Cheerleading Is a Sport: An Ode to True Athleticism

In the last few weeks on StFX’s campus, there has been a lot of discourse regarding whether cheerleading should be deemed a sport. I was stunned to be the biggest advocate in very heated debates in my residence lounge on the status of cheerleading in the sporting world. My competitors in these debates, unsurprising to you, I’m sure, have never once been a cheerleader in their lives.

As an author, who has done dance, as well as synchronized swimming in the past, I felt that I could speak to the hard work of cheerleaders in these debates, given that my athleticism is also frequently disrespected. However, I realize now that I was wrong.

A previously well-meaning article created unintended backlash and hurt, with the misinterpretation that cheerleading was not for all gender identities. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, or from my opinion, for that matter. I have always felt that dance and synchronized swimming would greatly benefit from more athletes that do not identify as feminine or female. The same applies to cheerleading.

 To address this, and give a voice to those who felt I spoke for them, I have reached out to current StFX cheer athletes.

According to an anonymous athlete, some members of the STFX cheer team practice three times a week, for 8 hours total. This seems like a large time commitment to me and should be enough to solidify cheerleading’s place in the sporting world!

However, for many readers, more convincing may be needed. The definition of a sport is, “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment” (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.). Cheerleading certainly takes skill, as I’m sure not everyone has the ability to throw people in the air and catch them flawlessly. It requires strength and expertise to make it look easy.

Another misconception of cheerleading is that these athletes simply cheer on the sidelines for other sports. In fact, the opposite is true. Cheerleaders have their own competitions, as does the white team here at StFX. Also, while cheering on other sports, there is choreography and difficult tumbling involved, showcasing the athleticism required in cheerleading.

 Cheer is open to all identities and is not about femininity.

What could possibly dismiss cheerleading as anything less than a sport?