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Lori A. Selke

By: Lori A. Selke

Published: 24 October, 2022

Reasons Why Cheerleading Is a Sport

Group of Cheerleaders

With the rise of cheerleading competitions that focus more on athletic activity and less on hyping up a crowd, the debate on cheer being a sport is more intense than ever. Many cheer teams no longer cheer for a specific sports team and instead compete as their own sport. In 2021, the Olympics officially recognized cheerleading as a sport, igniting discussion as to whether cheer is a sport. With the days of pompoms and hand claps long over, here are the top reasons why cheerleading meets the definition of a sport.

Physical Exertion

There is no question that competitive cheer requires lots of hard work and physical activity. “All-star” teams incorporate dance, tumbling and gymnastics to create performance routines. "Stunting" is a particular cheerleading activity that involves cheerleaders sitting, standing or squatting on others, such as in pyramids and basket tosses. These stunts require strength, stamina, acrobatics and timing, the kind of things you’d see football players use during a football game. An example of this can be seen at the NCAA’s University of Alabama. All cheerleaders must be able to do a standing back handspring and a standing back tuck, which is a flip with no hands, in order to be a part of the cheer squad. However, these moves can be performed anywhere from the pro level to high school.

Just like any other competitive sport, cheerleading involves a lot of teamwork. Cheerleading teams must work together on their cheerleading routine and every person must collaborate to make sure it doesn’t fail. Not only that but stunts, like pyramids and basket tosses, require every person to be a key contributor. Cheerleading can be a dangerous sport because if one person doesn’t hit their marks, cheerers can suffer concussions or other injuries from falling.

In order to gain and maintain those skills, a competitive cheerleading squad must train as hard as any other baseball, basketball or football team. Collegiate-level school cheerleaders report spending as much time practicing as their peers in other varsity sports. In addition to attending cheer practice to practice stunting, tumbling, and dancing, cheerleaders must also weight lift and work out several times a week. This is to prevent catastrophic injuries from being out of shape or from a lack of strength.

Competitive cheerleading is directed by a coach, much as other team sports are directed by a coach or coaching staff. The coach will direct the routines, supervise training and motivate her charges to compete at their highest level. Coaches are trained not only in supervising stunting but in safety as well. Some coaches are highly sought-after; the University of Oregon's Felecia Mulkey, for example, was recruited after a nationwide search.

Competition

For an activity to truly be considered a sport, it must involve competition against others. In competitive cheerleading, squads compete against each other in a head-to-head fashion and are evaluated according to a standardized set of rules. This point is the real bone of contention when it comes to questions about cheerleading as a sport. Many squads still primarily exist to support other sports teams. However, there is a governing body known as the International Cheer Union that helps to set up national championships and give a clear set of rules for competitive cheer. There are other smaller groups that do this but the ICU is the one recognized by teams like USA cheer and more.

  • "New York Times"; Competitive Cheer Fans See Acceptance in Future; Katie Thomas; July 2010
  • American Association of Cheerleader Coaches and Administrators

Lori A. Selke has been a professional writer and editor for more than 15 years, touching on topics ranging from LGBT issues to sexuality and sexual health, parenting, alternative health, travel, and food and cooking. Her work has appeared in Curve Magazine, Girlfriends, Libido, The Children's Advocate, Decider.com, The SF Weekly, EthicalFoods.com and GoMag.com.

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Cheer Debate: Is Cheerleading a Sport?

Posted February 20, 2018 in Library

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Every cheerleader gets fired up when someone tries to argue with them that cheerleading is not a sport. Whether it’s a football player in one of your classes, a teacher who talks down about cheerleading, or a friend who doesn’t understand why you’re not involved in something else “more athletic,” you want people to know that being a cheerleader does make you an athlete!

Usually people make negative comments about cheerleading because they know it gets under your skin, but some people truly believe cheerleading has zero athleticism behind it. So, what can you say to prove them wrong and in turn get a little respect? Remember the best argument is an educated one, so give them the facts!

cheerleading is a sport thesis statement

The truth is, there really isn’t a solid definition of “official” sport. When necessary, the office of Civil Rights makes this determination on a case by case basis. The Women’s Sports Foundation has narrowed the field down of what is considered a sport to these elements that are commonly agreed upon to define a sport:

• It must be a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. (Stunting… check)! • “Contesting” or competing against/with an opponent is required (Competition… check)! • It must be governed by rules that explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. (Time limit, mat size, score sheets… check, check, check)! • Acknowledgement that the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. (You know those competitions on ESPN? Those are national championships… check)!

So far, cheerleading is four for four! But there are still two more qualifications to meet for cheerleading to be considered a sport. The Women’s Sports Foundation makes it clear that “any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or qualified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as:

cheerleading is a sport thesis statement

1) The physical activity includes the above defined elements (got them!) and… 2) The primary purpose is competition verses other teams or individuals within a competition structure comparable to other ‘athletic’ activities.”

This is where your argument ends. Not because of any physical definition –as you can see cheerleading meets ALL of the athletic specifications, but because cheerleading’s primary purpose to support high school athletic teams, and competition comes second!

The best thing to do when you are in a “Is Cheerleading a Sport” debate is give them all the facts, Even people still don’t believe that cheerleading is not active enough to be considered a sport, at least you know better… and that’s all that matters!

cheerleading is a sport thesis statement

Remember, winning an argument will not necessarily win you other’s respect. “If people don’t respect your program now, just throw the “sport” title around and see how much worse they think of you,” says Jim Lord, Executive Director of AACCA and former University of Kentucky cheerleader. “Respect is earned, and there are plenty of teams that get it by doing what they are supposed to do and by being good role models.” For more information on the Cheerleading as a Sport argument, check out the AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors) website,  www.aacca.org.

