Enraged parents have attacked a high school’s decision to change its rules to allow anyone who wants to be on the cheerleading team to join, regardless of their talent and ability.

Hanover Park High School held its tryouts in East Hanover, New Jersey, last month, but after making cuts, a parent complained about their child not being allowed on the team.

This led the athletic director to changed the policy, to allow anyone who wants to be on the cheerleading team to join. A school statement said the change was meant to 'facilitate a more inclusive program'.

But this new rule upset some cheerleaders – and their less-than-impressed parents who asked the school ‘why go for excellence when you can just let a little snowflake whine and cry to get the position?’

Tearful Stephanie Krueger told the board: ‘I tried my hardest, and now everything’s going away, all because of one child who did not make the team

After Hanover Park High’s administration said the change was due to an ‘irregularity in the selection process’, parents sent letters to the principal, complaining about the new policy.

It is understood that the principal threatened to disband cheerleading altogether, saying ‘it’s not a sport,’ according to a report on News 12 New Jersey.

Some girls were so upset about the change that they spoke out at the school’s board of education meeting, asking for Hanover Park to reverse its decision because they had ‘worked so hard to make the team’.

Stephanie Krueger said that 'all' her hard work had been 'thrown out the window' as a result of the changes made to the squad selection

They, and their parents, pointed out that the girls were normally forced to earn their cheerleading through sheer hard work.

Tearful Stephanie Krueger told the board: ‘I tried my hardest, and now everything’s going away, all because of one child who did not make the team, and a parent complained, so now all my hard work has been thrown out the window.’

Sophomore Jada Alcontara said: ‘I came up here to state that I did not put in 18 months of work to lead up to this moment, just to be told it didn’t matter anymore.’

On the school’s Facebook page, people have hit out, with one woman saying: ‘I’m 52 and live in Georgia. I want to be on your cheer squad. And I can still do a cartwheel. Well, not without a lot of back pain and limping afterwards. But that’s OK, right?’

The decision to include all abilities in the cheerleading squad (above) has enraged students and parents alike

The school's Facebook page has been targeted by angry people who have said that kids should not be 'snowflakes' and that budding cheerleaders who had put in so much effort were being negatively affected by the new stance

After Hanover Park High’s administration said the change was due to an ‘irregularity in the selection process’, parents sent letters to the principal, complaining about the new policy. Complaints are still being made about the changes via Facebook

Another posted: ‘To the parent of [the] girl who didn’t make the cheerleading team: your daughter didn’t make it. But instead you have the rules changed to include her? Tell your daughter to practice more!

'There are lots of girls out there who [have] been practicing for years and years to get really good at what they do… it’s not right for a girl to practice for years just to be told she wasted her time because it doesn’t matter anymore.’

In a statement, the school board said: 'In order to facilitate a more inclusive program, the alignment between the various cheerleading squads would be modified to allow all interested students to be able to participate.

'This decision was made in the best interest of all students and was made to be as inclusive as possible.’

It added that guidelines governing cheerleading are to 'develop knowledge, positive attitudes teamwork skills, leadership and athletic skills'.

The board is reviewing the policy, but it is unclear when a final decision will be made.