cheerleading isn't a sport essay

The New York Times

The learning network | is cheerleading a sport.

Is Cheerleading a Sport?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

Two groups have asked the National Collegiate Athletic Association to recognize a version of cheerleading known as competitive cheer as an “emerging sport” for women. In time, this can lead to its being given full status as a championship sport. Do you consider cheerleading a sport? Why or why not?

In “Born on Sideline, Cheering Clamors to Be Sport,” Katie Thomas writes:

While cheerleading evokes images of pompoms and pleated skirts, it has relied on increasingly athletic feats of grace and strength in recent years. As participants have perfected their basket tosses and pyramids, and mounted ambitious floor routines, a complicated and emotional question has arisen: has cheerleading become a true sport? For many women, especially those who worked at the forefront of the push for equality in college sports, the answer for a long time was no. They feared that calling it a sport sent the wrong message to women — endorsing an embarrassing holdover from a time when girls in tight-fitting outfits were expected to do little more than yell support for boys. Those women were also skeptical of high schools and universities that counted female cheerleaders as athletes as a way to evade their obligation to provide opportunities for women in more traditional sports, like softball and soccer. But other women bristled at what felt like an insult. Why should cheerleading not be considered a sport when it required a complex set of technical skills, physical fitness and real guts?

Students: Tell us how you feel about cheerleading — especially whether it should officially be designated a sport. What skills does cheerleading require? How is it like, and unlike, being part of a soccer or gymnastics team, in terms of commitment to practice, physical activity levels and teamwork? Do you think that if cheerleading officially becomes a college sport for women, more people would participate in it in junior high and high school? Why or why not?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Teachers: Here are ideas for using The New York Times for teaching and learning about women.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT! Cheerleading is like every other sport. A sport requires physical activity, strength and competitiveness. Cheerleading fulfil all these requirements! You may think cheerleading is just screaming and jumping? But behind every sport it requires practice.

Cheerleading is clearly not a sport, as evidenced by all the descriptions I’ve seen. But it is definitely a work of art, a spatial drama, a choreographed dance.

Yes, cheerleading is a sport! It may seem easy, but you have to be able to do a lot. Like being flexible, and having strength to lift people. Cheering involves, jumps, tumbling, stunting, dancing, so it’s not just cheers the whole time during a routine. And it takes a lot to get thrown up in the air and do all these crazy stunts when your a flyer. So to me, cheerleading is most definitely a sport and I have been doing it for many years.

this needs to be clarified. school cheerleading is not a sport. competitive/allstar cheerleading is. i am an allstar cheerleader & it is an insult when people. one of the football players on my team says it is harder than football.

Cheerleading has some bits of athleticism in it. But honestly anyone can yell out chants for a school or a team. I mean some things they do like those triple mctwists are very athletic and hard to do but the rest of it where they are flailing their arms everywhere. Gymnastics is a sport but cheerleading i’m sorry is not a sport. It is really something for the crowd to feast their eyes on.

Cheerleading is a sport. I am currently a cheerleader for a all star cheerleading ream called the east coast nitros. & in my opinion cheerleading takes some hardcore work, and it’s some amazing execise. People who say cheerleading is not a sport are probily overweight & cannot fit in the unifor, & have never experienced what it is like to have the amazing opertunity to ba en all star cheerleader. so, like i said CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT!

I would consider cheerleading a sport, it’s athletically challenging, there is risk to injury and I would even go as far as to say it’s probably one of the hardest sports there are. I know people that have been to the ER because of cheerleading accidents and still left with a smile. In football you can look as exhausted as you wish but in cheerleading you have to be on the constant move and still look cheerful and great. Exhaustion and looking bored, angry, and even sad is not an option. Cheerleading meets all the standards and more to be considered a sport.

Cheerleading is definitely becoming a sport. It used not to be nearly as intense, but it is now much more competitive. Just like soccer and football, cheerleading teams require just as much practice to learn all of the crazy stunts they do. In order to be a cheerleader you need to be very flexible and coordinated, where you don’t need to be in many other sports. If cheerleading becomes an official sport for women in college I think that it will become a bigger sport in high school and junior high. Being able to have a cheerleading scholarship would help many with the opportunity of going to college and pursuing their dreams.

In my opinion sports are anything that gets you moving and have a team for and when you have practices to achieve a goal. Therefore I do think that cheerleading is a sport. Another thing that makes me think that it is a sport is that there is a risk of injury. More than 50% of female athletes that get injuries are cheerleaders. Cheerleading is different than any other sports though because it doesn’t include props like balls, nets, rackets etc. but I do think it is a sport.

