Webster defines "Sport" as (1. An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. (2. Diversion; recreation: a pleasant time. According to this definition cheerleading would fall under the category of a sport.
Reason One. Cheerleading is an athletic activity requiring skill and physical prowess. Cheerleaders participate in rigorous practices that often incorporate conditioning and weight lifting as do other sports like football or basketball. Like any other sport, the skills involvedwith cheerleading, motions, jumps, tumbling and stunts. All require practice in order to be perfect. One must have athletic ability to train for these.
Reason 2. Cheerleading has local, regional, and national competitions available for squads to participate in. However, the definition does not require that competitive nature be present. It only says "often". Cheer teams may not compete every week like other sports do, but that is because of it's unique nature. It is the only sport that is based on supporting another team. Competition is a secondary goal by most Cheer teams standards.
Reason Three. Cheerleading is a past time activity that students participate in. Like all other extracurricular activities, students would not participate in it if there was no enjoyment received. Participants that find diversion in this recreation do so for the personal satisfaction that they receive from it. |
