Cheerleading is not a sport
Cheerleading is not a sport. Usually when we say that, we get angry looks from girls who yell at us and say “that’s not right! Do you know how hard those girls work?!” Or it’s some other bogus reason that has nothing to do with whether or not cheerleading really is a sport.
Photo Caption: Never said it wasn’t fun to watch.
Well now it seems official: Cheerleading isn’t a sport because a judge said so.
This came about because the women’s volleyball team at Quinnipiac University sued the school when they removed volleyball for budgetary reasons. In order to be compliant with Title IX, they decided to replace volleyball with a competitive cheerleading team.
The judge in the case ruled that they could not do this because competitive cheerleading isn’t a real sport.
U.S. District judge Stefan Underhill said that competitive cheerleading is “too underdeveloped and disorganized” to be considered a sport so it can’t satisfy any gender requirements. He added that “competitive cheer may, some time in the future, qualify as a sport under Title IX,” but not now.
Cheerleading isn’t a sport. It’s just not. It was created to get the crowd riled up and cheer on others who were actually playing sports. And how about the fact that it has a huge element of looks? These girls are supposed to look hot, at least they usually tend to. What sport has any basis in how you look? “Tiquin Brown has really seen his draft stock drop once the coaches saw his bad jawline and unibrow at the Combine.”
Deanna Harvey of the New York Daily News tries to defend cheerleading as a sport by writing up a bunch of nonsense that can easily be shot down.
Photo Caption: Go team?
These critics obviously never went through one of our grueling practices or routines. Five days a week, for at least three hours each day, we practiced stunting (two or three girls throwing another member of our squad into the air where she performed a flip), dance routines, gymnastics (layouts, back hand-springs) and long stretches. The basketball, football and swim teams did not put nearly as much time into their daily practices as we did.
You think football is dangerous? Think about flying 10 feet into the air and landing (hopefully) into the arms of a 100-pound girl. Cheerleaders risk paralysis or lifelong back or leg injuries, but will do anything to nail their stunts and routines, no matter how dangerous they may be.
As to the first argument about the football team and swim teams not practicing as hard as the cheerleaders: So what? I practiced playing the guitar a lot, does that make music a sport? By practicing something a lot that makes whatever you are practicing a sport? Stupid argument.
The second part….it’s dangerous? Are you serious? Stunts are dangerous. Jumping out of a plane into enemy territory is dangerous. Hell, war is dangerous. Are those sports? Again, awful argument.
Don’t give us this “it’s difficult” and “we work hard” crap. Brain surgery is difficult, but it’s not a sport. Mechanics work hard. Is it a sport when you change someone’s oil?
Photo Caption: See first photo caption.
I go back to my earlier argument on the origins of cheerleading: How many sports take place on the sidelines of other sports? Careful running down that foul ball, you might collide with the basketball team!
We aren’t claiming that cheerleading isn’t hard. Or that the girls (and some guys) don’t work hard. That doesn’t make something a sport. It doesn’t make it anything less than what it is. It is what it is, and it is what it isn’t……. a sport. And the judge agrees.
look at our jumps look at our flips.. you have no idea what cheerleading really is until u do it.. cheerleaders are very high risk competitors.. 65% of deaths from sports are because of cheerleading.. that proves that what we do makes us "true athletes"
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Where did you get the 65% figure? That seems a bit high considering all the other dangerous sports out there.
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I guess my cousin getting killed in Afghanistan was a "true athlete" then, if that's the requirement.
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not saying just because you get killed you are an athlete but it takes alot of work to get to the point cheerleading is at now.
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its true so don’t even doubt it… it’s even higher now
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it does seem high but is true. do some research
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I was a cheerleader in high school and loved it, still do!! I’m also a sport science grad student and can tell you now that those numbers only account for female sports. They do not include male sports which, in football alone, account for more injuries in a season then cheerleading in a whole year. Cheerleading is the leading sport in head/spinal injuries in “female sports” where cheerleading is regarded as a sport. Some states have school districts that do not regard cheerleading as a sport for several reasons. But…the truth is that cheerleading demands a lot of work. It’s very hard and dangerous depending on the difficulty of acrobatic stunts being performed, uses teamwork, uses choreograghy (something like that of offensive plays for football and basketball), uses elegance, and demands physical conditioning. I’m not talking about twirling pom poms and shaking a**, I’m talking about real cheerleading. It takes mental toughness and physical endurance. Just like an offense that runs its plays over and over to get it perfect, so also cheerleaders do their routines over and over to perfect theirs. Cheerleaders may not push sleds or bench 250 or run 4.3 40′s (which by the way is such a useless measurement for scouts), but its not what our sport demands. It demands us to be controlled, disciplined, mentally tough, flexible, agile, in shape, and look good doing it all. Only those who have done it know what I’m talking about!
