Monday, 30 March 2009
88. Cheerleading is an exciting sport that often spurs many other sports on. Write an article about cheerleading and how it is accessed during cheerleading competitions.
There have been debates on whether or not cheerleading is truly a sport. Supporters consider cheerleading as a whole, a sport, citing the heavy use of athletic talents, while critics do not see it as deserving of that status since sport implies a competition among squads and not all squads compete along with subjectivity of competitions. Nevertheless, cheerleading is considered a sport in Singapore.
Cheerleading is a sport that uses organised routines that ranges from one to three minutes made from the elements of cheers, dance, jumps, stunting, and tumbling to direct spectators to cheer on sports teams at matches, and to compete at cheerleading competitions. Cheerleading takes years of practice and the practices can be very tedious. The athlete involved in cheerleading is called a cheerleader. They draw attention to the event they are cheering for to get the audience integrated into the event.
Cheerleading is considered a very dangerous activity. The main source of injuries comes from stunting, which is also known as pyramids. These stunts are performed at competitions and games. Sometimes competition routines are focused solely on the use of difficult and risky stunts. These stunts usually include a flyer (the girl on top), along with one, two, three, or four bases (the boys or girls at the bottom). Some common cheerleading related injuries are back injuries, broken arms, head injuries, elbow injuries, sprained ankles, and sprained wrists.
- Cheerleading Stunts
Stunts are defined as building performances displaying a person's dexterity or skill. Stunting in cheerleading has been previously referred to as building pyramids. Stunts range from basic two-legged stunts to one-legged extended stunts and high flying basket tosses. There are numerous variations of each basic stunt.
A stunt group usually involves up to four bases holding or tossing another cheerleader in the air. In general, all-girl cheerleading stunts usually involve up to four other bases, while co-ed (partner) stunts are comprised of only one base (usually a male) and his partner (the flyer, usually a female). Pyramids are multiple groups of stunts connected aerially by the flyers. This connection may vary from a simple linking of hands to having a multi-level pyramid, with the flyers already in the air acting as primary bases for another flyer or flyers on top of them.
- Cheerleading Competitions
Cheerleading competitions are assessed based on the routines done by a cheerleading team. At least half of the cheerleading team must perform for points to be awarded. The cheerleaders may only perform within the 15 x 20 meters performance area. The points will be awarded according to the criteria set by the judges and the team that accumulates the most points will be the winner.
The routines should be about five minutes in length and it must have a cheer during the performance, dance techniques, synchoronisation with cheers and music, toss, tumbling, and variety of formations. A minimum of three jumps, lifts, and pyramids must be performed as well.
Below is the point system for a cheerleading competition.
5 points each: Dance Technique, Jumps, Tosses, and Tumbling.
10 points each: Cheer Clarity, Choreography, Degree of Difficulty, Formations, Lifts, Overall Effectiveness, Pyramids, Stunts, and Synchronization.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
23.03.2009, Monday
Despite having to work, I still managed to find some time to touch on my final year project. I also got the chance to have lunch with Daryl since he ended school early. We had a great time talking over lunch.
24.03.2009, Tuesday
I ate two plates of noodles for lunch. I can really eat a lot if I want to.
25.03.2009, Wednesday
I am guilty of being late for this morning’s follow up session for the Good News Week. Luckily, Juliana was there to lead the session in my absence. I managed to make it there before the session ended to close in prayer. I need to be more discipline so that this will not happen again.
26.03.2009, Thursday
Mummy brought me and my siblings to Din Tai Fung for dinner. The food was not bad. After dinner, we did grocery shopping before heading home.
27.03.2009, Friday
Good News Week follow up session in the morning. The primary six students were quite mischievous and noisier compared to the primary five students. After the follow up session, we went to eat Dim Sum at a coffee shop nearby. I went to work right after that.
