Cheerleading involves all the elements and requirements that make up other competetive sports.
DALLAS COOK
Staff Writer
There is always a huge debate from non-cheerleaders about why it should not be considered a sport. Contrary to popular belief, cheerleading is more than just cute girls in short skirts. According to Oxford American Dictionary “sport” is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”
Do not be fooled and get confused between sideline cheerleading and competitive cheerleading. Cheerleading did not begin as the sport we know it as today. Many people view a cheerleader’s purpose as supporting other sports, and because it does not include a ball, it is therefore invalidated as a sport. Wrestling, swimming, diving, track, cross country, gymnastics, ice-skating and boxing are recognized sports that do not include balls. Over the past 15 years, cheerleading has evolved into one of the most extreme sports for women.
Competitive cheerleading includes intense physical activity. Cheerleaders must learn to tumble. They perform standing back flips, round flip-flops and full layout twists. These skills are not easy.
Stunting is another significant part of cheerleading. This is where the “fliers” are thrown in the air, held by “bases” in different positions that require strength and cooperation with other teammates. We all know how thrilling basket tosses are when a girl gets thrown very high in the air and does a fancy trick.
Just as basketball and football have rules and regulations for competitive playing, so does competitive cheerleading. Depending on the competition, most routines must be completed in fewer than three minutes and 15 seconds and remain within the boundaries.
As in all other sports, the goal is to be the best. Points are awarded for technique, difficulty, creativity and sharpness. The higher the difficulty in the routine, stunts and tumbling and the perfection of delivery, the better the score.
According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, cheerleading is the No.-1 cause of serious sports injuries to women. Because cheerleaders do not wear protective gear and many times adequate matting is not provided, emergency room visits for cheerleaders are five times the number for any other sport.
All in all, cheerleading is much more physically intense sport than most people realize. It takes skill, balance, coordination, flexibility and athleticism. Based on all the requirements of cheerleading and the continuity of strenuous activity by relation to other sports, cheerleading is definitely a sport.
09-28-2006
