Cheerleading 101 Cheerleading began for me at the age of twelve. In the past I had played soccer, basketball, softball, did ballet. Basically every activity my mom could possibly put me in. All of those activities were okay, but cheerleading became something that was special to me. I first began cheering in middle school for the Hazelwood West Junior Wildcats. I cheered on the team throughout middle school literally dedicating all of my free time to cheerleading. I lived, ate, and dreamed cheer. I went on to continue cheering throughout my high school career, cheering for all Hazelwood West athletics, including: soccer, football, basketball, and wrestling. I was a hardcore dedicated athlete, and I had spirit like no other. From traditional sideline cheerleading to competition cheerleading I have really done it all. Being a top- notch cheerleader did not come easy at all though. It took dedication, practice, and determination. In cheerleading the most important thing is motion placement. As noted by the National Cheerleading Association, motions must be sharp, strong, and neat. (National) These motions come into play in more than just cheers and sidelines you perform. They are in the dance move that you will execute and the stunts you intend on hitting. Proper arm placement is also a must. You want to avoid things like cocked wrists, bent arms, and overextension of the arms. The basic motion of a cheerleader is the ready position, which is hand behind your back with your feet shoulder width apart, along with a big smile on your face. The next motion is a lunge. This is where your left leg is bent at a ninety degree angle and the right leg is completely straight, with your hips facing forward. Also another crucial motion that’s used in everyday cheerleading life is the High V. In cheerleading this is when your arms are up above your body making the letter V.