Leading the field

I’m contemplating a call to see whether I need leg warmers. Well, that is part of the cheerleaders’ uniform isn’t it or may be I’m getting mixed up with the Eighties performing arts school favourite Fame?

Cheerleading is American and it’s about song and dance, so to me it’s all the same. And with Disney’s High School Musical taking cinema box offices by storm at the moment, becoming a cheerleader for a morning seemed appropriate.

I’d pre-warned my cheerleading coach, Robyn Morrison, that I’m not exactly cheerleading material, but apparently you don’t have to be ultra-skinny, sexy or glam to shake those pompoms. Anyone can do it and, according to Robyn, it’s becoming the latest fitness craze.

Robyn, coach to Huddersfield Giants’ cheer leaders, set up a class at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Odsal.

Such was the demand she was encouraged by her husband, Bradford Bulls’ Australian rugby star Glenn, to set up her own cheerleading school.

Robyn launched Panache Cheer launched earlier this year. She and her team of coaches are now busy providing sessions at sports centres and schools in Bradford and Huddersfield.

More than 300 youngsters are learning the sport – yes sport – and Robyn says popularity is increasing following the High School Musical phenomenon.

The origins of cheerleading lie in America where the first recorded yell is said to have been performed on an American campus at a college football game.

Cheerleaders entertain the crowds and whip up support for the players on the pitch, but according to Robyn it’s no longer about glamour babes jumping around in short skirts. “Years ago it was all about having good-looking chicks, but when I got the job with the National RL, (Robyn was cheerleading co-ordinator for the National Rugby League in her native Australia), I wanted to come away from that because I saw it more as a sport,” says Robyn.

She explains that cheerleading in American high schools is treated as a serious sport. Youngsters do gymnastics and weight training as part of it.

Robyn tells me cheerleading is another fitness initiative for tackling obesity.

As I discovered, there are many benefits. It’s fantastic for flexibility, increases self-confidence and co-ordination, encourages teamwork, and it’s exciting. “Cheerleading is so much more fun to do than dance,” says Robyn, who has a dance background.

The former Neighbours and Home And Away actress won a dance scholarship in Australia and studied performing arts before joining the police, but even while she was in the force she still taught dancing. Her involvement with cheerleading came about through her husband Glenn.

When the couple moved to the UK two years ago, and Glenn signed for the Bradford Bulls, Robyn began teaching cheerleading.

With American musician and choreographer Toni Basil’s Eighties hit Mickey in mind I decided to find out more about this phenomenon.

The Bulls stadium at Odsal, where the team’s own cheerleaders the Bullettes entertain the crowds, seemed the appropriate venue.

But as we stepped out on to the hallowed turf – wet underfoot from the early morning downpour we had thankfully just missed – I was concerned we’d damage it, until I reminded myself we weren’t there to slide around in a scrum. Cheerleading is, after all, a ‘girly’ occupation, I thought – although Robyn put me right that lads can, and do, do it.

Before learning the basic moves, Robyn puts me through a warm-up running across the pitch – she even does that elegantly as I bound along beside her!

Rolling shoulders, bending and stretching and a few star jumps is sufficient to work up a sweat. Standing on the pitch mid-November in shorts and T-shirt, it certainly kept the chill off!

I copied Robyn with a few cheerleading moves. The mention of big doughnuts and little doughnuts turned my mind to half-time refreshments when, in fact, it described the circular shape we were making with our fists for our next manoeuvre. We made a ‘T’ with our arms and a ‘half T’ then a bow and arrow and a high touch down and a low touchdown.

Robyn encouraged me to try a cartwheel. I haven’t done one of those since I was 12, but being a sport I had a go and, according to Robyn, I didn’t do too badly!

Games are part of the tuition. Robyn demonstrated ‘Coach Says,’ her version of ‘Simon Says.’ Watching Robyn perform perfect splits in the air had me wincing. She told me to imagine jumping over a puddle so I did, striding out awkwardly and leaping along the length she marked out on the turf with a pair of glittering golden pompoms.

Performing the moves with the pompoms made it feel real. Eventually you can progress to stunts. Robyn explained a basic low-level stunt is standing on thighs progressing to stunts in the air. Beginners tend to start low-level stunts after six months. I know I will never, ever, reach that stage, but I have to say it was the most fun physical work out I have ever done.

Cheerleading is great entertainment too. Robyn is now running cheerleading parties for youngsters to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays.

It is fantastic for keeping fit and, while I didn’t quite manage the mid-air splits pose which Robyn – a master level two cheer leading coach – performed, I did my best and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“You did well,” says Robyn as we parted ways on the car park.

Vocally I could succeed at cheerleading, but not physically! But what do they say? Practice makes perfect...

For more information contact Panache Cheer on 07876 052885; the Richard Dunn sports centre on (01274) 307822 or Nab Wood sports centre on (01274) 567285.