Is cheerleading a sport?

[JustinTheGreat]

I think it’s 100% a sport 😅
at least competitive cheer is. Sideline cheering isn’t though. Like the Dallas cowboy cheerleaders for example, all they do is dance. They’re talented but I would call them dancers, I wouldn’t call them athletes.

But actual competitive cheer is practically the same thing as gymnastics. Some of the stunts they do are insane.
And have y’all seen cheerleaders bodies? 😳 these little 15 year old girls are out here with bigger muscles and more defined abs than I do lmaooo. Competitive cheerleaders are athletic as fuckkkk.

https://youtube.com/shorts/QnE2JCwzakI?feature=share

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, pretty much just what you said. Competitive cheerleading is a legit sport, sideline is more of a different animal more akin to dance. I used to see a girl who later was a “Flight Girl” for the NY Jets (BOOOOOOOO👎👎🖕) and she never did any competitive cheer, she was a straight up dancer, got her degree in dance, and she was in New York in the first place to try to be a professional, audition for shows, etc, the cheerleading job was just for extra cash (I think she said it was only like $80 a game, lmfao) and to build her résumé.

She left NYC pretty quickly, bled out financially, and she went to San Diego and she was an ice girl for a minor league hockey team out there. I think they do even less, they like throw out t-shirts in the crowd, and I think I’ve even seen them used to scrape up the blood from the ice with a shovel after someone is cut in a fight or with an errant stick. I don’t know if it’s usual, but I definitely saw a minor league hockey fight video where a dude got split, and they’ve got these hot chicks in sports bras out there just cleaning up the mess, it was absurd, lmfao. I don’t think it required much athleticism though😂 But all the girls doing aerials and all that in competitive cheer are serious athletes.

[WhiteSteve]

Thinking more on it though, I think our cheerleaders in my football days all did do some pyramid work, so I should give them their due, they did more than wave Pom-poms and lead chants.

[andreasderjuengere]

It's certainly physically challenging.
But in the end it's acrobatic entertainment.
Would we call a circus show ''sports''?
Or when a KPop kids ''band'' performs some rhythmic show... is THAT sports as well?

As you mention muscles... a fit construction worker then also qualifies as an ''athlete'' :D

Seriously: I understand that you may want to get into a cheer leader's panties. That's what they basically are intended for. But to spread cheesy compliments makes 'you' (or us) a pathetic hormone driven slobberer.

[JustinTheGreat]

First of all, I’m literally a gay man lmao. Just because I’m appreciating the athletic ability, does not automatically mean I’m trying to get into someone’s pants 💀
Plus there’s literally MEN who do cheerleading too, my compliments go towards both the men and the women. And it got nothing to do with attraction, can’t I appreciate one’s talents? 😳
Just say you don’t think cheer is a sport and move on, the weird assumptions isn’t necessary lmaoooo weirdo

[andreasderjuengere]

I take that as a compliment. Thanks

[JustinTheGreat]

💀👍

[melanieeeB]

Definitely it is haha

As a kid I always wished our school would have a Cheerleader team (saw it in movies lol) but Cheerleading was back then more an American thing lol

[msmissydc]

Yes same for me. It mainly was an American thing but we did it anyway. In highschool we had the choice what we would do for the next three years in physical education and as most guys played football (soccer) and even planned tournaments we started cheerleading.

[melanieeeB]

Oh that's pretty cool! I hope you all had a great time doing cheers haha

[Xoxocutekitty]

It is basically gymnastics wearing a different uniform (skirt) and holding pom poms.

So yes, it's a sport.

[Summeroflove]

One might actually be surprised… Most cheerleaders that are professional or at D1 level. Are in extremely good shape most of the time in order to stay in cheer they have to stay in extremely good shape and even the dances take a lot of time to coordinate and choreograph.

So you’re right…. Most are in really good shape and it’s the second most dangerous athletics…. Behind football. Due to the injuries, torn muscles, and even being tackled by footballers and basketball players.

These little dainty cheer girls in movies probably couldn’t do it. I’m not being mean… I’m only saying. I’m not just gushing over cheerleaders. I’ve known some in university that yes had abs and muscles.

[Chazmatazz269]

It definitely is. Second only to soccer for most sports-related injuries too. Also, the sidelines cheerleaders are meant to boost morale for whatever team is playing. Wouldn’t be prudent for them to be outperforming the team on the court or field. Ell oh ell! I dated a woman with two daughters in competitive cheer, and the older one also cheered for the skool sports teams. She definitely found it less challenging but more of her friends could do it. Plus she had a growing interest in athletic boys. Haha!

[TommyMountainFigure]

I'm not from the US, but as someone who has made several Cheerleading Mixes for schools, I can tell you I have watched plenty of cheerleading performances, and I concur, some of these girls defy all known laws of gravity...

It is unequivocally, 100% a sport

[ChrisMaster69]

They have Break Dancing in the next Olympics….

All bets are off as to what is or is not a sport.

https://olympics.com/en/news/breaking-breakdancing-rules-format-moves

[exitseven]

It is now. When i was in high school in the 80s the girls just shook their pom poms and danced a little. Now these kids do real gymnastics and vet complex dance routines. THey are really athletic. Two pro cheerleaders worked out at the same gym I did and they were in amazing shape.

