[jtoth10570]

Ok both my daughters are cheerleaders so of course I am bias. I was a three sport athlete in high school and d1 college athlete. They work just as hard as I did? Practice all week and compete in competitions and letter for their efforts? Why the hostility towards cheer leading being called a sport? What is the harm?? Lets pull bowling and golf from ranks of high school sports? I know it is a gray area but show me the harm??

[scooter1369]

Its a performing art, like dance. I have no doubt that your daughters work hard and are in great physical shape.

But a sport should include the ability to play defense and the outcome decided on the field by the contestants, not by a panel of judges who have their own biases and their own scoring systems.

I was watching a figure skating competition with my wife once about 10 years ago and the announcers made a point that stuck with me ever since. I think it was Dorothy Hamill who commented that a girl had just done a nearly flawless routine, but would be lucky to medal because the judges don't really know her name. That name recognition and popularity are key factors in getting high scores in this "sport".

If said by a outsider, it would mean nothing. But stated by a champion, its means a lot. That no matter how good you are, and how flawlessly you perform, you still have no chance to win because your name isn't Oksana Biaul or Shawn Johnson or St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

[hasbeen1]

I don't have a daughter but feel cheerleading is a sport. I feel if you would call golf a sport (which takes minimal effort) that is over populted by the older generation, than cheerleading is truly a sport. I have golfed for about five years, so don't bash on that angle. I would love to see if even 10% of what most of us would call "athletes" could do a back hand spring or walk over. Hunting is even a sport. Keep up the good work girls...........

[Rr_fan]

You can not really win at cheerleading. I know that you have a competition but it is a judge that scores it...Golf you can win, football, basketball, Volleyball, baseball, Track, Cross country...Cheerleading is on the same level as Figure skating.

[o.a.b.]

If cheerleading were a sport,would they have cheerleaders for the cheerleaders ? We could be seeing Will Ferrall in the state finals every year--talk about dominance !!

[MiniSkirtQB11]

Being a cheerleader all my life and a coach, I would have to say no, the Friday night on the sidelines yelling chants is not a sport. But when you compete yes, that's a sport. I would love to see a football player get out there and do a 3 minute routine and not be out of breath with the stuff we do, even my fiancee who has done football, basketball, baseball, swimming, and a couple others will tell you that he wouldn't even want to try to do what we do (and he's always straight up with me and isn't a kiss up). But unless the OSAA decides to all of a sudden get hit with a hammer and make a huge ordeal about it, I don't see Ohio making cheerleading a sport anytime soon, which I don't blame them.

[MiniSkirtQB11]

Originally Posted by Rr_fan

You can not really win at cheerleading. I know that you have a competition but it is a judge that scores it...Golf you can win, football, basketball, Volleyball, baseball, Track, Cross country...Cheerleading is on the same level as Figure skating.

Wait you can't win at cheerleading? Tell me why when I was in high school I trained from September to February doing one routine for 3 hours a day 5-6 days a week to go and do a performance perfectly to lose by a couple of points to first place? I'm pretty sure getting first place is winning, just like getting first in any other type of competition. Competition cheerleaders train day in and day out to go out there and do a performance, nail it, and to walk off the floor a champion. What's funny is in our conference, because of us getting the place we did at our conference competition, my school got a first place banner for over-all. Without our placing, they wouldn't have gotten those points. I still stand my ground of depending on what type of cheerleading we are talking about, but let's face it, to anyone who's been associated with cheerleading lately, competition is pretty much heavily weighed on, which is sad because I would have given up a competition to cheer just one Friday night.

[chefmike7777]

Originally Posted by dnckarl

There is a reason the Olympics do not have cheerleading, bowling, golf
and tidlywinks and poker. Case closed.

I am with many others that friday night cheerleading is not a sport but competition cheerleading is. as to the quoteabove. in your scenerio, then football is not a sport?

[o.a.b.]

How about a cheerleading-spelling bee competition ? It would be great filler on the Game Show Network.