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Wow, you are pathetic
And p.s. way to sterotype
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65% of deaths from sports are because of cheerleading? This can’t be true because cheerleading is not a sport. Didn’t you read the article? I know it takes hard work, but obviously it doesn’t take smarts.
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And in all the pics up there they make us look like skanks.
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WWE has a lot of jumps and flips. Far more dangerous than cheerleading. It's not a sport. How about stunt men on movie sets? Very dangerous stuff. Not a sport. Just because something is dangerous does not make it a sport.
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Become a cheerleader for a day, i promise you won’t make it
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Wow… Okay, I can play this game, too. Try becoming a hockey player (because that is actually a sport) or how about a soldier, because what they do can’t possibly be any harder or more dangerous than cheerleading, right? I swear, it’s like fancy yourselves the second coming, or something. And it’s hysterical how you actually you think yourselves gymnasts. I mean, trust me, most of those competetive girls (and boys) could tumble better at age ten than you will ever be able to (and then put it on a four inch beam). Cheerleading is a sport… Ha, give me a break.
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First off Archer, wrestling in WWE is fake, or better yet scripted entertainment. Something fake of course cannot be a sport. Way to point out the obvious! Secondly, stunt men are not given a set time or date during which they have to perform. Sure for a month or two they may have a job but after that they’re off to find new work, it is technically only a career for a very few (and before you bash on me for that, look it up). A sport tends to be a career for many and it’s usually pretty clear on times and dates, stunt men do not have that so again, thanks for pointing out the obvious. You’re absolutely right that just because it’s dangerous it doesn’t make it a sport but your examples are really lame.
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Everyone: this ruling is a PRO-FEMALE ruling. It is in favor of women. But you feminists don't realize that because your thought process is so screwed up you can't even keep it straight. Typical feminist behavior-fight for pro-female stance but actually end up shooting down each other. Look at what happened to Sarah Palin. Great! She's running for President! But no, feminists didn't see it that way. Don't try to understand why, having a functioning brain that you actually use precludes you from understanding it. So, for all you women complaining about this ruling, open your eyes and try…try using that thing in your head. Given: cheerleading isn't a sport, Given: cheerleaders do not satisfy Title IX rules, Therefore: colleges must create MORE female athletics to increase female sports. Clearly, cheerleaders truly are dumb for not realizing this. Now go crimp your hair, look pretty, and when it's goal-line situation, shut up so our quarterback can call the audible.
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Sarah Palin never ran for president
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Okay lets get something straight. Cheerleaders aren't just a group of prisses who only care about their looks. We work our asses off on a daily basis. If we cared that much about our looks nothing would get done. If you were to actually go to a cheer practice then you would see what I'm talkng about and trust me, it's not pretty. Also, the fact that you are telling us that, " cheerleaders truly are dumb", and to, "go crimp your hair, look pretty, and when it's goal-line situation, shut up so our quarterback can call the audible" is extremly offensive and degrating. Next time I would think with what little brain that you have before posting something like this.
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If you find it so offensive and degrading, then maybe you shouldn’t have become a cheerleader… Cheerleading is degrading. Get over it.
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I agree! It’s a proven fact that 90% of all cheerleaders’ lowest grade in school is a B+. Please tell me how that is “stupid”. You wouldn’t last a hour at one of my teams 3-4 hour practices that start at 6:00 in the morning four times a week. Next time you say cheerleaders are “stupid” why don’t you try performing a routine consisting of tumbling, stunting,dancing, and cheering in front of thousands of people and competing against 20+ teams then taking first. I doubt that you could do half the things that we do.
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You retard she never ran for president
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Are you stupid?!?! I have been cheerleading sense I was 6. I have given up hanging out with friends, going to parties, dates, ect. for practice. I have broken bones, had surgery, and constantly watched my weight for the SPORT. Both of my brothers play football and have admitted that they don’t work nearly as hard as cheerleaders do. And who are you to tell me that something I’ve worked my ass of for my whole life isn’t even worth being called a sport. I bet you don’t have the guts to let some 100 pound girls throw you up and the air and catch you. I bet you wouldn’t even last a day as a cheerleader. And P.S. I couldn’t care less how I look.
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you are so right who is this person to tell some one who dances and does stunts and workes her ass working out till there drenched in swet! cheerleading is a dam sport!, no matter what and the only a true athlete would do cheerleading!
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Wait, I’m confused. Didn’t you just say you watched your weight for cheerleading? So specifically watching your weight has nothing to do with caring about how you look. I’ll add that to the list of stupid things I’ve heard come out of cheerleaders’ mouths. And by the way, people work their asses off to become astronauts (both physically and mentally). I’ve never heard anyone try to call that a sport.
