Recruiting male cheerleaders

[cobwebbedroses]

I thought this might be a good topic to help new and experienced coaches....

What are some methods that are effective in recruiting males to your squad?



For my situation, I am a junior high coach at a public school, where our level is the earliest students start cheerleading. We are a very small town, with only one cheerleading gym in the nearby large town. 99% of the students I recuit to have no exposure to cheerleading other than through television.  The last male cheerleader the school had graduated 4 years ago, and he was loved by many but still teased by many as well. (of course that happens no matter what) It's a rather conservative town in their views of cheer (unfortunately, parents may discourage their sons from participating) and we don't do competetive.  This season I started the squad from scratch, all 7th graders, no previous experience.  I want to build up the program, hopefully teaching them the fundamentals to help the HS squad get better also.

 What could I do to recuit young (6-7) male students into our program?  I would like ideas to help my situation at next try out, but also general ideas for recruitment are good too!

[Kong]

Here are some ideas from the Old Boards.

Kong

shscheerboy
High School
Cheer
Athlete
ca
USA
57 Posts
 Posted - 03/23/2003 :  7:09:52 PM             
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we need more gus on our squad so how so do i do it how do i get more guys
 


poco515
College
Cheer
MI
USA
356 Posts
 Posted - 03/23/2003 :  8:37:31 PM             
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Go pull some guys that play sports, preferably in the off season, stick em the gym for a couple days, and they're hooked. Thats what I always hear.
 


 
IrishDragon11
College
Cheer
Athlete
KS
USA
252 Posts
 Posted - 03/23/2003 :  8:49:29 PM             
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That is an extremely broad question. It is also a question that was recently discussed either in this particular forum or in the partner stunting forum. You are new to the posts, so you probably didn't think to look at the old boards, or to really search around. Next time, look around the old boards and search all of these boards and you can usually find what it is that you are looking for. If you do a search and still can't find what you are looking for, send me an instant message and I will try to help you out as best as I can. Later
-Irish
 


 
VarsityStunter
College
Cheer
Coach
Missouri
121 Posts
 Posted - 03/24/2003 :  11:06:45 AM             
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You know, the best recruiters for getting guys on your squad are the girls. Get those girls out there talking with the boys who have that all around school spirit. Those are the ones who paint their faces, dress up for events, get crazy for games, etc. Have them do baskets (safely) and double base stuff. The easy stuff that wets their appetites for our sport. When they want to move past the simple stuff then you may have just hooked your squad with some dudes. Then you can move them up to the fun stuff.
 


 
Angels_Elite_Cheer_Coach
California
USA
142 Posts
 Posted - 03/25/2003 :  6:53:30 PM             
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Oh yeah, girls! Tell them how much fun it is to carry the girls..hahaha, another thing is the girls would love to teach guys some cheer! And before you know it..the guys love this sport (Who dont?, this sport is da best!) =)
 


 
cheercoachkimmi
IN
USA
13 Posts
 Posted - 03/29/2003 :  10:48:36 AM             
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hello. the school spirit at the school i coach at is horrible. ive have tried every year to get guys to be stunt men,they just wont do it. if you have any suggestions let me know. thanks, KIM
 


 
wbrown74
Moderator
All Star
Cheer
Coach
NC
USA
670 Posts
 Posted - 03/29/2003 :  11:28:52 AM             
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Like VarsityStunter said, your best tool for recruiting new guys is going to be your girls.


 
 
DeSz05
Indiana
USA
29 Posts
 Posted - 03/30/2003 :  12:29:30 AM             
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Yeah i agree what wbrown74 and VarsityStunter said....What I do is tell them how good we are and what we like to do and that usually pulls them in pretty fast..That and The pictures..HAHA


 
 
ShAwTy iN C-ToWn
michigan
USA
36 Posts
 Posted - 03/30/2003 :  1:05:41 PM             
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tell them about all the competions and camps with all the girls that they'll get to go to.....plus tel these guys it will make them stronger....
 
