Competitive Cheerleading Research Paper

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.

Unlike any another high school sport cheerleading is a year round sport not including how much we practice during the summer. Every time we throw up a stunt, pyramid, or tumbling sequence we are risking everything. We are risking Strains and sprains account for more than half of all cheerleading injuries. Of these, ankle sprains are the most common, and that is followed by strains or sprains of the neck, lower back, knee and wrist. Also Back injuries: when we are throwing up Stunts and basket tosses like lifting other cheerleaders above our head, tumbling and dismounting while twisting and rotating can all place significant stress on the lower back, which can lead to back pain. A more serious injury that can occur over time is a stress fracture to the vertebra, one of the bones that make up the spinal column of our body. If the stress fracture occurs on both sides of the vertebrae, the bone can become weakened and

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.

When most people think of cheerleading, they think of the spirit squads that attempt to pump up the local crowd at high school basketball and football games. People are not aware of what these athletes are doing when they are not in front of these crowds. Strangers to cheerleaders who do not follow the sport extensively do not know the exact involvement of the athletes in this sport, at all ages. Cheerleading requires athleticism like all other sports as you must be in shape and at a great fitness level to be involved in most circumstances. Cheerleaders have to know what they’re doing at all times; while knowing what everyone else on the team is doing as well, which involves a high level of mental preparation. Cheerleading, high school or

When people say that cheerleading is not a sport they fail to realize that “the numbers translate into a rate of 2.68 catastrophic injuries for every 100,000 female high school cheerleaders, compared with 1.96 injuries per 100,000 for high school boys football over the same period.”(Kevin Voigt) Tumbling is one of the main causes of all these injuries. When cheerleaders flip through the air it may look impressive, but it is extremely difficult. To understand the physics of tumbling, we look towards projectile motion, gravity, and force.

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

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

An estimated 300,000 concussions will take place each year in the United States according to the article Hard Knocks: The Science of Concussions by Jennifer Carr. In the article Cheerleading- the Forgot Sport, it stated that out of 218 high school level injuries, 83 were from cheerleading. I happen to be one of these “lucky” ones in 2014.

Cheerleading meets all the criteria of being a sport, is sponsored by ESPN, and cheerleaders are basically risking their lives and the lives of their other teammates. Meeting the criteria of being a Sport. On Varsity.com, it states that cheerleading meets all the criteria in The Office of Civil Rights. It states “It must be a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass” Cheerleaders stunt, where girls are being thrown in the air depending on the girls under them to catch them. Criteria number 2 states “Contesting” or competing against/with an opponent is required.

Cheerleading is one of the leading causes of catastrophic injuries in female athletes in high school and college levels, yet people still argue that it is not a sport and how “easy” it is. Reasons cheer is not labeled a sport yet is because all of the benefits that would need to be provided for cheer teams because of title IX, the primary purpose of cheer (not competing), and the fact that cheerleading would not exist if they labeled it a sport because then their primary purpose would be to compete, not lead on their school’s teams.

Through all of the injuries there are some that are more common than others. One injury that is very common is ankle sprains. In cheerleading you need to have a lot of balance and flexibility. Although some people need

Football players and other already approved sports also suffer the same accidents however the amount of cheerleading injuries has had a shorter recorded history than football (Mueller). Also, to be a cheerleader strength and conditioning are required just like any other sport. Many sports such as football, soccer, and track have to condition to be ready for the upcoming season. Cheerleaders have to condition as well as be fit

Every cheerleader gets fired up when someone tries to argue with them that cheerleading is not a sport. Whether it’s a football player, a teacher, or a even friend who doesn’t understand why you’re not involved in something else. Cheerleaders just want people to know that being a cheerleader does make you an athlete! Cheerleading is a sport due to the athleticism and flexibility needs to be apart of this well known activity. Many may say it does not take a lot of effort to smile and wave your hands in the air while yelling ,"Go team!" But what really stresses cheerleaders out is that people don't see all the bruises, hard work and dedication they put in behind that beautiful smile they put on for their team. Not only do cheerleaders get tossed in the air and lift other cheerleaders, they also compete and do it all with a smile. Cheerleading might seem easy to some, but once people see what goes on at practice, their opinions usually change.

Cheerleading is usually considered a sport to most people but, there are some out there who think that it is not a sport. The reason this issue is brought up is it is physically demanding. Also, it requires collaborative teamwork, because if the team is not collaborating then they

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.