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cheerleading is a sport thesis statement

Is Cheerleading a Sport? Reasons and Arguments

Written by Usman Maqsood | Last modified on: October 24, 2023

What Makes a Sport a Sport?

Sports play a vital role in our lives. It is incredible to increase physical fitness and flexibility of joints. It can mold the body easily in any pose. In sports either men or women, each train hard to get their best level. Like a football team that actually competes against another team to score points and try to win the game. Besides this, on the sidelines, the football team’s cheerleaders constantly support their team by cheerleading.

To display the perfect routine in games, a cheerleader comparatively practices harder than a football or basketball player does. Some people say cheerleading is relevant to athletic activity and cheerleading is a sport but some have a question in mind is cheerleading a sport?

Is cheerleading a sport?

The continuous debate over whether cheerleading is a sport remains a matter of subjectivity. The ultimate verdict on whether cheerleading qualifies as a sport can differ from one person to another. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of this discussion, let’s explore various perspectives:

Reasons Why It is a Sport

There are many arguments as to why cheerleading is a sport. In history, cheerleading started after World War two by students , against the bad attitude and harsh treatment of teachers. Students materialized their own extracurricular activities to gain independence from their faculty abuses. This was the beginning of American Sports that initially started with the collegiate team. On November 6, 1869 , the first intercollegiate football game was played in the United States of America with a cheer of “Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! S-s-s-t! Boom! A-h-h-h!” of fans and students who were attending games.

In the beginning, cheerleading was an all-male activity. But after some years it began to be considered a feminine activity. At every school and collegiate level across the country, females were leading it. Professional cheerleading was begun in 1950 and women were selected for two reasons. Including encouragement of their teams to compete their team by exposing visual sex appeal and an ability to dance sophisticatedly

Group of Cheerlead

Why It is not a Sport?

As the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Women’s Sports Foundation define “A sport is played for a competition and have rules to follow.” A sports team exists to score points not to perform or entertain the audience and it is an important factor of realization.

Cheerleading as Sport Reason

Initially, school Cheerleading started to focus on promoting school spirit. They initiated by supporting their teams in the competition and giving leadership to the school and community. It is not considered a sport because there is no competition against other opponents. They just cheer to support or motivate the crowd and their team.

In addition to this, it is not the subject of the rules and regulations that keep athletes safe. The cheer squad mostly doesn’t have proper facilities and equipment. On the other hand, a sportsman has access to a trainer, medical care, certified coaches, and suitable practice time. With actual training requirements, athletes are not exposed to avoidable risk.

Many people give negative comments about cheerleading like why is cheerleading a sport? They see one end of the picture and forget other. So pay attention both ends just like a player’s efforts and skills.

Well, It has been a part of debate for many years and there is no authentic statement about cheerleading as a sport.

Cheerleaders are athletes that require physically demanding and mentally challenging as any activity.

Cheerleading in Comparison to Other Sports

As the days of pom pom and claps are over things are more complex and competitive just like “All-Star” cheerleading which is different from American football or basketball. Cheerleaders work hard to polish their steps to compete with each other in a head-to-head fashion. Every squad has to do physical exertion to create a performance routine.

When comparing cheerleading to other sports, there’s a common misinterpretation that stems from the relatively short duration of a competition routine. It typically lasts just 2 minutes and 30 seconds. However, this belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Cheerleading demands a significant amount of mental and physical strength as compared to traditional sports.

Unlike some sports like football, where there’s an opportunity to rectify errors in the second half, cheerleading offers no second chances. There’s just that one crucial moment to step onto the floor and deliver the routine flawlessly. This is why rigorous practice is a constant in the cheerleader’s life. Achieving a perfect routine doesn’t guarantee victory either, as it ultimately rests in the judges’ subjective hands.

Fallacies about Cheerleading

Sadly, misconceptions prevail regarding cheerleading, often labeling cheerleaders as mere crowd leaders and eye candy. The reality is quite different. The countless hours of intense practice, outside of school functions, remain unseen by many, making it essential to challenge these preconceived notions. Unlike other sports that receive substantial promotion, cheerleading’s competitive aspect still awaits wider recognition and appreciation.

Why is Cheerleading the Most Dangerous Sport

When you see from a cheerleader perspective, you will analyze the facts and realize how difficult for a squad to do flips, and lift up another girl. Whose size is bigger than a ball hold her up in the air, and do a full stunt sequence without dropping her.

So to throw a girl in the air and catch her is not more than the most dangerous sport . Any little mistake can result in serious injury or sometimes the cheerleader may lose her/his body parts. Competitive cheerleading is very different it involves dancing, jumping, trembling, and creating different angles to form pyramids.

Cheerleading the most Dangerous Sport

Did you know that cheerleading has more injuries and it comes after football? The reports show 2/3  catastrophic injuries amongst high school female athletes. 37,000 cheerleaders went to the emergency room in 2011. The prevalence of concussions and catastrophic injuries can potentially lead to permanent disabilities.

The best way to prevent injuries is to declare cheerleading a sport and require teams to follow the same regulations and rules as any other physical sport. The U.S. All-Star Federation organizes cheerleading competitions within safety limits and dictates rules of conduct.

Cheerleading as a Sport

The International Olympic Committee(IOC) has given cheerleading a provisional status as an Olympic sport.

In 2016 the New York Times report said, that the IOC (the International Olympic Committee) executive board voted to recognize cheerleading as a sport. And that it is not important for cheerleaders to be able to participate in the year of  2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang or in the 2020 Games in Tokyo. This sport takes a period of three years. During this time, IOC execs can vote at any time to recognize the sport and then the ICU can request to add to the Games. If they accept or approve the request then cheerleading officially becomes part of an Olympic sport!