I personally don’t like cheerleading because I just never have. you have to be flexible and I am not. I don’t think cheerleading is really a sport because you don’t really have competition unless you are in competitive cheer. Cheerleading also requires you to be loud and I am more of a quiet person. I think more people will participate cheer in college because then you actually travel and have competition where in high school it doesn’t really matter to anyone.

I think some types of cheerleading are a sport. I would say that competitive ceerleading is a sport because they do a lot more like throwing people in the air and take a lot of risks just like every other sport. I dont consider cheerleading at football games or basketball games a sport because all they do is yell and move their arms and legs around. It looks like a workout video or something. I hate cheerleading though so I dont really care about it. Its just a bunch of girls yelling and being bubbly.

I don’t really care about cheerleading because I don’t do it and I don’t like to watch it. To be a cheerleader you would have to be strong enough to lift another girl and you would have to have good balance. You have to have the same commitment to cheerleading than any other sport. I don’t think more people would participate in high school if it became an official sport. I don’t think so because the fact that its not a sport shouldn’t matter if you love it.

Cheerleading can be a sport. There are a lot of competitive cheering competitions and other events where people compete against other cheerleading teams. That’s the definition of a sport; a team is put together, people practice and compete, it’s competitive, you can win.

I honestly don’t think cheerleading is a sport, you stand there and yell things. People in the crowd can do what they are doing. Competitive cheerleading is the same besides a couple tumbles, cartwheels, and flips. It should never be designated a sport. Cheerleading requires a loud mouth and a little bit on flexibility. You practice everyday to do the same thing everyday. It is like other sports because you are a team, but is isn’t a sports team. The physical activity isn’t the same as any other sports; other sports have multiple things involved that can potentially hurt you. I don’t think if it was classified as a sport more people would participate, not many people like cheerleading. Many girls do it in junior high because of the boys, other than that they don’t care about it.

Cheerleading like other sports has its risks. Therefore I think cheerleading is considered sport. But it also depends on what kind of cheerleading. Side line cheerleading is most definitely not a sport. Simply yelling sportive rhymes, that have matching moves takes no athletic ability of any person. Competitive cheer on the other hand, does demand physical fitness, coordination, and flexibility. There are risks that competitive cheer leaders take when throwing each other in the air and performing dangerous flips and turns.

Cheerleading is not a sport. At no point in time do they put in the extra amount of hours, like you need to in other sports, to become good. I understand that strength and balance are required but, anything that requires just two skills and requires you to yell is not a sport. Until the final round of a cheerleading competition involves tackling, strategy, or physical and mental talent, I will not consider cheerleading even close to a sport.

I think that competitive cheer is a sport you can win competitions and get injured. I also think that side line cheer is not a sport the reason I think that is because the cheer leaders cant win and they cant really get hurt unless the just fall on there own but I don’t think that should count.

I’m not really sure if I would classify cheerleading as a sport or not. It all depends on the person looking at it. I’m not a cheerleader, so I can’t tell anybody whether it is or it isn’t. It does require a lot of practice, hard work, and physical activity, just like any other real sport. Cheerleaders go to competitions just like basketball players go to tournaments. Cheerleading could definitely be classified as a sport.

Okay, this activity is and isn’t a sport. Football Game cheerleading is NOT a sport. Competitive Cheer is a sport. In competitive there is a lot more activity and sporty stuff happening than in Football Season cheerleading where you just practically stand there and look pretty.

Yes, I think cheerleading is a sport. I don’t think sideline is but competitive and all star requires a lot of athletic ability in order to do. Not very many people can do a lot of flips and do choreographed things. I can tell that you have to be really flexible and practice a lot in order to get things down. Performing in front of people also is very stressful, when you’re on a team most people don’t remember if you miss a shot but they will remember if you fall.

Cheerleading is very competitive, and the girls work really hard and strive to be the best. I feel that it should be a designated sport, and supported by the school. Cheerleading requires physical and mental skill, you have to keep up on fitness to be able to lift other girls and throw them 10 feet in the air. For the mental part you must have the right mind set and be able to think about what you’re going to do and plan every move before it done for the safety of the team and yourself. You also have to remember routines and hit your every move perfect or else you will cause the team points. Yes if cheerleading was more honorable and considered a sport I believe more people would get into it, but either way the most dedicated one are going to do it because they love the sport and its what they are going to do regardless of what anyone has to say.

