Things I’ve Learned as a Cheer Dad

It has come to my attention that someone I know has decided to bash something they know very little about—cheerleading! This is a subject I know a lot more about than I ever expected. Having lived in a house with girls who have all cheered at every level—peewee, school, competition, and college—I’ve seen the sport up close. Several of them are still active and successful in the cheer world.

One of my daughters currently cheers at a Division I university and also serves as a student ambassador. In that role, she contributes her time to local charitable events and coaches middle school cheerleading. She teaches discipline, character training, teamwork, perseverance, and self-motivation. There’s a strict code of ethics that has to be followed, or they are disciplined. She also travels to competitions as a coach and serves as a certified judge at events nationwide.

Another daughter cheered through peewee, youth, high school, and all star, finishing with collegiate cheer. She now coaches at an all star program and also leads competition teams across multiple local school districts. On a near-daily basis, she receives praise from parents about the values and character she instills in their children. The athletes she coaches look up to her as a role model, and it makes me proud to hear how respected she is by the families she works with.

My third daughter also cheered through high school and began coaching at both youth and high school levels at competitive gyms. When local schools dropped character education from their curriculum, she brought it to the court, field, and mat—teaching confidence, friendship, teamwork, perseverance, and time management to young athletes.

If you knew anything about the sport, you’d know it includes athletes from all races, sizes, and backgrounds—working together as a team. Even inclusive programs supporting athletes with special needs are part of this community. Watching these teams perform is emotional and inspiring. The impact is undeniable.

To stereotype the sport based on little or no knowledge is ignorant. It’s like saying all blondes are dumb, or all French people smell bad. It’s a baseless generalization. Consider this: 97% of cheerleaders go on to college, and 85% maintain a B average or higher.

And if you think cheerleading doesn’t produce strong leaders, take a look at history. Some of the people who’ve cheered include two U.S. Presidents, actors, news anchors, and elected officials. Not exactly a list of underachievers.

The reality is this: cheerleaders often grow up to be leaders. They develop skills that many adults still struggle to master—public speaking, time management, conflict resolution, and resilience.

Yes, cheerleading can be expensive, just like any sport. But the value it provides—discipline, opportunity, teamwork, friendships—goes far beyond the cost.

The cheerleaders I know personally have become athletes, students, leaders, friends, and positive contributors to their communities. I couldn’t be more proud of who they are and how cheerleading has helped shape them.

I’d much rather see a child active, working hard, and building real-world relationships than sitting at home on a device, posting uninformed opinions about things they don’t understand.

Before posting online about someone else’s child or family, take a moment to think. What you say is public. It affects real people. If you don’t want a response, don’t put it out there.

To everyone in the cheer community—share your story. Share how cheerleading has impacted your life. Help educate those who still don’t see what this sport is truly about.

Want to contribute? Let us know at cheerdaily.com.