Joining Cheerleading

So how did you started joining cheerleading? How many of us join cheerleading from signing up at the recruitment booth? I think if you ask this question to the guys in the team, probably you will get only a couple of guys who joined by signing up during recruitment. Majority of us I would say joined after HO one way or another, meaning to say they pick up cheerleading with a bunch of friends first, and then decide to take it a step further to another level after having a taste of it.

So how come guys are so rare to find in cheerleading? Could it be beacause alot of people are still having the stereotype that cheerleading is a female sport? I should not even use the word sport, they think it is a sort of dancing rara cca. This is the reason why flocks of girls want to sign up during recruitment, and yet only a pathetic handful of guys sign up, and then only a few of them even turn up for the tryouts.

If so, when will the stereotype, esp in Singapore change? For those who are really into cheerleading as a sport will know how tough it really is and the guys required are those with good physique, body control, strength, endurance, disciplined, and self driven.

Or am I wrong? Maybe the reason is not because of the stereotype, it could be totally the other way. They knew fully well the toughness and the physical aspects of cheerleading, the time and efforts required for it, thats why they thought they are never going to be good enough for it, that they do not have so much time, that they are weak and never imagined they could even do a BHS or BT.

So how should one market cheerleading in Singapore? How should one go about getting guys onto the team? Is it by telling them cheerleading is not a sissy game, but a real man's sport, that is very tough and physical? Or do we tell them, dun worry it is very easy and wont take up alot of your time, everyone can do it and we just want to have fun? Which line would you use? Is it very easy, just play play have fun, or is it very tough, physical and all about winning?

This is something that had troubled me every year. We have used each method before and still the results are discouraging. So is there any more brave male souls out there who is so eager to look forward to the challenge, knowing all the toughness aspects of cheerleading and want to rush to sign up at the recruitment booth? Or have the guys in Singapore society grown so weak that they are not even willing to take a challenge and make sacrifices? Hai~! How I wished it wasnt the latter.