It makes sense that NFL teams would control what their cheerleaders wear on the field. However, dress codes are also applied to cheerleaders even when they’re off duty.
Even if the cheerleaders aren’t working an event, they’re not allowed to wear sweatpants. The dress code rules extend much further, outlining an array of clothing items the women are and aren’t allowed to wear. If they’re off duty, however, what they wear should really be their business, and theirs alone.
They Can’t Follow Players on Social Media
The rules regarding cheerleaders and football players never seem to end. When teams say the cheerleaders aren’t allowed to have any contact with the players, they really mean no contact. That includes social media.
If a player follows a cheerleader on social media, the cheerleader is the one who will get in trouble. While they can’t control what the players do, the cheerleader runs the risk of facing a fine or even being fired if a player follows her, whether or not she follows him back. If that situation arises, nothing happens to the player who created the problem.
They Must Find Out If a Player Is Married
While most handbooks discourage the cheerleaders from spending any time with the players, others state that if the girls want to move forward with a relationship, it’s their job to find out if the player is married.
The Raider handbook said that players will lie and say they’re not married, so girls should call the NFL office to confirm their marital status. Rather than asking the players to tell the truth, the handbook makes it the women’s job to avoid infidelity.
They Must Avoid Hot Topics
Yes, there are still more things that cheerleaders aren’t allowed to talk about. Beyond their approved conversation topics during the games, cheerleaders also have to steer clear of “hot topics” in all settings. These banned topics include strong opinions, politics, and religion.
Basically, cheerleaders aren’t allowed to have an opinion, and they’re certainly not allowed to express the ones they do have. If they want to represent the team well, they have to give up everything they care about and simply keep the peace, whether they’re at the games or not.
They’re Regularly Weighed
Cheerleaders are supposed to be ultra-hot. After all, they’re like NFL jewelry. To ensure that cheerleaders stay in shape, they’re subject to regular weigh-ins to prove that they haven’t put on a few pounds.
The weigh-ins also give the leaders of the team a chance to look at the girls’ bodies. Beyond putting on a little weight, their bodies are not allowed to change in any significant way. These rules don’t even apply to a little extra padding – cheerleaders also can’t pack on muscle or lose too much of their definition for fear of consequences.