Saturday, February 06, 2010

Conduct Unbecoming

I felt compelled to write this after what I saw at a middle school basketball game this morning.

I think the visiting cheerleaders have a lot to learn about sportsmanship and courtside conduct. Following almost every cheer from the home cheerleaders, the visiting girls poked fun of and laughed at the other girls. I realize that middle school and early high school girls can be catty, it's in their nature, but these girls are supposed to be representing spirit and leadership for their school. Their behavior was very unbecoming and, especially coming into another school, it did not represent their school well.

The home cheerleaders, on the other hand, should be proud of how they handled themselves and represented their school. I watched both ways and never once saw the those girls point, snicker, or laugh. Freshman year being their first year as a cheerleaders, many of them can be nervous, shy,or even intimidated. The "home" girls behaved maturely, respectfully, and with pride for their school. They, their parents, the athlete's parents and the school should be very proud of them.

The visiting cheerleaders may have been louder but also their actions on the sidelines spoke volumes.