Is Cheerleading a Sport? When it comes to the topic of Cheerleading, most would readily agree that it is not considered a sport. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question on the lack of competition and physical activity when it comes to cheerleading. Whereas some are convinced that the sole purpose of cheerleading is to wave pompoms around and support a sports team, others maintain that the fact that cheerleading is physically demanding, and squads do compete in competitions, that cheerleading, by definition is a sport. In my own opinion, cheerleading is without a doubt a sport. An article in the Daily Republic, Yes, Cheerleading is a sport, Asia Webb makes an interesting claim about cheerleaders stating, “
…show more content…
Cheerleading meets each of the criteria that falls under that definition. In the sense of physical exertion cheerleaders must work out, run and practice just as much as any “official” sport. The difference being in they don’t practice to smash into each other or catch balls. Cheerleading is a combination of dance, tumbling, and stunting, which consist of lifting and throwing cheerleaders 10 to 20 feet in the air, all in one performance. All that activity requires timing, strength, and stamina all examples of physical exertion. As the American Medical Association states in in a Washington Post article, Is cheerleading a sport? The American Medical Association thinks so.”, written by Matt Bonesteel, “cheerleading should be considered a sport because of its rigors and risks.” Doctors believe that because of the demanding physical activity cheerleaders go through, making cheerleading a sport will create better safety measures and require schools to get coaches that are properly trained, as they do for other athletes that are in …show more content…
The first being physical exertions which cheerleading undoubtedly meets because all the physically demanding stunts, jumps, and dances cheerleaders learn on a weekly basis. The second being the competition aspect, stating a sport must have organized competitions with other opposing teams with a specific set of rules and guidelines. Once again, cheerleading meets this criteria as well as the first one. Cheerleaders compete in organized competitions all the time in all parts of the world, some of which are broadcast live on television on networks such as ESPN. In these competitions cheerleaders have specific rules and guidelines they have to compete by, a time limit, and a defined space in which they can perform just like any other sport. As a former cheerleader and now cheer coach, I can testify how physically and mentally demanding cheerleading can be, which why I consider cheerleading a
Cheerleading meets each of the criteria that falls under that definition. In the sense of physical exertion cheerleaders must work out, run and practice just as much as any “official” sport. The difference being in they don’t practice to smash into each other or catch balls. Cheerleading is a combination of dance, tumbling, and stunting, which consist of lifting and throwing cheerleaders 10 to 20 feet in the air, all in one performance. All that activity requires timing, strength, and stamina all examples of physical exertion. As the American Medical Association states in in a Washington Post article, Is cheerleading a sport? The American Medical Association thinks so.”, written by Matt Bonesteel, “cheerleading should be considered a sport because of its rigors and risks.” Doctors believe that because of the demanding physical activity cheerleaders go through, making cheerleading a sport will create better safety measures and require schools to get coaches that are properly trained, as they do for other athletes that are in …show more content…
The first being physical exertions which cheerleading undoubtedly meets because all the physically demanding stunts, jumps, and dances cheerleaders learn on a weekly basis. The second being the competition aspect, stating a sport must have organized competitions with other opposing teams with a specific set of rules and guidelines. Once again, cheerleading meets this criteria as well as the first one. Cheerleaders compete in organized competitions all the time in all parts of the world, some of which are broadcast live on television on networks such as ESPN. In these competitions cheerleaders have specific rules and guidelines they have to compete by, a time limit, and a defined space in which they can perform just like any other sport. As a former cheerleader and now cheer coach, I can testify how physically and mentally demanding cheerleading can be, which why I consider cheerleading a