 


 
Tank5150
College
Cheer
Athlete
FL
USA
460 Posts
 Posted - 04/08/2003 :  10:01:34 AM             
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Alright,
we all know girls is a "perk" to being a cheerleader. Although I originally became a cheerleader as the loss of a bet, the thing that kept me in it was the stunting! Just how difficult it was and how much dedication it took to get good. I would say either as a few people have pointed out, tell them about the girls, or I believe this has been pointed out as well, tell them about the stunting. It DOES build muscle! One slogan a friend of mine used was a sign put up outside the weight room that said, "Why lift weights when you can lift girls?" Might work, I'd give it a shot. Good luck.
Tank


 
 
Intrigue
PA
USA
6 Posts
 Posted - 05/07/2003 :  5:12:42 PM             
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quote:
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Originally posted by Tank5150


"Why lift weights when you can lift girls?"
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Great Saying!! I would talk to some guys about joining and bring up the tumbling. It sounds funny, but tumbling is one of my favorite parts of cheer. I love doing it! Plus my girlfriend is baffled by the fact that I can back tuck at BBQ's. :x


 
 
eaglecheerbabe
North Carolina
USA
23 Posts
 Posted - 06/10/2003 :  7:45:56 PM             
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I have the same problem here in the high school we are a small school and i tought that is the reason why we can't get any guys but they think that if they are a male cheerleader then they will be considered gay and i try to tell them its not that way but they don't believe me how can i make them believe me???
 


 
TheCheerMan
College
Cheer
Athlete
Michigan
USA
38 Posts
 Posted - 06/10/2003 :  8:09:39 PM             
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Just do what I did. The girls basically told me that I got to go to camp with hot girls, go to sleepovers, and go to team swim parties. Just tell them that and they will be hooked.


 
 
cgglow
Texas
USA
5 Posts
 Posted - 06/11/2003 :  8:17:53 PM             
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 Hey well what i would do, is get guys that i know and tell them about it. also take some of them to a practice. once they see what we do and once they see that that cheering is not a "sissy" sport, and that by being a male cheerleader you end up being RESPECTED because they see that it takes a lot of guts. well thats about it. -peace- ALL About The Bronx
 


 
lilmac9partygirl
High School
Cheer
Athlete
MO
USA
3 Posts
 Posted - 08/05/2003 :  11:49:33 PM             
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most of the guys at my school are big like jocky losers! lol- j/k- we really want 2 get guys on our squad! And there are so many guys that can tumble and that are strong but nothing we say makes them give in! We even joke around and tell them "but you get to touch girls butts!" lol-yet this still doesn't pull them in! i don't know what to do!
 


 
College_Cheerleader
College
Cheer
Athlete
OH
USA
307 Posts
 Posted - 08/06/2003 :  9:58:37 PM             
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Hey

Just one point. When you recruit guys, make sure they're actually there to do the sport, not just for the girl cheerleaders. That is a plus, but don't let it be their only motivation. You know what I mean?

TJ
 


 
stuntman7487
High School
Cheer
Athlete
IA
USA
1 Posts
 Posted - 10/02/2003 :  10:22:41 PM             
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Hey,
Ya hanging out with the girls and everything is a great pus but tell them that cheering is fun and a lot harder than they think. Me, i got started after a couple of the girls on my squad were daring me to. After going for one day and doing a couple of stunts i was totally hooked and just kept doing it. I did get some backtalk from the other guys at school because the only other stuntmen in my hs history were these 3 guys that were huge(in their arms) and they did football a lot so try that and just tell them to come once and if they don't like it they never have to come again
 
 


Wanastunt
All Star
Cheer
Coach
GA
USA
43 Posts
 Posted - 12/02/2003 :  01:47:25 AM             
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I am not sure on how to teach you to get guys to cheer but I can tell you what they did for me. I was just busting it in the weight room one day and three great looking girls came up to me an asked if I have ever thought about cheering, well I was in the middle of a chest workout (my favorite) and I told them to buzz off. I saw them later and they asked again. And I blasted them by saying that cheerleaders are not athletes and that I was an ex varsity football player and wrestler, and that saying ra ra wouldn't comepare to what I have done. So they then challenged me, all three of them did they're back tucks, and had one of the older guys to cupies and such with them. Then they asked me if I thought I could do that, and I said sure! So they said all right lets try a toss hands, they explained everything and they guys showed me. When I tried to toss hands I flopped like a chump. When I realized that I couldn't do something that another guy who was weaker than me I got ticked off. I then learned the skills just to be better, fell in love with the sport, and can't get cheerleading out of my head since
 
 


BouncerHPU
College
Cheer
Athlete
NC
USA
1 Posts
 Posted - 12/12/2003 :  4:07:20 PM             
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I am the only guy on the squad, so imagine what I am going trough. Getting guys to try out is not an easy thing. I have found that guys don't want to ruin a reputation or image. If you want guys to try out then you need to show them the positive side of cheerleading.....like getting muscular. I have already talked six guys into trying out next year because I went and talked to the baseball coach and he agreed that cheerleading would help get the players ready for the season. It takes time but if you join a squad others will follow.


