~Cheerleading is a sport~

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Okay, I know this is going to get messy, but this thread is inspired from the 'hooters shirt' thread and I just have to go on record by saying 'yes, cheerleading is a sport' (former cheerleader here, since the age of 2, all through grade school, jr. high school, high school and college) so let's see if everyone or anyone agrees/disagrees with me.......

Let the fun begin....................

 

[cepmom]

agree

I also believe that dance team is a sport, although we can't quite convince the athletic director of DD's school of that ~ he's a real jerk

 

[Christine]

I put it in the same category as dance, gymnastics, and figure skating. I don't think it goes into the same category as soccer, football, or baseball. So depending on your definition of what a "sport" is, will depend on if cheerleading is a sport. I think of it more as an athletic demonstration. But, I by no means, consider myself right.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I firmly agree. My DD practices 2 hours a day 3-4 days a week for 3 1/2 months and an occasional practice on Saturday

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

It's a girlie sport.

 

[DVCLiz]

Well, I personally never thought of cheerleading as a sport (can I just be truthful and admit how jealous I was of them?) when I was in high school, but now I have a daughter who is a cheerleader, and I can see why it's called a sport. They practice on the same schedule, must go to the same strength training and conditioning classes, are required to perform at the same games, and are subject to the same rules of conduct, grades, etc. as all the other students who play winter sports. So from that perspective, I do think it should be considered a sport.

But I'll never be able to REALLY think of it in the same terms as I do the basketball players.

This, by the way, refers only to the garden variety type of high school cheerleader, who does bench cheers and a few stunts at halftime. Cheer competitions I think are much more like gymnastics, and I DO think of them as sports.

 

[jajuan]

I agree...My DD10 practices 3-4 hours 3 days a week. They do more than I ever could when I worked out 5 days a week and was in great shape.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Funny you should bring it up.... at our school there are no tryouts for any type of athletics.... everyone must be allowed to participate.

Cheerleaders, however, must tryout for the squad and only a few are chosen. Every time they start squalking about cheerleading being a sport, they are reminded that they should not be holding tryouts. They quiet down rather quickly!!!!

Anyway, I believe cheerleading CAN be a sport - but it all depends on the school, the squad, and what they do.

At our school, I feel it is definitely NOT a sport. It's more like a pep club. They basically cheer and that is all... maybe a dance routine, or a little tumbling here and there.

I have seen televised competitions.... now THAT is cheerleading as a sport!

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I think it's a sport. I was always a cheerleader and was the high school Varsity Cheerleading Captain. We had practice 6 days per week for two and a half hours, and we did this for football and basketball.

So no arguments from me.

 

[Lyn5]

I didn't cheer myself, but I have friends/family that did. At least in my highschool (many years ago )...it was definetly a sport. The girls practiced relentlessly and I did think they were a team since everyone counted on each other like any other team, more so when they would need to catch each other. They also went to several competitions and had to qualify for them. I think they even had more injuries at time than the soccer players

 

[mickeyboat]

Yes, I think it is a sport.

Denae

 

[Christine]

As Cheerleading gains in popularity, the controversy rages on about whether it's a sport or not. There are rarely any questions about the athleticism of Cheerleaders, so are Cheerleaders athletes without a real sport?

Definition of a Sport

In a dictionary you may find the word "sport" defined as a "Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." It is the last part of the definition "engaged in competitively" that makes considering Cheerleading a sport difficult. According to the Women's Sports Foundation the following criteria has to be met to be considered a sport:

- A physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of a mass
- A contest or competition against or with an opponent
- Is governed by rules which explicitly define the time, space and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared
- The acknowledged primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants

What is Cheerleading?

With the criteria above in mind, is the primary purpose of Cheerleading to compete? Well, presently no.

The majority of Cheerleading squads do not participate in any competitions. Their sole purpose is to entertain, motivate and unite spectators of other athletic teams that are competing. Cheerleading is most often defined as the "Act of leading organized cheering, as at sports events."

The Future of Cheerleading

Although there are many Cheerleading squads that do meet the criteria of their primary function being competitive Cheerleading. Until the majority of the squads move competing to the forefront and cheering at games to be a secondary function, there is little hope Cheerleading will be officially considered a sport.

The skills involved in Cheerleading leave no doubt that Cheerleaders are exceptional athletes. To perform their activities, they must be as strong as any football player, as poised as any dancer and as flexible as the best gymnasts. They are athletes by every definition of the word.

 

[WIcruizer]

For me, it depends on how you define "sport." I would define it as a competitive activity. I would never question the hard work involved, or the athletic ability. But no, I wouldn't call it a "sport."

 

[Beth76]

I put it in the same category as dance, gymnastics, and figure skating. I don't think it goes into the same category as soccer, football, or baseball. So depending on your definition of what a "sport" is, will depend on if cheerleading is a sport. I think of it more as an athletic demonstration. But, I by no means, consider myself right.

I agree with Christine. I view it more of an activity than a sport. They don't compete for points, goals, runs whatever. They are judged. It's not a sport.

 

[Chicago526]

I think it's a sport if the squads compete. If it's a squad that just cheers at games for their team, then it is not. But since, as far as I know, most squads do compete at SOME level, then I'd also say that most cheerleaders are in a sport!

Does that make sense?

 

[L107ANGEL]

They are judged by a point system.

 

[soccercruiser87]

i wouldnt really consider it a sport, but i would say its like dance and gymnastics like some previous posters posted.

 

[Sparx]

Cheerleading IS a sport.
They are judged
They have tryouts
They work out
They have to make a team
There are competitions
You can go to college with it.

Its a sport.

 

[golfgal]

I would say it depends on how the cheerleading is done. I have been to plenty of games where the cheerleaders stand on the sidelines clapping their hands and cheering, no that is not a sport. Our high school has a competition squad that competes all over the country and yes, that is a sport. They work very hard, harder the the football team that is for sure.

 

[sunkissed212]

I agree with Christine. I view it more of an activity than a sport. They don't compete for points, goals, runs whatever. They are judged. It's not a sport.

I beg to differ....just because they aren't competing for goals, runs, etc....doesn't mean they're not competing for "points". That's what judging is...it is awarding a team or individual with a number of points based on the required elements, etc. of the sport...in this case cheerleading. If they are at a competition and being judged on their performance, then...it is most definitly a sport. The team with the most points at the end wins!

I say this speaking from the viewpoint of someone that was involved in one of these controversial sports for 14 years. I was a competitive figure skater. It was often times said that skating was not a sport because we didn't score goals, etc...but we were given points based on the required moves that we had to do as well as our presentation and such. I felt throughout my career that although sports such as cheerleading, gymnastics, and figure skating are judged more subjectively than sports like soccer, hockey, football, etc...they are still sports!!