is cheerleading really a sport?
100003
I'm going to say no.  Just because it is difficult and physical does not mean it is a sport.
757478
The dedication required to be a cheerleader for a professional sports team is similiar to what is required of athletes.\nThe endless hours of training, learning the moves, practice and the physical stamina to keep it up for hours at a time are all very difficult.\nI'm not sure it is a true sport, but it is tough.\nGymnastics is even tougher, I do consider it a sport, even if I'm not interested in it. Kinda like soccer...
329130
Cheerleading is not a sport...it is an activity\n\nbecause there is no cler way to find a winner, just like figure skating or gymnastics shouldn't be considered sports either. A sport is something where a winner can be clearly identified, for example basketball, soccer, or hockey the team with the highest score wins. Or in track and field the person who runs the fastest of throws the furthest wins. However in things like cheerleading judges decide what is better, and some people may agree with or the decision and some not, whereas in a race the person who wins, wins as simple as that.\n\nExpense has nothing to do with it, people who play music have to spend money to but they don't play a sport.\n\nAs for the comment regarding competition cheerleading, in team sports if a player messes up it can cost the whole team, thats why its a team sport. But cheerleading is a team activity. In these competitions, how is the winner determined? by who makes the higher pyramid? no its based on the judges OPINION. \n\nAs for working hard, I'm sure some cheerleaders do work hard at it and it is hard work, but so is gardening, and construction work and you can't call those sports.\n\nLet me say I have nothing against cheerleading but for the above reasons I believe it is not a sport.
1123228
I thought the reason for having cheerleaders was to occupy the spectators when the players were just walking around the field, as opposed to playing the game. You need that a lot in American Football because the players are only doing stuff for about half the time between the kick off and the final whistle. Whereas, "Rest of the World" football is mostly continuous action, so cheerleaders would be a waste of time.
78037
Don't cheer unless you want to do well in the sport.  You will be bruised & sore.  Every cheerleader gets kicked in the face at least once... it takes a lot of strength.  It's not a giggle fest like some people think.
149718
No it's not, it is however an oplimpic sport.
944922
Actually studies show that cheerleaders are around the top of the list in being the most athletic in all sports. You have to be able to hold the weight of up to your 3rd to 4th lightest person in your group. Run, jump and bend. Therefore you are working Cardio, flexability and muscle fitness and all to a beat when many have no rhythm.\n\nMy webster pocket definition of sport is athletic game,      fun or play. It says nothing of competition.\n\nSo to answer your question Yes.\n\nAnd no I was not a cheerleader. I just like clearing misconceptions
876380
if you like cheering and stunts/tumbing than do cheerleading, if you prefer to dance than do the dance team, both are good choices as well as good forms of exercise and neither means youll be the stuff the one person said, just do what you want
336442
DUH!! CHEERLEADERS WORK AS HARD AS ANY OTHER ATHLETE OUT THERE, AND THEY ARE THE ONLY ATHLETES THAT LiFT OTHER ATHLETES.... \npeace&&love♥\nOCwahine
87805
well,\nit takes skill, practice, balls are involved, you use lots of muscles and its very competitive.  i would say it is a sport.
1155966
Hmm..okay okay, to be honest I would probably consider Cheerleading a sport. Because...even Badminton is considered a sport and that's almost effortless.. I'm sure yall take alot of energy and endurance to do some of your cheerleading activities...just like gymnists. I think the reason they don't enlist it under Sports much is because sports seem more based on...i dont know...traditional outdoor agreesive playing i guess...and cheerleading seems more like a performance maybe? i think that's it...dat pplz look at cheerleading more like a performance...but it should be considered a sport.
37133
Cheerleading has always been my favorite sport to watch.  I have never participated in it, but when I was younger I tried to get sporty with several different cheerleaders.  Unfortuately I never made the team.
459390
"A sport consists of a physical and mentally competitive activity carried out with a recreational purpose for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of a skill, or some combination of these. A sport has physical activity, side by side competition, self-motivation and a scoring system. The difference of purpose is what characterises sport, combined with the notion of individual (or team) skill or prowess."\n\nSo yes I say karate, tkd and almost every competetive martial arts is a sport!
474594
Cheerleading is good exercise, but it isn't a sport.  A sport has defined rules and defined scores that determine a winner.  Cheerleading, ice skating, and a lot of "sports" that require a judge to determine the score are not real sports, they are simply spectator events with judge based scoring.
494301
Some schools let it be a sport, but many schools prohibit the acrobatics and other things that make cheerleading a sport.
424472
No, sport is a direct competition of fastest, strongest, and other physical activities. Not who can lie the best, not who looks the prettiest as in other sports. Sport should have to be something that you sweat for.
894076
That is lame. As a cross-country and track runner, I am quite offended. Of all sports, I believe running reqires the greatest determination and responsibilty. If cheerleading is considered a "sport" than certainly is running (not that I feel the need to convince anyone else).