Cheerleading is a sport, but I wouldn’t want to do it. My kind of sport is contact, running, and objects. However I don’t think that side line I a sport. Competitive is though, because you have to have talent and practice at it! You have to be flexible, strong and competitive to do well, which takes a lot out of you. If you don’t have any of these things you will not win. Each sport has different things to be good at, and just because this sport is far different from every other, it doesn’t mean it isn’t a sport. It just takes different qualities and talents for this sport than other sports.

In my opinion I would say no because there is no physical contact and also theres no points scored. Cheerleading is more like a club to a school a lot of voluentering. There is normally fund raisers for cheerleading, so they can even stay at some schools. Its nice to have at some schools for basketball and football so they can cheer on the athletes at the school. Cheerleading was made to help the cheering at sporting events up not to become a sport it helps the athletes playing motivated. So in a nut shell cheerleading is a club to help other sports perform better.

You don’t score points. No physicallity whatsoever. In the end you are judged on points, yes, but those points come from JUDGES which makes it a glorified DANCE recital. Some of the stunts are impressive, I don’t doubt that at all. But so are some things in dance. Cheerleading was originated to cheer on the ATHLETES in real sports.

In my mind cheerleading is not even close to being a sport. It is not competitive and all they do is yell and scream for another team that is playing. So if your cheering on another sport what would you consider that? I know what I would call it, not a sport! Untill there is a ball involved where there is two teams duking it out for a win, I will not consider cheerleading a sport.

What's Next

• Personalize
• myVarsity Account

• Register for Camp
• Why Varsity Camps
• Special Events
• Spirit Days
• Why Varsity Competitions
• Varsity Beauty
• Brand Ambassadors
• Why Choose Varsity
• Junior Varsity Cheer
• Request Catalog
• Campwear and Practicewear
• Outerwear & Warm Ups
• Accessories
• Junior Varsity
• Style Story
• Varsity Reveals
• Fashion FAQ
• Fundraising
• Spirit Raising
• College Job Openings
• The Recreational Summit
• Youth/Rec Event Types
• Divisions & Scoring
• Virtual Events
• Varsity University
• Competition Brochure
• Virtual Competition Series
• End-of-Season Events
• Cheer & DanceABILITIES
• Scoring & Judges
• Design Book
• Dance Design Book
• Fashionistas
• The Faces of Varsity All Star
• Fierce Connection
• Creation Tools
• Classroom Support
• Business Tools
• Printing Capabilities
• Awards & Recognition
• Events & Workshops
• Ads & Dedication
• Why Yearbooks Matter
• Buy a Yearbook
• Customer Service
• Current Advisers
• Buy a Yearbook or Ad
• Yearbook Login
• Performing Arts
• Our Mission & Values
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Philanthropy
• Customer Travel Perks
• Corporate Partners
• Meet the Team
• Varsity Spirit Cares
• Sign Up Now
• Live Stream Schedule
• Sportsmanship
• Athlete Protection
• Mental Health
• Shop Apparel
• Shop Varsity Beauty
• Shop Accessories
• Shop Bags & Backpacks
• Cheer Uniforms
• Dance Uniforms

Cheer Debate: Is Cheerleading a Sport?

Posted February 20, 2018 in Library

Share This Post

Every cheerleader gets fired up when someone tries to argue with them that cheerleading is not a sport. Whether it’s a football player in one of your classes, a teacher who talks down about cheerleading, or a friend who doesn’t understand why you’re not involved in something else “more athletic,” you want people to know that being a cheerleader does make you an athlete!

Usually people make negative comments about cheerleading because they know it gets under your skin, but some people truly believe cheerleading has zero athleticism behind it. So, what can you say to prove them wrong and in turn get a little respect? Remember the best argument is an educated one, so give them the facts!

The truth is, there really isn’t a solid definition of “official” sport. When necessary, the office of Civil Rights makes this determination on a case by case basis. The Women’s Sports Foundation has narrowed the field down of what is considered a sport to these elements that are commonly agreed upon to define a sport:

• It must be a physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. (Stunting… check)! • “Contesting” or competing against/with an opponent is required (Competition… check)! • It must be governed by rules that explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. (Time limit, mat size, score sheets… check, check, check)! • Acknowledgement that the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. (You know those competitions on ESPN? Those are national championships… check)!

So far, cheerleading is four for four! But there are still two more qualifications to meet for cheerleading to be considered a sport. The Women’s Sports Foundation makes it clear that “any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or qualified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as:

1) The physical activity includes the above defined elements (got them!) and… 2) The primary purpose is competition verses other teams or individuals within a competition structure comparable to other ‘athletic’ activities.”