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cheerleading is not a sport. comeptetive cheer is borderline sports… now I hate cheerleaders, they annoy me, cheers are stupid and obnoixious.. but competetive cheer is just like gymnastics.. but just on floor and with annoying cheers. But cheerleading isn’t a part of the Olympics like gymnastics is.
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football is not part of the Olympics but its still a sport
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Cheer leading/ competitive cheer leading are not sports. Cutting an onion is dangerous, riding a bike and shoveling a roof are also dangerous. Building a cabinet, typing an essay, and cooking crack can be hard. Those are not sports and cheer leading/ competitive cheer leading are not sports. Dumb girls can make the argument they are sports but they really are not. Find a real sport to do. Math, archery, or knitting takes practice. Doesn't make those sports either.
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Yes cutting an onion is soooo dangerous
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wow…cheerleading is DEF. not a freakin' sport. flips and twists may be hard, but so is opening a can of pickles. besides, has no one else noticed that all cheerleaders just happen to be the popular bitches and the pretty hoes at school? anyone else notice that? i've heard people say cheerleading is not a popularity contest, but why, if it's not, are only the popular and stupid girls chosen to cheer. cheerleading is really just a bunch of pretty overenthusiastic fans who can barely manage a few flips. it's NOT a sport.
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Your comment is ridiculously offensive. "Stupid girls", "popular bitches", "pretty hoes"? Really? That's all you can muster for your argument? First off, a lot of cheerleading teams are going co-ed, which means it's not just girls being chosen. And stupid? I'm not sure what you define as stupid, but all the girls on our team are required to have at least a C average in all seven classes to even be on the team. A lot of the girls have straight As. And hoes is just a demeaning, snide comment to slip in there. Just because we wear skirts (usually not as short as people think) and dance doesn't make us hoes. If there's another reason for calling cheerleaders hoes, please do tell. And I'm pretty sure you don't know any cheerleader's sexual life, so don't bother with it.
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Opening a Can of PICKLes is NOTTTT Dangerous if you think it is you need therapy
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the only dam reeeeeeeesoooooonn why the prettty hoes are cheerleaders is becuase they workout and try hella hard to be a dam good athlete!
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First of all, I am a cheerleder, I am not saying that cheerleading is a sport, but what Im saying is that it takes pure dedication, guts, and strength and to not give it proper respect like you would give a great football player is sexist. Who are you to say whether or not cheerleading can be defined as a sport? Who are you to say putting a ball through a hoop is a sport ? Get my point? And for everyone saying that all cheerleaders are popular, dumb whores is really stereotypical. I dont say all football players are dumber than a dog and care only about booze and sex. I, being a cheerleader, care very much about my grades, even if I didnt want to, Id have to because I have to maintain a C average to stay in cheerleading. I do not have enough time in my day to do homework, eat, practice, and SLUT around. So no, not all cheerleaders are hoes.. And lastly, cheerleaders do NOT have to be popular to be on the team. It was my first year and I didnt know ANYONE, and I made the team. So basically what Im trying to say is shutup and cut us some slack. Becaus not everyone cares about the main event some people might just come for the CHEERLEADERS.
Thanks
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cheerleading is a sport im one myself.
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i agree it is a sport because its a lot more work than freaking baseball. i can play football, baseball, and soccer. cheerleading is the hardest thing i do. no football cheerleading isnt a sport but competitive is. the only pictures i see up on your stupid article are the ones at football games. the girls who do that arent playing a sport. ANYONE CAN DO THAT. but can the person who wrote this article do a switch up immediate stretch suicide full up immediate scorp double down? no can the person who wrote this article do a arabian through to full double. hell no. so if you DONT know what youre talking about you ignorant shit head then keep your damn mouth shut. THANKYOU.
<3 lily
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But, can Lily actually think and write in complete sentences that are at or near a 5th grade level? THANK YOU.
If you made cleaning toilets competitive, is that also a sport? Making something into a competition makes it a sport?
I watched some competitive cheerleading on television this past weekend. My favorite part was the announcer saying, “oh that’s great use of signs here!” LOL.
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Just to let you know competitive cheerleaders don’t use signs. That is highschool cheerleading, no doubt. Maybe you should know what your talking about before you open your mouth.
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Then why were they using signs? I saw them using signs. Were they not really signs? Maybe they were pamphlets.
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So what you are saying is that HS cheerleading isn’t a sport, becausse they use signs, or pamphlets…but college cheerleading is?
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f u micah your are a tottaly jacked up and ur just jelus that u cant do spit!
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Serena….you put out?