Cheerleading Sport

Several updates have been made in considering cheerleading as a sport on a global level. Specific of these are STUNT and recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Olympics:

STUNT Update

Congratulate! To the Cheer Community USA Cheer announced the sport of STUNT in 2011, which is derived from traditional cheerleading. The purpose of STUNT is to create new opportunities for female athletes at the collegiate and high school levels to meet the requirements of a sport under Title IX. This new discipline of STUNT includes all of the athletic skills from cheerleading in 4 quarters of games. For head-to-head competition by focusing on the technical element and athletic components.

The game consists of four different formats such as pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling. In each quarter of the game, the team of cheerleaders is evaluated on their difficulty level and performing skills. If a team performs its best routine will get the points. Stunt expanding its horizon and more than 500,000 high school cheerleaders are actively participating. They represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.

At the 9th Annual College STUNT, National Championship, Oklahoma State University, and Davenport University took Top Honor with the level of their talent.

Recognition by IOC

In 2021, USA Cheer honored full International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition for the International Cheer Union. The recognition was granted by the IOC membership in a vote at the 138th IOC Session, in advance of the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. From the IOC prospect, the International Cheer Union will receive at least $25,000 every year. This allocation will result in the inclusion of cheerleading in the 2024 or 2028 Olympics.

The ICU and Cheerleading are now fully eligible to petition to be included in the Olympic Games and a variety of Olympic multi-sport Games. The recognition will help ensure greater support and funding for Cheerleading development in many countries around the world.

My daughters team cheers on the football players and performs against other cheer squads at the state, regional and national level. I don’t understand why the article would say there is no competition?

Well, as you know there is a large debate on cheerleading to consider a sport or not. Yes, I agree with your comment that some cheer teams compete, but not all do. That’s why critics say cheerleading isn’t a sport because it sees cheerleading as a physical activity. Supporters consider cheerleading a sport that involves the heavy use of athletic talents.

Isn’t that true of drill teams as well? And yet – they are considered a sport????

bruh you suck at typing

so are you implying that throwing 130 lb girls in the air and throwing our bodies upside down and sometimes twisting also isn’t a sport…. lol okay

Cheer is absolutely a sport because it takes training and physical agility……

Well if you wasn’t a idiot you would know that cheering is not all about flips and tricks. We practice just like football and basketball players.And plus half of the audience at the games don’t come to see the players they come to see us cheer.So next time you want to say something stupid think about how cheerleaders get hurt and injured just like the football and basketball players./

However, it’s not a sport. Cheering for another team is basically just showing off that you can do flips and tricks, cheer is NOT required for Basketball to be Basketball or Football to be Football, the crowd does just fine cheering on their own! All cheerleaders do is just scream in sync and flips and tricks, While it is cool, It’s just not worth the injury to do something the crowd can do a lot of encouraging without the distracting outfits and glitter

Take a look into competitive cheer. Although there is the glittery uniforms and makeup, there are new rules starting in a few years that the athletes have to dress more collegiate with minimal makeup, straight slicked back ponytail, and no more gemstones on the uniforms. This is because cheerleading might be in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

competitive cheer is more than dangerous than any other sport the flyers give you their life in your hand and they trust you to catch them and if you don’t well that may just cost you their trust and may cause the flyer to cost their life or even a body part that no one would like to loose!!!

Im so glad to hear this. I am a cheerleader and that is awsome!!

Okay, I disagree because it’s more than what you think. It’s more than a sport. Flyers like myself put their life in someone’s hand to trust them to catch them when they come down and if not that it may cost someone’s life or even body parts that nobody would like to lose.

excuse me, but if you look at competitive cheer leading, it is a sport. They are placed in teams and you are in certain levels to your extent of how good you are at the SPORT. They earn points and they either win in first, second or third place depending on what you cheer for. Yes, as you are younger, cheering for high school or middle school sports, it is not exactly a sport because of the reason you applied. other than that, it is a sport .

EXACTLY, also how can track be considered a sport but not cheer? They run against other people in races it is the same concept except no one is really caring about that debate because everyone bashes cheerleaders.

Go see an all star cheer team, then you can talk. Thanks bye. Most of the time cheer teams don’ t want to cheer at the basketball games or football games but it is required at the school and school teams still compete. Unlike any other sport teams we don’t have subs. If yo get hurt you have to keep going.

Other sports are not needed also, such as track, basketball, football etc. but they are wanted there for entertainment purposes.

I like the way you think… I respect it

we don’t just cheer for games and stuff we compete at competition

The Sideline portion maybe not, but there is miscommunication because cheer leading also has its own competitive portion and its own branch CIF sport called stunt where two teams go head to head.

I think cheerleading is a sport because It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to become a cheerleader its, not something you cant just quit its something you work hard for to get to that point you want to get to.

As far as I know as a all star AND school cheerleader I know that we compete and it’s one of the biggest things we look forward to for the season!

The definition of a sport in the Oxford dictionary is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment”. A cheerleader ticks all of these boxes, not even while competing. In competitive cheerleading cheerleaders compete against each other for points, much like an ice skating show. To discount cheerleaders by saying cheerleading isn’t a sport at this point is prideful, and pedantic.

Nicole Ariela

Look at all you triggered cheerleaders or former cheerleaders cry that alot of people dont consider it a sport. It’s obviously not a sport and they give the reasons why it isnt. Sport is just a word anyway. The hussy fits are hilarious though.

