Cheerleading is a Sport

Thank you for continuing this debate. I acknowledge the point that cheerleaders are both athletic and participate in organized competitions. In 2013, the number of participants (aged six years and older) in cheerleading amounted to approximately 3.24 million. [1] Cheerleading is caught in this hybrid style of Gymnastics (Olympic sport - primary purpose is competition) and Dance (Primary purpose is entertainment and performance art). The very nature of a cheerleader is to be vocal, supportive, and energetic towards a cause. That a wide range of cheerleaders vocally support reclassifying their activity as a sport does not surprise me. Cheerleading Organizations Disagree with the AMAI only found one case of an independent group attempting to reclassify the activity: the American Medical Association. However, the AMA is not motivated by defining competitions. The AMA’s primary objective is to ensure the safety of the participants. “(The AMA) supports better safety measures including avoiding inappropriate surfaces when performing flips and other stunts and following rules for properly performing stunts.” [2] However, proper equipment, safety, and medical care or physical therapy for injuries is independent of competition. Construction workers are given the same rights. Declaring cheerleading a sport is a misguided rationale for diverting funds to adequate safety measures. This reclassification was not met with support by the aforementioned AACAA.org and the President of USA Cheer, Bill Seely who said, "We believe the best approach is not relabeling cheerleading but ensuring all athletes and coaches are trained and certified and all programs adhere to safety rules," Seely said. "Relabeling cheerleading will change its fundamental nature to a purely competitive sport. We're disappointed the AMA made this recommendation without consulting us or reviewing our safety initiatives, but we hope to work with them toward a shared goal of cheerleader safety.” [3] The Can of Worms One significant problem with reclassifying and athletic activity as a “sport” because it meets the secondary (not primary) qualification of competition + athletic activity, is the number of activities that would now fall into that category. Drumlines: Primary purpose is music in support for high school or college team spirit. Secondary purpose is competition to improve skill and enjoyment through participation: ; Impressive Competition, but not a sport. Dance Competitions: Primary purpose is entertainment and artistic expression through physical moment and choreography. Secondary purpose is competition. Cheer-style athleticism, competitive venues, even nationally-televised shows like SYTYCD, Dancing with the Stars, and America’s Best Dance Crew. Fun, entertaining, impressive athletic feats, but it’s still not a sport. Compare those to cheerleading, visually. The University of Alabama took the National Dance Championship. A teen group performs in a “Cheer & Dance Extreme” competition. There is virtually no difference between Cheerleading competitions and Dance or Drumline competitions. The format is identical between events. Show me your routine, judges subjectively rate them. The performances are impressive. But none of those have the look or feel of a sport. What’s Next? Next thing you know, someone will claim Hot Dog (competitive) Eating is a sport (primary purpose is stuffing pieholes) because it takes training, extreme physical performance, and there are competitions. Seeking Validation I’m sorry you feel the need to validate your performance to football players who denigrate the activity. This is what they face every time they step on the field. The correct response to a football player who says “Cheerleading is not a sport” should not be to say “we are a sport, too.” In pretty much all cases of this debate, the proponent seems to be seeking validation for their effort. The correct response should be, “I’m busting my (athletically toned) butt to support your team and create a better game-day experience for the fans. I compete against other squads in competitions so that I can perfect my craft. You need to be thanking me and not putting me down.” [1]http://www.statista.com... [2] http://www.usatoday.com... [3] http://espn.go.com...