Cheerleading: A Sport? Or Simply Entertainment

[Mac Attack]

I once went to a school which suffered from a lack of school spirit. It was terrible we had 5 people at our basketball games and we were in the top 3 in the province at the time. One day I complained to the principal of the school about how adding cheerleaders would boost school spirit and add people to the game and the response I got;

"Cheerleading is a sport, it's not just for eye candy or entertainment, unless you can find competition a coach and a team don't bother asking permission."

Now whilst I had intended using them for entertainment and to attract people to the games it got me thinking whether or not cheerleading is a sport. Personally all I've ever heard/seen of it is on T.V with its over the top sort of competitions. Now whilst I realize they exist are they sporting events? I don't quite know.

What I do know however is that cheerleaders add entertainment. I think that's non arguable. A sport that's where I'm blurry. And the truth is I just don't know.

It sure has athletics, sure takes skill, and sure does take practice to perfect, however is it a sport or just something people do.

So I ask you wrestlezone if it's a sport explain why, and if it's not also defend your reason as to why it's not.

To Conclude.....

We got posting yea we do, we got posting, how bout you?

Please respond.

 

[FoxyIrish]

I was (long time ago) a competitive cheerleader as well as cheered for my school at football/basketball games. For the most part, I do not consider cheerleading a sport simply because the primary purpose of cheerleading is to support athletic teams where as the primary purpose of a sport involves the comparison of the relative skills of the participants. In fact, cheerleading was labeled a club when I was in school. Athletic skills are definitely required in cheerleading but I do not feel that cheerleading is a sport.

 

[Remix]

Now whilst I had intended using them for entertainment and to attract people to the games it got me thinking whether or not cheerleading is a sport.

On TV cheerleaders are reflections of the fact that the writers either got rejected by cheerleaders in highschool, or were too fucking lazy to use cheerleaders as the generic bitches they're commonly portrayed as. Unless the show is about cheerleading, you won't see much of what makes cheerleading a sport. You'll see them shake pompoms on the sidelines. The same goes for sporting events.

Standing on the side lines and shaking pompoms is to cheerleading what having a kick around with your mates is to NCAA/professional soccer. Sure, more people play football in the park than compete. It doesn't stop it being a sport. To use that as a reason against cheerleading being a sport is utter bullshit.

Personally all I've ever heard/seen of it is on T.V with its over the top sort of competitions. Now whilst I realize they exist are they sporting events? I don't quite know.

In America there's over 60 national competitions. Yes, that is far too many, and no, there won't be a non stupid number of nationals until cheerleading is actually recognised as a sport. Teams put together routines, which are judged by a panel. Whoever has the highest score wins. For reference, by routines I mean things like this:

[YOUTUBE]odVfeOMlaEw[/YOUTUBE]

Yeah. Doesn't look like what you see on TV does it?

What I do know however is that cheerleaders add entertainment. I think that's non arguable. A sport that's where I'm blurry. And the truth is I just don't know.

You know that routine I posted earlier? That's level three. The levels go up to six. This is what that looks like:

[YOUTUBE]_tUDwFCM6Z4[/YOUTUBE]

You want to run that cheerleaders add entertainment, but I don't know if it should be considered a sport line by me again? Look my avatar in the eyes and tell me that adding entertainment is all they do. Watch both routines. Then look up the statistics for Cheerleading.

It's the single most dangerous sport for girls in America. Over all, only American Football causes more injuries. And those injuries can be serious. As in, paralysis and death can happen and do happen all too frequently. Coaches are under trained in anything relating to safety (as in, you can pass the safety training in a day) and safety measures are often inadequate because there's neither the money nor the requirement to have it any other way. Were it a sport, it would be far better regulated and the athletes competing would be far safer. You don't see NFL players compete without armour or with concussions any more, do you?

It sure has athletics, sure takes skill, and sure does take practice to perfect, however is it a sport or just something people do.

There's also one more thing that it has. Recognition from SportAccord, the governing body of all international sports federations, both Olympic and non-Olympic.

I was (long time ago) a competitive cheerleader as well as cheered for my school at football/basketball games.

Translation: you were a cheerleader in highschool. Glad we cleared that up.

For the most part, I do not consider cheerleading a sport simply because the primary purpose of cheerleading is to support athletic teams where as the primary purpose of a sport involves the comparison of the relative skills of the participants.

There are over 600 all star programmes in the USA. In 2007, national surveys revealed that there are over 100,000 competitive cheerleaders. All stars teams are not linked to schools or any sports teams. Their only purpose is to compete. By your definition, the existence of those teams makes cheerleading a sport.

In fact, cheerleading was labeled a club when I was in school.

You know what else is labelled as a club? Manchester United Football Club the biggest soccer team in the world. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which hosts the oldest and most prestigious tournament in tennis. Being called a club has no bearing on whether or not something is a sport. A club is any group dedicated to an activity. By definition, any sports team is a club. That you were a member of the cheerleading club has no bearing on whether cheerleading is a sport or not.

Athletic skills are definitely required in cheerleading but I do not feel that cheerleading is a sport.

Then you are wrong.

 

[FoxyIrish]

You're speaking of competitive cheerleading... Yes, I agree, competitive cheerleading should be considered a sport. I'm speaking of the cheerleading squads at the local middle/high school level. In my area, very few enter into competitions. I work in a school and clubs and sports are funded differently so it's kind of a big deal what the label is.

 

[Remix]

You're speaking of competitive cheerleading. Yes, I agree, competitive cheerleading should be considered a sport. I'm speaking of the cheerleading squads at the local middle/high school level. In my area, very few enter into competitions. I work in a school and clubs and sports are funded differently so it's kind of a big deal what the label is.

Well yes. I'm not going to make the argument that standing at the sidelines shaking pompoms is a sport. However, if the squads that aren't competing are still doing things like libs, full ups, basket tosses and so forth they will benefit the most from cheerleading being recognised as a sport. Firstly because there would be stricter safety requirements in place, which has obvious benefits. But secondly because they'd probably get better funding which would allow for more/better equipment (such as mats) and for more school and college squads to compete. You can't say that all star/competitive cheerleading is a sport and high school cheerleading isn't, especially when one of the reasons the latter doesn't compete is funding, or rather the lack thereof.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Not sure if its a sport per se, less its the competitve team type. If you are on the sidelines and all that, its more in the manner of a dance team. If you go to comps and compete against other squads, then you are participating in a sport. Sorta like running is running, but track and field is a sport.