I love to see this “Greg”. Let’s see you try competitive cheer, shall we? You wouldn’t be able to handle it for a second. The term “sport” can be talked about in different ways. Since you also have reasons to why it isn’t a sport, i would love to hear them! – from a competitive cheerleader <3

Cheerleading is a sport!!! I have been cheering since I was 4 years old and I am now 14!!! Us girls practice just as hard as other sports and I should know that because I’ve done Track, softball, swim, gymnastics, competitive cheer, school cheer and volleyball . I have worked so hard in all these sports and had a bunch of bad things happen. In cheer I’ve seen girls hit the floor from the air and head down to the floor and it hurts trust me. We do the same skills as gymnastics and they are considered a sport so us Cheerleaders should too. PLEASE IF YOU NEVER DONE CHEER SIT DOWN YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY IF It IS A SPORT OR NOT IF YOU NEVER DONE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Try doing a whole routine over and over again no water nothing! ITS SAD SEEING PEOPLE HATE CAUSE WE KNOW YOU SAD YOU DIDN’T MAKE THE TEAM SO GO CRY ABOUT IT lmaooo honestly stay mad haters <3 Mwuahhh

the cheere squad did not exept me they bulied me and were very meen i almost killed myself so it is not a sport

the cheere squad did not exept me they bulied me and were very meen i almost killed myself so it is not a sport.

ok but like how is cheer not a sport you can say you just throw girls…um ok….baseball players throw not even a 10ib ball hit it with a bat and catch it. How is that a sport? Take golf as an example thats considered a sport and all you do is hit a ball with a club. So many sports can be worded to make it seem easy and that is the characteristic cheer has. Yes, its hard to consider sideline cheer a sport but if girls are walking out and putting a routine on a map against other teams that is a sport. Cheer is a sport you need strength, good attitude, ability to work in a team and so many other things other sports have. We practice just like a team does. You have no clue how hard we get worked at practice. So if you want to say cheer is a sport please take my place. Please do a back flip and stick it with tight arms. Please throw a girl with one hand and catch her to do a trick. I wanna see it go ahead…

EVERYBODYYYY RUMBLEEEEE< u ugly losers need to know that cheer is a sport because u have to base flyers and sometimes the flyers fart which give the backspot pinkeye and pinkeye is considered a injury/ something medical, so this way i consider cheer a sport thanks, dont talk to me again i dont wanna hear or hear ur ratchet nappy looking self responding to me.

so you are saying that although we get dropped it still isn’t counted as a sport because we put our lives at risk it’s not a sport?

I think its a sport, only because it is competitive just like football or basketball. I hate how people think its all just tricks and screams, cause its not just that. Its more than that, its fun and giving spirit to the boys. Sometimes people only come to see the cheerleaders, so maybe next time u should ask a real cheerleader how they feel abt doing cheer.

Cheer is definitely a sport. Everyone who tells me its not, can go do my full routine, and I want them to tell me then if cheerleadings a sport. We compete. We do flips. We do jumps. We do dance. And what do we get? Told that we aren’t even athletic. Explain to me how that’s fair.

chirliding eto sportlook up in google translate

cheer is a sport we work our butt’s off working on our routine we compete we wake up at 5:45 every morning and all i hear “cheer is not a sport nah nah nah” whatever cheer is s sport and you can keep telling yourself its not a sport but it is you guys suck i am on a cheer team and i was in a boot for 6 weeks and cheer is a sport so ya your guys website sucks!

Honestly, I dont understand how people who have never done cheer get to argue that it is not a sport. I was a cheerleader and just because I didn’t play football doesn’t mean I get to argue that it isn’t a sport actually, it is the opposite. the things that I put myself through and my teammates put themselves through are indescribable. I am one of many cheerleaders that actually have a legitimate say in this argument. it makes me sad to see people who have never done cheer, argue and fight agaist cheer being a sport. just ignore those people and stick to the right side of the arguement. honestly cheer is a sport and thst is not an opinion its a fact.

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Sport or Scapegoat: The Recognition of Cheerleading as a Competitive Intercollegiate Sport and its Impact on Title IX Compliance

  • The Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law
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Image of Cheerleading Trophies

By: Karla Pisarcik*

Next to football, cheerleading remains the most injurious activity for both high school and college athletes, with a large number of female cheerleaders suffering serious, direct catastrophic injuries. [1] Despite this risk of severe injury, which is inherent to most sports, the courts, Title IX guidelines, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) all continue to deny cheerleading the status of a sport.[2]

A sport must meet certain requirements in order to qualify for the NCAA, including high participation numbers and sponsorships and varsity-level competition against teams within the intercollegiate structure.[3] Additionally, a participant is defined as an athlete who is “receiving the institutionally-sponsored support normally provided to athletes,” including “coaching, equipment, medical and training room services;” and who is participating in “organized practice sessions and other team meetings;” and whose name appears on the eligibility list for each sport.[4] Further, the Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) warns that only actual participants be counted as “participation opportunities must be real, not illusory.”[5]

Whether cheerleading should be considered a sport has implications that reach beyond being recognized by the NCAA.[6] One of the most controversial issues is whether cheerleaders should be counted as athletic participants for purposes of calculating prong one of the three-part test for Title IX compliance. [7] Prong one of the test states that an institution is in compliance with Title IX if “the number of male and female athletes is substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments.”[8]

Proponents to the addition of cheerleading argue that sport-status is crucial in order for competitive cheerleaders to receive the necessary support and resources such as college scholarship opportunities, better facilities and equipment, and more funding for coaches’ salaries.[9] Proponents further emphasize that cheerleading has evolved into a competitive display of athleticism that mirrors that of already-existing varsity sports.[10] Take STUNT, for example—the fastest growing female sport in the country.[11] STUNT differs from traditional cheerleading in that it does not involve the crowd-leading element.[12] Rather, it is centered around the technical components of cheerleading and includes four quarters of play: (1) partner stunts; (2) pyramids and tosses; (3) jumps and tumbling; and (4) team routine.[13] STUNT is considered an “emerging sport” per the NCAA, which the NCAA defines as “a women’s sport … that is intended to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women and more sport-sponsorship options for the institutions, and also help that sport achieve NCAA championship status.”[14]