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How does the ability to do a specific move make it a sport? Or how does the lack of ability to do a move prohibate someone from commenting on the sport. Most writers of ALL SPORTS aren’t currently able to do anything involved in it. You think Chris Berman can kick a 50 yard football? No. But he is still capable of commenting on it. I do MMA(mixed martial arts) and I work my ass off and compete regularly. I watch my weight and kill myself with training that I can gaurantee no cheerleader could stick with. I regularly get punched in the face and have almost had my arm broken in a fight in AC. That doesn’t make it a sport. Competition and hard work aren’t all it takes to be a sport. And as far as those stupid moves you are talking about, I’m sure that I can do them. I did gymnastics when I was younger and I’m in better shape now so clearly I’m allowed to open my big mouth.
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Sorry I entered this conversation late. Cheerleading is ridiculous. Sorry if you are a cheerleader, but by design you are an adornment on the side while the real athletes participate in the games. And competitive cheerleading? Who or what are we cheering for? What a waste of time. Nobody is interested except the competitors and their mommies.
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we arent talking about highschool cheer, we are talking about competitive cheer. and Football players have actually begged us to go cheer for them at games because they dont get pumped if we arent there. so they need us! go to a practice. you will see how much athletic ability it takes to do cheerleading.
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Umm, ya I play basketball and I dont need some flippin cheerleader to “pump me up”, the music, fans, my coaches and my teamates do that! (BTW I’m a girl)
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thats why! duhduh duh!
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You’re a bitch that’s what you are.
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Just because something takes athletic ability doesn’t make it a sport!! Are there people from the other squad trying to stop you from doing your flips? Are they trying to stop you from making your pyramid? No, and that is why it’s not a sport. No one is saying that cheerleading is easy, or that you don’t practice a lot. We’re just saying it isn’t a sport.
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A bit narcissistic, are we?
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Alot of people are interested in competitive cherleadin, thats why its televised. And technically by the dictionary definition of a sport, cheerleading follows all the qualifications. A sport is an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of competitive nature. Cheerleading requires skill and physical fitness and is competitive. I do not believe that cheerleading on the sideline of another sport is a sport but competitive cheerleading is a sport. I do not believe that any one can truely have an opinion unless they have tried it themselves. I used to be a cheerleader in middle and high school and it was very physically demanding. I love to watch cheerleading competitions for the fun. I believe that cheerleading should be considered a sport and Former President George W. Bush would probably agree with me.
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Cheerleading is a sport we go out and practice in the hot sun 2 hours a day. So for alll of you who think it is not a sport get your facts straight and you be a cheerleader and then tell me.
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Because if you practice anything in the hot sun for two hours a day, it's a sport. That's a great argument. Cutting the grass with a push mower must be a sport too.
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Get a life on stop bagging on people who can do stuff that you could never in a million do yourself
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ok well football is dangerous tell me running full speed into some big buff kid with padding and getting tackled is not dangerous..tell me bunji jumping is not dangerous tell me hockey isnt danergous come to one of ym cheer practices and then come back and tell me its not a sport
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The ruling that cheerleading is not a sport has nothing to do with the actual activity. It is entirely about the organization. There is no central cheerleading organization. No two competitions run under the same rules, there is no ranking system to compare different athletes or teams to one another, and for the most part, it is simply a money maker. Big companies like Varsity Brands put on competitions and each cheerleader pays to compete in them. To these companies, it is all about the money. The judge did not rule that the activity of cheerleading is not "difficult" enough to be considered a "sport," becasue there are no difficulty requirements for an activity to be considered a sport. The entire system of cheerleading competitions is completely wrong and actually hinders cheerleading from becoming a true sport. Once a head organization that is not solely interested in making money off of competitions is in order and rules and regulations are put into place, competitive cheerleading will be considered a sport. And for those that view the activity of cheerleading as not being difficult enough to be considered a sport, please tell me what components basketball, football, or volleyball have that qualify them as sports that competitive cheerleading is lacking. Standing on the sidelines and cheering for a team may not be the most athletic of activities, but competitive cheerleading certainly is. It is the fact that it is an emerging and underdeveloped activity that does not qualify it as a sport, but I guarantee it will make the cut in the future.
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I cheer at me school in Vermont. Everyone at our school hates us, mostly because they presume that we are all preppy bitches….where in reality it's the exact opposite. Most people are given the wrong information about cheering….because most cheerleaders that cheer for Pro's (ex. Dallas cowboy cheerleader's) are actually just professional dancers that are hired because they look pretty…they don't do any real competitive cheering at all. And in movies cheerleaders are portrayed as preppy bitches that are super skinny and hot. To be honest its totally not true…as a matter of fact most girls on my squad, including myself, are normal looking….and we have to lift girls into the air or are being thrown into the air. Most people don't realize that competitive cheerleading requires strength, flexibility, agility, and endurance, the same things that are required in a majority of all sports. And to be honest, most of the time the people that argue the most about cheerleading not being a sport, is extreme feminist, because they feel like cheerleading is degrading towards women…and trust me it's not.