This is where your argument ends. Not because of any physical definition –as you can see cheerleading meets ALL of the athletic specifications, but because cheerleading’s primary purpose to support high school athletic teams, and competition comes second!

The best thing to do when you are in a “Is Cheerleading a Sport” debate is give them all the facts, Even people still don’t believe that cheerleading is not active enough to be considered a sport, at least you know better… and that’s all that matters!

Remember, winning an argument will not necessarily win you other’s respect. “If people don’t respect your program now, just throw the “sport” title around and see how much worse they think of you,” says Jim Lord, Executive Director of AACCA and former University of Kentucky cheerleader. “Respect is earned, and there are plenty of teams that get it by doing what they are supposed to do and by being good role models.” For more information on the Cheerleading as a Sport argument, check out the AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors) website,  www.aacca.org.

Share this post

Related news.

Meet the 2024 Varsity All Star Pinnacle Award Winners

Teamwork, Dedication, Confidence, Leadership – this is The Varsity All Star Pinnacle Award. The Varsity All Star Pinnacle Award was created to recognize athletes that exemplify exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to all star. This award is based on the four characteristics of #AllStarStrong – Teamwork, Dedication, Confidence, and Leadership. Pinnacle Athletes are leaders, encouragers, […]

Benefits of Dance

Being a dancer and part of a Dance Team is more than dancing on the sidelines, supporting your school or performing on the competition stage, hoping to impress the judges and fans. You may not realize it at the time, but the benefits of dance can help you navigate life in a unique and incredible […]

Benefits of Cheer

Being a cheerleader is more than strictly cheering on the sidelines, supporting your school or taking the competition mat, aiming to impress the judges and fans. You may not realize it at the time, but the benefits of cheer will help take you into the next steps of life in a unique and amazing way. While […]

Andrew the Elf: Taking Flight To Save Lives

Over $125,000 raised for St. Jude, and it all started with an elf.  “Your child has been diagnosed with cancer.” It is something we hear far too often these days. It could be a friend, a loved one, someone you work with or even one of your very own athletes. For me personally, I heard […]

Let us know who you are:

Varsity Spirit Customer Service

800-533-8022

Varsity Spirit Corporate

6745 Lenox Center Court, Suite 300 Memphis, TN 38115

back to previous step

What can we help you with?

Welcome to Varsity.com

Tell us what you're interested in.

You can change your selection in preferences later.

Personalize Your Experience

Select your favorite.

Search Varsity.com

What can we help you find?

Why Is Cheerleading Not a Sport?

Jennifer is a prolific writer with over 10 years of experience in online writing. She enjoys creating quotes and poems.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Many people claim that cheerleading is not a sport. The reasons for this are varied, but essentially, cheerleaders have not traditionally competed (this of course is changing and changing rapidly at that), and many people don't consider doing routines a "sport" in the same way that football or basketball is a sport. So is cheerleading a sport? Or is it merely a past time?

Arguments that Cheerleading is Not a Sport

There are many arguments made regarding whether or not cheerleading is a sport. In addition, many people distinguish between a "yell" leader versus a cheerleader who does stunting versus the competitive All Star cheerleader . Can you say that some cheerleading is a sport while other cheerleading is not? That all depends on who you ask and their definition of sports.

• Do Cheerleaders Get Super Bowl Rings?
• Football Cheers & Chants to Get Fans Pumped for the Game
• What to Do Instead of Watching the Super Bowl for Non-Fans

Sports Require Physical Ability or Skill

One definition of sports is that they require some type of physical ability or skill that has to be learned and practiced. While no one would argue that cheerleaders practice, it can be argued that cheerleading, when it is simply yelling into the crowds, does not require a great deal of skill. Anyone can learn routines and yell into the crowd as long as they smile a lot.

Sports Require Competition

With the advent of competitive cheerleading as an activity in its own right, cheerleading can arguably require competition. However, what if the cheerleaders are just clapping and yelling at games? Perhaps the school doesn't compete. Many schools do in fact have cheerleading squads that do not attend competitions. In this case, does cheerleading qualify as a sport? Not according to the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Women's Sports Foundation's definition of a sport. Additionally, having the competitions required to be seen as a school sport would also likely mean that cheerleaders would be unable to support their teams during games.

Sports Require Strategy

Many would say that cheerleading is not a sport because it does not involve a defined strategy. Even if you are on a competing squad, the goal is to get the judges to think that you do your stunts and routine better than the other squads. However, this would also mean that competitive diving, gymnastics and other similar aesthetic activities are not sports either.