On the other hand, opponents of giving cheerleading sport-status argue that it is an avenue for institutions to evade the intended purposes of Title IX by including an activity that is most commonly comprised of female participants, but does not truly equate to the varsity sport competition level.[15] As such, adding cheerleading does not create any new actual (as opposed to illusory) sports participation opportunities for women.[16] In fact, institutions could simply count cheerleading for compliance purposes but continue to take resources and money away from other, more popular and strictly women’s team sports.[17] Most cheerleading teams have the capability to be co-ed, meaning they are comprised of both male and female athletes.[18] Thus, institutions worry that this will pose a problem for Title IX compliance if its cheerleading programs do not have equal opportunities for both men and women participants.[19]

These competing arguments came to a head in the case of Biediger v. Quinnipiac University , when members of the women’s volleyball team filed a federal lawsuit against Quinnipiac University, claiming that it violated Title IX after it planned to cut the women’s volleyball team and replace them with a competitive cheerleading team.[20] In 2010, the District of Connecticut held, and the 2 nd Circuit affirmed, that participants on the cheerleading squad could not be counted as varsity athletes for purposes of Title IX compliance.[21] However, the District Court emphasized that it did not want to minimize or “belittle competitive cheer as an athletic endeavor,” and recognized the potential for competitive cheerleading to qualify as a sport under the NCAA and Title IX in the future.[22] Accordingly, even though Biediger v. Quinnipiac made a final determination on the particular facts of that case, the Court’s dicta ultimately leaves the door open to a future where cheerleading is acknowledged as a competitive intercollegiate sport.[23]

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[1] See Rachel E. Greenspan, Cheer   Shows Competitive Cheerleading Is Almost as Dangerous as Football. So Why Isn't It Officially Considered a Sport? , TIME Mag. (Mar. 10, 2020), https://time.com/5782136/cheer-netflix-cheerleading-dangers (noting cheerleading has had a higher rate of injury from 1982 to 2018 than 23 of the 24 sports recognized by the NCAA); see also Kristen L. Kucera & Robert C. Cantu, Catastrophic Sports Injury Research: Thirty-Sixth Annual Report 6, National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (Oct. 3, 2019), https://nccsir.unc.edu/files/2019/10/2018-Catastrophic-Report-AS-36th-AY2017-2018-FINAL.pdf (defining ‘direct catastrophic injury’ and noting that approximately 403 male football players have suffered direct catastrophic injuries followed by 42 female cheerleaders).

[2] See Greenspan, supra note 1 (discussing how the judiciary, legislature, and NCAA have all failed to recognize cheerleading as a sport).

[3] See NCAA Emerging Sports for Women Process Guide , NCAA, http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion/ncaa-emerging-sports-women-process-guide  (last visited March 17, 2020) (defining sports, emerging sports, and varsity intercollegiate sports under the NCAA).

[4] Norma V. Cantú, Dear Colleague Letter , U.S. DEP'T EDUC. (Jan. 16, 1996), available at http://www2.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/clarific.html (providing clarification to institutions on the three-part test for Title IX compliance).

[5] Id. (combatting the argument that the OCR count unfilled spots when calculating proportionality for Title IX compliance).

[6] See James J. Hefferan, Jr., A Sporting Chance: Biediger v. Quinnipiac University and What Constitutes A Sport for Purposes of Title IX , 26 Marq. Sports L. Rev. 583, 598 (2016) (discussing cheerleading as a sport and the effect it has on Title IX compliance).  

[7] See Cohen v. Brown Univ. , 991 F.2d 888 (1 st Cir. 1993) (establishing the three-part test for Title IX compliance) ; see also Lee Green, J.D., Impact of Competitive Cheer Laws, Regulations on Title IX Compliance , NFHS (Apr. 16, 2019), https://www.nfhs.org/articles/impact-of-competitive-cheer-laws-regulations-on-title-ix-compliance (considering arguments for and against the inclusion of cheerleading in proportionality calculation).

[8] Intercollegiate Athletics Policy: Three-Part Test ― Part Three (Dear Colleague Letter) , OCR, https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/title9-qa-20100420.html (last visited Mar. 17, 2020) (laying out the three-part test used by the Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) in determining whether an institution is meeting its Title IX obligations).

[9] See Alexandra Muck, NCAA Blocks Cheerleading Jump to Sports Status , Women’s News (Dec. 9, 2014), https://womensenews.org/2014/12/ncaa-blocks-cheerleading-jump-to-sports-status (discussing the benefits of giving cheerleading the sport designation).

[10] See Green, supra note 7 (arguing in support of considering cheerleading a sport for purposes of Title IX compliance).

[11] See About STUNT , STUNT the Sport, https://www.stuntthesport.org/about (last visited Mar. 17, 2020) (providing overview of STUNT the sport).

[12] Id. (describing STUNT).

[13] Id. (describing STUNT).

[14] See Emerging Sports for Women , NCAA, http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion/emerging-sports-women (last visited Mar. 17,2020)  (defining and discussing emerging sports for women).

[15] See Green, supra note 7 (arguing against considering cheerleading a sport for purposes of Title IX compliance).

[16] See id. (arguing against considering cheerleading a sport for purposes of Title IX compliance).

[17] See Biediger v. Quinnipiac Univ. , 691 F.3d 85 (2d Cir. 2012) (finding University cut women’s volleyball and planned to replace with cheerleading as a cost-saving measure).

[18] See Greenspan, supra note 1 (noting competitive cheerleading teams are co-ed which poses a problem for Title IX compliance).

[19] See Greenspan, supra note 1 (arguing the underdeveloped and disorganized nature of cheerleading).

