do you think cheerleading should be considered as a sport?Do you know any facts that proves it 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.
373044
of course it is a sport! why do you think it's in the Olympics! I used to do gymnastic and believe me it is not easy at all i have also done basketball and volleyball but those two didn't compare up to the difficulty of gymnastics. To do gymnastic you have to be crazy strong, you have to have so much endurance to nail that back tuck and the end of your routine. People who don't think the gymnastics is a sport are probably just jealous because they could never in there life do what gymnast do. Personally I think gymnasts like Carly Patterson are awesome people to look up to because they are amazing!
478274
I think you nailed it. It fits the definition of a sport, \n\n"an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition" .
81630
It isn't considered a sport because unlike gymnastics and iceskating, people that dance don't compete in big competitions like the Olympics. I don't think that's fair because people get excersize from dance just like the other sports, but that's my oppinion and that's not what you asked. Anyway, that's why I think dance isn't considered a sport.
1109168
Definitely....gymnastics is much more of a sport than a lot of the other sports they have listed!
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!
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.
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.
62518
Please find Heather Jeffries, M.P.A opinion here:\n\nMost cheerleaders say “YES” while state and school officials say “no.” According to the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations, seventeen to twenty states of the United States consider cheerleading a sport. Why is the question, “Is cheerleading a sport?” such a controversial issue to anyone not involved with the sport? According to MSN Encarta, the definition of sport is an individual or group competitive activity involving physical exertion or skill, governed by rules, and sometimes engaged in professionally. Because cheerleading follows every aspect defined under the word sport, it is my belief that cheerleading should be defined as an actual sport.\n\nThe word cheerleader no longer means a sideline of squads that exist solely to support other sporting teams. Cheer teams are teams in their own right. College and high school cheer teams compete\nfor national titles just as football, basketball, baseball, etc. Cheerleaders are recruited for college scholarships that have been known to exceed amounts awarded to other sports teams. Some cheer teams put in more hours in the gym than teams such as football and basketball. Cheerleaders have to be in just as good physical condition as any other sport participant.\n\nCheerleading in the early years was nothing like the sport it is today. Over the past few decade cheerleading has evolved from leading audiences with simple arm movements to treacherous towers of humans and elaborate dances that are used to show the athleticism of cheerleaders. Cheerleading has developed from selections based on popularity to one that now claims some of the more talented athletes in the school/program.\n\nCheerleaders are not seen as athletes, but seen as being athletic. Cheerleaders are very specialized athletes. Most do not understand the skill and athleticism required by cheerleading. The gymnastics ability, power and strength make cheerleaders some of the more wellrounded athletes in sports. Cheerleading not only teaches coordination and helps condition competitors, but it also teaches teamwork, leadership, communication skills, organizational skills, productivity and much more.\n\nCheerleading contributes to the overall physical fitness of those involved. Many teams are in the gym four to six days a week working out, practicing, stretching and conditioning for upcoming performances or competitions. Running increases one’s lung power and endurance. Stretching, jumping, taking gymnastics and aerobics all help keep the body toned and healthy. So as you can see, cheerleading practice and workouts are much like those of other sports.\n\nWhen it comes to funding issues, the sport of cheerleading is not equally supported. Monies are contributed to sports that do not consistently perform well. Cheer teams that do perform well usually do not receive the monetary compensations for their performances. Scholarships, donations from alumni, and extra funding to the school rarely get distributed to the cheer programs. Programs known for winning national titles over several years occasionally receive monies. I believe this occurs only once the administration realizes the need to keep those athletes in their program. Cheerleading does not bring the revenue to schools like football games; however, the publicity that some cheer teams contribute to the school can be profitable in other ways.\n\nAs a former cheerleader myself, I remember having long and strenuous practices which seemed to last forever. Because my life was so into cheerleading, I did and still consider cheerleading a sport. I have always told people who I’ve talked to about cheerleading that I consider it to be a sport. After being exposed to the competitiveness of cheerleading, I stand stronger behind my beliefs in the sport of cheerleading.\n\nBeing a co-owner and one of the head coaches for Clarksville Cheer Extreme, an all star cheerleading gym in Clarksville, Tenn
925966
I think my greatest accomplishment is working hard to become a cheerleader.I always wanted to be one and finally am one. I worked long and hard to get to this so thats why Im proud.
