[Gridiron_Raid]

Cheerleaders compete against each other in competitions, but there is actually no head to head matchups where you physically beat an opponent. One has to perform as perfectly as possible and score points rather than attack an opponent. It’s a little different, but still a sport!

[frankjong]

It's a sport, why varsity doesn't recognize it as a sport, I don't know

[King Kong]

Cheerleading is definitely a sport. I know one thing,  I couldn't have ever come close to doing it. 

I've always had the upmost respect for cheerleaders.  For one thing I'm scared to death of heights! Couldn't begin to imagine being on top of one of those pyramids.  Anyone who can do that has to be tough and almost fearless. 

Then you have those cheerleaders that does the lifting at the bottom of the pyramids.  The amount of strength that must take.  

Throw in the running and dancing they do,  makes me tired just thinking about it!

Cheerleading has competitions and championships just like every other sport.  So it's definitely a sport. 

In the world of college sports,  several colleges in the state of KY have won national championships, in cheerleading. I know both UK and Morehead St have,  and I think so has UPike.  

UK is known as the pinnacle of men's college basketball.  But the UK Cheerleading team's have won way more national titles.  Can't remember the exact number.  So UKs Cheerleading program is the pinnacle of college Cheerleading.

[frankjong]

sure

[papagrit]

I know that the local cheerleading team shows up to practice at 6am before school. They lift weights some, work out and run some...especially during the off season. The coach of both the middle and high school cheerleading squads probably makes what a bottom level assistant coach on the football team gets for a salary and the team practices most of the year with the end being the Walt Disney World championships if they get a bid in the spring after football AND after basketball seasons. That's after regions and state competitions if they qualify for that. Fundraising is a necessity because they get NO support from the school financially other than the coaches small salary. They have to raise all of the money for uniforms and competitions themselves. A Disney trip costs 10's of thousands of dollars. I'd say that takes a lot of dedication, athletic ability and some real mettle to stick with it. It's an activitiy that requires more dedication than a lot of other sports. It's a sport. It was an activity when I was in school in the 80's. It's developed into a sport now.