Two components of cheerleading where the audience assumes this is where cheerleaders are able to catch their breathe, but sometimes these components do just the opposite. These components are the dancing and cheering components in a competition. During a routine there are specific points where the cheerleaders are able to catch their breathe, usually in areas where they feel they have time or where there bodies are not being strained. During the 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the performance mat there are far a few times where a cheerleader shouldn't be giving 100%, actually there are no times. During those 2 minutes and 30 seconds cheerleaders should be giving their all, hitting every stiff motion on time, being tight with every motion, and executing every skill perfectly.
The cheering component is one of the most important parts of a routine, just on the basis that this component gives cheerleading its name. The cheering component is one of the most crucial, here is where cheerleaders tell the crowd who they are. Cheerleaders work together and cheer in sync, which is harder then just memorizing a cheer. Cheerleaders need to hold a certain tone, they need to project their voices throughout an arena, all while emphasizing their words. During the cheer each cheerleader needs to speak and breathe as one to be able to hold the tone throughout the cheer. The judges do not want to hear the voices drop or fade in an out, they want to be able to understand each word, and they do not want to hear heavy breathing from the cheerleaders. Where the cheer is placed in the routine is up to the coach and team, but if it is placed in the middle of the routine it really takes it out of you. It is very important for cheerleaders to pace and control their breathing, if everyone does this it will help the cheer overall. During the cheerleading portion a team can do a combination of many different skills. Typically they involve a series of body motions group formations, jumps, standing tumbling, jump and tumbling combinations, and stunts. A cheer typically incorporates a teams mascot and colors in the chant, if coordinated correctly, props can be brought into the stunts during a cheer. Doing all of these different skills while cheering is very difficult, and it drains the body rather then rests it. There are upsides to the cheering portion though, and they are slowing down and not moving at such a fast pace, and also chanting as a team and being involved with the crowd. The support from the crowd, like in any sport pumps the cheerleaders up. They give it there all and when they hear people cheering for them they are able to strive longer.
The other component I introduced in the beginning was the dancing component. The dancing component I think adds the attitude into the routine. This is where the cheerleaders can literally strut their stuff. The dancing component is important to the routine because it not only excites the team but it excites the crowd. The dance typically increases the pace of the routine. This is where cheerleaders are able to show the judges how they can choreograph a good dance, execute it, and also add a little something of their own. Dances add a physical component to the routine, they are eye catching if done correctly. If done incorrectly it can potentially cost the teams points depending on the judges spreadsheet. Also, a messy or uncoordinated dance can degrade the overall routine, they are supposed to do the opposite. Just like in a cheer all of the cheerleader need to be tight and in sync with one another. If one person is off, the entire team is off. It is easy to lose count and get off beat during a dance which if noticed by the judges can also take points off for poor execution. They look at every motion and analyze every bent arm,wrist,and leg. They know what certain motions are supposed look like and they are able to tell when one cheerleader is off. When a dance is perfectly done it shows how well a team can work together, how they can all move as one, and how well the coordinated their bodies to each other. Even every step is crucial for spacing reasons, and judges take spacing very seriously.
These two components of competition are probably the most critiqued by the judges. That is why dancing and cheering are more difficult then they appear, they completed to near perfection.
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