What Makes Cheerleading A Sport?

A Connecticut judge ruled in 2010 that Quinnipiac University had violated equal funding rights for female sports when the women's volleyball team was replaced with a competitive cheerleading squad, as cheerleading was not recognized as a sport. According to the "Illinois Business Law Journal," approximately 50 percent of the states view cheerleading as a sport under Title IX and about 225 colleges award athletic scholarships for cheerleading. The athletic nature, competitiveness and teamwork of cheerleading encompass key elements of a sport.

Athleticism

Athleticism is a primary characteristic of a sport. Cheerleaders exhibit athleticism through their ability to tumble and jump. Standing back tucks, back handsprings, full twists, toe touches, hurdlers and splits require endurance, strength, flexibility and skill. Additionally, cheerleaders engage in stunts incorporating pyramid building, basket tosses and heel-stretch extension. These stunts require balance, muscular strength and stamina. A cheerleader's athleticism invites significant danger. According to University Michigan Health System, cheerleading is the leading cause of disabling injury among female athletes. The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research reports that approximately 66 percent of disabling injuries among female athletes are caused by cheerleading.

Competition

Competitive cheerleading incorporates a dance and cheer routine displaying gymnastics, jumps and stunts into a squad's performance. A competitive routine lasts about two to four minutes. Local, regional and national cheerleading competitions have standardized rules and regulations. In the same way that sports such as tennis, basketball, football and soccer have defined field dimensions, most cheerleading competitions require squads to compete within certain boundaries. Judges award points to squads for difficulty level, tumbling and stunting technique, performance execution and creativity. Judges also deduct points for poor execution and minor rule violations.

Teamwork

Cheerleading emphasizes teamwork. The cheerleading squad must work together to perform dances, cheers and pyramids. Building pyramids involves communicating and working in unison with all squad members. Teamwork is not only crucial for executing the pyramid or stunt, but also to prevent injuries. Additionally, judges look at a squad's ability to function and perform as a team demonstrated by synchronization and execution of stunts.

Recognition

The National Collegiate Athletic Association does not recognize cheerleading as a sport. However, the NCAA established guidelines for reviewing up-and-coming sports. These guidelines propose a collegiate sport must engage in physical activity for the purposes of intercollegiate competition, compete in five scheduled competitions during a season and base rules and scoring on a standardized system. Additionally, the Women's Sports Foundation does not recognize cheerleading as a sport, since cheerleading competitions are not structured like typical school sport competitions. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights requires cheerleading squads to engage in competition against other squads as their primary purpose. If cheerleading squads follow this stipulation, cheering for other sports teams becomes a secondary goal for cheerleading squads.