Cheerleading is an activity that uses organized routines made up of elements from dance, gymnastics, and stunting to cheer on sports teams at games and matches, and/or as a competitive sport.

One who engages in the acts of cheerleading is called a cheerleader.

Cheerleading first started at Princeton University in the 1880s with the crowd chant, “Rah rah rah, tiger tiger tiger, sis sis sis, boom boom boom ahhhhhhh, Princeton Princeton Princeton!” as a way to encourage school spirit at football games.

Cheerleading is most closely associated with American football, and to a lesser degree basketball. Sports such as soccer, ice hockey, and wrestling rarely have cheerleaders, and some sports like baseball have none at all.

In August of 2005 Ashley Burns, a 14 year old cheerleader, dies from an injury sustained while practicing a cheerleading stunt. This drew attention to the risks in the development of cheerleading stunts.

A stunt involves one to four other bases holding or tossing a cheerleader in the air. In general, all-girl cheerleading stunts usually involve two to four other bases while co-ed (”partner”) stunts are comprised of only one base (the male) and his partner (the flyer, usually female).

The foremost competition for all-star cheerleading is the annual USASF World Championships held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. Since its inception in 2004, teams must qualify for the event by finishing at or near the top at one of several qualifying competitions.

Cheerleading is most popular in North America.