Why Many Schools Still Do Not Consider Cheerleading As A Sport

Many schools still do not consider cheerleading as a sport because competing against other teams is voluntary and sometimes not the priorityof the activity.

However, in recent years, cheerleading has evolved into a sport with the primary purpose of competing against other teams within a structure that is comparable to other athletic activities.

It is sad to note, however, that the US courts have not ruled in favor of cheerleading being considered a sport, so that in some schools, it cannot enjoy the same benefits as other sports in terms of sharing the budget for training, facilities and medical provisions. In spite of Title IX, which ensures the availability of equal funding for female athletics, athletic departments of some colleges find it difficult to comply, because they still do not consider the predominantly female activity a sport.

Making Cheerleading Safer

The most important reason why cheerleading must be considered a sport is so that it can be made safer, by regulating training practices and competitions, and by making facilities, training programs and medical assistance more available.

As a result, participants may perform complex stunts with little skill to stay safe. Furthermore, cheerleading organizations do not have standardized regulations and restrictions in performing dangerous stunts.

To improve the safety of cheerleading, the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors, together with the National Federation of State High School Associations have developed certain rules and recommendations. These include requiring training and certification of cheerleading coaches and developing proper strength and body conditioning for cheerleaders. In addition, tumbling and doing dangerous stunts on hard surfaces must be avoided. They also recommend specific rules for performing various skills.

Another advocate, the American Academy of Pediatrics also advise that training in executing proper spotting techniques must be done and that stunts must be attempted only after skill progression is demonstrated. They emphasize that highly technical skills such as mounts, pyramids, tumbling and tosses should no be done on hard, uneven or wet surfaces. Human pyramids must be limited to just two people.

See Also: Step Aerobics: A Sport for Women Only?

However, this may endanger their health. It is therefore important to have a doctor or a certified trainer present during training and competitions. A written plan to be followed during emergencies must be available to athletes, parents and coaches. They must know how to handle concussions, and any cheerleader who experiences a head injury must not be allowed to return to practices or competitions without medical clearance from a health provider.

Proper documentation and reporting of all catastrophic injuries related to cheerleading must be reported to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research.