1007256
I am a cheerleader and of course cheerleading is a sport!!!!!!\nit actually is the most dangerous sport in the world too!!!! more people get injured in it then any other sport.....\n\nit is a sport because you run around, scream as loud as you can, lift and throw ppl up into the air, do jumps, and do gymnastics....\n\nanyone that thinks cheer isnt a sport...i would really like to see them try to do all-star cheer, or any kind of cheer at that
933386
Most cheerleaders say “YES” while state and school officials say “no.” According to the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations, seventeen to twenty states of the United States consider cheerleading a sport. Why is the question, “Is cheerleading a sport?” such a controversial issue to anyone not involved with the sport? According to MSN Encarta, the definition of sport is an individual or group competitive activity involving physical exertion or skill, governed by rules, and sometimes engaged in professionally. Because cheerleading follows every aspect defined under the word sport, it is my belief that cheerleading should be defined as an actual sport.\n\nThe word cheerleader no longer means a sideline of squads that exist solely to support other sporting teams. Cheer teams are teams in their own right. College and high school cheer teams compete\nfor national titles just as football, basketball, baseball, etc. Cheerleaders are recruited for college scholarships that have been known to exceed amounts awarded to other sports teams. Some cheer teams put in more hours in the gym than teams such as football and basketball. Cheerleaders have to be in just as good physical condition as any other sport participant.\n\nCheerleading in the early years was nothing like the sport it is today. Over the past few decade cheerleading has evolved from leading audiences with simple arm movements to treacherous towers of humans and elaborate dances that are used to show the athleticism of cheerleaders. Cheerleading has developed from selections based on popularity to one that now claims some of the more talented athletes in the school/program.\n\nCheerleaders are not seen as athletes, but seen as being athletic. Cheerleaders are very specialized athletes. Most do not understand the skill and athleticism required by cheerleading. The gymnastics ability, power and strength make cheerleaders some of the more wellrounded athletes in sports. Cheerleading not only teaches coordination and helps condition competitors, but it also teaches teamwork, leadership, communication skills, organizational skills, productivity and much more.\n\nCheerleading contributes to the overall physical fitness of those involved. Many teams are in the gym four to six days a week working out, practicing, stretching and conditioning for upcoming performances or competitions. Running increases one’s lung power and endurance. Stretching, jumping, taking gymnastics and aerobics all help keep the body toned and healthy. So as you can see, cheerleading practice and workouts are much like those of other sports.\n\nWhen it comes to funding issues, the sport of cheerleading is not equally supported. Monies are contributed to sports that do not consistently perform well. Cheer teams that do perform well usually do not receive the monetary compensations for their performances. Scholarships, donations from alumni, and extra funding to the school rarely get distributed to the cheer programs. Programs known for winning national titles over several years occasionally receive monies. I believe this occurs only once the administration realizes the need to keep those athletes in their program. Cheerleading does not bring the revenue to schools like football games; however, the publicity that some cheer teams contribute to the school can be profitable in other ways.\n\nAs a former cheerleader myself, I remember having long and strenuous practices which seemed to last forever. Because my life was so into cheerleading, I did and still consider cheerleading a sport. I have always told people who I’ve talked to about cheerleading that I consider it to be a sport. After being exposed to the competitiveness of cheerleading, I stand stronger behind my beliefs in the sport of cheerleading.\n\nBeing a co-owner and one of the head coaches for Clarksville Cheer Extreme, an all star cheerleading gym in Clarksville, Tennessee, I see the importance of the kids being in exce
198953
I think it's a sport.  Here's my watered down way of looking at it.  \n\nIf it makes you sweat (burn calories) and it can be competitive, it's a sport.\n\nIf it doesn't make you sweat, but it's still competitive, then it's a competition or a game.
1178303
I think cheerleading is one of the most competitive and hard-working sports ever. I am a cheerleader, and an elite gymnast. I have also done other sports and cheerleading was the hardest. I want cheerleading on the list too. If you want to try to get cheerleading on the list contact me in some way, and I will help you!!
606302
I agree that cheerleading requires lots of athletic and mental ability. Frankly, some of the jumps and flips are very dangerous. I think it's good that there are cheerleading competitions, which score athleticism, gymnastics, and choreography.\n\nI think it's not viewed as a sport because the purpose of cheerleading is to cheer participants of another sport. Doesn't make sense to cheer an empty field does it? Another problem is how many sports (with a majority of females) do you know where short skirts and make-up are the norm? (Ok, figure skating--but look at all the scandels they've had.) The short skirts and make-up make cheerleaders seem more like they're in a beauty pageant than in a sport.
468544
Definitely.  The word sport is defined as "Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively."  Cheerleading is just that.