Persuasive Essay: Cheerleading Is a Sport

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

The research states that “Football players, basketball players, dancers, skaters, gymnasts, swimmers, volleyball players, soccer players, etc. need to try out to get onto their sports team. Cheerleaders need to also.” says “10 Reasons Why Cheerleading Is A Sport”. The same article also states, “Hitting motions, tumbling across the mat, and hoisting girls/being lifted into the air isn't easy. It takes a lot of strength and endurance.” Both of these pieces of evidence show that competitive cheer is a sport for multiple

Although it is true that cheerleading does not fall under the category of a “sport” by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the NCCA, this does not mean cheerleaders are not athletes. An athlete is a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina. Cheerleaders definitely fall under the category of an athlete because cheerleading is not just smiling and shouting cheers as most people assume. Cheerleaders are trained in some of the most difficult skills such as tumbling and stunting. Cheerleading has become one of the most dangerous school activities, making doctors push schools and organizations to treat cheerleaders as athletes and that cheer is in fact a sport. Nelson feels very strongly about this topic and stresses that, “ It is disappointing how underestimated we are as cheerleaders because as a competitive cheerleader, we practice hard at least three hours a day, not only mastering the skills, but looking good while completing them…we work just as hard as any other sport but we did not get the appropriate

Cheerleaders are competitive athletes who compete up to 20 times a year, and we must have a particular skill set and athleticism to be able to perform the routines. Who gets to decide what activity falls under the sports category or not? This debate has been ongoing for decades, and an ending is not foreseeable in the near future. Cheerleaders do not get the recognition we deserve. I practice over fifteen hours a week, go to weightlifting twice a week, and give up eight months out of the year, for somebody to tell me I do not fit the cookie cutter mold of an

First of all, the Women’s Sport Foundation says that any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or qualified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as it includes four defined elements (which cheerleading does) and that the primary purpose is competition versus other teams or individuals within a competition structure. This is where cheerleading falls short. The purpose of cheerleading is not to compete, but to cheer on other teams that actually are competing. There is no tournament for cheerleading, only a routine and a shout. You don’t compete against other cheerleaders to see who can do the best stunts.

There have been debates going around where people are free to vote online and usually about 30% vote it isn't a sport and about 70% vote that it is a sport. According to the NCAA, Cheerleading is not considered a sport for many reasons. But that doesn't mean it can't become one or it won't become one. Cheerleading should be considered a sport by the NCAA and other organizations because it does meet the physical requirements set forth. The activity that goes on in cheerleading is considered very

Cheerleading is simply entertainment for viewers and is a social club for its participants. “Sports Beat - The Sport of Cheerleading: It’s a lot More than Just Pompoms and Smiles,” points out that a main benefit of cheerleading is the ability to “easily transition into the entertainment industry” (Hatton C-04). This statement supports our belief that cheerleading should not be considered a sport. Cheer-leading, the leading of cheers at sporting events is not a sport. Entertainment, versus athleticism, is more of what cheerleading is. Team supporters are present at games/events to raise school spirit and encourage cheering. Cheerleading generally requires a competition to be in progress, so the cheerleading itself can occur. This is not an activity which can take place alone.

Over 50 high schools lie to athletes. Studies show that if teams practice and work hard doing athletic things that they should be counted as a sport. When it comes to school cheerleading if the school team doesn’t go to compete they don’t count as a sport very much, Just a “spirit squad”. When it comes to cheerleading schools say no. Schools should support cheerleaders because they compete, Practice hard, and do athletic things.

Truth is, there are two very different types of cheerleaders. There are the traditional sideline cheerleaders who cheer on other teams for support, and then there are the competitive cheerleaders, who perform in front of audiences and judges to receive their own first place title. Competitive cheerleaders are just as much athletes as cross-country runners or gymnasts! Cheerleading is even expanding and growing into more than just a hobby. Erik Brady agrees when he writes in his article in USA Today, “The world of cheer no longer means sideline squads that exist solely to support other teams” (Brady). Cheerleading has grown extensively in the past twenty years. It now has its own magazines and web forums, such as Fierceboard or Inside Cheerleading. People join All-star cheerleading teams, which are just like travel club soccer or softball teams. The difference is that the hobby of cheerleading isn’t getting recognized for the sport that it is.

If you think that cheerleading is not a sport, the International Olympic Committee disagrees with you, as cheerleading could be added to the Olympic games very soon. As of the year 2016, cheerleading is one of the 37 sports recognized, it has a three-year probationary period that started in 2016, and receives funding from IOC and after the three-year probation, cheerleading will be able to apply to be one of the many sports in the Olympic Games. The year that we expect cheerleading to make an appearance into the Olympic Games will be as soon as 2024. I know that seems like a long time for it to be added to the games, but the point is not how soon it will be added, but the fact that it WILL be added because it IS a competitive SPORT. While many people may believe that it still does not qualify as a sport, they should thoughtfully consider the facts that it takes skills and talent, there are competitive teams, and there are great health risks just like any other sport.

Training for cheer is not just a one time or a once a week thing it is a constant practice to maintain those abilities (Selke). Abilities that are needed for cheerleading are stunting, tumbling, and dancing so cheerleaders need to weight lift and work out multiple times a week. They work just as hard as any other athletes. Cheerleaders must be able to work together to create pyramids, basket tosses, and stunts in a routine. All of these require timing, teamwork, balance, strength, and stamina which are all clear athlete standards needed to perform in sports(Selke). Most people do not see inside the practices and competitions they just see the cheerleaders on the sideline at a game who entertain the crowd (Bonesteel). Initially they think that it is not a sport because of how easy that looks. Sideline cheering is

In the 1860, students from Great Britain began to cheer and chant in unison for their favorite sporting events (Golden, Susie J.). This is exciting because I have been envolved in cheer since I was young, and cheerleading has been the part of my life since I was young. Cheerleading started as an all man activity (Golden, Susie J.). I never knew that cheerleading started as an all man sport, I thought that the cheerleading started as an all-girl sport, until I read more information. In 1903 the university of Minnesota created a “yell squad” (Golden, Susie J.).

From an outsiders perspective one may see brainless and beautiful robots, which scream and perform neat tricks. This is not the case from the inside; cheerleading is so much more than that. Many people are under the impression that cheerleading is not a sport. I am the voice of reasoning that will let you in, and I will show you that cheerleading, in fact, is a sport. Cheerleading requires much physical demand from the body just as any other sport would. Cheerleading, in general, is a team effort. There are many sides to cheerleading, which make it a versatile sport. When it comes to cheerleading there’s more to it than what meets the eye.

The New York Times have published that cheerleading is the fastest growing girls sport; however, more than half of the american population will argue that cheerleading is not a sport. When most people think of cheerleading they think of girls standing on the sidelines of a football game waving around pom poms and jumping highly off of school spirit, but those of whom believe that have trouble distinguishing between not only recreational and competitive cheerleading but the hard work and athleticism put into both. As defined by most a sport is something in which you compete in which to them concludes that cheerleading cannot and is not a sport. Although that may be the definition, Merriam-Webster dictionary states otherwise, that cheerleading

ESPN cameras all around, hundreds of screaming fans, pride and a big trophy at stake; no, the described scene is not that of a football championship. The excitement buzzing in the air escalates as the next team steps up to put all they have into a two minute and thirty second sprint to the finish. As a competitive mix of various other sports, cheerleading is a new sport on an international rise in popularity. Some may argue cheerleading should not and cannot be considered a sport, but according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary cheerleading follows the definition of a sport and therefore should be widely considered one because of its high level of physical activity, competition, and set of rules and conventions.