The Thumb Area Football League offered cheerleading for the first time in the 2005 season. Our hope was to improve the local community teams by adding the cheer component to our league. Introducing cheerleading at an early age encourages our youth to learn the basic fundamentals, as well as, what the sport of cheerleading can offer. Teamwork and sportsmanship are the means by which TAFL hope to strengthen each community program while giving the communities the “complete” football experience.

Through sports, children are taught the value of hard work, discipline, team building, role playing, sportsmanship and other aspects that help develop a child’s character. A large part of our self-esteem is derived through positive athletic experiences.

TAFL will provide for every athlete, an environment in which children achieve not only athletic success but lay the foundation for success in life as well. TAFL seeks coaches with unique personalities to teach positive lifetime skills and values to all the athletes. In order to ensure that athletes are prepared for commitments and personal sacrifice needed to be successful, coaches must help them develop and understand the role of an athlete’s dedication and self-discipline. It is the nature of athletic competition to strive for victory. There is only one criterion when determining a successful season; it is guiding an athlete and a team to reach its maximum potential. Along with this comes emphasis on good sportsmanship, which includes being modest in victory and acceptance in defeat.