Pro football is a quintessential part of American life.
Naturally, the football players themselves are the center of NFL hoopla.
“In many ways, becoming an NFL cheerleader is the opportunity of a lifetime.
It’s a very busy lifestyle,” a former Dallas Cowboys squadster told theAmstartravel agency.
But in the world of NFL cheerleading, it’s not always high kicks and rah-rah-rahs.
These are all of the bizarre rules the NFL’s pom-pom brigade must follow.
It also commands: “Keep toenails lightly trimmed and clean.
“Weigh-ins will be held at the discretion of the Ravens.”
How do NFL teams enforce their invasive weight policies?
According to numerous accounts, cheerleaders have their weight checked, sometimes as often as twice weekly.
Not only do these policies have deeply sexist implications, but they also stem from racist beauty standards.
As former cheerleader Mhkeeba Pate toldThe Guardian, non-white cheerleaders could face extra scrutiny over their natural body proportions.
NFL cheerleaders pay for their own uniforms
NFL cheerleader uniforms are an iconic symbol of team spirit.
But behind those glitzy, glamorous garments lies a bizarre rule.
Numerous sources revealed that NFL cheerleaders not the teams themselves are financially responsible for these emblematic ensembles.
And they’re not cheap.
Approximate cost of a new uniform is $600+.”
“I always had to have a spray tan.
I had to pay for those things, and hair and makeup, on my own.”
A former Raiderette named Lacy T. revealed that her hair upkeep cost around $150 per session.
“I was just hustling,” Lacy toldESPN.
“Very early on, I was spending money like crazy.”
According to the 2013 Buffalo Jills handbook, these body modifications should never see the light of day.
“The only piercings permitted are 1 in each ear,” the document states.
“Other piercings cannot be worn while auditioning or while in Jills uniform.”
But tattoos and piercings aren’t the only things subject to bodily regulations.
NFL teams also dictate cheerleaders' grooming and hygiene.
The Jills handbook provides a list of acceptable cleanliness practices covering everything from foot fungus to menstruation.
Regarding bath time, the NFL team gave an impassioned statement about certain bathing utensils.
“Do not use lufa’s [sic] or sponges,” the handbook stresses.
“They hold TONS of germs!Throw them away now!”
Despite their hatred for loofahs and sponges, the handbook doesn’t mention any alternatives to these scrubbing apparatuses.
A teammate warned her to take it down, prompting Davis to delete the photo shortly after posting it.
“But it was too late,” Davis recalled.
She added, “The meeting was humiliating.
The coach then contacted Davis' mother and demanded that the cheerleader “resign immediately or be terminated.”
However, some team policies extend far beyond the types of content cheerleaders can or cannot share.
Speaking withCosmopolitan, Davis revealed that NFL cheerleaders are told to avoid players on and off the field.
“I couldn’t ever be in the same place as a player,” the ex-cheerleader recalled.
“If I were eating in a restaurant and a player walks in, I had to leave.”
Anything past that was fraternizing.
I was supposed to end the conversation and walk away from them.”
Davis' allegations raised copious eyebrows, including those of theAmerican Bar Association.
They argued that the Saints had directed their policies toward the wrong group.
Outfits should be clean, crisp, and free of any blemishes including the dreaded panty line.
To ward off lingering lines or unsightly straps, NFL teams forbid their cheerleaders from wearing underwear.
Conversely, bras are highly encouraged.
In their 2014 handbook (viaDeadspin), the Bengals mention a strict policy against “slouching breasts.”
This cringe-worthy rule, however, does contain some caveats.
Bras must be nude or black, and lacy garments are strictly prohibited.
In most cases, gum chewing is off-limits.
However, there are occasions when gum chewing is a requirement.
If these strange rules have your head spinning, don’t worry we’re right there with you.
NFL cheerleaders are expected to remain in the background, but that rule doesn’t apply to the players.
Several athletes expressed solidarity with the football hero, but NFL cheerleaders remained silent.
“Do not be overly opinionated about anything,” said the document.
“Be positive and consistently optimistic about everything … Never complain!”
Another former cheerleader, Danetha Doe, challenged the NFL’s policy about suppressing cheerleaders' opinions.
“There’s a bigger conversation to be had here,” Doe said.
“Why, as women, aren’t we a bigger part of these conversations?
Why isn’t our opinion valued as highly as others?
We have fans as well.
Why isn’t the league interested in hearing what we have to say?”
And cheerleaders had better eat with the utmost grace, because the NFL is always watching.
According to the Buffalo Jills' 2013 handbook, each bite should be methodical and mannerly.
Furthermore, NFL cheerleaders should never eat in uniform.
In case a Buffalo Jill forgot how to use a soupspoon, the handbook would’ve had their back.
The rules stated, “If you are served pasta, never cut it to eat.
Twirl a small portion on your fork with the assistance of a spoon.”
Likewise, the Oakland Raiders also have a list of weird mealtime instructions.
According to Dallas Cowboys cheer director Kelli Finglass, it’s the ultimate right of passage for squad members.
“It’s just an incredible, fun, exciting, glamorous, and exotic adventure.”
Once the calendars are complete, NFL cheerleaders must promote and sell them.
That might not seem like an outlandish requirement, but it gets weirder.
Several team handbooks state that rogue cheerleaders could be benched or worse, fired if they violate protocol.
In addition to these punishments, cheerleaders could incur fines for unruly behavior.
If their workout clothes weren’t by the book, a $10 fee would apply.
For unpolished boots, another $10 fine.
If Raiderettes disagree with their fines, they can appeal them to the team’s cheer director.
