Athletes lift weights, but cheerleaders lift athletes, so why isn’t it considered a sport? Athletic experts have argued for ages about whether or not cheerleading is a sport. Some people believe cheerleading calls for vigorous strength, and constant activity; others believe it is a silly hobby. Aisha Harris states, “The 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld a 2010 ruling against Quinnipiac University, which found that cheerleading is not a varsity sport under Title IX. The issue arose in 2009 when the university replaced the women’s volleyball team with competitive cheerleading, which the U.S. District Court found to be an inadequate swap.” They believe that since cheerleading is not an olympic event, it should not be considered a sport. Also, experts think there is already a sport just like cheerleading which calls for women of strength and flexibility…gymnastics. Cheerleading not only meets, but surpasses the athletic element of being a sport, therefore, it is mind boggling as to why experts will not agree to officially call it one.

As time goes on, the physical requirements of being a part of a cheerleading team increases. Participants need the strength to lift other athletes higher than their heads, the flexibility to do all sorts of tumbling, and the mentality to work as a team remembering every movement on its exact count while working your hardest to please the on-looking fans or judges. Experts say it is not a sport because it is all about pleasing your audience, looking as flirty and pretty as possible with the makeup you wear and the short skirts over spandex. Even though the stereotypical statement points out that cheerleaders try to look better than other athletes while performing, it doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of work they are exerting to stay in position and on count. Cheerleading takes time, effort, and commitment. Whoever thinks learning how to do a round-off, back handspring, back tuck is easy…they should try it themselves, maybe that would give them an idea of the work required to be a cheerleader. Nobody knows what goes on behind the scenes when entire pyramids start to collapse, and everybody to work as a team to keep it up without showing worry, unease, or a slight glimpse of struggle. If experts think most sports should have an element of physical contact, believe me, there is enough of it in cheerleading. People do not realize the amount of scrapes, bruises, bloody noses, and concussions participants go through to get to the end of their routine. Cheerleaders are full of strength, flexibility, grace, and charm; if somebody asks why I think cheerleading is a sport, I’ll show them my routine and tell them to fill my position the next time around.