 
 
UCheerCoach
College
Cheer
Coach
SC
USA
30 Posts
 Posted - 07/01/2004 :  6:36:14 PM             
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Actually – I have been very successful in this area…..
Last year at one of the Colleges I coach at… there were no guys on the squad. I had just took over the job. I hired in some male cheerleaders to come for two days to do stunt demos. I had them do this for about two hours in high traffic places. In front of the cafeteria, front of library, in the quads etc….. Of course this would cause huge eye candy and folks would come over and we would get them to try (with spotters of course).
I wound up with 12 men on the squad. I also coach at another College and have done a similar thing. I am small coed at the 2nd college.
Give it a try – it worked for me!
 


 
cheerboy
High School
Cheer/Dance
Athlete
DE
USA
49 Posts
 Posted - 07/06/2004 :  11:22:10 AM             
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hey 1 great way is to tell them about the parties and the sleep overs. But another is get guys that want a good scholorship. they will love to do it cause i am going to 9th grade in school and i am already practicing with the colledge squad so i hope and my couch says i am probably goin to get a scholorship so tell them bou the girls and the scholorship and they hopefully might come running. 2 last things if you have a school television put some parts of bring it on and that will help. my last calling is try to get some guys in fit or that play sports or really luv cheerleading. all the other guys will be there just to check out the girls so i hope the helps. TTYL hf gl
Kael


 
 
AACCAJim
Administrator
TN
USA
6812 Posts
 Posted - 07/06/2004 :  1:22:57 PM             
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Promoting the "parties and the sleepovers" would be inappropriate. That implies something.

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kissable_me
High School
Cheer
Athlete
GA
USA
9 Posts
 Posted - 07/17/2004 :  7:41:07 PM             
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What college squad are you practicing for Cheerboy and you're going to the 9th grade?
 


 
Virgogirl
High School
Cheer
Coach
IL
USA
49 Posts
 Posted - 06/21/2005 :  10:48:52 AM             
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Okay...I know I'm about a year late on this discussion!
I need some suggestions!!!
This will be my second year coaching at the local highschool in my area and I am trying to recruit guy cheerleaders. As I've talked to some of the guys there, I noticed their biggest "problem" with the idea is all in the name "CHEERleader". They felt that the name has a feminine connotation.
I'm wondering if maybe I could think of a innovative and spunky name to call the guys instead of "cheerleaders".
Maybe something like.....Crowd leaders??
Our Mascot is a Huskie, so maybe something with that??
Any suggestion would be helpful!!

Thanks
 


 
xBADGERCOACHx
High School
Cheer
Coach
CA
USA
10 Posts
 Posted - 06/21/2005 :  1:53:55 PM             
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That is so funny, my boys won't let us call it a cheer squad it has to be refered to as the cheer TEAM. They are just funny that way. We recently got 6 new boys for our team next year. Once you do get it started everything should go smoothly for at least a couple of years. We try to keep a mix of juniors and seniors so that they don't all graduate at once and leave us with nobody. In the begining we focused on getting the boys from the football team that nobody would really feel comfortable making fun of, and since then we haven't really had problem with interest (knock on wood). The girls were our biggest recruiting tool they just kept asking until the boys gave in and said yes. We only lost one during the season, and that had something to do with him playing college football. We had a great year and hopefully it works out for you too. Good Luck!
 


 
cheerleadingforlife
High School
Cheer
Athlete
FL
USA
3 Posts
 Posted - 07/13/2005 :  2:48:05 PM             
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Hey
i have been trying to get guys on my team for years allstars its not that hard but in high school it is. Guys in high school think that guy cheerleaders are gay. Which some mite be but alot of them are not. They dont understand how much hardwork dedacation and selfconfidance it takes to be a cheerleader guy or girl.But what i would do is talk to people explain them about it maybe they will see that its not all rah rah it has work and while you work its probly one of the most overwellming sports!


