About Cheerleading Pom Poms

Over the years, pom poms have evolved to offer even more choice for cheerleading squads and drill teams across the country. Beginning with the basics paper varieties to the more durable plastics and metallics of today, pom poms have been adding to the cheerleading fashion statement for more than 80 years. Available in different shapes and sizes, pom poms continue to enhance routines and add to the atmosphere of any game.

  1. History

    • The use of pom poms was first recorded in the 1930s. They were created with crepe paper, which made them somewhat hard to clean and keep from tearing. They did not hold up to moisture and colors faded quickly. In 1965, vinyl pom poms became available. These held up better and are still in use today. Shiny metallic foiled pom poms are also used--they are slightly more flashy and are a better attention-getter.

    Function

    • The purpose of pom poms is to help capture the attention of crowds in the stands and to give a little flash to cheerleading uniforms. This is done by color coordinating the pom poms to the uniforms and shaking them while doing routines.

    Types

    • There are a few different shapes when it comes to pom poms. The basic style is the drill, which is a handle with the fringe attached to the end. Another kind of pom pom has a loop on the end instead. This makes it a little easier to hold on to and easier to twirl in the fingers. The baton is a pom pom that has a handle in the middle and fringe on the either end. This enables the cheerleader to spin the pom pom in her hand like a baton.

    Features

    • Pom poms also come in a wide variety of colors. They can also come in a plastic strand that looks wet and slightly shiny. The strands themselves can be ordered thin or wide or a mixture of both. The material of the strands can also be mixed.

    Effects

    • Pom poms can help turn an ordinary routine into an exciting one. By using the extra feature to get the crowds attention, along with the cheerleading performance, a crowd can get motivated to cheer louder for a team. In turn an excited crowd can motivate a team into playing better.

    Warning

    • A cheerleader should be careful around heat or water when using pom poms. Moisture, even with plastic strands, can make them stick together or become knotted. It is recommended to stay away from heat as it can melt the pom poms.