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I think that I speak for every cheerleader when I say, STOP PUSHING US INTO A STEREOTYPE!!!!!!!!!!!! Most of the people commenting on this aren't cheerleaders and haven't seen competitive cheerleading in real life. Before you all start talking about something that you know nothing about at least do a little research. Cheerleading is not degrating to women, the cheerleader stereotype is. Especially those pictures that were posted. Maybe if the guy who wrote this didn't spend all of his time looking at these girl's asses then maybe he would have been able to realize that he is wrong. No matter what any judge says, us cheerleaders who are truely committed, cheer has been and always will be a sport.
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But the purpose of having you on the sideline is so that we can look at your body. Are you denying that obvious fact? The reason you are even in cheerleading is to attract attention for yourself. Why deny the obvious truth?
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Wowwww Sterotype much!
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No, you are confusing two types of cheerleaders- cheerleaders like the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are on the sidelines to perform and entertain the crowd. Competition cheerleaders DO NOT work their butts off on the floor just so everyone can look at their bodies! THAT is degrading. You are an ignorant person.
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right u r soo right
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Idunno – Cheerleading looks pretty doggone ‘NON SPORT’ to me. You’re “LEADING CHEERS” – not performing athletic competitions, except when in a cheerleading competition, which includes gymnastic, but also dance and song and such – not sport, just contest – still MEANINGFUL, but not sport. But then again, people call GOLF a sport, and it certainly isn’t anything more than a game. I’ve been on a cheerleading squad as a guy, and my two motivations were seeking attention and to be around the most sought after women. Sue me – I’m a DUDE for crying out loud. Of course, once I got on (for my tumbling abilities) I realized that it is DEFINITELY HARD WORK and that though some of the girls were morons, most were hard working, intelligent, caring, and sweet. The truth is most cheerleaders are seeking popularity and attention – to ‘feel like somebody’ (which, of course, is NORMAL for human beings). So was I – and I got it. But with it came RESPONSIBILITY. It actually MOLDED CHARACTER. Still, the skirts, tight outfits, etc. are entirely useful to the purpose of cheerleaders serving as eye candy. Yes, some squads go co-ed, but why not ALL MALE squads? I’ll tell you why, because cheerleading USED TO BE ALL MALE in the big Universities, and dudes started wanting eye candy so it transitioned into a female sexuality display. Let’s not fool ourselves – cheerleaders want to be on display, and guys want to see the merchandise. Athleticism, yes. Sport? No. Use of gymnastics which is a sport? Yes. The other fellow’s derogatory terms against women were definitely uncalled for. Probably, he feels burned because he wishes he could get with a cheerleader and couldn’t.
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its should be sport
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Madison, give it up. No one really cares except you. When you grow up and tell people you were a cheerleader, people will smile. When you grow up and tell people you played high school basketball or soccer or lacrosse or softball or track or tennis or golf, people will be impressed.
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thats a fucking joke! if someone told me that they were in track tennis or golf i would just assume that they were losers with no lives in high school….cheerleading takes ten times as much talent and heart as any of those sports and im pretty sure that when people look back and see that my high school cheer team won way more state championships then any other sport in our school they will be impressed! and when i joined cheerleading it wasnt to be looked at it was because i seen how close the girls on the team were and i seen how much fun they were having…and its not like i am all cheerleader all the time i play volleyball to and i think that cheering takes alot more hard work then volleyball does
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This opinion is so biased!!! Isn’t gymnastics considered a sport?!? It’s in the Olympics, right?!? Cheer is comprised of several basic ideas; dancing, kicks, jumps, stunting, and gymnastics which all go along with regular cheering!! Plus is it so wrong to cheer for your team or join the squad to have fun and feel accomplished after competing?!? We have made this agrument so big we forgot the whole reason why cheer even exists, sport or non sport! Cheer is fun for girls and boys alike, and it is a good, solid, and enjoyable way to stay fit and healthy!! Besides, the majority of cheerleaders are not like what you see in the pictures!! Why is it that people think that we are the trashy, stupid, inappropriate, and stereotypical cheerleaders, just because of these pictures!?!? If you are naive enough to have bought into this, you need to really reevaluate your desicion.
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They’re called the “Olympic Games”…not the
“Olympic Sports”.
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Okay. Cheerleading is a sport. You play in Competions and stuff. Right? Soo do We. Why you choose to put this on the Internet only nowing you are going to makee people mad? Idk. But it is a sport. we go to cempetions. Nationals. We win trpohys just like You. Yes its Dangerous. You were Uniforms just like in Other sports. We are just More peppy, Sports team. Its Fun! I really dont care if you dont think its a sport. Cuz i dont give a crap what you think. Your probly some 42 yr. old guy still living with his mom 4 all i know. Cheerleading is damn right a sport. I play Basket ball, VlleyBall. Track, and soccer. Wehh cry when we lose at Finals.and we cry when we lose at cheer finals. Diffrence? No.
