BENEFITS OF COMPETITIVE CHEER
Competitive sports help children further develop physical skills, increase body conditioning for overall better health, build self esteem, teach sportsmanship and team values that are important skills and capacities for success in life. The lessons learned in competitive sports will shape values and behaviors for adult life.

The Valuable lessons and skills learned through competition include:
Teamwork
Sportsmanship
Goal Setting
Self Esteem
Work Ethic
Commitment
Respect

TEAM WORK
1. Share responsibilities
2. Encourage other
3. Share the spotlight
4. Building team relationships by sharing wins and defeats
5. Work Ethic
6. Commitment & Respect

SPORTSMANSHIP
1. Learn to succeed without gloating
2. Learn to accept defeat without complaining or making excuses
3. Learn from mistakes
4. Turn mistakes into opportunities to improve
5. Learn to be fair and abide by rules
6. Learn to treat opponents and officials/judges with respect
7. Encourage others to learn from mistakes, rather than criticizing
8. Develop honesty and integrity in competition

GOAL SETTING
1. Setting and working towards realistic goals as an individual and as a team
2. Develop work ethic and commitment
3. Aids in team building and bonding

SELF ESTEEM
1. Competitive rewards individual and team efforts
2. Positive feedback at competitions enhances self esteem
3. Competing will boost self confidence
4. Learn that success is not the same as winning and failure is not the same as losing
5. Participation is rewarded through trophies, recognition, and positive feedback from judges
6. Learn to handle disappointment and learn from mistakes

WORK ETHIC & COMMITMENT
1. Learn the importance of strong work ethic and the rewards of commitment

RESPECT
1. Learn to control emotions and treat opponents, coach’s, and judges with respect
2. Learn to follow directions
3. Learn that each member’s decisions affect’s the entire team
4. Learn to accept judgment calls
5. Learn to respect criticism and decisions of superiors

OTHER BENEFITS OF COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING INCLUDE....
1. Travel: Cheerleaders are able to experience great cities across the United States
2. Awards: Free gifts and participation trophies are usually available for each competitor. Money,       scholarships, and trophies are usually given for first, second, and third place finishes.
3. Excitement: Competitions give cheerleaders the opportunity to share there love of the sport with     thousands of other cheerleaders.
    - Cheerleaders get the opportunity to compete in front of hundreds to thousands of spectators at     competitions.
    - Competitions have become elaborate productions with cutting-edge backdrops, spotlighting and     state-of-the-art sound systems