28.03.2009, Saturday
Methodist Walk in the morning was boring and the sun was scorching hot. I did not even complete the walk as I had to rush off to the Sport On! Roadshow. The Sport On! Roadshow was not as crowded as it was expected to be. Anyway, I had fun running the game booth and got to know a few people better. The roadshow ended with the prize giving ceremony. To my surprise, I won the second prize which is worth $410.00. I like the I-Pod most. Thank you to all my friends for your votes, and God for this win to be possible.
29.03.2009, Sunday
Buffet lunch at church. I helped out by distributing the food and preparing the desserts. After lunch, I played ultimate frisbee with Daryl and James before going up to the church office. I managed to talk to some people whom I have not talked to for some time. I also had a few rounds of bridge with my brother, Dora, and Sher May.
In the afternoon, I drove my parents and cousin to the airport. They are going to Vietnam for ten days. I will miss them a lot. I hope that they will have an enjoyable and safe trip.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Sometimes we can go through life with blinders on, not seeing or truly experiencing what is out there. It is safer that way. Accepting whatever we encounter as ‘reality’, and telling ourselves that we are perfectly fine with it. I was guilty of this. I am sure others are, too.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
16.03.2009, Monday
Work, work, work.
17.03.2009, Tuesday
Work, work, work.
18.03.2009, Wednesday
Work, work, work.
19.03.2009, Thursday
Work, work, work.
20.03.2009, Friday
I left work at three to go to school to collect my bowling balls and also did some training. Later in the evening, I went home to put my bowling balls before going to Singapore Sports Council to attend a briefing. I got to know a few people through the briefing session and they are really nice to talk to.
21.03.2009, Saturday
Sometimes, failure is what you get even though you know tried your best. I tried my best, but I just could not do it. I promise I will train harder and do better the next time.
22.03.2009, Sunday
Swimming followed by a steam bath is good. Chester came over for a tan while I swim and joined me for the steam bath. In the evening, I drove down to Harbourfront Centre to fetch my parents. Mummy bought doughnuts for me and my siblings from Batam. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into it.
Friday, 20 March 2009
How To Exercise Your Neck
Sunday, 15 March 2009
09.03.2009, Monday
It kind of rain the whole day, making me feel a little gloomy. I got to start working on my article and also start packing my room soon.
10.03.2009, Tuesday
God, thanks for getting me a job in this time of recession. It is amazing that while the newspaper headlines are flashing news of thousands of people losing their job, I could get one just by believing in You.
11.03.2009, Wednesday
Work, work, work.
12.03.2009, Thursday
Work, work, and more work.
13.03.2009, Friday
It is finally Friday. I am looking forward to the weekends.
14.03.2009, Saturday
Asian Youth Games volunteer briefing was interesting. Lecturers from the Institute of Technical Education came to speak to us on 'Service Excellence & Cultural Diversity'. One of the lecturers was especially humourous, making many people break into laughter once every few minutes. Lunch was provided and the food was delicious, so I took two servings.
After the briefing was over, I left Temasek Polytechnic and headed to Bedok Stadium to run with Chester and Daryl. We did speed training and it was really torturous. I think my body needs more conditioning to withstand the tough training.
15.03.2009, Sunday
It is very encouraging to see my cousin going to church every week.
Sunday, 8 March 2009
02.03.2009, Monday
I spent almost every minute facing the computer. It is about time that I start planning what to do during the holidays. I hope to start work by next week.
03.03.2009, Tuesday
Children are just so adorable. Helping out at the Good News Week for the first time seems really fun and enjoyable. Seeing so many primary school children, innocent and young, just brings back fond memories of my childhood. There is only two more days left for helping out at the Good News Week.
04.03.2009, Wednesday
At Good News Week, the primary six students were present for the first of the two day session. They were really noisy, especially when they were playing the games. After the programme ended, I went for lunch at the school canteen before heading home to work on my article.
05.03.2009, Thursday
Being the last day of Good News Week, the helpers and I went to Suntec City for lunch with Chai Hwa. We ate at Just Noodles. There was free flow of drinks and ice cream there. I took a total of six servings of ice cream, which amounts to 21 scoops. Thereafter, we walked around aimlessly before heading home.