[20] See generally Biediger , 691 F.3d at 90.

[21] See id. at 105 (reasoning that lack of off campus recruitment, uniform rules in a competition setting, and progressive playoff system “sufficiently distinguished” the cheerleading program from a traditional varsity team).

[22] Biediger v. Quinnipiac Univ. , 728 F. Supp. 2d 62, 101 (D. Conn. 2010) (stating that competitive cheerleading takes “strength, agility and grace” and Court has “little doubt” that it will be a “bona fide sporting activity” at some point in the near future).

[23] See generally Biediger , 691 F.3d at 108.

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Cheerleading as a Kind of Sports

Cheerleading is a relatively new kind of sport that first appeared in American colleges. Its primary purpose was to encourage team members and entertain the audience, and it was not regarded as a separate sport. With time cheerleading has evolved into an independent activity, and nowadays, it is a part of sports competitions. This activity combines some tricks from aerobics, gymnastics, and trampoline with dance elements. Despite its growing popularity, advancement in many countries, and organization of cheerleading competitions, it has not achieved recognition at the collegiate level. In this paper, I would like to prove that cheerleading deserves sport status as well as to challenge some of the stereotypes connected with this kind of movement.

First of all, when cheerleading first appeared in the USA as a response to harsh treatment in American colleges, it was not regarded as a sport, but the situation has changed. For recent years cheerleading has transformed into a competitive athletic activity that deserves sport status. Moreover, cheerleading complies with specific requirements that all sports should meet. For example, Chu states that cheerleading “has evolved into a competitive sport that is year-round, where cheerleaders execute a routine that is timed and performed within a certain area consisting of tumbling, jumps, stunting, and pyramids” (839). This characteristic proves that cheerleading can be treated as a sport because it includes competitiveness. In addition, cheerleading implies a certain routine which is present in almost every sport. For instance, gymnastics, basketball, and football have their own routine, and it appears to be a part of these sports. Hence, these arguments seem to be sufficient to recognize cheerleading as a kind of sport.

Secondly, some researchers note that cheerleading is an esthetic kind of sport. For instance, Stroescu considers that “this kind of movement blends into a smooth and graceful exercise, resulting in a particular physical manifestation, displayed by style, elegance, and class” (59). Despite the fact that some people view cheerleading as an art and not as a sport, Stroescu highlights that it has a physical manifestation that is inherent in every sport. Moreover, an aesthetic component exists in many movements, such as gymnastics. The presence of graceful and elegant elements does not automatically include an activity in the category of art. Thus, cheerleading should be classified as a sport, and performers deserve the right to be called athletes.

Furthermore, cheerleading appears to be a challenging activity that consists of various elements. Zhang describes that “pyramid, dance movements, transitional or connected slogans” are dangerous and difficult and “require higher competitive and technical skills” (87). This statement means that cheerleading possesses skillful and competitive characteristics that are an essential part of each sport. Moreover, it has its own set of elements that demand collective work and rehearsal. Like representatives of other sports, cheer performers are required to show skills that imply hard training throughout a year. Therefore, it can be concluded that cheerleading can be viewed as a kind of sport.

Moreover, cheerleading possesses certain features that other kinds of sport have. For example, it “takes the characteristics such as fitness, contest, team cooperation, entertainment, and creation” (Zhang 88). Cheerleaders demonstrate flexion, jumping, extension, and combine gestures and poses with expressive force. Coordination and flexibility are significant indicators that show a person’s physical condition. Moreover, the participants’ strength and endurance also play a crucial role in cheerleading performance. Hence, similarly to other sports, cheerleading develops various skills and contributes to strengthening a body. In addition, this kind of movement requires cooperation between its participants in the same way as other team sports, such as basketball and football. The element of contest is present in all other sports, and cheerleading is known as a highly competitive activity. Each year cheer competitions are held not only in the USA but in other countries around the world. As such, this fact also contributes to the cheerleading’s right to be considered as a sport.

Moreover, another reason why cheerleading deserves recognition lies in the fact that it has its uniform as all kinds of sports do. However, some people argue that short skirts and tops look revealing and consider such an outfit to be inappropriate for an athlete. On the other hand, the only requirement of a uniform is to be comfortable and not hinder movements (Perez 4). Furthermore, swimmers’ uniform consists only of trunks, glasses, and a hat, but it is not regarded as inappropriate and revealing. It seems to be unfair to impose specific attire requirements on cheerleading only because its participants are primarily women. No gender stereotypes should interfere in sports, and males and females should be treated equally. Hence, that is why a cheerleading uniform should be regarded as a proper outfit for an athlete because it is comfortable for performing elements.

Besides, every sport implies various injuries, and cheerleading is no exception. According to Eckley, both the flyers and the base encounter injuries when performing various skills (2). The sport of cheerleading is based on different stunts, which may be highly dangerous. Some of the most common injuries received by performers include the neck, knee, and ankle ones (Eckley 3). In this respect, cheerleaders can be compared to figure skaters and gymnasts since they are affected by ground reaction forces and suffer from similar injuries. Consequently, if one can draw a parallel between cheerleaders and participants of other kinds of sports, it can be concluded that cheerleading deserves sport status.

In addition, one of the crucial features of each sport is its recognition by authoritative sports organizations. Eckley suggests that “Cheerleading made a major stride in December of 2016, when the International Olympic Committee decided to officially recognize cheerleading as a sport” (1). International Olympic Committee is responsible for organizing the Olympic Games, and it appears to be a credible organization. Moreover, there are other international organizations such as the Romanian Majorettes Association (AMR) and the European Majorettes Association (EMA), whose existence serves as a certification of this movement (Stroescu 59). The fact that credible international organizations acknowledge cheerleading as a sport provides grounds to state that it deserves widespread recognition. In addition, since 1997, ESPN has been broadcasting international cheerleading competition. As a result, this also contributes to the right of cheerleading to get the official status of a sport.

