Why Olivia chose cheerleading society

• 03 Dec, '18
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My friend Olivia, who also lives at [The Ascent](https://www.iconinc.co.uk/locations/liverpool-the-ascent), recently made the cheerleading team at the University of Liverpool and now attends training sessions every Wednesday. But there’s so many societies out there to join so how do you know which ones are the best? I thought I’d ask Olivia a few quick questions to inspire all of you to get out there and join a society too.

Q: Out of all the societies to join, why cheerleading?

Olivia: There are three different teams in cheerleading, two are competition based and one supports the American Football Team at matches (match day team). I originally tried out for the match day team through the encouragement of my friend. I’m not really a gym person so I figured that cheerleading was a great way for me to incorporate exercise into my lifestyle through something that I actually enjoy.

Q: Take us through what generally happens at a training session.

Olivia: Training sessions are two hours long, every Wednesday from 8 - 10pm. During the first hour we’ll get into our stunt groups (made up of four people) and practice stunts such as prep and catch them in a cradle. These stunts are now incorporated into the showcase routine. The showcase is in February where all the different teams can show off their routines that they’ve been learning in the past year to family and friends. The second hour of training is more relaxed. We learn chants for the American Football Team and dances for half time, as well as for the showcase.

Q: What are the socials like?

Olivia: They have socials every week which are usually fancy dress. They’re a great way to bond with the other members of your team. On Sundays, we can go and watch American football with the American Football Team. Socials are often joined together with other sport societies such as Rugby League.

Q: And finally, would you recommend joining?

Olivia: Yes! It’s a great opportunity to make friends. Everyone is so nice and completely different to the stereotypical opinion you might have of cheerleaders (we’re not in a movie here!). It’s suitable for all abilities so even people who have never tried cheerleading before can get involved. I love it! Want to live under the same roof as outgoing students like Olivia? Find out more about our vibrant student community at IconInc, [here](https://www.iconinc.co.uk/our-community/our-students).