Is Cheerleading A Sport?

Date: Fri Dec 14 10:51 AM, 2007

Is Cheerleading A Sport?

Date: Fri Dec 14 10:57 AM, 2007

I found this on the site from above..

In the interest of getting some discussion going ...
I voted no ... cheerleading is just like figure skating or gymnastics ... if a judge decides the winner, and you can't "play defense," in one way or another, it's not a sport. I'm not trying to take anything away from them, it takes tons of athletic ability and skill, as much as any sport ... but that doesn't make it one.
In things like boxing or martial arts, there are judges that sometimes determine the winner, but the opponents can directly affect the each other's performance. If I perform well, I can influence what the judges think of your performance, because I am hitting you and keeping you from hitting me. In cheerleading, no matter how well one team performs, they are at the mercy of someone's opinion ... that's not much of a competition.

John Gworek
Rivals.com Front Page Editor
jgworek@rivals.com

He has a good point. But then again I guess most of what is done in the olipmics should be removed.

Date: Fri Dec 14 10:59 AM, 2007

lol oops "Olympics" Sorry I need more coffee.

Date: Fri Dec 14 11:06 AM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

I found this on the site from above..

In the interest of getting some discussion going ...
I voted no ... cheerleading is just like figure skating or gymnastics ... if a judge decides the winner, and you can't "play defense," in one way or another, it's not a sport. I'm not trying to take anything away from them, it takes tons of athletic ability and skill, as much as any sport ... but that doesn't make it one.
In things like boxing or martial arts, there are judges that sometimes determine the winner, but the opponents can directly affect the each other's performance. If I perform well, I can influence what the judges think of your performance, because I am hitting you and keeping you from hitting me. In cheerleading, no matter how well one team performs, they are at the mercy of someone's opinion ... that's not much of a competition.

John Gworek
Rivals.com Front Page Editor
jgworek@rivals.com

He has a good point. But then again I guess most of what is done in the olipmics should be removed.

I Agree! Dont Get Me Wrong, I Love Cheer. Its My Life But I Dont Think Its A Sport. =(

Date: Fri Dec 14 11:10 AM, 2007

I consider it a sport. Look at the training and hard work that it takes. Look at the skills that these athletes spend years to aquire. What I find sad is that many within the cheer comunity don't. I don't think it will ever be taken seriously until the image of cheerleading by the media changes. Just type cheerleading in your search bar and see what comes up. Listen to your nightly sports casters. Male dominated sports are the only ones taken seriously. Ok I'll get off my soap box now.

Date: Fri Dec 14 6:18 PM, 2007

YES!!!!! NCAA recognizes cheerleading as a sport. Scholarships are given out, varisty letters, academic awards are given the same as football, baseball etc. Whoever thinks cheerleading is a bunch of fluff has never really been to a compeition, seen stunting, basket tosses, tumbling etc. wether at the school level or a competitive gym. Look into it you will be suprised at the athleticism required to be a cheerleader.

Date: Fri Dec 14 6:18 PM, 2007

I think cheerleaders kill the credibility of the sport. I also think that with all the changes that have been made to the "sport" its even less of a sport than it used to be. Right now its, too concerned with "leveling" the playing field, to be taken seriously. In its current condition, its about as sporting as t-ball, where everyone gets to swing til they hit the ball and the inning doesn't change until everyone has made it to base.

Date: Fri Dec 14 6:23 PM, 2007

I would hardly equate serious cheerleading with t-ball! Of course there are programs for cheer that are just "chanting" and "spirit" without tumbling etc. but for the most part look at the site for cheerleading worlds teams. I would hardly call this t-ball!!

Date: Sat Dec 15 2:14 PM, 2007

Yes

Date: Thu Dec 20 10:14 AM, 2007

kcuf, yeah it's a sport! evileye

Date: Thu Dec 20 11:04 AM, 2007

actually, i don't think he has a good point at all.

first of all, sport already has a definition and unless his name Webster, i don't understand how he has the authority to change that.

sport (n) - an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature

second, it has been said that the greatest of all champions of sports is the decathlete. there is no offense or defense in track and field.

third,
"If I perform well, I can influence what the judges think of your performance"

can we really say that one teams performance does not affect another team in terms of overall impression?

and finally, i always believed that the scoresheet was there for a reason and points were given and deducted for a reason, NOT just pure opinion. isn't that why things like full-ups or rewinds are needed to score in a certain range?

Date: Thu Dec 20 1:39 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

actually, i don't think he has a good point at all.

first of all, sport already has a definition and unless his name Webster, i don't understand how he has the authority to change that.

sport (n) - an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature

second, it has been said that the greatest of all champions of sports is the decathlete. there is no offense or defense in track and field.

third,
"If I perform well, I can influence what the judges think of your performance"

can we really say that one teams performance does not affect another team in terms of overall impression?

and finally, i always believed that the scoresheet was there for a reason and points were given and deducted for a reason, NOT just pure opinion. isn't that why things like full-ups or rewinds are needed to score in a certain range?

RIGHT ON!!!

OC Mom · GURU

Well, if we go according to what is written as the definition of a sport, then yes, COMPETITIVE cheer is a sport.

But hey, Mr Webster wrote these things. He was merely a man. Maybe our other posters would kindly write a different definition of our language. That would really change things.

I would like to see my photo next to the word, PERFECT. This way everyone else would believe me!!!!! I swear it's true!!!!!! Seriously!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

actually, i don't think he has a good point at all.

first of all, sport already has a definition and unless his name Webster, i don't understand how he has the authority to change that.

sport (n) - an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature

second, it has been said that the greatest of all champions of sports is the decathlete. there is no offense or defense in track and field.

third,
"If I perform well, I can influence what the judges think of your performance"

can we really say that one teams performance does not affect another team in terms of overall impression?

and finally, i always believed that the scoresheet was there for a reason and points were given and deducted for a reason, NOT just pure opinion. isn't that why things like full-ups or rewinds are needed to score in a certain range?

RIGHT ON!!!