Quick answer: pom-poms became closely associated with cheerleading through the mid-20th century, growing from simple paper or crepe tufts into the more durable vinyl versions - most commonly credited to Fred Gastoff in the 1960s - that were then commercialised and popularised through cheer organisations including Lawrence Herkimer's.
Before the Modern Pom-Pom
In cheerleading's earliest decades, athletes performed with empty hands or simple, informal props - nothing resembling the structured, mass-produced pom-pom used across the sport today. Early versions were generally simple paper or crepe-paper tufts.
Popularisation Through Cheer Organisations
The pom-pom's rise is closely tied to the growth of organised cheer training from the mid-20th century onward. The shift to a more durable vinyl pom-pom is most commonly credited to Fred Gastoff, who developed the design in the 1960s. Lawrence Herkimer - also known for founding the National Cheerleaders Association and popularising the herkie jump - helped commercialise and popularise pom-poms more broadly through his cheer organisations, and later patented his own design variation.
Why the Pom-Pom Caught On
Pom-poms solved a real visual problem: from a distance, in a large stadium, precise arm motions can be hard to see clearly. The strips of a pom-pom catch light and movement, making motions read far more sharply to a crowd - a practical benefit that helped drive its widespread adoption. See Cheer Motions Explained for the arm positions pom-poms are used to emphasise.
The Pom-Pom Today
Pom-poms remain a staple of cheerleading, particularly for chants, dance sections and sideline cheer, and are manufactured in a wide range of colours and sizes to match team branding. See What Is a Pom-Pom in Cheerleading? for how they're used in a modern routine.
A Note on Dates and Sources
Precise dates for specific pom-pom milestones are reported inconsistently across sources. Where precision matters to you, we recommend cross-checking against a dedicated historical or archival source - see our sources page.