I am a new cheer parent and I love it. What direction does cheer take after college? Are there professional cheer teams that compete? All I have ever seen as far as "professional" are cheerleaders for sports teams which have great dance skills but they do not tumble and stunt. I am not making plans for my daughter to be a pro cheerleader, I am just curious as to what is out there. I find it hard to believe that after all the time, money and skill that cheerleading requires the "professional world of cheer" is shaking it for a few minutes at half time. Remember I am new, don't bash me too badly for being clueless!!!
well, considering your daughter does not have any major injuries to keep her from competing on a decent level once she is out of high school, she can be on a college open team, there is no age limit for those, but lets be honest, nobody wants to watch a bunch of old folks competing level one...anyways... there is not a professional field desinated to competative cheer. Yes, this may appear to be a harsh reality granted all of the time, money, and sanity the sport consumes, but that is why we love it...the best you can hope for is for your daughter to get a scholarship for cheer, which are extremely uncommon, and she better be dang goooood.
Also... wrote: Most sports have a shelf life, like gymnastics...Cheerleading is no different.
No biggie, like I said I am not making plans for my 8 year old...I just love watching the older kids perform and was wondering if there was something else to keep an eye out for. Trust me, the money spent is not with a future return in mind...just for fun for now!!! The thought of soccer next year is welcome!!! Although I am a fan and will follow!!!
I don't consider professional football cheerleaders to be in the same category as High School, Allstar, and College cheer. They are glorified dancers. Oh my could you imagine them doing a tumbling pass in thier barely there custumes lol.
The pro sport "cheerleaders" are really dancers and work very hard. Yes, it is different than cheer. Have you seen what it takes to be a Dallas Cowgirl? Not easy.
Point is they are dancers not cheerleaders. I think these organizations make it harder for cheerleading to be taken seriously as a sport and receive the respect that it deserves.
Dancers wrote: The pro sport "cheerleaders" are really dancers and work very hard. Yes, it is different than cheer. Have you seen what it takes to be a Dallas Cowgirl? Not easy.
I am sure it is hard work, just to stay in that great of shape shows it is physical! When I opened the tread I was inquiring about pro cheerleading that includes all aspects of high school & college cheer: stunting, dancing, and tumbling.
Seems if you are interested in careers after high school or college the best bet would be in the dance rather than cheer. Of course careers in cheer would be more of the coaching aspect rather than on going performing.
Don't know if it's still around, but a couple years back the Baltimore Ravens had a pro stunt team along with their more dance oriented cheerleading team...obviously Baltimore isn't here in California, but it does exist. I knew a couple of people that were interested in starting something like that for the SF 49ers, but were told that it was a distraction that would take away from the Gold Rush girls so it probably won't happen anytime soon around here. I do know that a couple of pro basketball teams have stunt teams as well, the Clippers do!
