| Now before we go any further, let's consider | | | | Further Evidence That Cheerleading May (Or May |
| cheerleading's background quickly. By no means | | | | Not) Be A Sport |
| definitive, here's a simple version of the history of | | | | Most high school and collegiate sporting associations |
| cheerleading in about 20 seconds:o Just recently | | | | consider and treat cheerleading as an official |
| beginning to gain in worldwide popularity, cheerleading | | | | organized sport. If this leaves doubt, then there's |
| has spent most of its century-plus history as one of | | | | certainly little room to argue over the fact that being |
| those uniquely American kinds of traditions-just like | | | | a cheerleader requires superb athleticism. |
| apple pie!o It has roots beginning around the turn of | | | | Then there are the similarities between cheerleading |
| the century (and naturally, about the same time that | | | | and the readily-accepted sports-just look at the lingo |
| collegiate sports really began to catch on as a | | | | alone that cheerleading shares with more traditional |
| national pastime).o A big surprise to many folks | | | | sports. There's teams, coaches, practices, varsity, |
| today, cheerleading was traditionally a males-only | | | | junior varsity, meets, competitions, uniforms, and the |
| activity. In fact, it really wasn't until about the | | | | list goes on and on. And then there's the fact that |
| mid-1920's that females began to participate.o Only | | | | sports and cheerleading go hand-in-hand. |
| gradually did cheerleading evolve from simply leading | | | | All-Star Cheerleading meets the competition test by |
| crowds in verbal chants to the more | | | | all standards. It's also important to consider that a |
| athletically-sophisticated dance routines and jumps | | | | great number of high-school level squads compete, |
| we're familiar with these days. | | | | while almost all collegiate level cheerleading teams |
| Now let's dig back in to the is-a-sport / is-not-a-sport | | | | participate in regular competition. Of course, with a |
| controversy... | | | | bias towards entertainment, professional league |
| First, What Is The Definition Of Sport? | | | | cheerleading tends to take on a slightly different |
| Most dictionary definitions are vague in their | | | | purpose altogether. |
| enlightenment when it comes to what exactly a | | | | So call it what you will, but if it looks like a sport and |
| sport is. They all tend to focus around common | | | | acts like a sport, it's pretty difficult to say with |
| themes such as "diversion." Now we all know through | | | | complete authority that cheerleading is not a sport. |
| experience that sporting activities are much more | | | | The Bottom Line |
| than diversion alone. It's easy to agree that we can | | | | In the end, it's technically a judgment call. Those |
| define a sport as a type of recreational activity that | | | | arguing either side are not very likely to budge in |
| involves competition of some type or another. | | | | their opinion of the matter. All stereotypes aside, |
| Where does this lead us? Well, the commonly | | | | though, remember that cheerleaders are doing some |
| accepted definitions of "sports" do fully embrace the | | | | very athletic drills-whether it's on the sidelines |
| concept of what modern cheerleading is. So, by | | | | supporting the team or at center court in full-fledged |
| technical definition alone, cheerleading is by all means | | | | cheerleading competition. They definitely deserve all |
| a sport. | | | | of the accolades they can possibly receive! |