Cheerleading: Sport or Activity
Cheerleading: Sport or Activity?
Many cheerleaders have often found themselves standing on the sidelines at a game
asking themselves: " Am I participating in a sport or is cheerleading just an activity." Some
people think cheerleading is just an after school activity, and that cheerleaders should encourage
the crowd to root for the team, not root for them. Others point out that cheerleaders are highly
skilled athletes and that there are national competitions among school cheerleading squads.
So what exactly does the word "sport" mean? Definitions generally define a sport as a
physical activity or athletic game. This type of definition does not tell us much and could really
be used to justify almost any activity as a sport. (Nelson 13) We know that a sport has to be
more than just physical activity. The word "game" means that there is some type of structure or
purpose. So it is appropriate to say a sport is a structured physical activity.( Nelson 14)
I can see why cheerleading would be considered an activity. But, on the other hand, I can
also see why it would be considered a sport. Most sports have distinct differences, but
cheerleading is a combination of many.(Vedantam 14) Cheerleading has the strength and guts of
football, the gracefulness and balance of gymnastics, and the performing aspects of figure
skating.( Nelson, par 2) Cheerleaders have to promote the need for unity among all aspects of the
school. Cheerleaders unlike most sports do not have a season, but instead they work all year
Today, Cheerleading requires long, hard hours of commitment and entails important
responsibilities. Cheerleaders are expected to build school support and spirit for athletic teams,
plus set standards of behavior and scholarship for the s...