History of Cheerleading 

 

1877 - 1st official cheer the "Princeton Cheer" is printed in the issues of the Daily Princetonian. The lyrics "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! S-s-s-t! Boom! A-h-h-h!" is now referred to as the "Locomotive"

 

1897 - Princeton graduate Thomas Peebles moves to Minnesota and brings the idea of organized cheers to the University of Minnesota.

 

1897 - Princeton officially nominates three official "Cheer Leaders" - 3 males responsible to lead the crowds into organized cheers.

 

1898 - Student Johnny Campbell directs the crowds at Minnesota with the infamous cheer:  "Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-u-mah, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah!"
This officially marks the birth of cheerleading and making Johnny Campbell the pioneer of cheerleading.
 

1903 - The first cheerleading fraternity is founded at the University of Minnesota: Gamma Sigma.

 

1923 - During World War II women began to become more involved in cheerleading and started to incorporate tumbling, megaphones, and gymnastics.
 

1948 - Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer formed the National Cheerleading Association in Dallas, to hold cheerleading clinics. Herkie's pioneering contributions to cheerleading are largely associated with the invention of the 'Herkie' jump, the spirit stick, and the creation of the first cheerleading uniform supply company.
 

1960 - The NFL (National Football League) begin to organize cheerleading teams for their teams.

 

1960s - College cheerleaders start hosting cheerleading workshops for high schools

 

1965 - Fred Gastoff invented the vinyl pompom
 

1972 - Dallas Cowboys introduce a new look: bringing "Broadway to AstroTurf" that will forever change the look and styling of professional cheerleading
 

1974 - The Universal Cheerleaders Association was created to provide training and education.
 

1983 - Modern cheerleading starts to take its form and the United States Allstar-Federation is created. ESPN broadcasts the first High School National Cheerleading Competition.
 

1987 - Creation of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors.
 

1998 - The International Federation of Cheerleading (IFC) was formed as a non-profit federation based in Tokyo, Japan.
 

2003 - National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCESSE) is created to provide education and safety training for cheerleading teams of all ages, levels, and divisions.
 

2004 - First Cheerleading World Championships hosted by USASF at Walt Disney World.
 

2007 - ICC Twenty2- Cricket introduces cheerleading the same year as the IPL.
 

2013 - SportAccord, the umbrella organization for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, accepted the ICU (International Cheer Union) world governing body for cheerleading (the International Cheer Union) into its sporting dynasty.

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2017 - Cheerleading is recognised as a sport by receiving preliminary recognition by the International Olympic Committee.

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2018 - the University of Kentucky represents Team USA the Tokyo Winter Olympics for showcase performances.

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