All in all, cheerleading is a controversial issue because some organizations fail to acknowledge it as an official sport. There are also certain prejudices and stereotypes about this movement that are to be eliminated. It has been proven that this activity meets certain elements that constitute a sport. Cheerleading features its uniform and includes such characteristics as competitiveness, entertainment, fitness, and cooperation. Its participants suffer from injuries that are present in other kinds of sports. Furthermore, it is recognized by some authoritative organizations, and it is a part of annual sports competitions. Thus, it is evident that this kind of movement deserves sport status and respect.

Works Cited

Chu, Stephanie. “Cheerleading.” Sports-related Fractures, Dislocations and Trauma. Springer , 2020, pp. 839-841.

Eckley, Kacy. “The Physics of Cheerleading: Force Production of Cheerleading Stunts.” 2018.

Perez, Fatima, et al. “The Social Implications of Cheerleading.” (2016).

Stroescu, Silvia Alexandra. “Characteristics of Cheerleading as a Sport.” Discobolul , vol. 12, no. 1 (43), 2016, p. 59-63.

Zhang, LingLing. “The special characteristics and the prospect forecast of cheerleading.” Sports Engineering and Computer Science: Proceedings of the International Conference on Sport Science and Computer Science (SSCS 2014) , Singapore, Vol. 1. CRC Press, 2015.

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Cheerleading Is A Sport (Argument Essay)

Cheerleading is a sport.

The debate of if cheerleading is really a sport gets into the skin of many who believe so. Some debates just spark out of nowhere in order to annoy the party in question or because these people just believe that there is no athleticism in cheerleading. To prove these people wrong, this article will relate it to the fundamentals or essentials that make an activity a sport.

Cheerleading is a sport. To begin with, there is no definite definition of the word sport. This is a fact! But what really makes an activity a sport is what raises all these questions. The Women’s Sports Foundation tried to narrow some elements into being a sport into this field. According to the foundation, for an activity to be termed a sport, it must fulfill the following credentials.  For an activity to be termed as a sport, it must involve physical exercise that either resists mass or propels mass into space. The second condition it must fulfill is that there must be an opponent such that it is a competition or a contest. For an activity to be termed as a sport, it must be governed by rules. These rules must define explicitly space, time, and the reason for the competition or contest. It should also provide the conditions under which a winner is declared. Then lastly, the activity must have an acknowledgment that its primary purpose is to foster comparison of the participants’ relative skills.

Looking at the above conditions put down by the Women’s Sports Foundation, cheerleading passes the test! There are still two more qualification needs that determine if cheerleading is really a sport, however. The Women’s Sports Foundation lucidly explains that “any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or qualified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as:

  • The physical activity includes the above-defined elements and…
  • The primary purpose is competition verses other teams or individuals within a competition structure comparable to other ‘athletic’ activities.”

Cheerleading is definitely a sport. It meets all the qualifications named above of athletics. The fact that cheerleading’s primary purpose is to give support to the college or high school athletes it gives competition the second position. This means that cheerleading is more than just a sport.

To gain more support that cheerleading is a sport, the USA cheer, in 2011, launched a sport called STUNT. The sport was to create opportunities for young lady athletes at both high school and college level. In doing this, it aimed at letting cheerleading to remain to be imperative and crucial part of the programs of the school’s spirit. The sports STUNT integrates all sorts of sports including cheerleading and then putting them into head-to-head four quarter competition. This is usually done in such a way that all the requirements of the sports under Title IX are met. STUNT has been the nation’s one of the most and fastest growing sports.

Cheerleading is a sport because it involves physical exercise, it is a competition, rules govern it, and it acknowledges the primary purpose of comparing skills of the participants. The above-explained facts can silence all the debates that arise to prove that cheerleading is not a sport.

cheerleading is a sport thesis statement

cheerleading a sport

Essay Sample: Is Cheerleading a Sport?

August 18, 2016 Gloria Kopp Writing Samples 0

No one can deny that cheerleading involves a huge amount of athleticism, skill, flexibility and endurance but can it rightfully be described as a sport? In this essay, my objective is to prove that cheerleading is a modern day sport. Consequently, I will be considering the aspects of this physical activity that meet the requirements of the officials determining what is considered a certified sport.

Of the Office of Civil Rights’ extensive definition for valid sports, the Women’s Sports Foundation dwindles this down to a number of key elements. Firstly, a sport must be ‘a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass’. It must incorporate a sense of ‘contest’ with or against an opponent. It must be led by explicit rules to ‘define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared’. Finally, the list dictates that a sport acknowledges that its objective is ‘a comparison of the relative skills of the participants’.

Of the above, there isn’t one criterion that cheerleading doesn’t meet. So why is it that there is so much deliberation on this matter? After all, cheerleading is a physical activity that predominantly involves athletes thrusting their peers into the air (propelling mass), supporting them on different areas of their bodies (resisting mass), competing with other cheerleading teams (thus a ‘contest’) and doing all of this whilst abiding by strict rules relating to time limits and mat sizes. It is also important to note that the dictionary definition of a team, which is a term broadly attached to cheerleading, is ‘a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport’.

Though it is not necessarily like mainstream sports such as soccer, rugby and tennis (which all have a ‘playing’ element to them), cheerleaders execute their activity with as much energy, skill and passion as any player in the aforementioned sports. If anything, cheerleading is more than a sport as it an artistic performance which combines a range of additional elements – athleticism, dance, music and, dare I say, fashion. Some may say that fashion has no place in sport but I would argue that many famous soccer stars’ successes derive partially from their appearance on the field (ie how their hair is styled, the brand of footwear they are wearing, the tattoos they are displaying, and so on).

