{"id":2147,"date":"2010-07-23T07:35:51","date_gmt":"2010-07-23T11:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicholsclan.com\/tinblog\/?p=2147"},"modified":"2010-07-22T13:18:27","modified_gmt":"2010-07-22T17:18:27","slug":"is-cheerleading-a-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timscogitorium.com\/tinblog\/2010\/07\/is-cheerleading-a-sport.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Cheerleading a Sport?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A US judge in Connecticut says no<\/a>, cheerleading is not a sport, at least under Title IX.\u00a0 As a consequence, he’s ruled Quinnipiac University can’t drop its girls volleyball team because the competitive cheer team doesn’t count as an alternative.<\/p>\n

It’s worth noting the ruling seems to be more on the organization of cheerleading than the team or the activity.\u00a0 An activity can be considered a sport under Title IX if it meets specific criteria. It must have coaches, practices, competitions during a defined season and a governing organization. The activity also must have competition as its primary goal.\u00a0 In this case, it seems the lack of a governing organization and a defined season schedule were mostly to blame.<\/p>\n

Still, cheerleading is left in an odd position.\u00a0 No sane person could argue that today’s cheerleaders are not athletes and do not train hard.\u00a0 The physical exertion, the injuries, the demanding coaches, and the long hours in the gym are on par with any other sport.\u00a0 Further, anyone who’s ever been to a cheer competition, could not remotely claim this is not a competitive activity.\u00a0 And if you think the kids are motivated, you should see how rabid the fans are.<\/p>\n

I personally believe that the biggest detriment to cheerleading being accepted as a sport is its legacy.\u00a0 It was historically a sideline activity for another sport.\u00a0 And vestiges of that remain today.\u00a0 School cheer teams are often required to still adorn the sidelines of games.\u00a0 And in many cases, the cheerleaders consider this a nuisance that distracts them from their real focus and their real passion, the competitions. It seems that cheerleading would be way better off if it renamed itself to something like Synchronized Gymnastics and left all the sideline activities and the school spirit behind.<\/p>\n

Competition cheerleading is part dance and part choreographed aerobics all blended with a healthy dose of tumbling.\u00a0 Yes, it’s a judged sport, but so is gymnastics.\u00a0 And like gymnastics, there are standards and required moves.\u00a0 Yes, there’s a ridiculous amount of attention on hair and makeup, but synchronized swimming and ice skating have similar aesthetic requirements.<\/p>\n

There is only one truly unique aspect to cheerleaders.\u00a0 Something I don’t think any name change or official recognition will ever make different.\u00a0 It’s something I call autophotoassemblage<\/em>.\u00a0 If you are in the vicinity of a group of cheerleaders and give any indication you are inclined to take a picture of them, they will magically self-arrange into a group pose and turn on a smile.\u00a0 Even just removing the lens cap from your camera is often enough.\u00a0 You never have to pose them.\u00a0 Sometimes they’ll fuss with a few positions before the shot settles, but you just need to wait with your camera until everyone is still.\u00a0 Click.\u00a0 It’s a great picture.\u00a0 In fact, I don’t think it’s even possible to take a bad picture of cheerleaders.<\/p>\n

\"Titans'<\/a><\/p>\n

While I don’t think autophotoassemblage should in any way inhibit cheerleading from being recognized as a sport, it remains one of the great mysteries of the universe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A US judge in Connecticut says no, cheerleading is not a sport, at least under Title IX.\u00a0 As a consequence,<\/p>\n

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