In their jobs, cheerleaders are required to talk to people, whether it be fans or other officials on the field. However, they can’t talk about just anything. Cheerleading handbooks also control what types of conversations cheerleaders can have.
According to these handbooks, cheerleaders can’t talk about the weather, as it’s considered “desperate.” They also can’t talk about themselves, make inappropriate jokes, or bring up personal issues. With rules like that, it’s a little hard to know what cheerleaders can talk about.
They Must Mimic the Appearance of a Celebrity
Sometimes a “glamorous” appearance just isn’t specific enough. Rather than outlining what cheerleaders can and can’t wear, some teams simply give the cheerleaders a picture of a celebrity and demand that they mimic that look.
Depending on what the celebrity looks like, the cheerleaders may have to undergo intense transformations to their appearance, including hair extensions and stage makeup. What’s more, they have to pay for all these physical alterations out of their own pocket.
Their Nails Must Be Professionally Maintained
NFL teams control a cheerleader’s appearance in all aspects, all the way down to their nails. Many teams require that the women’s nails be professionally maintained. Once again, cheerleaders must pay for this expense on their own.
Maintaining your nails at a professional salon isn’t cheap, especially if you’re going every few weeks to get them redone. Since fans can hardly see cheerleaders’ nails, this rule feels like an unnecessary financial burden on the women.
They Must Sell Calendars During the Games
Another aspect of a cheerleaders’ job involves posing for the calendar for their specific NFL team. It requires a big photo shoot where the girls look their best, but the job doesn’t stop there. Cheerleaders are also required to sell a certain amount of calendars during the games.
Some teams require their cheerleaders to sell 20 calendars per day. Others demand that the girls sell 50 per quarter of the game. No matter how ridiculous the expectations are, the cheerleaders are then fined if they don’t meet their quota and the cost of the calendars is deducted from their paychecks.
They Can Only Take Water Breaks During Offense
The Buffalo Bills aren’t the only team setting ridiculous standards for their cheerleaders. The Carolina Panthers also have some pretty strict rules they expect their girls to follow. While cheerleaders must stay standing for the entire game, they’re also limited in their water breaks.
The Panthers cheerleaders could only drink water when the players were on offense. No matter the physical demands of the job, cheerleaders had to abide by this rule or face the consequences.