Cheering for our team is as much a part of American sports as the national anthem, pep bands, and mascots. We’ve even made an art and a sport out of cheerleading itself, with camps and competitions, acrobatics, pompoms, and spirit sticks. The job of cheerleaders is to rev up the fans and get them roaring their support so that they become what is known in football jargon as the “12th man” on the field.
Outside these stadiums, cheerleaders can also generate or recharge the spirit, especially when the game gets tough. The enthusiastic support of parents can keep their student plugging away in chemistry class; an employer’s upbeat words can rouse morale in the work crew.
