By Tom Rohrer
Part of what makes the sport of football so appealing to the American public is that the game is only part of the experience.
Whether it be tailgating, donning a team’s colors or apparel or getting together with friends and loved ones, football includes a variety of traditions, emotions and almost ritualistic-like practices.
For as long as pigskins have been crossing goal lines for six points, there have been cheerleaders and spirit squads to root and encourage the players on the gridiron.
However, cheerleading is not just a part of football, but rather a sport itself, and that sport has seen increased growth in the country, state and Thurston County over the last several decades.
Evidence of that growth is found within the cheerleading program of the Thurston County Youth Football League (TCYFL), which has seen an increase in participation and competition since the turn of the new millennium.
Tracie Malmin, the Vice President of Cheerleading of the TCYFL for the last nine years, has seen the program revitalized from the ground up.
“When my daughter started cheering 12 years ago, there were 78 girls league-wide, wearing t-shirts and shorts. It was very small,” Malmin said. “Now, were are at around 500, the girls wear real uniforms, do full stunts and participate in real competitions. It’s pretty amazing to see now.”
Malmin spearheaded the program in 2004 and was able to receive certification within the Washington State Cheer Association, the American Cheer Association and the National Council of Spirit Safety Association, allowing for the program to stay up to date on safety guidelines, rules and techniques within the sport. Local high school programs have also benefitted from the development of the TCYFL cheer program, and a few of the program’s alumni have gone on to cheer in college.
“I think in most cases the high school coaches appreciate it,” Malmin said. “Some work hand in hand with it and we try to teach the basics of stunting now, so they can correct any problems. When they try out (in high school) they’ve already been trained. Some programs are competitive in that they attend more events and contests while some are specifically sideline. It’s like the football league in that we are teaching the basics, the sideline spirit and how to be positive and have fun.”
Malmin credits much of the program’s development to TCYFL league officials. Having a cheer and football program under the same organization and league is a rarity across the state.
“I received a lot of support from the board when I first came to them,” Malmin said. “It was all men, none had cheerleaders, and still they said ‘we will back you up.’ They’ve been supporting us ever since, and the board members realized cheerleading is just as important. Cheer is our kid’s way to be involved without doing dance and gymnastics and sports.”
“Football coaches take pride in that the cheer program is part of their team, their franchise,” Malmin noted. “We are one of the few programs in the state where cheer and football programs are together. Most have become separate. TCYFL has stayed together the whole time and the (football) coaches want us to be there.”
Without the help of the 105 volunteers and coaches, which includes direct cheer coaches and high school student volunteers, Malmin knows the cheer program would struggle staying afloat.
“They take great pride and our cheer coaches do what they can to make sure the kids have a positive and exciting season,” Malmin said. “All the women, eleven franchises, they just give 100 percent and give it back to the kids and the parents. It’s unbelievable.”
Malmin takes great pride in hearing the compliments from football and cheerleading parents and relatives alike, and reflects with joy on the development of the program.
“It is a huge feeling of pride,” Malmin said. “Watching it from where it was a while ago, to now getting calls from football parents saying how much they love it, how appreciative they are, that’s special. I can’t explain the pride; it’s such a fulfilling feeling to see the girls get to be stars for three months.”
On Saturday, Oct. 21, the TCYFL cheerleading program will hold their annual competition at Tumwater High School.
For more information on the Thurston County Youth Football League, visit www.tcyfl.com.
