Do you think cheerleading is a sport?

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The fact that participants get injured frequently is not what makes something a sport.

Cheerleading is a competition, and it definitely takes a tremendous amount of athletic ability to be able to do what they do these days, but I would not classify it as a true 'sport'.

In my opinion, a 'sport', in addition to the two characteristics listed above (i.e. competitive and takes special athletic abilities), should also involve a direct head-to-head competition between the competitors in which the performance of one competitor directly affects the performance of the other.

In football, for instance, you have an offensive team trying to score, and a defensive team trying to prevent a score... that's direct, head-to-head competition on the same field at the same time.

Also, in a sport, a competitor/team should have their own destiny in their own hands, when it comes to the outcome of the competition... i.e. if the Me ts don't play well when they play the Cardinals, they'll probably lose.

In cheer leading, the teams really have no control over the outcome of the competition... they go out their and perform as individuals, the rest is up to the judges. There's no one else out there trying to prevent them from forming pyramids, tumbling, etc... and they can't do anything about affecting the performance of OTHER teams...

So, since cheerleading does not involve direct head-to-head competition on the same field at the same time, I would not classify it as a sport. In my opinion, figure skating and gymnastics fall into the 'competition' category as well, rather than a true 'sports' category.

And please, please don't get me wrong...it's takes an incredible amount of athletic ability, courage, dedication and teamwork to produce a great cheerleading squad... and when I come across a cheerleading competition on ESPN when I'm flipping channels, I often end up watching it... I am just totally amazed at what these kids are able to do out there...

Both skating and gymnastics also require incredible amounts of dedication, discipline, athletic ability, etc. in order to become world class (or even just to be good at it). It's just that cheerleading, figure skating and gymnastics, in and of themselves, do not meet the requirements that I'VE set for myself in determining whether something is a sport or not.

But as to whether anything is a 'sport' or not, it's really just a matter of semantics... I have no problem with someone calling it a sport; it's just that, in my opinion, it's not....Show more

No. I thought cheerleaders were supposed to be cheering on the team, not trying to compete with other cheerleaders.
I appreciate the dedication cheerleaders put into what they do - putting in all those hours learning the routines.
But, really, what if those girls put in that much dedication into sports like b-ball, volleyball, soccer, track, swimming, etc?
With the dedication they show to cheerleading, can you imagine how good their schools' sports teams would be?...Show more

It is a very complete sport that is made as a sidekick to another sport...

You have to be versatile, agile, and strong, and very gymnastic style.

But, to be honest, I see cheerleaders when their team is losing badly, and you´re all the same smiles and 'look at me' attitude. My conclusion is that you care about cheerleading, which is good, but don´t give a damn about the sport you support. Therefore, I´d better be more comfortable with hot hot hot chicks like in the motor sports, they know their business, they don´t care, we know they don´t care, and we don´t care. They´re not pretending interest, they´re just there to be admired...

So, why don´t make cheerleading an independent sport instead of a sidekick sport? I know there are competitions but take it further......Show more

I don't really consider it a sport. I know a lot of cheerleaders do compete- but it's not necessary. In other words you don't have to compete in order to be a cheerleader. (a common definition of sport seems to involve challenging another person/group of people at the activity)
However, I do think that Cheerleading takes an extraodinary amount of talent and strength. (If you do the "acrobatic" kind) - Just standing and saying "Yay, Go Team!" isn't - but if you do the flips and other stunts. A friend of mine in college was a cheerleader and from talking to him and his friends have a true respect for the athleticism it takes....Show more

I do with the colleges especially during football games. Most people just think of 'hot babes' like you find in the pro sports but college teams are made up of men and women who perform some pretty good acrobatic stunts. Entertaining yes but one has to be in really good shape and possess skills to be a college cheerleader....Show more