at a sports game.
That's part of what they do. The other part is competing on a high level based on the athleticism and (I'm guessing) choreography of a given teams presentation. Similar to gymnastics but usually with a team and different genre of music.
There was an article posted recently to HN titled "Cheerleading, Monopolies and Sexual Predators" that gives some details about just how competitive cheerleading is, as well as the problems to the safety and security of its participants due to the monopoly power of a single company.
That's part of what they do. The other part is competing on a high level based on the athleticism and (I'm guessing) choreography of a given teams presentation. Similar to gymnastics but usually with a team and different genre of music.
There was an article posted recently to HN titled "Cheerleading, Monopolies and Sexual Predators" that gives some details about just how competitive cheerleading is, as well as the problems to the safety and security of its participants due to the monopoly power of a single company.