You’ve heard the argument 1,000 times: Is cheerleading a sport?
Cheerleading, by definition, is “a sport involving the performance of organized cheering, chanting and dancing in support of a sports team at games,” according to the Oxford Dictionary. But cheerleading is much more.
Not only does a cheerleader encourage players to play well and get fans excited about the game, but a cheerleader also puts on a show. From kickoff or tipoff to half time to the game’s end, cheerleaders are responsible for entertaining the crowd through physical performance. Cheerleaders stunt and tumble, and risk their safety in order to do so.
Cheerleading is one of, if not, the most dangerous sports we have today. It “accounted for 65 percent of all direct catastrophic injuries to girl athletes at the high school level and 70.8 percent at the college level” between 1982 and 2009, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
However, according to ncaa.org, cheerleading is not recognized by the NCAA as a championship sport. This is particularly frustrating for me during my college experience, where cheerleading is considered a “club,” thus implying that anyone can join. Though it makes me happy to see college students of all walks interested in the sport I have loved for more than half my life, it is also alarming because it is very difficult for individuals with no cheerleading/tumbling experience or athletic background in general to fulfill the mental and physical responsibilities required.
Although I am experienced in back-spotting, basing and front-spotting, the various positions of stunting, I have spent most of my years as a flyer. I am in no way afraid of heights or flying through the air, but let me be the first to tell you how scary of a practice it is to allow three rookie cheerleaders hoist you above their heads for the first time and hope they catch you before you hit the gym floor. Stunting is a whole new level of athleticism and skill, and it can’t be done safely and successfully without educated, strong athletes who have good attitudes and who are willing to sacrifice their bodies for the sake of the flyer.
Aside from stunting, there are other major facets of cheerleading that require above average athletic ability. You’ll often see cheerleaders perform jumps and tumbling passes on the sidelines at a football game or down the court during timeouts at a basketball game. These skills require year-round practice for most teams. Some teams require tumbling experience, which means athletes would have had to start training when they were in elementary school or younger. Dance experience is often a requirement as well.
I have been a cheerleader for 12 years. I started cheering for my hometown Junior Football League when I was in 5th grade, and I’ve loved it ever since. I particularly enjoyed competitive cheerleading in high school, although it definitely tested my persistence and strength. My small town team of nine girls even placed at state.
Despite many nosebleeds, bruises and other more serious injuries, I have persevered. Cheerleading has taught me to never give up and remain positive, no matter what the odds are. It has taught me that people aren’t always going to appreciate you, no matter how much work you put into your routine. Above all, it has taught me the value of teamwork, competitiveness and sportsmanship – because it’s a sport.