Whether you are looking to start a co-ed cheerleading teams at your school or you are joining a co-ed team, here is a review of some of the pros and cons that cheerleaders, coaches and parents might face:
#1 Stunting Options
PROS: Having a co-ed cheerleading squad means your cheerleading squad will have more stunting options ““ and will be able to push high stunts and throw higher baskets. Males can also help take your team’s tumbling level from impressive, to extreme.
CONS: The coach will need to have advanced co-ed stunting training. Co-ed stunting is very different from all-female stunting and should never be treated the same. Also, males and females will have different physical training and conditioning needs, which may result in the team having to be separated for some practices and missing out on team bonding time.
#2 Social Interaction
PROS: Co-ed teams are more representative of the real world and today’s society, since they require that teammates constantly interact with, and compete with, members of the opposite sex. This helps better prepare the team members for life after graduation.
CONS: Co-ed teams might find more barriers when building a bond of trust, since interaction between adolescent males and females might be awkward. There might also be some dating drama, flirting and jealously that can distract team members from the bigger picture of the squad’s goals for the season.