About
Cheerleading has been a United States activity since the late 1860s, originating from Great Britain. Since then cheerleading has flourished into numerous levels of highly competitive activity all over the United States. Several cheerleading organizations such as the National Cheerleaders Association, the Universal Cheerleaders Association, the American Cheerleaders Association, and the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators all recognize cheerleaders as “tomorrow’s leaders who through the development of athletic skills, leadership, and teamwork will be vital members of the community of the future” according to Varsity.
Moreover, collegiate cheerleading in particular has become popular among thousands of males and females across the nation. As collegiate cheerleading expands more and more, one question still remains- should cheerleading be considered a sport?
At the collegiate cheerleading level teams cheer for athletic teams, such as football and basketball, as well as compete at national competitions. They practice and train and the sport requires skill, talent, hard work, passion, and dedication. Moreover, cheerleading includes aspects such as stunting, tumbling, dance, jumps, and cheers which all include a high level of intensity and skill level.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) states that a sport shall be defined as “an institutional activity involving physical exertion with the purpose of competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure. Furthermore, sport includes regularly scheduled team and/or individual, head-to-head competition (at least five) within a defined competitive season; and standardized rules with rating/scoring systems ratified by official regulatory agencies and governing bodies”.
Would you consider these rules to describe the aspects of cheerleading?
Cheerleaders often feel disrespected and offended when others joke about cheerleading even though it is a rapidly growing activity throughout the nation. Observers of cheerleading make assumptions about whether it should be considered a sport or not all of the time. Some feel that cheerleading should be considered a sport because of its physical exertion and qualities that represent those of a sport. Others feel that cheerleading does not meet all of the criteria to officially be named a sport. And others are in the middle- they feel that it has many qualities that should be named a sport but are not so sure on other aspects.
This website will further explore various opinions on the topic of whether cheerleading should be considered a sport or not.
Moreover, collegiate cheerleading in particular has become popular among thousands of males and females across the nation. As collegiate cheerleading expands more and more, one question still remains- should cheerleading be considered a sport?
At the collegiate cheerleading level teams cheer for athletic teams, such as football and basketball, as well as compete at national competitions. They practice and train and the sport requires skill, talent, hard work, passion, and dedication. Moreover, cheerleading includes aspects such as stunting, tumbling, dance, jumps, and cheers which all include a high level of intensity and skill level.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) states that a sport shall be defined as “an institutional activity involving physical exertion with the purpose of competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure. Furthermore, sport includes regularly scheduled team and/or individual, head-to-head competition (at least five) within a defined competitive season; and standardized rules with rating/scoring systems ratified by official regulatory agencies and governing bodies”.
Would you consider these rules to describe the aspects of cheerleading?
Cheerleaders often feel disrespected and offended when others joke about cheerleading even though it is a rapidly growing activity throughout the nation. Observers of cheerleading make assumptions about whether it should be considered a sport or not all of the time. Some feel that cheerleading should be considered a sport because of its physical exertion and qualities that represent those of a sport. Others feel that cheerleading does not meet all of the criteria to officially be named a sport. And others are in the middle- they feel that it has many qualities that should be named a sport but are not so sure on other aspects.
This website will further explore various opinions on the topic of whether cheerleading should be considered a sport or not.