Is Cheerleading a Sport?

There’s a controversy that cheer isn’t a sport. When people look at cheerleaders they instantly think of glitz and glam. Not knowing the hardships that come with being on a cheer team. Cheerleaders bring the spirit to the players as well as the crowd.

The argument is that sports require physical ability or skill. “one of the most important requirements of a sport is to compete against another opponent, not just cheer to support your team.” Brea Darnell, That statement isn’t accurate. There are 3 different cheer teams: the football, basketball squads, and the competition team, and all of them compete. Football and Basketball squads don’t have any physical competitors but when the away team has cheerleaders, they often compete with who’s louder and more “aggressive” cheers trying to display dominance. And the competition team does go up against other cheer squads where they are competing to win.

Cheerleaders practice just as hard as any other team. Physical exertion would be stunting, tumbling, and jumping. An important part of cheerleading is working out and gaining muscle to help with jumps and certain stunts. It takes a lot of skill to throw a hundred-pound girl in the air and be there to catch her. 16,000 cheerleaders get injured in cheer-related accidents, which is more than any other sport-like activity in the world.

For years cheerleaders have been fighting to try to gain recognition for the hard work they put into the cheers and routines. And that’s beyond just standing at a game and supporting the team. Cheer is a sport because there is a lot of training needed to be able to cheer and compete.

“ I thought about joining the cheer team when I was younger because when I would see cheerleaders on the court they all just looked so pretty and put together. I didn’t know what came with being a cheerleader until I met my best friend. She would always be going to tumbling practice or having to compete during the weekend. She would complain about having to be a flyer or why her coach kept changing the routine. But she loved doing it and she got better as the years went on. Now she’s a varsity basketball cheer captain.” Dana Blair (12)

“ Cheer is a sport. As a competition cheerleader here at Wheeler, I worked hard this season. We practice just as much as the basketball and football teams. We continue to run over cheers and have to make sure that everything is perfect. Building endurance and flexibility.” Blossom Nwzenta (12)

“I cheered in high school, I felt like the cheerleading team didn’t get enough recognition. I cheered on the sideline for football on Friday nights and would wake up and have a cheer competition Saturday. It was hard work having to alternate teams. And having to learn cheers and a whole two-minute dance routine. But it helped build muscle memory, and strength. As a cheerleader as the years go on you start to adapt to learning new cheers and then having to fix them or change a whole 8 count fast.” Coach Whitney Nash

“ I never considered cheer being a sport because the girls don’t look like they have to practice as hard as any other team. I watched their routine during their practice. The girls looked determined doing the routine. Even though a lot of the stunts didn’t go up, they still pushed through and had a clean ending. The cheerleaders are the hype men for basketball and football.” Jacob Wilson

“I think cheer is a sport for the simple fact that they are gymnasts. Cheerleaders all have a specific skill that helps them determine their position on the cheer squad. Cheerleaders not only have to memorize a list of cheers but also dance. While showing school spirit, which is a lot if you ask me. Without cheerleaders, the games wouldn’t be so rowdy and full of school spirit.” Angie Davila (12)