[kdx200]

Well the way people are talking about what a SPORT truly is. I guess some of the olympians were not doing true sports. Because they were judged by a panel of judges.

[president]

[centerback]

It's not a sport when you are out cheerleading for a sport.

[IrishFaith]

More critical injuries to necks and spinal cords occur in competitive cheer than high school football... There needs to be stricter regulations on competitive cheer with liabilities and such. High schools must be covered with certain insurance to allow cheer squads to stunt and mount. If an opposing school knows of another program disobeying the rules, they're to turn them in. Too many of these "cheer teams" are not run by qualified instructors. NEO Allstars in Canton are truly the best and well-coached in this area. Sorry, but I would rather watch my son on a football field and bball court taking hits than have a daughter being tossed in the air while mediocre coaches stand by ://

[marknjen912]

^^^agree, I'm lucky enough that my daughter is coached by an Ohio State Cheerleader (which is also co-owner of the gym) and a 2 time Team USA gold medalist. My daughter was a member of the DIII mount State Champion Team last year, as she practices almost everyday, (sometimes twice a day) and deals with just as many obstacles and drs apts as my football players. I'M ON THE SIDE OF IT BEING A SPORT (:

[gcg58]

Asked my sister(who plays Golf, Cheerleading, Dance and Track) and here's her response...

"No, it will never be a sport. It's a performance like dance and more importantly it's not judged on technique as much as appearance. I think it's as difficult thing as I've ever done but in Golf I get 4 on #12, in Cheerleading you get an 8 in preppiness and 7 in spirit. You can't call something a sport that's purely opinion"

[centerback]

In sports you win or lose. Can you do that cheering for a team?

[Rr_fan]

Originally Posted by MiniSkirtQB11

Wait you can't win at cheerleading? Tell me why when I was in high school I trained from September to February doing one routine for 3 hours a day 5-6 days a week to go and do a performance perfectly to lose by a couple of points to first place? I'm pretty sure getting first place is winning, just like getting first in any other type of competition. Competition cheerleaders train day in and day out to go out there and do a performance, nail it, and to walk off the floor a champion. What's funny is in our conference, because of us getting the place we did at our conference competition, my school got a first place banner for over-all. Without our placing, they wouldn't have gotten those points. I still stand my ground of depending on what type of cheerleading we are talking about, but let's face it, to anyone who's been associated with cheerleading lately, competition is pretty much heavily weighed on, which is sad because I would have given up a competition to cheer just one Friday night.

Mini-I understand what you are saying but you did not read carefully. I said because it is scored by judges I have a hard time saying you can win. Football, Basketball you score and all can see it. Track you win by running faster or jumping higher you can see it. Cheerleading competition is "judged". Nobody knows how and what bias there is..

[Eric Gagne]

Originally Posted by Gz1up 2 Down

If we go by how long a season's duration is, then by all means, Academic Competition is surely a sport.

Good analogy- quiz bowl is essentially an all year thing (season lasts from early October into May), has pay to play fees in some places, and have state championships. In fact, quiz bowl in the state of Missouri is regulated by the Missouri High School Athletic Association, or MHSAA.

I have seen some really awesome cheerleading squads. I do recognize competitive cheerleading is a thing, but as others have mentioned, it's based on judging and appearance. If cheerleading became a sport, my fear is that it could put schools into weird positions regarding title IX/equal opportunities (unless its co-ed.)

[captain_cavman]

Originally Posted by wkfan

Friday night cheerleading is not a sport

Competition cheerleading is a sport.

Any cheerleader who does stunts, gymnastics, etc as part of what they do are athletes.

Having been a gymnast in high school, the 'tricks' that they do are difficult, require many repetitions to do safely and correctly and require coordination, trength and, in some cases, courage.

Well said.

People need to ignore Hollywood's version of the spoiled rich girl going against the humble not as rich girl who steals a boyfriend.

[sportsvideo]

Originally Posted by fogo203

Its is honestly not that competitave and it is a bunch of spoiled little girls who weren't good at anything else.

Any thought?

its a form of gymnastics...so therefore it kinda is a sport