Competitive Cheerleading Research Paper

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

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.

Cheerleading might be considered to be an extracurricular activity to the average individual, but have you tried it? Even though four years ago, a federal judge ruled that competitive cheerleading is not an official sport, this physical activity includes all of the elements and more of a defined coed sport.

If cheerleading was considered a sport by the NCAA, cheerleaders would be eligible for an athletic scholarship, have access to better training facilities, and receive more recognition for all of their hard work and dedication. It would also provide more opportunities for cheerleaders to compete at a higher level and showcase their skills on a national stage. The debate about cheerleading being considered a sport has been going on for a while. “David Harrison, another avid sports fan, held a different view. “Yes, I consider cheerleading a sport because it is all about competition.

People often argue what makes a sport a sport. Whether or not cheer is a sport is often argued and questioned. It is usually thought of as a support team for other sports. “Along with cheering on the sidelines at games, most cheerleading squads participate in heated competitions to show their athleticism (Popoloski).” Even though cheer is not listed

Cheerleading isn’t only chanting on the sidelines at a basketball or football game anymore. Now, stunts and competing against other teams have been incorporated to form Competitive cheerleading. Competitive cheerleading has been around since the late 1960’s (Delp, Web). Many people will say that cheerleading isn’t a sport, and that makes cheerleaders tick when they hear this from “outsiders.”

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

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.

Cheerleading is one of the most demanding and dangerous sport there is. When you look up the definition of a sport in the dictionary, it says “physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively”. Cheerleaders compete at the Cheerleading World every year that is

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

Cheerleading is a sport that many people don’t support in a way that they support the popular sports in most schools, like football and basketball. Cheering can open many doors and create an ample amount of job opportunities. By cheering you can also receive full ride athletic scholarships from many schools. A cute skirt and pompoms is not the only thing you have to work for when it comes to cheering. Just as any other sport you have to have a certain grade point average to try out for your cheerleading team and also you are held accountable for maintaining your grade point average with also being held accountable for remembering cheers, games day dates and events that you will have to attend with your team. Cheer teaches you many things other than being able to tumble and shout! As a cheerleader, you learn to encourage anyone that needs that boost of encouragement, we learn how to work together with other people. Your cheer team members will become your family!

That side is competitive cheer, which consists of all females or co-ed, both male and female, teams that perform a two minute and thirty second competition routine. The routine is composed of advanced stunting, tumbling, stunting, jumping, and a dance. The main purpose of competitive cheer is to practice for hours to get that “perfect routine” and then finally compete. Although cheerleading has two completely different sides to it, the primary focus for both sides is to increase unity in schools by getting the crowd involved in cheers at pep rallies, football and basketball games, and any other athletic functions. Many high school cheer teams, do both sideline cheer and competition cheer.

As it states in “Cheerleading is a Sport” it’s said “Cheerleading will become as well-known a sport as Football and Basketball, and even appear in the Olympics since cheerleaders are just as athletic and physically fit as those involved in the more accepted sport”(Renee. R.1). Cheerleading is in the process of becoming as well known sport as the most popular sports such as football, basketball, and volleyball. They are in being considered for the Olympics, and that should promote cheerleading as being a sport, as well growing into a respected activity. They are just as athletic and fit as other student athletes, and should be treated the same as well.

The one thing that all sports harvest is teams. Upon first glance when looking at a cheerleading squad one may not see a team. When picturing a sports team most people may believe there must be a type of offensive or defensive physical contact; this is not at all true. A team is a group of people working towards a common goal. A football team may work together to defend its goal post. A swim team may work together to achieve the overall best time. A cheerleader is but one member of a group of people; altogether these people work together to encourage a team of players or a crowd of people. This is the purpose of the high school, college or professional cheerleader. Cheerleaders work together to create new and exciting cheers, and dances. There is a head cheerleader in every squad which helps to direct the team; this person can easily be compared to the coach of any other sports team. A cheerleading squad is a group of people working towards a common goal; a cheerleading squad is a team.