I finally learned what life is all about,
The secret of success comes hard without a doubt.
I trained, I sweated, I ached, I cried.
And found out I got better, each time that I tried.
I was pushed, yelled at, and preached at too,
But the more that this happened, the more I grew
"You can be anything you want to be!"
This voice kept shouting out to me
Yet, who can I blame for such a daring approach?
THAT GENERAL, THAT COUNSELOR, THAT FRIEND I CALL MY COACH!!

There are little eyes upon you and they're watching night and day,
There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager to do anything you do,
and a little girl who's dreaming of the day she'll be like you.
You're the little girl's idol,
You're the wisest of the wise.
In her little mind about you no suspicions ever rise.
She believes in you devoutly,
Holds that all you say and do,
she will say and do in your way
when she's a grown-up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little girl who believes you're always right.
And her ears are always open, and she watches day and night!
You are setting an example everyday in all you do,
For the little girl who's waiting to grow up to be like you.

It's the glimmer of hope when times are tough,
It's a bit more patience when we've had enough.
It's that thoughtful smile when one's desperately needed,
It's that extra push, the reason why we've succeeded.
This part of our personality which never fails to strive,
Is the creator of our goals and the source of our drive.
We are enthused about life, optimistic about what's to come,
Because the cheerleader inside looks for life's fun.
It emerges as a friend to lend you a hand.
Where does this light come from, where does the ray start?
It shines in your mind, but ignites in your heart.
The confidence to try, the will to believe,
The acceptance of failure and the way to achieve.
It's very close by, its something we trust.
It's the fighter inside, it's the cheerleader within us.

Cheerleading is rivalry,
the competion makes you strong,
it's sharing secrets and tears,
learning how to get along!
(thanks Sarah)

The time has come once again
to show what we can do,
to work together as a team,
not just as one or two.
Together we can do anything that our hearts desire.
You know that we can do it even though we are so tired.
So let's look to one another for comfort and for cheer.
Let's lean on one another as we cry our tears.
Because together we have a goal that we all have set,
And that's to be the best team the crowd has seen yet.
So let's go out on that floor as a winning team,
Let's do what we do best and make that crowd scream.
Because together we can do it,
Together we can,
Together we can be the best squad in the land.

Cheer: most would say it's just a girly sport, but its life!
From the tumbler to the flyer, back spot to the base,
You have scorpians, baskets and hurkies in their face!
We love the smell of hair spray and the feel of glitter on our eyes.
Whoever says cheer isn't a sport is simply telling lies!
(thanks Reanne)

Now I lay me down to rest,
I've tried my hardest and done my best
to tumble, jump, dance & cheer,
with the sharpest of motions and no trace of fear.
I know in the morning my body will ache
but, for what I love, it's a price I gladly pay.
Thank you God for making me strong
with determination & commitment when practices are long.
And Lord if I shall die before I wake,
I'll know I've shown the world,
cheerleaders are born, not made!!

As we walk through the door, our hair up in curls,
We watch some girls practice their flips and twirls.
It's our turn to practice, we run through everything once or twice;
All stunts are solid, the routine looks nice.
Our team is called, it's time to go on,
Our minds go blank, the routine is gone.
The crowd goes wild as we spirit out,
Everyone is nervous without a doubt.
The music starts, the routine comes back,
This is the real thing, no time to slack.
Formation runs and motion drills that we've all come to hate,
Really paid off, 'cause we're looking great.
We've practiced for hours to look good for three minutes
We give it our all right up to the finish.
First place or last, we know we've done our best,
Now it's time to cheer for the rest.

We tumble and we flip,
we cheer and we're hip.
But when it comes to working hard you know our name,
you can't play our game,
We are cheerleaders!
(thanks Miranda)

I'm a cheerleader,
This is my profession,
Is it hard work,
not just an obsession.
Practice several times a week,
In the cold and the rain,
It doesn't matter what the sport,
There is always going to be pain.
Some people say its not a sport,
But we know that's a lie,
Because I know I work harder
Than any football guy.
If you say I'm not an athlete,
Get ready for what's next,
Because what you're about to meet,
Is best of the best.
Dedication and determination,
Are words we always hear,
Every girl across the nation -
The ones that love to cheer.
These are words we always scream,
Right before the contest:
"There is no I in team,
So work together and perform your best".

As the day of our competition nears,
Remember the smiles and forget the tears.
Remember the times we've spent together,
Cherish them now until forever.
(thanks Mackenzie)

A girl came up to me the other day
She asked me a question and waited for a retort
She asked, I shutter to say,
"Is cheerleading a sport?"
I answered in reply, "Why wouldn't it be?
A sport is not always played on a court.
It takes a lot of endurance, you see.
It takes a special person of sort".
"What kind of person?", she voiced
I would only answer if I dare,
"One that can hoist
A flyer through the air!"
"We practice as hard as football players do
We have just as many practices and drills
Doing tumbling and stretches too
We are always learning new skills."
"We work hard, we have fun
And have lots of spirit,
And when our routine is done
The crowd will always cheer it!"
She exclaimed, "I see now how hard you work.
You execute stunts, jumps, and dance
While cheering in your daisy skirt.
I see now why you take such a chance!"

It's going to practice and working out as one
It's staying out late until you have the job done
It's stetching, jumping and tumbling even if you hurt
It's pushing yourself to the limit and a lot of hard work
It's dancing your heart out and strutting your stuff
It's using lots of energy and having a coach that is rough
It's starving during practice that never seems to end
It's the vending maching that becomes your best friend
It's always wearing that smile, and having to be perky
It's good and bad times, far from being perfect
It's making new friends that will last a lifetime
It's holding your tears back, knowing you will be fine
All this rolled into one spells C-H-E-E-R-L-E-A-D-E-R
Because cheerleaders are what we are!

HOLD ME UP JUST A LITTLE LONGER LORD, AND HELP ME KEEP SMILING FOR JUST ONE MORE GAME.
GIVE ME THE STRENGTH FOR ONE MORE CHEER, FOR I AM SO TIRED.
GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO FACE THE FANS ONE MORE TIME, EVEN THE ONES WHO ARE NEVER AROUND WHEN THE TEAM IS LOSING.
HELP ME SAY THE RIGHT WORDS WHEN THE CONTEST IS OVER, AND OUR TEAM NEEDS TO BE COMFORTED.
GUIDE ME LORD WITH YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, FOR YOU ARE MY SPIRIT.

When the world looks down on you, you need to remember that when the working day is done, you have teammates that will be there: with life-long friendship, to stand up for you, and to catch you when you fall.
(thanks Jessi!)

Our Cheerleading Angel,
whose spirit lives on the sidelines,
holiest are your pom poms.
Your spirit comes,
your pride will be done,
on the sidelines, in competition, and at practice.
Lead us away from laziness,
forgive us our mistakes,
and grant us the strength to make every motion count,
every stunt stick,
and every routine amaze.
Give us daily discipline and self-confidence,
but deliver us from disrespecting those
who compete against us.
May the spirit, the pride and the glory of
cheerleading live in our hearts always and forever!
Amen.

Do you have a cheerleading poem you'd like to share? Send it in and I'll give you credit!