Is cheerleading a sport?

Saira_Imran · November 15, 2020, 1:22pm

Is cheerleading a sport?

Cheerleading is a physical activity such as dancing and tumbling and physical stunting. Cheerleading is not officially considered as a sport because this activity is for entertainment and motivation of a crowd and sports team not as a competition against an opponent.

Main elements of cheerleading

Main elements of cheerleading are jumping, dancing, stunt sequence, pyramid sequence, standing tumbling and running tumbling.

1) Jumping

Important and necessary element of cheerleading is jumping that requires physical exertion and skill, flexibility, balance and stamina. Jumpers put their body in unnatural positions which take a toll on the athlete if done incorrectly. Require repetition and practice to perfect the motions, and make them look sharp for competition. Jumping consists of a toe touch, pike and a front hurdler.

2) Stunting

Stunting is lifting a person into the air, throwing them and being able to properly catch them. It is extremely crucial that cheerleaders are properly trained, that way they can all remain safe and prevent themselves from getting injuries.

Stunting makes cheerleading unique, compared to gymnastics and dance. Cheerleading involves stunting but other sports not. 2 stunting combos are, a pyramid, tosses, and usually a stunt in the opening and during tumbling. Stunt sequence is often used to show the flexibility of flyers with one-leg stunts like bow and arrows and spikes.

3) Tumbling

Tumbling requires a lot of leg power and upper body strength so it is very tiring. There is tumbling in jumps, the actual tumbling section, the opening and sometimes when there is an extra person during stunts or dance.

4) Dancing

Dancing lasts for about 30 seconds, it is fast and upbeat and it is everyone’s favorite it should be uniform, exciting and synchronized and it will be full of energy.

Purpose of cheerleading team

Cheerleading team build connection between fans in a crowd and a sports team or athletes. Morale of the player increases because of the energy of the crowd.
During sports week in a School, cheerleading team raise the spirit of students by planning rallies, decorating hall with banners and support the sport team.
Being an ambassador cheerleader spread spirit and share experiences of being leaders.
Cheerleaders lead the game until the end. They boost the excitement of the game.

Advantages of Cheerleading

Cheerleading build strength because it is a full body workout specially lower body and shoulders.
Dancing, jumping and stunting require a big stamina to smile throughout the game.
It will develop flexibility which will be helpful in improving jumping and high kick.
Cheerleading helpful in improving leadership skills.
Helpful in building confidence.
Helpful in boosting good mode.

Why cheerleading is not considered as a sport?

Sport is a physical activity which involves driving or pushing a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass.
It is a competition against or with an opponent.
For sports rules are applied that define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared.
Primary purpose of the sport is competition or comparison of the relative skills of the participants.

Why cheerleading should be considered as a sport?

Cheerleading competition includes intense physical activity. They learn to tumble, perform standing back flips, round flip-flops and full layout twists which are not easy.
Competitive cheerleading have rules and regulations too just as football and basketball.
Goals of cheerleading is same as other sports like points are awarded for techniques, sharpness and difficulty and creativity.
Cheerleading cause serious injuries than other sports.
It is very intense game and require balance, coordination and flexibility.

Cheerleading is definitely a sport based on it’s requirements of skill, balance, coordination and flexibility as compare to other sports.

Cheerleading as a hardest sport:

There is a high risk of injuries including broken bones, being paralyzed, permanent disabilities which causes a life span shorter. Injuries are mostly due to stunting, specially flyers are at high risk of injuries.
It is very expensive because of the cost of uniforms, cost of warmup outfits, poms, cheer shoes, bows and the cost of cheer trips.
Time commitment makes it more ■■■■■■ because cheerleaders practice 5 days a week and than play.
One smallest mistake made by one team mate down the score of whole team.
Team mates should always physically fit before starting a competition or game.
Stunts in cheerleading needs lots of time, patience and team work. They must learn to be perfectly balanced and tighten every muscles.
For dancing every team mate should be uniform and synchronize with each other.
Flexibility is very important for flyers and it can be achieved by lots of practice, not achieved in one day.
Cheerleaders usually deals with lack of respect which makes it more ■■■■■■ when they are appreciated for their hard work.

Risks associated with cheerleading

Tumbling strain the spine and results in stress fractures.
Knee and and ankle ligament are at risk of stress because of the landing in or off balanced position.
By repeated strain of stunt activities, injuries in growth plates of wrist, ankle, knee and elbows occurs.

Prevention of cheerleading injuries

Stretch all muscles for 30 seconds before every practice and performance repeat after every performance, it cools muscles and increase flexibility.
Don’t perform tumbling activities every day, to prevent injuries.
Training should include dynamic and stationary activities until you can successfully balance on unstable surfaces.
Trained by only certified coach, who should know about all the proper training techniques.
Learn all the athletic positions, balanced position and how to land with shoulders over the knees and knees over the toe.

Sign and symptoms of injuries

Feeling of pain during activity.
Soreness of muscles
Swelling and pain in joints
Deformity
Tingling and numbness
Extremely hot or cold skin
Unable to bear weight
Unable to move
Tenderness over a bone
Bruising, swelling or discoloration

Cheerleading uniforms

It consists of cheer top, bottom, cheer socks, cheer briefs and cheer shoes. Warm up clothes, visor and caps are also parts of their uniforms.
Some protective gear like athletic wrap and tape and bands and supports are also necessary things for their protection.

Some equipment such as megaphones, poms, cheer bags and first aid supplies they use.
Cheerleaders use floor mats and weight and medicine balls as a training equipment.

Conclusion

Cheerleading is a physical activity such as dancing and tumbling and physical stunting.
Cheerleading is not officially considered as a sport because this activity is for entertainment and motivation of a crowd and sports team not as a competition against an opponent.

Main elements of cheerleading are Stunting, dancing, jumping and tumbling.

Cheerleaders lead the game until the end. They boost the excitement of the game. It build connection between fans in a crowd and a sports team or athletes. Morale of the player increases because of the energy of the crowd.

Cheerleading competition includes intense physical activity. They learn to tumble, perform standing back flips, round flip-flops and full layout twists which are not easy. It is definitely a sport based on it’s requirements of skill, balance, coordination and flexibility as compare to other sports.

Cheerleading build strength because it is a full body workout specially lower body and shoulders. Cheerleading helpful in improving leadership skills. Helpful in building confidence, and in boosting good mode.

By repeated strain of stunt activities, injuries in growth plates of wrist, ankle, knee and elbows occurs.

Sign and symptoms of injuries are swelling and pain in joints, deformity, tenderness over a bone, tingling and extremely hot or cold skin.

Cheerleading uniform consists of cheer top, bottom,cheer briefs, cheer socks and shoes, warmup clothes, visor and caps.