06.03.2009, Friday
It is about time that I start working on my article after procrastinating for the past few days.
07.03.2009, Saturday
Not knowing that the school gym opens at eleven on Saturdays, Mou Wei and I had to wait for about an hour before we could use the gym. After using the gym, we headed down to Suntec City for the Career & Education Fair. It was not as crowded as I expected it to be, so moving around was not much of a problem. There were many interesting careers available at the fair, but nothing beats what I have in mind currently.
Thereafter, I went for Arrow Service at New Creation Church for the first time. I think the people there are pretty friendly and hospitable. The sermon was very encouraging, where Pastor Benjamin touched on the topic of getting out of our trials and tribulations. I am not sure whether I might go for future services due to time constraints. However, if time permits, I will surely make it a point to attend future services.
08.03.2009, Sunday
I swam in the afternoon before going out with my family. This is the third time I am in Suntec City for the week. Nevertheless, it is still one of my favourite hangouts. We went to take a look at the Suzuki roadshow. I think the cars are pretty cool, just that some of them are a little too small. Dinner was at New York New York. I had steak with mushroom sauce and it was good. I also had a go at the seafood platter which my mother and sister bought to share.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Hey people,
I am currently running to be a Sports Ambassador for SPORT ON! This is a programme run by the Singapore Sports Council. It aims to provide youths with the opportunity for hands-on training and exposure in various sports disciplines, and also to search for youth ambassadors to be the voice of SPORT ON!
I hope you will be able to vote for me and also encourage your friends to do so. Just follow the simple instructions below to vote for me. Thank you.
1) Go to the link below and create an account by clicking ‘register'.
www.sporton.com.sg/
2) After registering, login to your account and click the link below.
www.sporton.com.sg/AmbassadorProgramme/Voting/tabid/414/default.aspx
3) Search for the user id ‘Joey Lim’ and click ‘Vote’ on the bottom left corner.
Note - You need to go through the pages as the names are in random order.
God Bless,
Joey Lim
Sunday, 1 March 2009
23.02.2009, Monday
The paper I took was manageable but I just could not finish doing the last section. There were just too many statistics to calculate. Whatever it is, I will just leave the rest to God, having already tried my best.
24.02.2009, Tuesday
Procrastinating is bad. I do not want to pay the price for doing just that.
25.02.2009, Wednesday
Tomorrow’s examination is mostly theory based. That means I have a lot of facts to memorise, not forgetting a few formulas that I need to know how to apply as well.
26.02.2009, Thursday
I had my last examination paper this morning. The examination period is finally over for me.
27.02.2009, Friday
Bowl, gym, and run. That is all I did the whole day.
28.02.2009, Saturday
Attended Sport On! Workshop at SIM University for the whole day. I found the workshop interesting. The first workshop was on Sports Journalism, conducted by Marc Lim, who is a Sports Journalist with The Straits Times. The second workshop was on Sports Photography. I got hands on experience to use a DSLR for the first time in my life. I felt like a professional photographer for that moment, but I found out that sports photography is not as easy as I thought it would be. It takes a lot of skill to be able to get a good shot. Another two workshops will be held at the same venue tomorrow where I will learn about Sports Marketing and Sports Event Management.
01.03.2009, Sunday
It feels so good to be back in church again.
March Events
01.03.2009 – Surf N Sweat 2009
01.03.2009 – Sport On! Workshop
03.03.2009 – Good News Week
04.03.2009 – Good News Week
05.03.2009 – Good News Week
07.03.2009 – Career & Education Fair 2009
14.03.2009 – Asian Youth Games Volunteer Briefing
20.03.2009 – Sport On! Ambassador Briefing
21.03.2009 – 4th Singapore Polytechnic Open
28.03.2009 – Methodist Walk 2009
28.03.2009 – Sport On! Roadshow
31.03.2009 – NS Medical Screening