Thanks Hah
Dueces Bree
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I would be willing to take your comment a lot more seriously if the GRAMMAR wasn’t so terrible. A little spelling revision would also help with how much respect your comment garners as well. Just sayin’ <3
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You’re just jealous that all of our hard work looks better than yours
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Dance is a sport gymnastics is a sport its a lot of hard work!! plus we are not dumb or trashy the cheerleaders for pro sports might be but competitive cheer is not any thing like that you have to condition on my older sisters team they had to do standing back tucks up a hill to make the team if you ask me that has nothing to do with being pretty and those of you who are making mean comments about cheer try going to a cheer competition and stop basing your points of bring it on
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I like how you chose the worst pictures you can find to down cheerleading. I bet if i really wanted i could find pictures like this of all other sports too. I have been cheering almost all my life and coaching for years now and have never seen things like this. And i go through plenty of pictures of cheerleading.
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and by the way cheerleading competitions are strictly cheerleading not gymnastics. and the people i know who are in cheerleading arent seeking attention. they do it because its fun and they are staying in shape while doing it. Competitive cheerleading is very much a sport and is growing drastically. Just wait one day cheerleading will be the most populated sport out there. You better be ready for it because its gonna happen soon.
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Cheerleading is most definitely a sport. Cheerleaders need the grace of dancers, the flexibility of gymnasts, the power of football players and the strength of well no other SPORT requires more strength. Football is considered a sport were guys toss around a 2 pound ball. Cheerleaders toss around 120+ pound people, while doing flips and jumps. I play softball and cheer and at cheerleading practice we work just as hard as we do at softball. Just because one judge says cheerleading is not a sport doesn’t make it true, a lot of judges would disagree and say cheerleading is a sport.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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you girls look gross, your butt isnt supposed to stick out. EW!
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well i guess if you look at 90 percent of competitive cheerleaders they have great bodies, they can run jump flip throw and catch 98 times better than you, if golf… is a sport comp. cheerleading is more than def. a sport.
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people these days r sooooo sick GOSH
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I dont understand the need for such a debate.If you dont think its a sport its youre opinion and if you do, its also youre opinion.
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Wow you people are pathetic beinga cheerleader you guys steriotpye all these girls the girls have no self respect but i have respect so All star cheer is a sport cheerleading for football games arnt
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It’s definetly not a sport. I like the arguement people make that because it’s alot of work makes it a sport.
Well, digging a trench is alot of work too and that doesn’t make it a sport!!!
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I would just like to say, “sport” defined as a “physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.” It is the last part of the definition “engaged in competitively” that makes considering cheerleading a sport difficult. I understand how u may see that cheerleaders that cheer on the sidelines my not be that much of a sport, but there are other kinds of cheerleading that does not involve cheering for other ppl. Sutch as competitive cheerleading and in most allstar cheerleading the team does not even say a word but they may be moving ther lips at some time in their routine. So in that kind of cheerleading you are competing against other cheerleaders like in other sports. Also ur conter argument for the reporter in my opinion was horrific. Simply because of ur reasoning. Sure jumping out of a plain is dangerouse but it is also a sport, its called skydiving. And for brain surgery it is difficult and hard work, no one ever said it wasent. But it is not a sport because it does not require physical activity and the same goes for u practicing ur gutiar, well exept for ur fingers. Now Im not saying that u should change ur opinion about weather cheerleading should be a sport or not, but u should at least give it atleast some credit. Also I do not get the point of the pictures of cheerleaders buts I think it proves nothing but some nasty girls do not like wearing underware and some uniforms are inapropiate.
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Cheerleading is defined as an action or skill of a cheerleader. Cheerleader is defined as a person who leads spectators in traditional and formal cheering especially at pep rally or athletic events. therefore not a sport.
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y dont u try cheerleading and maybe youll understand what we really do. instead of putting stupid stuff on here and not even supporting good reason ! so once you do cheerleading get back to me !
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Want to make something clear: Just beacause cheerleaders are mostly looking beautiful, doesn’t make them dumb
There are enough beautiful, dancing girls who are smart 
And for the rest, when you think cheerleaders are bitchy and slutty you’re looking way to much movies!
Also the argument, cheerleading is dangerous, isn’t an argument for making it a sport.. But just to let you know that it isn’t just jumping around;) That there are really risks. Gymnastics is called a sport, and that is dangerous too
Dancing is a sport. Cheerleading is a sport, combined by dancing and gymnastics.. So.. That aren’t sports :O ?
Yes, cheerleading isn’t official a sport, but cheerleaders aren’t some dum, slutty girls who are just jumping around, doing nothing.