[Birdlegs]

Competitive cheer is nuts the guys are strong asf and have done some of the highest backflips I’ve ever seen

[kellytheman]

It's definitely a sport they throwing people in the air doing insane flips and twists, there also some dancing, and they also need to lift weights and train to do it. Also I think any physical competition is consider a sport.

[blissinanarchy1]

Dancing is athletic. Cheerleading is too. Remember, videogames are coming to the olympics and is a “sport”.

[Adronicus]

For sure. I had several friends that were cheerleaders in high school (I always had more female friends than male ones, I don't know why). They're VERY competitive.

[D_Bone_Steak]

I think it is. I'd rather MMA fight than dare to do some of the shit they do.

[XXblack88]

Yes it's a combination of dance' gymnastics and they throw each other in the air that seems athletic to me.

[Blueeyes81]

Depends. The girls that just stand on the sidelines like when I was in school, no thats not a sport. The cheerleaders who train and do the throws and tumbles, yes that's a sport.

[HighValue]

Competitive cheer is, cheering for a team is not. I agree with you.

[enocheli]

yes it is

go do some flips in the air and tell me how easy it is lol

[purplepoppy]

The most common thing a cheerleader breaks is her hymen. Waving a pom pom isn't a sport, I'm sure they put a lot of work into their routines but end if the day they're just dancers. You might as well call poledancers athletes

[JustinTheGreat]

I would 100% call a pole dancer an athlete to be honest lmao
Not necessarily talking about strippers but have you actually seen professional pole dancers? Their upper body strength is out of this world, pole dancing is HARD.
https://youtu.be/rH4GNr9ZTG8

[msmissydc]

I do poledance and its quite physically demanding. I gained more muscle strenght than with gym training or anything else I have done before. I wouldn't call myself an athlete for that as I dont do it competitive but its deffinetly a sport and not the easiest. And for those who do it competitive its even more demanding and comparable to gymnasts.

[Fuentes]

Now we all know who wasn't cool in school & got picked on by some cheer leaders lol

[purplepoppy]

We don't have cheerleaders here

[Fuentes]

@purplepoppy wow your right that's weird af, well you must have seen "bring it on" the orginal. it's definitely competitive like any sport.

[MikeInHawaii]

I think they get injured more than participants in any other sport. With all the gymnastics involved, I’d call it a sport.

[peedy]

Never use to be but now they got competitions to go compete at and if you take a look at it they gotta stay in shape they have to practice just like any other sport
So I would have to say yes

[JohnK123]

Doing dances with Pom poms… I don’t think so
i cringe how easy it is to make NaTiOnAlS as a cheerleader

[JustinTheGreat]

So can you do backflips while balancing on top of someone’s hands? 😅

[JohnK123]

Not every cheerleader has to do that tho… unlike basketball where everyone has to shoot not everyone needs to do handstands

[JustinTheGreat]

They pretty much all do it in competitive cheer.

[JustinTheGreat]

They don’t even use Pom poms lol

[JohnK123]

The question was cheerleading… ur opinion stated competitive… I’m answering the question not ur opinion

[JustinTheGreat]

Is Competitive cheerleading NOT a type of cheerleading? 😭

[JohnK123]

I wasn’t talking about competitions

[qwert1234]

If video gaming has a sport, then yes, cheerleading has a sport.

[jahaims]

Sport- an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

[NYCQuestions1976]

Well there's teams and team events, and they compete against other teams, so yes.

[MattyIce_IceBaby]

Yes, it sure is. Cheerleaders are usually very athletic.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Yes. Cheerleading has elements of gymnastics, a sport.

[zagor]

It can be very athletic, but I don't think that alone makes it a sport.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

With them taking the large risk of snapping their necks like a Twix bar, sure. Why not?

[db684]

I've known people who do cheer and its basically gymnastics. They don't like the pom pom stereotype.

[anylolone]

Competitive cheerleading is a sport.

Otherwise it's just an art.

[Anonymous]

Like George Carlin said, it’s not a sport if it doesn’t involve a ball

[JustinTheGreat]

So gymnastics is not a sport either with that logic? lol

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, lol, he made fun of fencing too

[Lucy68]

As a former cheerleader yes it's a sport

[NathanDavis]

it's an athletic competition, yes...

[jengeorge26]

Cheerleading is an extra activity in school

[WhitneySnow]

Yes!

[Dat-Alpha-Lion]

Why would anyone say no?

[JustinTheGreat]

It’s definitely a big argument that a lot of people have. Maybe not so much anymore because competitive cheer is more popularized

[OddBeMe]

Yes. More so than what they’re cheering for.

[Fuentes]

I think it is

[Anonymous]

Its no more of a sport than pole dancing.

[Xoxocutekitty]

Pole dancing is sport. You need serious arm muscles, flexibility, and stamina. Their outfits are basically the same size as most women Olympics volleyball anyways

[JustinTheGreat]

What she said ^. Pole dancing is not easy at all.

[Brad951]

Don’t mind the cameltoe

[lovedejj_xo]

Was for me

[Anonymous]

Yes it is, as it requires a lot of movement.

[crossdressingrihno]

Yeah it's a sport.

[countrygirl8754]

Yes it is

[Ruenella_]

Yes indeed.

[htmndg183]

It isn't.

[jimmy2]

Yes it is