Cheerleading has many different variations, similar to any activity. But the debate of whether or not it is a sport has been ongoing since the beginning.

Competitive cheerleading is its own branch of cheerleading. Athletes perform a two minute and thirty second routine that includes stunting, tumbling, and jumping. Levels of competitive cheerleading range from one to six, with each level varying in required tumbling and stunting abilities.

Tumbling and stunting skills are very demanding, especially during a routine. Stunting is when a flyer is tossed into the air and caught by the bases underneath at any level. Stunts in level six include many twisting skills and coed stunts, where there is only one base to throw and catch the flyer alone. These skills are very physically and mentally demanding. Though a routine of two minutes and thirty seconds may seem like nothing, most routines are jam-packed with these different skills throughout its entirety.

Every competitive team travels near and far to cheerleading competitions. Through November to May, there are competitions nearly every weekend that are held all over the world. Each competition generally accumulates at least 100-200 cheer teams, depending on size and popularity of the event.

The definition of a sport, according to Oxford Dictionary, is, “An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Competition cheerleading requires plenty of physical skill. Athletes may train for years in order to acquire the tumbling and stunting abilities necessary to make a cheerleading team. Lifting people over the head and flipping in mid air are both skills that are obtained over time. Also, cheerleading teams compete against other teams for entertainment purposes. So, according to the dictionary definition, competitive cheerleading is a sport.

If cheerleading is a textbook sport, why are there still so many people who don’t agree? Some say it isn’t as difficult as many other sports; a two minute and thirty second routine may not seem hard to someone who has never attempted it. However, throwing multiple tumbling passes and putting up as many stunts as possible within the time frame is no easy task.

There is little to no breathing time in a routine. At any time, a member on the team is doing something from start to finish. That is what makes it so difficult to do, and even more difficult to do it well. If you fall at practice, you do it again and again, no matter how long it may take, until you do it right. This is what competitive cheerleaders train for on a daily basis. They train to hit a routine, no matter what.

Many people have many different opinions, but based on facts and definitions, competitive cheerleading is a sport. It is not easy; athletes train to be the best they can, just like any athlete playing any sport.

Cheerleading should be respected as a sport, and people should take it much more seriously because cheerleaders are athletes, too.