Forget the movies, they aren’t reallity.. that’s why they’re called movies !
xx
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Please, please, pleeeassse don’t bring gymnastics into cheerleading. Cheerleaders, please try attending a competetive gymnastics team’s practice, and realize it is much more than tumbling. Can you put what you know on the beam? No? Can you legitimately make it over the vault, I mean without stopping over the top? No? Can you do anything on the bars? No? Okay, thank you. Gymnastics and cheerleading are not the same. Now onto dance. As much respect as I have for dancers, dance is not a sport. It is an art form. Sure you have to be extremely athletic for it, but that does not change what it is. And honestly, cheerleaders don’t dance. Seriously? Okay, you can stick your foot out and wave at the same time. So can I. That’s not dancing. Cheerleading is a pathetic excuse for an activity. Dance and gymnastics are not. Please don’t try to make cheerleading something it is not.
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Can you throw a person that weighs a hundred and twenty pounds into the air (All while she’s balanced on one leg), catching her and assuring her safety, toss her out and complete your routine on beat and in time with all of the others? That’s only a simple stunt. You can also move within the stunts, build stunts out of other stunts, ect.
Plus, I’ve taken Gymnastics for years and it’s far easier than any of my Cheerleading practices have been. By all means, hun, come do motion drill with me. Fast, quick, and a sure way into future physical therapy. But it’s worth it.
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If cheerleading was easy they’d call it football.
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Cheerleading is not a sport any more than dancing is a sport. The argument that its athletic and it requires plenty of practice and preparation, therefore its a sport is invalid and myopic. Quite frankly, I have a difficult time considering any activity that utilizes subjective criteria as the basis of competition a sport. In sports, determining a winner should be objective – more runs, higher score, unconscious opponent, faster, etc. That eliminates cheerleading, along with gymnastics, figure skating, synchronized swimming, and diving. Oh, and one last point – cheerleading is stupid.
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Competitive Cheerleading. Higher score. Point made.
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Alright if you get a cheerleader and put her/him on a football varsity team as starter what do you think gonna happend during that season? They’ll probaly get killed that’s what….now if you put a football player on a cheerleading varsity squad he’s prob gonna get humilated that’s all…
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Okay are you serious with this? Cheerleaders work x1000 harder than any other athletes. And not only that, they do a COMBINATION of other sports into ONE sport. That makes it even better, and a definate sport. I am not referring to the stupid sluts who cheer for like dallas cowboy football players and crap and all the women ‘teams’ that’s based on dancing, not true cheerleading. I absolutely hate when you look up cheerleading and those pictures show up. I have cheered since 6th/7th grade now and I’m going into the high school. Cheer is no joke, it’s serious. Within a long season, cheerleaders work starting from summer all the way to feb. then they get ready for their next tryouts right away. Gymnastics & Dance are sports, so why not Cheerleading? We even throw in an extra which is stunting. Stunting is based on skill of athlete and how they maintain of weight. If you think we care only about looks, come to a practice and see what we look like after a good 2.5 hours or even choreography, which is 8 hours in normally 2 days. Cheering for guys is honestly the most boring and stupid part of the busy schedule of a cheerleader. Games are like our practices to call out cheers and do some stunting and rarely tumbling. Competition is what we live for though. If you go to a UCA or other high program competition and see JV or VARSITY competitions, OR EVEN COME ACROSS COLLEGE? No way you can say it isn’t a sport with the combination of sports in each routine and how we manage to catch a breath. I’m not saying just because it’s hard it is a sport, I’m saying if you practice each element in it, it adds up to cheerleading which makes it a sport. (Gymnastics, Dance, and the stunting extra!) So please. nobody ever argue about this again because I’m fucking done explaining to immature idiots who think they are so tough and so right! I honestly don’t care what a judge says. Who says they have more say than the cheerleaders and athletes themselves? NOBODY! JUST THEM! So even if they “declare it” doesn’t mean it’s absolutely true. And remember folks, they get PAID TO SAY CERTAIN THINGS, BRIBES SOMETIMES MAKE THEM DO IT!
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And more to add to my long response, you watch way too many movies OBVIOUSLY because not all cheerleaders are popular bitches. People love us because we know how to have a good time and be happy! You sound as stupid as they sometimes make us sound. Think to yourself for a moment…Maybe guys like us more because we are fit? So why not get your lazy asses up and tryout for cheerleading! Maybe then you’ll be liked and get confidence out of it.;)
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And the reason why we wear short skirts is because it gets warm and you don’t want to be feeling all gross and whatnot and we do wear spandex underneath (tight short shorts) so underwear and privates aren’t exposed, we wear a shell (top) over under armor, so absolutely not exposed at all. We aren’t sluts or whores.
