Is cheerleading a sport?

[Gustavo Woltamnn]

A sport is a competition in which success depends on the competitor's physical athletic skills. 

The classification of a "sport" has nothing to do with how difficult an activity is. Some sports are relatively physically easy. Some non-sports are extraordinarily demanding. 

There are some very difficult, physically-demanding activities which are not sports. Theatrical dance, non-competitive cheerleading, and many other activities are not sports, no matter how physically demanding they are, or how dangerous they are. 

Some activities require greater physical skills than some professional athletes, but are still not sports. If it is not a competition in which the result depends on the competitor's physical athletic skills, then it is not a sport. 

There are many things which require hard work and great physical skill that are still not sports. 

Cheerleading, in competition, IS certainly a sport. 

When not in competition, it is NOT a sport. It is still a (sometimes) physically-demanding activity which requires hard work and dedication.

[admin]

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[Davidmenk3]

You make a really interesting point about the distinction between what qualifies as a sport and what doesn’t. I agree that the key factor is whether the activity involves competition where success depends on the participants' physical athletic skills. Cheerleading, when done competitively, definitely fits that definition—it requires incredible strength, coordination, and teamwork, and the outcome is judged based on performance. It’s hard to argue that competitive cheerleading isn’t a sport when you see the level of athleticism involved.

On the other hand, non-competitive cheerleading, while still physically demanding and requiring a lot of skill and dedication, doesn’t meet the criteria of a sport because there’s no competitive element. It’s more of a performance or activity, like theatrical dance, as you mentioned. Both are impressive in their own right, but the competitive aspect is what sets them apart.

I think it’s important to recognize the effort and skill that go into both competitive and non-competitive cheerleading, even if only one is technically a sport. At the end of the day, whether something is labeled a "sport" or not doesn’t take away from how challenging or rewarding it can be. Great perspective!