The gradual easing of Covid-19 safe management measures in Singapore has allowed cheerleaders to return to their training mats after nearly a year, albeit with stringent regulations in place. They are preparing for the Cheerleading Association (Singapore), or CAS, National Cheerleading Championships that take place virtually on 26 June. TheHomeGround Asia speaks with cheerleaders and their coaches as they gear up to compete once more following a long hiatus.
Happiness, excitement, and nerves โ these were the sentiments of cheerleaders when they received the green light to return to their blue mats for training.
โI was just excited to be back, even though we were a bit scared because weโre rusty. There definitely was some kind of hesitation, but since cheer is one of our passions, thatโs why weโre here,โ shares Chua Meng Lim, a cheerleader and base (they hold or throw people up in the air) with Team Xtreme.
โEveryone was seeing each other, not just as friends outside having a meal, but back on the mats. I feel like the mats give you an identity that โyouโre a cheerleaderโ,โ explains Rachel Yap, one of Team Xtremeโs coaches, who says that besides feeling nostalgic, she has reclaimed her identity as an athlete by being back at training.
Cheerleaders off the mats
When Singaporeโs lockdown (or circuit breaker) kicked in on 7 April last year, cheerleading activities were suspended, leaving local cheerleaders high and dry.
Ms Yap was understandably concerned about the long-term sustainability of her team during the long break. She shares, โSince cheerleading takes up so much time, once you have a break, people [may find] other commitments.โ
Coach Chloe Lee expresses similar worries about her teamโs, NOVA All-Stars, progress: โA pause in training will hinder progress as you need to train with teammates in order to gain experience and get the โstunt feelโ. No matter how much you work out and do drills by yourself on the floor, itโs a whole different story when you are actually doing the stunt.โ
Still, coaches have done their best to keep their members active and in touch with the sport.
For instance, Ms Lee assigns daily tasks to her members that train specific muscle groups needed for cheerleading. She also encourages them to send videos of these personal training sessions to group chats as a form of motivation for one another.
Likewise, fellow NOVA All-Starsโ coach Chew Wei Xiang has spent the past year conducting weekly physical training sessions on Zoom. When cheerleaders were allowed to resume tumbling activities (a segment of cheerleading that involves executing gymnastics feats, such as flips and rolls), Mr Chew visited a gymnastics team regularly with some of his team mates to hone their gymnastics skills, even though they were not allowed to stunt.
On their own, cheerleaders found ways to stay in shape for the sport. Shalyn Aw, a flyer for NOVA All-Stars, made regular gym visits and did home workouts. Similarly, Kelvin Chow, a base for NOVA All-Stars, engaged in activities that help cheerleaders with their stunts, such as squats and handstands.
But it is not all about physical fitness. Cheerleading is ultimately a team sport, with full cheerleading teams being 24-people-strong. With the circuit breaker and subsequently safe management measures in place, teams cannot meet, much less train together.
Mr Chua shares that Team Xtremeโs cheerleaders keep the team spirit strong through online workouts with one another, and by making an effort to interact on social media.
โAt least when we come backโฆ we donโt feel like strangers,โ he explains.
An eager return to the mats
After the long respite, cheerleaders TheHomeGround Asia spoke to were more than ready to jump back into training for the Cheerleading Association (Singapore) National Cheerleading Championships (CAS NCC).
Esther Ngoh, a flyer (cheerleaders who are lifted or thrown up in the air) for Team Xtreme who is competing in the double group stunts category, speaks matter-of-factly about going headfirst into competitions: โIf not now, then when?โ
She elaborates, โSince I graduated, Iโm quite busy. Itโll probably get busier, so any opportunity [I have], Iโll just pick it up first.โ
But juggling competition training and a full-time job in advertising has been tough, leaving her little time for self-care or a social life. Still, she stands by her decision: โItโs been tiring, but I think ultimately, itโs worth it.โ
A CAS representative, Lim Wen Jie, confirms that the cheerleading community has been receptive to the news that nationals are happening this year. He says, โItโs smaller groups here and thereโฆ but most teams have representations in one form or another.โ
Returning to the mats made flyer Shalyn Aw of NOVA All-Stars feel like she was โfinally aliveโ again. She asserts, โBeing able to โflyโ is always a flyerโs pride.โ
Coaches, too, are heartened to see their members raring to go. Ms Lee shares, โIt feels great to see the membersโ motivation and feel their energy during training.โ
And there are even silver linings from the extended break from cheerleading: โItโs a good way for people to reset and get rid of bad habitsโฆ Itโs almost like working with a blank slate,โ highlights Ms Yap. โ[I was also] surprised by how exercising changes how they stunt. Maybe they were weaker last time because they only cheered, but never worked out. Because of Covid, they worked out, and they come back with better body awareness.โ
Gearing up for nationals
It is with this eagerness and determination that the cheerleaders are preparing for the June competition. Nevertheless, the current climate still lends a sombre training atmosphere.
According to Ms Ngoh, training sessions pre-pandemic saw a consistent turn-out of 20 to 30 athletes, compared to the eight-person cap now. She says, โTraining [was] more lively, and we could also try more things because some stunts require more manpower or more people working together.โ
Many athletes are also out of touch with cheerleading skills and out of shape. Laments Mr Chua, โAfter a while back [at training], it feels like Iโm going to die already, itโs so tiring.โ
Mr Chow concurs, โIt feels like some muscles in my body have not been used for a while, and I couldnโt do some things I was able to do before the pandemic.โ
Coaches are facing their own set of challenges when arranging for training sessions. Issues include a shorter time frame for preparation and training venue restrictions.
Ms Yap emphasises that because of safe distancing measures, commitment towards the sport and team is more important than ever. โSlots [for training] are very limited and thereโs no mingling within groupsโฆ so if someone from a group is missing, then the stunt cannot go up.โ
Additionally, she underscores the need for athletes to be self-sufficient and disciplined during training: โPeople have to be a lot more focused. They have to come and know what theyโre going to doโฆ because the time slot is limited, itโs fixed. They canโt say, โOh, I didnโt get to do this, so Iโll just extend for a bit more.โโ
Despite these restrictions, NOVA All-Starsโ Ms Lee believes her team has found a way to manage: โWe learn to adapt to the current situation and do our best to plan for and work towards training efficiency despite these challenges.โ
What it means to compete again
For a community that has been unable to practise what they love, this yearโs nationals are significant.
โItโs the idea of continuity,โ Ms Yap says. โWe are trying very hard to continue what was taken away from us last yearโฆ and conveying a sense that even if we had that break, things will definitely still work out, the team is still here from beforeโฆ Weโre not just going to die out because of a pandemic.โ
Besides their resilience, cheerleaders also recognise the sportโs competitive nature and their desire as athletes to fight for a title.
And the coaches agree.
โSending teams this year is to expose some members to an open team competition, and to give competing members a goal to complete,โ says Mr Chew.
Adds Mr Chua, โThe main purpose [of participating in this yearโs nationals] is for everyone to learn together and improve with each other. If we can get any prizes, itโs a plus.โ
For Ms Lee, the significance of this yearโs nationals go beyond individual teams. It is also about the community cheering each other on despite the challenges they have faced.
โ[I miss] seeing a hall full of cheerleaders laughing, mingling, stunting, and just having fun togetherโฆ Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader,โ she says.
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