Sports Require Contact with an Opponent

Cheerleaders might make contact with their cheer team, but they don't come in contact with opponents even at competitions . This one of the criteria that makes the "not a sport" argument. However, there are other sports without physical contact like golf or swimming.

Sports Have Consistent Divisions

While schools and teams might compete against one another in cheer competitions, school-based cheerleading doesn't have specific recognized divisions like basketball or football. This, according to Deborah Slaner Larkin , Chief of Special Projects at the Women's Sports Foundation, is one of the reasons that cheerleading shouldn't be recognized as a sport.

Problems with Recognizing Cheerleading as a Sport

However, recognizing drill teams, cheerleading and similar activities as a sport gets far more complicated than whether anyone thinks that cheerleaders are athletes. In fact, the debate delves deeper into Title IX politics, and other issues.

Safety Issues

Not recognizing cheerleading as a bona fide sport means that there is no national governing agency, though the International Cheer Union (ICU) has been given provisional recognition , that determines what type of safety training coaches need to have. This also means that cheerleaders at the college level don't have on-site athletic trainers . Orthopedic experts say, after looking at the statistics, that many cheerleading injuries could be prevented with proper safety precautions. As a result, one could easily make the argument that, for the sake of the cheerleaders themselves, cheerleading deserves sport status.

The Politics of Title IX

For almost three decades, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) actually told schools not to include cheerleading as a sport. Why? The OCR has the task of making sure that schools are not gender biased in their offerings. The sports offerings for schools need to be evenly distributed between girls and boys so that the school is not classified as gender biased. To even out the books, schools were told not to recognize cheerleading as a sport. Some schools have gotten around this by offering a both a spirit club and a cheerleading squad . The spirit club primarily cheers at games and the squad that attends competitions.

Competition Eligibility

Some schools are quite content to keep their status as an after-school club. Why? Because becoming an official school sport makes them ineligible to participate in some national cheerleading competitions. While being considered an official sport would increase safety, it would decrease the opportunities that the squad has to show off their skills.

Deciding Whether Cheerleading Is a Sport

Whether or not cheerleading is a real sport is a question that may never be settled. Although there are good reasons to consider it a sport and it certainly meets some accepted criteria of being a sport, there are many who will never consider it more than an after-school club. One thing is certain; cheerleading is increasing in popularity so much that it might launch itself into sport status without having to try very hard.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

Should Cheerleading Be an Olympic Sport?

By Caroline Crosson Gilpin

• Dec. 13, 2016

Watch the video above. Does it accurately depict your image of what cheerleaders are and do?

Are cheerleaders athletes in their own right or just sideshow entertainment for the main athletic event?

In “ Great Moments in Cheerleading: Could the Olympics Be Next? ,” Victor Mather introduces a history of the sport:

In the beginning, it was just a lot of yelling. But cheerleading has evolved since students in raccoon coats first started sis-boom-bahing. Sideline leaps and chants have become part of genuine competitions showcasing serious athleticism. And those contests have expanded from the United States to the rest of the world. Now comes news that cheerleading has received provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee, a pinnacle in a history that dates to the 1800s.

He concludes:

Cheerleading is not yet in the Olympics and perhaps never will be. But with the Olympic committee looking for sports popular with younger viewers — it added skateboarding for 2020 — it certainly seems possible that in 2032, between the team handball and the synchronized swimming venues, we might hear a little “Rah, rah, rah! Minn-e-so-tah!”

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:

— What did you learn about the history of cheerleading, from the article? What did you learn about present-day cheerleading?

— Over the years, cheerleading and cheerleaders, have been subjected to many stereotypes. What are some of them? Has cheerleading evolved into a true competitive sport, and are cheerleaders athletes worthy of respect?

— Do you agree with the International Olympic Committee’s decision to give cheerleading provisional recognition and add it to a list for possible inclusion in the next Olympic Games?

— If, as the article says, the Olympic committee is looking for sports popular with younger viewers, what other sports do you think should be added? Why?

For more information on the IOC’s provisional recommendation for cheerleading and the combat sport Muay Thai, check out this Times article from December 6.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Sorry, cheerleading is not a sport

At its annual meeting in Chicago recently, the American Medical Association unexpectedly voted to adopt a policy designating cheerleading as a sport. It encouraged appropriate accrediting bodies to do the same.

It's about damn time, right?

Not so fast.

