The Olympics recently recognized cheerleading as a sport and people still feel as though that’s not true. Cheerleading is frequently dismissed by critics as only a spirit club or performance art. If you dig deeper, cheerleading displays qualities that make sports great, such as skill, teamwork, competition and hard work. By not classifying cheerleading as a sport, you completely disrespect each athlete that dedicates his/her life to cheer.
Above all, cheering demands a great deal of physical condition. You don’t only need to excel in one specific area, you must excel in multiple. Strength, flexibility, coordination and stamina are essential for cheerleaders. They do tough workouts that call for a high amount of athleticism and include dancing, tumbling and stunts.
In basic terms, cheering encourages discipline and teamwork. Each member of the team must work together and trust in one another to safely execute any routines or stunts. The dependence you have on teammates builds bonds that last a lifetime. You depend on one another to keep you safe but also to win. Every person must do their job correctly to perfectly hit your skills. It takes lots of technique and trust.
Many people feel as though cheerleading is just a sideline sport. Although some teams may be, that’s not the only thing that goes on. Many members of the team are balancing school, a social life, mental health, competition practices, game day practices, along with their games and practices. Cheerleaders are built to show support to every other team and, in doing so, they don’t receive any of it back. It’s disheartening for their hard work outside of the sidelines to not be acknowledged.
Cheering requires commitment, talent and athleticism. It should be recognized as a sport. It’s a tough sport that calls for strength, teamwork and commitment. It’s so much more than just a spirit club. We ignore the extreme hours cheerleaders spend practicing, competing and supporting their teams when we don’t recognize cheering as a real sport. It’s time to fully accept cheerleading as a sport and give credit to cheerleaders for their dedication and hard work.
