A big issue was brought up at the State Coaches meeting about whether or not cheerleading should be considered a sport. We DONT want cheerleading to become a sport! For the best interest of all cheerleaders, it should stay as a spirit group. If it becomes a sport, it wont be a year round ordeal and will also be regulated by more sports officials creating more rules and regulation preventing us from being able to do some of our wild and crazy skills. If it becomes a sport, the cheerleading season would only consist of 3 months. January - March. My opinion on that is "That just isn't enough cheerleading". I know we work harder than anyone in any other sport but this is for the best. Please understand this and not be offended but cheerleading maybe changed to a great extreme if it does become a sport!!!!

Thank you for finally saying what I try to say all of the time. I cheer as well...but my opinions are the same. I dont' want any more rules regulating our skills, or one standard point system. Thanks, Keith!

Cheerleders work very hard, but harder than ANYONE else?

Ha walk in a practice at Central Arkansas, Louisville, Morehead State, Kentucky, SFA, and many more...or even some all-star gyms all over and see if you can hang. THEN come talk to me.

I didn't say I could hang. To say that you work the hardest is a stretch at best.

All I am going to say about it is I grew up playing football basketball baseball and soccer and yes they are tough and fun but nothing beats the extreme effects cheerleading has on you. Its not only physical, its also mental. Not anyone can tumble. You have to have the mental aspect to throw backhandspring all the way up to fulls. Some people never succeed past a backhandspring due to being so scared. In my OPINION, which is what I think, No offense, Cheerleading is the harder activity.

Have to agree with Down.No disrespect,but that is quiet a statement to put out there.

You're right KP...not everyone can tumble, but even fewer can hit an 80 MPH curveball or splitter, not many can score a goal from 18 yards out between 2 defenders, or kick a 45 yard field goal with no time on the clock. Cheerleaders are under FAR less pressure than athletes that play these sports and while I don't doubt that they practice hard...it still isn't a sport. Far from it.

Well I have my opinion and you have your opinion. I know what other sports are and dont get me wrong they are tough. I love all them. Played them all my life. and yes they still have tons of pressure, I have been there but my vote goes to cheerleading. and thats ok cause its what I think and I know your going to think opposite and thats ok to. Theres no right or wrong.

Dear Lord people. We all have our opinions...and are going to stick to them. If you were to come to a practice watching a very well qualified (cheer) team, you would then understand why we have our opinions. And pressure? Try walking out on the finals mat at NCA Collegiate Nationals on the Bandshell in Daytona Beach, Florida, with ESPN cameras all around, trying for a national championship...with ONE SHOT. Other teams have more than one chance. If they lose a game, better next time. Not that way for our sport...you have an entire year to get over any embarrassments. If you mess up...your teammates will remember...because that is what we work so hard for all year. But...enough of that. You wouldn't understand anyway. Just like you don't understand all of the skills that cheerleaders perform. If you only knew...oh if you only knew. Then you would compare us to the "80 mph curveball." More people can throw 80 mph curveballs than a full up rewind. Point blank. But enough of this arguing. Let's move on to bigger and better things. Is it me or does this argument seem to appear again and again by people that have no business in a cheer forum? Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

No need to get in a hissy. Cheerleaders work their buts off. They do skills that most people could not dream of doing. I was just saying that you do not work harder than everyone else. I would give you as hard, but to say harder is just pampas.

Kind of what I was thinking after reading some of your posts. I am NOT saying cheerleading isn't a sport, but to compare cheerleading to football, basketball, or baseball, is comparing apples to oranges. A basketball player might not be able to do a back hand spring, but I have never seen a cheerleader dunk the ball without a mini tramp and while I have no doubt you or any other cheerleader doesn't train hard, I doubt that you could run the floor for an entire game. If you really want to know what hard is, go through two a days during the hot-*test*-('") part of summer. And while ther may be more people that can throw an 80 mile an hour curve ball than a full up rewind, jump in the batters box and see how many you can hit when you get set up with a 88 to 90 mile an hour fastball. Last but not least, the "one shot
" you speak of. When teams get to state, if they win they keep playing but if they lose one game they go home.

Walk into 2 a days in August or marathon basketball drills and tell me if you can hang.

come on guys, everyone knows that cheerleaders work harder than
ball players.....i mean i have watch a lot of games and when the game
is over.....it is the cheerleaders that leave the gym soaked from sweat...
not the guys that just got off the floor.

Okay, not going to stir the pot, but I am going to rebuttal some of our responses.

"A basketball player might not be able to do a back hand spring, but I have never seen a cheerleader dunk the ball without a mini tramp and while I have no doubt you or any other cheerleader doesn't train hard, I doubt that you could run the floor for an entire game."

I can dunk a basketball, played varsity basketball for 2 seasons, and played pick-up games though college and beyond and can probably beat the majority of the people on here in a one-on-one basketball game. I'd put money on it.

"If you really want to know what hard is, go through two a days during the hot-*test*-('") part of summer."

Been there, done that. Played football for 2 years, did 2 and 3-a-days. Basketball practices in 120degree gyms, been there done that.

"And while there may be more people that can throw an 80 mile an hour curve ball than a full up rewind, jump in the batters box and see how many you can hit when you get set up with a 88 to 90 mile an hour fastball."

Okay, last time I was clocked throwing a baseball was at 15 and at 86mph. I also played varsity baseball and legion baseball for 3+ years and was exposed to many 85+mph fastballs.

So here's the bottom line. I've played every sport most southern males have played and I have even played hockey to add another. I've done ALL the things that everyone on the messageboard has said that they do more of or do better than. I also coach cheerleading and have been for the last 9 years. I can tell you that with exceptions here and there, I've got girls and guys that out work, out hustle, and out perform many of the athletes on the board and out there playing. I can tell you without a doubt that while yes, comparing cheerleading to (insert sport here) is like comparing apples to oranges. Comparing baseball to football is like comparing grapes to watermelons. Or comparing basketball to hockey is like comparing potatoes to pecans. It's all relative. I hate it when people try to use the oldest comparison cliche to fit there needs. No kidding that every sport is different. That's a no brainer. What I think you all are missing is that if you haven't PARTICIPATED in the sport, you shouldn't be comparing it to the others. Even cheerleaders shouldn't dog other sports if they haven't played or participated.

I can say that i HAVE participated at just about every sport in the south and have been under pressure in all of them and have competed at a high level. I have the ability and the right to say that Cheerleading is just as HARD a sport to work at than any other. Harder may be a stretch, but I certainly wouldn't say that they work LESS HARDER.


"You're right KP...not everyone can tumble, but even fewer can hit an 80 MPH curveball or splitter, not many can score a goal from 18 yards out between 2 defenders, or kick a 45 yard field goal with no time on the clock. Cheerleaders are under FAR less pressure than athletes that play these sports and while I don't doubt that they practice hard...it still isn't a sport. Far from it. "

And if you have never been on a competition floor, about to perform your routine that you've been working 9 months on and you get THREE MINUTES to put all your skills together with only ONE SHOT to get it right, you have ZERO room to compare the pressure that one feels at that moment and at that time.

I'm not trying to rail on anyone, but you've got to give credit where credit is due.

I am a cheerleader. And a basketball player. And a football player. And a soccer player. And a baseball player. And... etc

No one else on this board right now can give the answers and responses I can and I am trying to be as unbiased as possible. Just give credit where credit is due.