The AMA based its decision on an intention to increase safety protocols and funding for high school and collegiate cheer programs, which would be a positive outcome. The problem is that, by declaring cheerleading a sport, the AMA is taking a stance that could effectively eliminate cheerleading as it exists today.

Allow me to explain.

I was a cheerleader at the University of Florida and spent summers teaching at cheerleading camps around the country. After graduating from UF, I spent my first two years in New York City working as an editor for American Cheerleader magazine.

I long ago decided to avoid the cheer-as-sport debate. In this case, though, I must engage.

Cheerleaders are athletes. College cheerleading was as physically demanding and mentally challenging as any activity in which I've participated. It afforded me the opportunity to travel the country, paid for much of my schooling and challenged me athletically on a daily basis.

But cheerleading is not a sport.

Most definitions of "sport" include a focus on competition. That is how the NCAA, the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Women's Sports Foundation define a sport. Oh yeah, Webster's says that too.

Sports teams exist to compete, not to perform and entertain or support another group that competes. In the cheer-as-sport conversation, this is the most important element to understand. One can be an athlete and not participate in a sport. And one can participate in a sport and not be very athletic. By definition, billiards and bowling are sports. Backcountry skiing, climbing, ballet and cheerleading are not. I'm fine with that.

Although the athleticism of cheerleaders has risen dramatically since Johnny Campbell led the first cheers at a University of Minnesota football game in 1898, what hasn't changed is the primary focus of school cheerleading: to promote school spirit, support other teams in competition and provide leadership within the school and community. Because of the highly athletic nature of modern cheerleading, annual competitions were created to showcase these athletes on their own and away from the sidelines, and the sport-or-not debate began.

The competition at high school and collegiate national championships -- some of which are aired on ESPN -- is incredible, but these events take place only once per year. That's not frequently enough to satisfy NCAA, NFHS or Title IX sport requirements. And many teams still choose not to compete at all.

If cheerleading squads began practicing and competing enough to satisfy those requirements, they would be forced to drastically scale back the number of games at which they cheer. Or stop cheering at games entirely. The minute that happens, rest in peace, cheerleading.

For athletes who wish to participate in cheerleading solely to compete, there are private all-star teams and STUNT, a new version of competitive cheer that was developed by USA Cheer, the governing body of cheerleading in the U.S. The goal of STUNT is to provide a means for female cheerleaders to compete in the spring season. It is the fastest-growing high school sport and is seeking emerging sport status from the NCAA. Unlike traditional cheerleading, it also meets Title IX eligibility requirements.

STUNT is a sport, as its athletes participate solely to compete. But it is not cheerleading.

In making its recommendation, the AMA said it believes that defining cheerleading as a sport will cause money from school athletic budgets to flow into cheer programs, allowing for the purchase of mats and safety equipment. Schools will begin to provide the same level of safety training for coaches that other teams receive, and cheerleaders will be granted more access to training facilities.

"The AMA recognizes the potential dangers now associated with cheerleading and believes steps should be taken to ensure the health and safety of individuals who participate in the time-honored tradition," AMA board member Georgia Tuttle, M.D., told espnW. "By designating cheerleading as a sport, those participating will benefit from the same robust safety protocols as other designated sports, including properly trained coaches and adherence to rules for the proper execution of stunts."

That's all great in theory, and the AMA's motives seem sincere. More attention to safety is a wonderful thing. In one of the fairest assessments of cheerleading injuries in recent years, FiveThirtyEight's Walt Hickey examined recent injury reports and found that while cheerleading is not nearly as dangerous as it was previously believed to be, what distinguishes high school cheerleading from almost every sport is that cheerleaders are injured in practice more frequently than in competition. That clearly points toward a need for access to safer practice surfaces and more highly trained coaches.

But that is something that can and should happen whether cheer is defined as a sport or as an athletic activity.

Many leaders in the cheerleading community support the ideal that the AMA is advocating; they just disagree with the method. Bill Seely, the president of USA Cheer, says that while his organization and the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators, the nonprofit safety education association for cheerleading, share the AMA's goal of decreasing injuries, he believes the medical community is coming at the issue from the wrong angle.

"We believe the best approach is not relabeling cheerleading but ensuring all athletes and coaches are trained and certified and all programs adhere to safety rules," Seely said. "Relabeling cheerleading will change its fundamental nature to a purely competitive sport. We're disappointed the AMA made this recommendation without consulting us or reviewing our safety initiatives, but we hope to work with them toward a shared goal of cheerleader safety."

But first, it's cheerleading that needs to be protected.