I cannot help but wonder if the age old issue of feminism has something to count for in this debate. Do people feel that, because cheerleading teams are predominantly female, they deserve no place in the world of sports? I can appreciate that women in sport are acknowledged in this modern era yet I do not feel that female sporting role models are given as much credit and limelight as some men who are equally successful in their field. My fear is that cheerleading has been sexualised over the years, a theme that appears to begin in high school, and is thus not given the respect it deserves in today’s sporting community.

The sexual objectification of cheerleaders means that these hard-working athletes are often seen as objects to be looked at prior to ‘the big game’. However, the fact is that cheerleaders train hard, are in great physical shape and share a passion for being the best. Though their outfits may reveal their legs and, at times, their backsides, the clothing they wear is a uniform as those worn in any other team sport and are designed to allow the flexibility with their limbs and to stop them from overheating during energetic performances. It isn’t easy to do the splits with long flowing material restricting your legs!

On a similar note, why should cheerleaders shy away from making themselves appeal to others (not necessarily in a sexual way) and to take pride in their physical appearance? Is it very common to see sportsmen exploiting their sexual appeal and featuring topless (or sometimes naked) in calendars and photo shoots. Yet, if a cheerleader was to do the same she may lose any respect earned from being a talented sportsperson. When it comes down to it, strength and motivation are attractive features in both men and women and are qualities that should be embraced by any member of a sports team.

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Is Cheerleading a Sport Debate

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Published: Mar 25, 2024

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Introduction, defining a sport, physical exertion in cheerleading, competition in cheerleading, skill and technique in cheerleading, the inclusion of cheerleading in sports programs.

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    They're all scored and won differently. Cheerleading has competitions and they score and win just like any other sport." Shaneace Virgil, a Bowie State graduate and former Golden Girl, said that by any definition cheerleading is a sport. "Cheerleading encompasses many different aspects --- from physicality to showmanship," Virgil said.

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  10. Is Cheerleading a Sport? Reasons and Arguments

    Cheerleading as a Sport. The International Olympic Committee(IOC) has given cheerleading a provisional status as an Olympic sport. In 2016 the New York Times report said, that the IOC (the International Olympic Committee) executive board voted to recognize cheerleading as a sport. And that it is not important for cheerleaders to be able to participate in the year of 2018 Olympic Games in ...

  11. Sport or Scapegoat: The Recognition of Cheerleading as a Competitive

    By: Karla Pisarcik* Next to football, cheerleading remains the most injurious activity for both high school and college athletes, with a large number of female cheerleaders suffering serious, direct catastrophic injuries. [1] Despite this risk of severe injury, which is inherent to most sports, the courts, Title IX guidelines, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") all ...

  12. Cheerleading as a Kind of Sports

    Cheerleading is a relatively new kind of sport that first appeared in American colleges. Its primary purpose was to encourage team members and entertain the audience, and it was not regarded as a separate sport. With time cheerleading has evolved into an independent activity, and nowadays, it is a part of sports competitions.

  13. Cheerleading Is A Sport, Argumentative Essay Sample

    Cheerleading is a sport because it involves physical exercise, it is a competition, rules govern it, and it acknowledges the primary purpose of comparing skills of the participants. The above-explained facts can silence all the debates that arise to prove that cheerleading is not a sport. Writing sample of essay on a given topic "Cheerleading ...

  14. Essay Sample: Is Cheerleading a Sport?

    In this essay, my objective is to prove that cheerleading is a modern day sport. Consequently, I will be considering the aspects of this physical activity that meet the requirements of the officials determining what is considered a certified sport. Of the Office of Civil Rights' extensive definition for valid sports, the Women's Sports ...

  15. Cheerleading is a sport by Kayla Driskill on Prezi

    3.Athliticism. Cheerleading is a sport due to the flexibility and athleticism it takes to participate in this activity. 1. I've been a cheerleader for almost 10 years. 2. Cheerleading was one of the many sports represented at the fall sports banquet at our school. 3. Cheerleading is #3 on the top 10 list of most dangerous sports in America.

  16. Is Cheerleading a Sport Debate

    Cheerleading requires a high level of skill and technique, which is another key characteristic of a sport. Cheerleaders must master a variety of techniques, including jumps, stunts, tumbling, and dance routines. These skills require precision, coordination, and extensive training to execute successfully. Additionally, cheerleaders must possess ...

  17. Why Should Cheerleading be Considered a Sport

    Write a clear introduction, thesis statement, multiple body paragraphs supporting the thesis statement, a counterpoint within the essay, and a clear conclusion. ... Cheerleading is a sport that requires a lot of energy and is quite competitive. Cheerleading is taxing because it takes much muscle to pull off such maneuvers. Cheerleading, like ...

  18. Cheerleading is a Sport Thesis Statement

    Cheerleading is a Sport Thesis Statement - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free.

  19. Thesis Statement on Cheerleading

    Download thesis statement on Cheerleading in our database or order an original thesis paper that will be written by one of our staff writers and delivered according to the deadline. ... Cheerleaders and cheerleading has always gone hand in hand with American sports. Every professional and college sports team with trained athletes has cheerleaders.

  20. Thesis Statement on Is Cheerleading a Sport?

    Join now to read this particular paper. …cheerleaders need medical care, use of mats and other safety devices, and ample practice space. The problem is that other athletes have no idea what it takes to be a cheerleader. We make it look so easy, we fly through the air with grace and we catch our teammates as though they are feathers floating ...

  21. Is Cheerleading A Sport Thesis Statement

    Is Cheerleading a Sport Thesis Statement - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.

  22. Cheerleading Is A Sport Thesis Statement

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