I have been cheering for many years now and being on a team has widened my perspective and made me a better person. There’s something about being a part of something that adds to life experiences and overall social experience.

1. You make tons of new friends

This is honestly one of the most wonderful parts of being on a team is bonding and becoming a family. The girls I cheer with are my best friends and we all have each others backs. You end up building deep relationships based on trust because a team will only function successfully if everyone completely has faith in one another.

2. You learn leadership skills

Sure it’s hard when you first meet people to be outgoing but once your team builds those bonds, everyone seems to become more confident. Cheer taught me to find my voice and use it. Good teammates believe in each other and each other’s opinions. A team is an excellent place to test out leadership skills and share talent to improve others’ skills.

3. Your lifestyle becomes healthier

There is a clear improvement in both physical and mental health. During a sport, you work many muscles that you wouldn’t normally work. Staying active helps to strengthen your immune system against illness and just generally keep you fit. Often times coaches will encourage and help teammates to eat cleaner. Usually advice will be given on excersize regimes that can be done at home. A structure can heighten the likeliness of physical activity on your own.

4. Your stamina is increased

With almost every sport, stamina will be improved. For example, the running component of sports like football allow you to gradually be capable of longer distances and paces. In cheer, you build up body stamina especially for stunting. Once you stunt more often, your arm muscles become used to the certain movements and it becomes easier. Mental stamina is also included in this. Your mindset can change to think “I’m going to keep going, not only for myself, but also for my teammates who are depending on me”.

5. You learn problem solving

Issues can always occur on a team. Sometimes drama can be fracturing and weaken bonds. This is where your confidence and leadership skills come in to step up and figure out the root of the problem. During games or competitions, you are taught to think on your feet and come up with an efficient and successful solution. In a competition, if a stunt falls or a tumbling skill doesn’t land, you figure out how to keep going and make it better from there.

Being part of something can boost self confidence, awareness, and goal setting. Like the phrase says, there’s no “I” in “team”. Playing any kind of sport or even being involved in group activities or clubs can help you make friends and consequential bonds that last a life time.