Cheerleading as a Sport

Being a cheerleader
IS Cheerleading
a sport?
Is Cheerleading a sport?
By: Nicole Lauchaire, October 2004
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!
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:
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!
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.