Is Cheerleading Really a Sport?

I think cheerleading isnt a sport..

Cheerleading is certainly very athletic, but I do not like the following: *the girls have to spend a lot of money on it *it is highly sexualized (short skirts, suggestive dancing) *they perform on the sidelines at other "real"sporting events I think if they adjusted some of these things it would be more like other sports. E.g. got more athletic clothes and held their own events. I think plenty of people would go to see them.

Most Definately! I was a cheerleader when it wasn't a considered a sport but then in the last 5 years I had a chance to coach at the High School I attended. I also played just about every other sport including softball, volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics and cheerleading is by far the most demanding and difficult of them all!

Anyone who thinks it isn't a sport should try it for just a week. Between 3 hour practices several days each week, games, competitions, gymnastics/tumbling class & dance classes (taken to stay competitive in cheerleading), as well as the weight training sessions and daily runs, most people couldn't keep up for just one week, much less an entire season. If all that goes into a cheerleading team doesn't qualify as a sport, I want to see what they think does qualify.

Cheerleading is definitly a sport. I have a daughter who is in the 9th grade and she works out just as much as the football team does. Competitive cheerleading is also one of the most dangerous sports with the stunts and flips. I work in an ER and so many girls are seriously injured from cheerleading its crazy.

i do not believe that cheerleading is a sport. competitive cheerleading maybee but the girls that stand on the sidelines at football games are not part of a sport, but merely a social status/group.

Yes, I believe it is a sport. I watch the girls and boys work their butts off, day after day. When they cheer at games, that is just to support their home teams. Go to a competition and then try to tell me its not a sport.

To those who made comments saying "cheerleading is slutty and made do believe they are there to make men happy" you are stupid and obviously never been a cheerleader. Cheerleading is definately a sport. We ran, lifted weigts, had 3 hour practices and cheered at boys and GIRLS games. You couldnt get out there and do all that cheerleaders do or you wouldnt have said that...

To those who don't believe that cheerleading is a sport, try it. I coached an athletic league group of cheerleaders 3-4 graders. This girls conditioned, they stretched, they worked. It takes endurance, flexability and ability. If you think that it's a hobby or that archery is more of a sport, then like I said, try it. I participated in archery......not nearly as much of a sport as a hobby in my opinion......after all you just stand there and aim. Sounds ridiulous right? So does the thought that those that participate in cheerleading are athletes. Go cheerleaders!!!

I worked just as hard at cheering as I did for gymnastics or diving. And in comparison to softball it was harder! It wasn't as much work as hockey or lacrosse, but it's definitely a sport! Maybe the judges should try it out. They might change their minds!

What do I think of the ruling? Rather stupid. I'm surprised it even had to go this far. And why ask the ACLU? Are you kidding?!!! Listen, cheerleaders do strenuous acrobatics and routines regularly. They are looked upon as an essential part of a team game, especially football (is football a sport? or is it a take off on those barbaric colosseum games? ok kidding, take it easy)

Okay this IS a sport. I know because I myself was a cheerleader and my oldest daughter was a cheerleader and now a gymnasts. Now all 3 of my kids are in gymnastics and the two so very often go hand in hand. Cheerleading is not just about sideline cheering at a football game anymore. The competitions are fearce! There are so many requirements now just to make it to competition. I see so many kids at gymnastics there for tumbling class so they can learn the "basics" for cheerleading. These often include a roundoff back-handspring! For many cheerleading squads, this is a must have! This is a Level 4 gymnastics skill for many gyms. The physical demands on the body are comparable to most other sports. Gymnasts use every single muscle in their bodies when working on the equipment. Cheerleaders whom use such gymnastics skills are included in this. Between all the dancing, tumbling and lifting of teamates...yeah..they get their workout in! It IS a sport!

As much as I don't like cheerleaders, I have to admit I do think cheerleading is a sport. They have fans and compete against other squads. A few people mentioned on here how it is similar to gymnastics, which is also a sport, and that is a good point. I also think there are quite a few more activities which should be considered a sport. I was a band nerd in high school, so I believe marching band should be considered a sport too. Physical and mental endurance are involved and there is competition. One definition I found of a sport is: "Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." Both fit the definition.

The cheerleaders that I have seen, about all they do other than occasionally hold somebody over their head, is shake their booty. When I was young in the 50s, cheerleaders turned cartwheels, did sommersaults, the splits, and their was never any dance movements. They didn't even have pompoms to shake. They were also fully clothed. Their skirts were at least mid-thigh to knee length, and if their outfits were two piece they could raise their arms, without their midriff showing. The main reason I'm against cheerleading being a sport is because there is way too much emphasis and money spent on sports in comparison to academics. I am completely against the drill teams preparing little girls to be cheerleaders. In the competitions that they have these little girls are dressed and made up to look like little beauty queens or at least somebody that is 20 years old.

To put it simply, I'm quite happy about it. Cheerleading teaches girls that thet are round to cheer on men and dress sluttily to make them happ. It is underdeveloped and detremental "sport" that I have always frowned upon. They should be spending their time doing something less anti-feminist. CHEERLEADING IS A HOBBY!!! A a bad one at that!