male cheerleaders on squad a first for us

[LCSD1 coach]

This is the first year that I have had guy cheerleaders.  I am excited but scared too.  I cheered in High school and had a male partner that I stunted with.  We (the girl cheerleaders) taught the boys cheers and stunts ect. I don't ever remember a coach being around.  I made the motions of the chants we did less girly for the guys but I am so scared as a coach.  I want the guys to do some of our chants that have strong arm motions and use megaphones for those that are less stong.  I'm not sure about dancing I know that they will probably have to do some at state but I don't want them to be made fun of.  As far as stunting they are awesome we have (forgive my wording) toss up to a shoulder sit, calf pop to a shoulder stand, toss to chair.  These boys are not the football player type but they are not the fem type either.  I would love to have more boys and do not want to blow this opportunity.  Any advise?

[ITasteLikePaint]

Ask them what they want to do.

I’ve cheered at two schools that are on opposite ends of this particular spectrum.

Before cheerleading I did three years of martial arts and two years of acting which included two musicals so when the first school I cheered for wanted me to dance, jump and kick I had no problem (in fact I had better jumps than most of the girls). I will say though, that I was the minority. Of the five guys on the squad, only two of us participated in these “more feminine activities.”

Then I transferred to a different school which has honestly not allowed me to do much of anything other than yelling and stunting. This squad gets embarrassed when I do so much as kick (my black-belt in Tae Kwon Do doesn’t seem to make it ok that I can kick like that).

With that in mind just make it a decision between you and your guys. If you’re comfortable with them jumping, kicking, and dancing with the rest of the squad then ask them if they want to and if they don’t don’t make them.

[LCSD1 coach]

I just want to protect them from the cruel teenagers that every community has.  I will ask them what they feel comfortable with.

[ucaCHEERalum]

Tip:  Want to keep the guy?  Maybe get some more? 

Then you need to keep him a guy.  No dancing.  No jumping.  Definitely no kicking (sorry Paint, black belts are cool and all). 

Heck, I tell my guys that if they want to do that kind of stuff then we can order them a skirt large enough.  Guys should be guys, they should have different, "masculine" motions (if any) and should be used for strength of muscle and voice.

[LCSD1 coach]

What about when we go to our state competition what do I have them do stand in the back while dancing is going on?  Remember I am only allowed 8 I possible may be able to swing a few more for competition but not with out one hell of a fight for more.

[jandotcom]

What about when we go to our state competition what do I have them do stand in the back while dancing is going on?  Remember I am only allowed 8 I possible may be able to swing a few more for competition but not with out one hell of a fight for more.

Can they tumble?

[LCSD1 coach]

nope but they will be attending class so hopefully

[Kong]

Tumbling is an option if they get running tumbling by that point in time.  Another option would be a basket toss or stunt sequence in the back.  If you make an argument that you want to keep 8 girls but want to add the two guys to the competition routine (you'll need uniforms anyway, so I don't thnk they would argue so much without keeping the guys off entirely and then they would have a sexual discrimination case on their hands), you could use two girls and two guys in the back for the stunt while still having six to dance in the front.  That would give you depth to the formation and allow you to spread out from side-to-side with six girls dancing.

Kong

[ucaCHEERalum]

Have him take a knee or stand at the back.  Or just have him cheer games if you don't want to worry about fitting him into a competition routine.

All the teasing comes from years and years of guys acting like gals when they put on a cheerleading uniform.  I can hardly blame the little punks that poke fun at guy cheerleaders - heck I even have a little chuckle when I see a fella out on the mat dancing his little heart out.  Ugh!  Then I shutter.

If there is a dance or motion work give him motions that are masculine (and only a few motions - T's, L&R punches, maybe a diagonal or two).  

Give the kid his dignity and he'll appreciate it more than you know.

[LCSD1 coach]

Thanks I guess we will see how the year goes and determine competition when it gets closer.

Thanks for all the advice

[coachscoops13]

We have one guy this year.  We told him that we would be glad for him to cheer with us, but that he would not be competing with us.  It is his first year cheering and he is doing great, but we just felt it would be very difficult to compete with just one guy unless he is amazing.  Since we have traditionally been all girl, we didn't want him to take the place of any of our girls either. 

I agree with the others, though.  Ask them what they are comfortable with.  If you don't want him to be made fun of, keep to simple motions, a megaphone, and stunting.  I had six guys one year at my old school - all football players that cheered during basketball season.  All were very masculine, strong guys and none of them danced, kicked, or jumped.  They were still made fun of by opposing student sections.  I can't imagine what it would have been like had they danced. 

If they do compete with you, I would have them kneel in the back or tumble if they can.  Good luck!

[RPCmme]

We have had a variety of guys cheer at our school.  We've had extremely masculine guys who mostly stunt and tumble to all-star guys who wouldn't dream of taking a knee during the dance portion.

Honestly, your school's community is something to consider.  Keep your cheer coaches and athletic director in the loop.  You may be surprised at the expectations ("your yell-leader will NOT dance at the pep assembly" was said to me in years past).  Don't set yourself up for trouble!

As a member of the crowd at competition, a guy on the floor in a mostly all-girl competition adds such an element of excitement and anticipation.  I ask myself, "Oooh, what is he going to do?".  We take advantage of this and sometimes our guys dance or even fly in stunts.  The crowd goes wild!  We have rival schools chanting our guy's name during his passes!

[pouncer the panther]

We have only had one male cheerleader one year. and no male mascots??? i they think its not manly they shoud watch bring it on 1 and say that again! and a guy at cheer camp? so basically i have been trying to convince my brother to try out to be mascot him and all of his friends are gonna try out now!