 
 
iamscottym04
College
Athlete
7 Posts
 Posted - 08/14/2005 :  12:55:46 AM             
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So many of you guys say you were recruited by hot girls. Can you say sketchy? Seriously, get real. If you havent had any cheerleader friends before, what are the odds you're gonna get with them now? I gotta say, I really dont like cheerleading, but then again thats probably because I dont like the people on our team. I guess its okay, but for all you guys that say its hard I have to disagree. Maybe its true for football and wrestling, but coming from one of the best high school gymnastic teams in the country, nothing comes close. Ah, well, cheerleading is varsity; it'll have to do for now till I can heal up and get my gymnastics scholarship back. Id say being varsity has gotta be the best perk, and something for your grad school app; and it doesnt sound sketchy.

Scott
Northwestern University
Mechanical/ Electrical/ Computering Engineering
McCormick Class of 2008
 


 
Skidoodude
5 Posts
 Posted - 08/16/2005 :  2:38:40 PM             
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quote:
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Originally posted by poco515

Go pull some guys that play sports, preferably in the off season, stick em the gym for a couple days, and they're hooked. Thats what I always hear.

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Thats how I got involved with cheerleading. Now look at me, Im now involved with partner stunting, and training already , on my own time, for the upcoming season. Seriously, I wouldnt have thought I woudl ever do something like this, so its really been awsome.


 
 
UKlincolnCheer
College
Cheer/Dance
Athlete
United Kingdom
11 Posts
 Posted - 12/02/2005 :  5:58:44 PM             
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What we did was at freashers fair we had a stand along with the other sports societies and played a video of some single base and and co-ed stunting it generated a lot of interest. That might work

[CMCOACH]

Im thinking about having "stuntmen" this year during try outs-- we have lots of guys sitting around watching us practice and want to stunt but not cheer-- does anyone have stuntmen?  any ideas on how to use them successfully?

[Kong]

Why just have them stunt?  If you have them interested in stunting for basketball season, you can have them cheer as well.  I know that when I was in college cheering for basketball season, I pretty much stunted and used a megaphone to yell cheers to the crowd.  It's a much more interactive atmosphere than football season (smaller crowd, closer to the crowd, etc.) and it's a lot of fun getting the crowd to interact and support the team on the court.

Kong

[SoCalCheerCoach2]

When I was in HS my freshman yr. was the 1st time 9th grade could be on cheer.  Before then, the cheerleaders weren't highly thought of (and with some good reasons) let alone the thought of having guys on the squad.  Thankfully my 1st yr. in HS changed with a new advisor.  We had stuntmen my Freshman and Sophomore year.  They would sit in the Football/Basketball stands in front of us and when we needed them, they would jump down and stunt with us.  By Junior year the boys realized just how fun cheering is and actually started cheering with us during chants at Football games.  They definitely enjoyed Basketball season better though.  Probably for the reasons Kong mentioned, that I am not sure of.  It may take some time to get them to cheer with the girls but with a little encouragement, I'm sure anyone who is interested in being a stuntmen could end up "seeing the light"  and actually cheering.

[Kong]

SoCalCheerCoach2 has some good points.  One final thing I want to add is that if you figure out what the guys don't find attractive about cheerleading and then eliminate those things (i.e. most guys who don't want to cheer don't look too favorably on jumping or dancing), you could probably make them more comfortable with actually cheer LEADING instead of just stunting.

Kong

[Coach C]

I mentioned this in reference to another topic on pep rallys, but I think it's helpful here, too!  Each year we would have a guy/girl routine for our big rival basketball game.  After a week of practicing with the team, the guys got a taste of what cheerleading really is!  Although we never actively recruited male cheerleaders, doing something along those lines might spark some interest! 

[cobwebbedroses]

A little update on my situation...

I have heard rumors from my current cheerleaders that one of the 6th grade boys is planning on trying out next year for cheer.  Yay! Now the girls did say "He's kinda girly anyway and he gets made fun of by the other boys already" poor guy.

