I probably don't have to convince you of the need for strength in cheerleading. You need strength to lift another person and hold them above you. You also need strength to catch them as they fall. The same thing holds for jumping and tumbling.

Strength training has other benefits all of which are helpful to cheerleading.
• Improves muscle tone
• Increases metabolism
• Increases bone density
• Improves body image
Before I continue, I feel compelled to discuss muscle growth and females. You have fortunately grown up in an age where it is common to see females lifting weights. But, in case it's still an uncomfortable proposition, let me clear one thing up. You will not get extra-large muscles. Those muscles are reserved for individuals with larger amounts of testosterone: men. If you have ever seen pictures of "women" in magazines looking extremely manly looking, it's because they have taken steroids (male hormones) in order to achieve that look. So, they are man-like by choice.

This won't happen to you. Your muscles may get a little larger, but mostly only tighter and more full-looking which fortunately is considered healthy and attractive these days. In fact, weight training may make you smaller overall because it will increase your metabolism causing you to lose some body fat.
For much more on this topic, I recommend you check out either our Book or DVD on Train for Your Sport.