Do people really think cheerleading is a sport? If not, why? If so, great!?
101772
Yes, the cheerleaders train as much or more than the football or basketball players do. Cheerleading today has more gymnastics than it used to as well and here the girls train all most all year round, not just for the football or basketball season.
641315
I don't think a lot of people realize how competitive and athletic cheerleading has become.  I think back to when I was in high school and all the cheerleaders did back then was dance a little and kick a little and shake their pom-poms and lead cheers and look all cute and perky.\n\n"Rah rah ree, kick 'em in the knee!\n Rah rah razz, kick 'em in the other knee!"\n\nIn fact, in my high school, and I'm sure in most others at the time - this was about 25 years ago now - cheerleaders were voted on by the student body, so it was as much a popularity contest as it was anything else.\n\nI look at the junior high and high school cheerleader squads nowadays, and I'm seeing all sorts of flips and throws and athletic stunts that they would have thought to be absolutely insane back when I was that age.  \n\nAs far as what to do to explain to people what cheerleading is now as opposed to how they remember it?  Perhaps when you have your sign-up nights, you could arrange to have some videos running that show competitions and what the girls will be expected to do, or have some visual of that nature, maybe even a demo or two by your current squad, so that the parents and the girls can see how cheerleading has evolved into the sport it is now, rather than the primping and giggling that it used to be.
734047
Cheerleaders are no snobbier than anyone else. It is very poorly portrayed by the world. I am a cheerleader and we all get along really well with each other and with everyone else. I have a lot of other friends other than the girls on the squad and most of us do sports other than cheerleading as well. For example, most of us do volleyball. Because cheerleaders are on the volleyball team, does that make volleyball players snobby bitches too? I would hope not. It's just a sport and we don't feel any higher on the "food chain" than anyone else does. We work just as hard as many other sports. How long and how much muscle and training do you think it takes to lift a girl up into the air? Or do a bunch of "back flips"? I am not afraid to break my nails, I peel them off anyway. I sweat too. If you haven't been a part of cheerleading then you have no idea what you are talking about when you say that cheerleaders are mean and self fish. MOST cheerleaders are really nice. \n\nAs for you.. I think you need to try it and keep going with it. Just because you THINK the girls are mean, doesn't mean that they are going to be. You can always join another sport as a backup.
58894
I think that the key part of "cheerleader" is "leader."  You are part of a group and must learn the drills to do your part.  You are also most visible at games, etc. and can set a good role model for others by being cheerful, friendly and respectful.  One squad always kneals as a group when a player is down injured and cheers when he gets up (whether from the home team or visitors).  Do you have an opportunity to make visiting cheerleaders welcome, even though your schools are strong rivals?  You can help teach good sportsmanship and how to be good sports, regardless of the score.  Cheerleading squads can be cliquish and part of the in crowd.  The most beautiful girl in my high school class was a cheerleader and the friendliest girl to everyone in our class, where she was also an officer.  We lost her suddenly to lukemia right after our football season (we didn't know) and she is still sorely missed many years later.  In short, be yourself.
996483
i love Cheerleading too! \nbut my fave sport is Bull Ridin.... Its SOOO fun to watch.....
61522
I think it's a sport - they have competitions and what not - people turn up to training and learn routines. Dancing is a sport - chess is a sport - hell even computer gaming at Lan parties is considered a sport by some. So i'm my opinion yes cheerleading is 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.
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.
637210
I've been a dancer all of my life and have been asked this question many times...  I don't know that I would call it a sport.  When I think of a sport I think of someone winning something.  While, yes, there are dance competitions, I think that they are worthless.\nI think that dance is something that is extremely athletic to the point that it is a sport just minus the competiveness.  If you asked anyone off the street to do a combination of dance steps, there is no way they would be able to do it.  If a basketball player was asked to do some dance steps, they'd be unable to do it.  Dancers are athletes for sure.  Whether dance is a sport or not is something different.  I guess if they can call cheerleading a sport, dance is a sport too.  You know, "Cheerleaders are dancers gone retarded!"
350691
Yes, I think it is a very fun sport.  What about you?
544515
umm you labeled this in the wrong catagory? Cheerleading is not a sport. What are you stupid
81417
Yes.  Sports don't cease to be sports just b/c they aren't played on a grass field.  It is more of an individual sport, similar to tennis and golf in that respect.  In fact, some argue none of those are "sports" b/c they don't involve teams.  [except ryder cups, doubles, etc...]
72248
yes, its a sport... if your a little kid doing cheerleading with pom poms and your not doing any flips or strenious movement then no its not, but the older u get the more strenious cheerleading gets making it in fact a sport.
5278
Good Question\nThe answer would be- Yes & No\nIt involves physical skill , so it qualifies as a sport & it has predictable & pre planned results , hence its not.
399399
because most people don't consider it a main stream sport? or a sport at all for that matter!
1008036
Cheerleading (and figure skating) are not sports.  They are specialized popularity contests.  The results of their activity cannot be measured by instruments nor can the winner be determined by an indisputable score.\n\nCheerleaders perform to please some judges who rank those performances strictly on subjective means.\n\nThe athleticism and conditioning of these groups are impressive indeed and they are fun to observe, but a sport?\n\nSorry, no.
1145869
I think it should be considered as a sport, for you at least. You actually take it seriously. I hate it when people give cheerleaders a bad name... even though I am not a cheerleader. For example, the other day someone asked: I need cheers for "cheer litting"\nYeah.... so I think that's great that you were nominated for that!