So everyone knows that girls get their height growth spurt before boys in adolescence. Thats why they alway have those awkward school dances with all the girls a head taller than the boys.  Assuming he makes the squad, I would like to teach him some basic coed stunting techniques, but hw do I do that if all the girls on the squad end up being taller than him?

Also are there any books or resources that talk about coed cheer, especially learning to stunt, etc.  I would make him start weightlifting, and learning tumbling.  I would like sometihng to refer to and learn from this summer if he makes the squad in the spring.

[Coach C]

I would just suggest having him go thru normal progressions the same as the other cheerleaders.  Do you go to camp?  If so, they will probably be able to assist with more of the partner stunt techniques.

[CoachKC]

I teach 6th grade, and have had numerous males express interest in learning stunting and tumbling. . .they will do all sorts of nifty things by themselves out at P.E.  My problem is that most of them (let's say the most ENERGETIC ones) can't seem to stay out of trouble. . .hence, they would never make it on my squad.  I would absolutely LOVE to be able to convince them that cheerleading is a valuable reason to stay OUT of the dean's office. . .unfortunately, many middle-school boys just don't have the maturity level needed yet (especially when faced with taunts and jeers from some of their less-enlightened classmates).   

[cobwebbedroses]

No unfortunately we don't go to camp. I don't think our high school squad even goes to camp anymore.  It just costs too much for parents in our area.  Depending what happens, I may call the gym in the next town and see if they have an open gym time for stunting and tumbling, or see if they can show me a few things to teach him.  I guess we'll just see what happens. Thanks!

[Coach C]

If he is new to cheerleading at the 6th grade level, then he will probably be starting off with the same stunts as the rest of your team.  As I said previously, just start with the standard progression chart.  I can't imagine that he's a powerhouse as a 6th grader, so it will probably be awhile before he can work up to partner stunts on his own.  Until that time, just help him to work on technique as a group stunter, and include him as a flyer, as well!  Going to a gym to get some pointers may be helpful, but I think you'll find that you probably know most of the technique already.  It's not too much different than group stunting.  You'll just have to work with him and his partner on confidence in one another and working together to keep things tight & solid.

[Kong]

Until that time, just help him to work on technique as a group stunter, and include him as a flyer, as well!

I don't mean to get this post off topic, but putting guys in the air is a practice that numerous people would not agree with.  Although this may be actively practiced on the all-star level, it's not a very popular practice among school squads or collegiate squads.  What's more, if you are trying to recruit guys, by putting them in the air when they perceive guys as being on the ground putting the girls up in the air, you may actually disuade them from trying out.

Kong

[Coach C]

Thanks for your comment, Kong.  I never thought about it that way.  I guess I've always tried to rotate people into different positions so they get a better feel for each part.  But, at the middle school level, there may be some turn off to male cheerleaders flying.  I never thought of it as emasculating...  But I can see how that might be a concern.  I'll keep that in mind - although I have to say that when we were at camp, the female UCA cheerleaders based male UCA cheerleaders!     I guess it just depends on your squad/cheerleader, but I think it can be a great learning tool! 

[jandotcom]

In my opinion (and I'm not saying it's the right one!), I think it's fine for males to base males, and males to base females, but not females to base males.

[Kong]

When we were at camp, the female UCA cheerleaders based male UCA cheerleaders!     I guess it just depends on your squad/cheerleader, but I think it can be a great learning tool!

I've seen that done at camps before.  Actually, there was one instructor I used to work with who was a pretty big guy (about 230 pounds) and he used to have two of the smaller females on staff put him up in an elevator.  This was done to show the campers that it's all about good technique...that if the top and bases use the proper techique, "anyone can do anything in a stunt."  Typically, it was done at a point where the campers were pointing out that the staff who were basing were much bigger than the tiny top going up in the stunts.

Along similar lines, it is a good idea to have tops learn what it's like to be a base and vice versa.  I know that at some of my camps, I've stressed to coaches that EVERYONE on a squad should base and go up in a cradle drill and a bear hug drill.  This is partly to build squad trust with one another, but also to prove that the job of each person has its challenges.  Just like it's not easy to "stay tight" and trust your bases to catch you, it's not easy to reach up high and absorb with your legs.