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Oh and btw the girls at my school on my cheer team do football at the middle of the season and boys do cheerleading for ONE GAME. The girls get it way easier than the boys, actually with the more athletic training and boys tend to lack that on football.
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Yeah… if you actually TRIED some of the stuff we did I bet you can’t do it… THIS IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF BULL !!!!!!! My team and I won WV State Champions in January… we practiced 3-6 hours a day Monday-Saturday. This just ruined my day. You don’t understand how ticked I am right now. I’m on crutches right now because of cheerleading and the season just started a week ago. just imagine what the injuries will be like in the middle of the season. Thanks and goodbye.
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Okay guys i’m a cheerleader and theres alot more to it then you think. Theres 2 main types of cheerleading, sideline(cheers at basketball games and football games) and competitive(competes with other squads). And for whoever said that were disorganized, do you know how much timing and pricision it takes to stunt and tumble? If one of the bases is off by an inch there can be an injury, if a girl or guy is tumbling and their time is off my a second they can severly injury themselves. Im not going to put down other sports, but respect this one okay?
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Okay so athletes lift weights maybe 50 pounds…. Cheerleaders lift PEOPLE myabe 112 pounds… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abTYcEudh8I&feature=related
TRY DOING THAT WITHOUT WORKING HARD.
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@Ellie
So I know what it is)
Okee.. So, cheerleading isn’t gymnastics.. But I guess you can understand yourself that I ment tumbling -.-’ (just for the record.. I’m doing gymnastics
Dancing isn’t a sport?? Sure it’s a art form.. But it’s also a sport, in my opinion.. But many people disagree or agree on that.. So.. saying that dance isn’t a sport won’t help you any farther
And if you want to know if Cheerleading isn’t hard.. Try it yourself.. Why are you talking about cheerleading.. and you don’t even know how it is for real! You’ve only SEEN it.. -.-’ Gosh..
And why not look at this video’s?? You’ve got way more forms on cheerleading. Better do your homework next time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzLs_cAOSN8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9lSLuC54PI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXRWQa9tQLw
So you’re telling me YOU can do this?
funny.
x
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A) We don’t dress like that.
you try smiling as a girl breaks your finger mid routine during a competition. Ouch.
B) I happen to be a cheerleader.
C) Just because you couldn’t do it, that doesn’t mean it’s not a sport.
D) I happen to have a full ride to the university of my choice thanks to my GPA, so there’s no point in knocking on a cheerleader’s intelligence.
E)
F) By logical definition, it’s a sport. Competitions, competitions, competitions. Grueling work, since you’ve probably never tried it. Broken fingers, dislocations, physical therapy… The majority or our school recognizes cheerleading for the athleticism and dedication that any other sport would have. It’s a sport with a smile. Don’t let a few morons get the reputation down.
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CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT!!!!!!!!!!!! You boys have no idea how hard it is for us to balance on one fot up in the air with only 4 hands hlding us up!!!!!!!!!! its as much of a sport as football or basketball or baseball or soccor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
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soooooo… yea its a sport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh and btw.. how would u like it if we girls said football isnt a sport! yea it sucks when all ur hard work is put down
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I know I just wouldn’t be able to make it through the day if a bunch of girls didn’t consider football a sport. You aren’t really threatening to do that, are you? There isn’t a Facebook page about that, is there?!
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Okay, so people who are saying it’s not a sport because it occurs “on the sidelines of other sports” obviously don’t understand what competitive cheerleaders do. Honestly, most competitive cheerleaders don’t even care about cheering at games; it’s just an obligation that we have to do. What we work every single day for is to compete. We COMPETE. We go to competitions and do routines that aren’t natural for human beings to do. Competing in an athletic activity sounds like a sport to me… Bowling, trap shooting, ping-pong…they’re all considered sports, and cheerleading’s not?! My point is made.
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well. first of allCHEERLEADING IS A SPORT!!. I’m in competieve cheerleading and let me tell you when i first started out i sucked not gonna lie!. and I’ve been in it for 2 years now! i was already flexible before i started but when you have to go through what i went through like learning to do new stunts it sucks cause it can cause death or make you paralyzed flyers in cheerleading basically put their lives on the line cause they go up into extensions they do insanely hard stunts that take skill muscle strength determination !!!! we cheerleaders work our (BUTTS) off to win ! football players get all season to prove themselves but us cheerleaders only get two minutes and thirty seconds to prove ourself we don’t run and through a football back and forth!! we tumble stunt dance! and do alotta more stuff you have to do in cheer!! so lets see when you say cheerleading isn’t a sport some cheerleader out their is probably gonna be tumbling or stunting getting themselves injured or killed so think bout what your saying! cause cheerleading is a sport we risk our lives to prove ourselves well sorry if i have some misspelled words i have auto correct well hopefully my point gets through to people!!
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