Argumentative Essay: Is Cheerleading A Sport?

Because of the physical demand, skill set needed, and the rules set to tumble, stunt, and jump, competitive cheerleading should be considered an official sport. Yet cheerleading has rules, guidelines, training, and many other things other sports also include. It also is definitely a physical and contact sport which has caused countless injuries throughout the years of the sports existance. But, most people only know cheerleading as sideline (school) cheerleading and have not had a glimpse into the world of competitive (All Star) cheerleading.

According to Joe Hatton, the author of the article, “Sports Beat - The sport of cheerleading: It’s more than just pompoms and smiles,” cheerleading is a sport because it requires strength, balance, and coordination. The major claim of the article is “cheerleading is a sport - plain and simple - and cheerleaders are true athletes” (Hatton C-04). The article offers the following arguments in support of the claim. Hatton claims because cheerleaders are athletes, cheerleading is a sport. Hatton also says cheerleading is a sport because of the competitive aspects. We believe cheerleading is not a sport, because not all cheerleaders compete. Most cheerleaders rarely, if ever, show athleticism. Cheerleading

When it comes to cheerleading, most of us will readily agree that it is not a real sport. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of why not. Whereas some are convinced that cheerleading doesn’t meet necessary qualifications to officially be a sport, others maintain that it does have qualities deeming it to be a sport. This is because the competition level in high school and college exceeds the expectation of those other sports that put in the time, hard work and effort to win a championship or tournament. Many don’t consider the cheerleaders that get tossed in the air, have extensive acrobatic skills, and the strength to carry their teammates on their shoulders or even in their hands in the competitions. They don’t get the credit they deserve or are recognized appropriately enough for the sport they compete in, earning them the respect of being the athletes they are in the sport they’re apart of, therefore I’m in favor of cheerleading being considered a sport.

Whether cheerleading is considered a sport has become a very controversial topic over the past few years. Due to lack of education of the sport, it is very frowned upon by other athletes. Other athletes seem to feel that cheerleading isn't difficult and requires minimum to no effort. These accusations can be very hurtful when coming from a cheerleader’s perspective. Based on their strength and skill, the amount of practicing and maintaining health, the number of injuries, and its competitive aspect, cheerleading should be considered a sport. The talent that these young men and women have is phenomenal. The performance of their skills looks extremely flawless but no one truly knows what goes on behind the pretty stunts and synchronized

The physical activity must have five elements, some include overcoming the resistance of a mass, competition against an opponent, and the rules must define time, space, the purpose of the activity, and the conditions under which a winner is declared. In addition to, acknowledgement that the competition is an evaluation of the skills of the participants and the key purpose of the activity is for competition. Competitive cheerleading fits into all five of these categories through stunts, tumbling, competitions, score sheets, time limits, and mat size. Cheerleading also fits into these categories through the Entertainment and Sports Programming Networks (ESPN) comparing cheerleading routines and a competitive cheerleader’s sole purpose is to compete. Most people in the world do not think cheerleading is a sport for several reasons. Some they think cheerleading does not have a strategy, while others think cheerleaders do not have enough physical ability. However, cheerleading fits into all of the categories of what must take place in order to deem it as a sport (Cheer

One of the main reasons why the NCAA hasn’t picked up cheerleading as a sport is because it “doesn’t meet all the criteria of a sport”. That is true in some aspects of cheerleading, but for competition cheerleading it meets all of the needs of a sport. What actually is a sport though? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a sport is “ an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.” But according to the NCAA a sport has to meet all the following criteria to be considered a

If you are doing competitive cheerleading that would be considered a sport. Cheerleaders have to practice every day, just like any other sport does. They practice for about the same amount of time as well. Most cheerleaders are are required to lift weights either every morning or every night after practice. If you are on a competitive cheerleading squad you must attend a camp (Bembry). Most other sports like basketball, football, soccer etc, all attend some kind of camp. There are different schools that considered cheerleading different. Cheerleading is also considered a sport because practices are conducted and supervised by a coach. Just like any sport, there is

Why don’t people believe cheer should be a sport? Is it because it’s mainly a all women sport? Heck what even is a sport? If people don’t consider cheer a sport, then why is football or basketball a “sport” and not a “activity”. Even though people don’t want cheer to be a sport because of the outfit or so-called dancing, they need to reconsider the fact that cheerleaders are just as active, work just as hard and get hurt like any other sport.

Some may argue cheerleading cannot and will not be a sport, but according to Oxford Dictionary, a sport is defined as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment . People that do not cheer do not get a true perspective of how competitive the sport truly is. Cheerleading does not get the recognition that the sport deserves. Cheerleading exceeds all requirements  due to competitive nature, physical activity, branches of the olympics, rules that are required, advanced skills, and determination.

Is Cheerleading really a sport? Is Cheerleading really a sport? “Every cheerleader gets fired up when someone tries to argue with them that cheerleading is not a sport.” says Varsity.com,one of the head cheerleading companies. Cheerleading isn’t all about the pom poms,glitter, and fashion. The debate still goes on, but this is why it should be a sport.

Having the skill to throw someone twenty feet in the air and be able to catch them is very challenging and takes a lot of effort. Many see cheerleading as an activity, but it could be described as a sport. Cheerleading involves lots of skill, flexibility, and strengthening. For something to be a sport, one needs to have the traits listed above. Being a cheerleader takes a lot of talent which means it is considered a sport.

For many years people may think that cheerleading is not a sport. While others may believe that cheerleading is a sport. I have been cheerleading for a total of four years and I think that cheerleading is no different from any other sport. You have to have the qualifications and meet the standards that other sports require. If someone was to ask me if I believed cheerleading was a sport I would tell them, yes.

Is cheerleading is a sport? Although many people argue against it, there are countless amounts of reasons that exist as to why cheerleaders are athletes. They suffer injuries that are greater than football players and have all of the same requirements as every other proclaimed “sport.” In addition to injuries, cheerleaders also acquire the same strength and compete in numerous competitions like other sports.

Cheerleading has changed over the years. 40 years ago, cheerleaders was known to cheer at games, support various sports team members and be a pretty sight to see for the crowd. Time has brought about a change over the years. Cheerleaders work hard, practice, and compete with other cheerleading teams just as other sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. There are several factors included in what is considered a sport. Cheerleading definitely meets all factors of being classified as a sport.

A lot of people do not consider cheerleading to be a sport. When most people think of cheerleading, they think of pretty girls in skirts, waving pompons, cheering for their school’s football or basketball team. Although that can be true, that is not all cheerleading is. There are two types of cheerleading. There is sideline cheerleading, and there is competitive cheerleading. Sideline cheerleading is what goes on at a football or basketball games. Competitive cheerleading is what is shown on television stations like ESPN where a team of guys and girls preform a routine. Although sideline cheerleading is not considered a sport, competitive cheerleading is.