In both of these instances, the change in stunting was done to prove a point, not as a normal stunting duty.

Kong

[apeman54]

I wanted to touch on both topics of this this post. I'm on an all star squad and we do an all male basket in our routine because its very showy and actually travels higher than throwing a girl. the guy we toss (I'm a base being that I'm 300lbs) focus's so much on his technique that he is easier to toss and catch than most of our female flyers. Like the others said its all about technique and the BT Basket is done in a masculine way as we have 3 guys throwing 1.

As far as recruiting guys goes I know I started because i was dating a cheerleader. She convinced me to base some stunts for a pep a rally my senior year of high school. though that is all i did in high school as far as cheerleading when it opened me up to the possiblities. I didn't think about actually being a yell leader untill later because i played four sports and didn't have time for a fith. Anyway that would be my recomendation. Get the guys involved anyway possible it may take a while to get them hooked but you'll deffinantly get a few. Use the girls "boyfriends" in practice pep a rally's anywere you can get them till the cliche starts to wear off a little bit then push a little harder to get them on the actual squad.

Good luck

[ucaCHEERalum]

...include him as a flyer, as well!  Going to a gym to get some pointers may be helpful, but I think you'll find that you probably know most of the technique already.  It's not too much different than group stunting. 

Whoa whoa...I know I'm a little late to weigh in on this discussion but there are few things that stand out to me here about your statement. 

1.) Don't include him as a flyer.  This would be ok if you don't plan on recruiting other guys or don't care about the girls on the squad teasing him.

2.) Getting help if you are unsure is ALWAYS the best practice.  There are far to many coaches/advisors/coordinators out there that just think they can skate by.  Please...if you don't know the right way to do something, especially when it involves flyers, my number one rule has always been to ASK.

3.) Coed partner stunting is vastly different than group stunting.  Yes, the overlying ideas of staying tight, pulling up, and locking out your arms certainly ring true, but we're talkin' about a completely different animal here - again, better to seek out "pointers" than chance your way through.

What has worked for my squads in the past is hooking the guys with the stunts.  They "put up" with the chanting and motions for a semester before they really get into it.  Also, our girls lift weights in the gym next to the big boys.  Depending on what level cheerleading you're at (I'm at a University) using your girls as a recruitment tool can be a big plus.

[Coach C]

...include him as a flyer, as well!  Going to a gym to get some pointers may be helpful, but I think you'll find that you probably know most of the technique already.  It's not too much different than group stunting. 

Whoa whoa...I know I'm a little late to weigh in on this discussion but there are few things that stand out to me here about your statement. 

1.) Don't include him as a flyer.  This would be ok if you don't plan on recruiting other guys or don't care about the girls on the squad teasing him.

2.) Getting help if you are unsure is ALWAYS the best practice.  There are far to many coaches/advisors/coordinators out there that just think they can skate by.  Please...if you don't know the right way to do something, especially when it involves flyers, my number one rule has always been to ASK.

3.) Coed partner stunting is vastly different than group stunting.  Yes, the overlying ideas of staying tight, pulling up, and locking out your arms certainly ring true, but we're talkin' about a completely different animal here - again, better to seek out "pointers" than chance your way through.

I think the level that was initially discussed was 6th/7th grade.  My post received a lot of criticism, but here's what I was thinking when I posted...

1.) Experiencing all of the positions of a stunt can be really helpful, which is why I suggested that he be included as a flyer, not necessarily at performances, but maybe in practice...  I've never had a problem with boys being teased for flying in a stunt, but maybe I just had a good group of kids.

2.) I agree that getting help if you are unsure is a best practice. 

3.) In my experience many of the same basic principles apply and if he goes through the standard progressions he should equipped with a good base set of skills for stunting, which I believe is what the coach is ultimately looking for.

Cheers!
Coach C

[ucaCHEERalum]

OK, Coach C - I can see where you are coming from.  I still think you'll have trouble recruiting other guys.

Maybe I'm old school...I just think that guys shouldn't fly unless they are being held by guys and they are catching a girl up there (yep, college or upper level allstar). 

There are so many stereotypes that young men have to deal with AFTER they make the tough decision to be a cheerleader.  IMO...males jumping, dancing, and flying in basket tosses or pyramids does nothing but perpetuate a less than masculine stereotype.