Is cheer considered a sport? A lot of people think that cheer isn’t a sport. Well, the definition of sport is any competitive physical activity. People may think cheerleaders as “Oh, they’re just a bunch of stuck-up girls who don’t care about anything except how they look.”. The truth is, cheerleading is a very physically and demanding sport alongside football, basketball, etc. Cheerleaders warm up just like other sports. They run a lot and do conditioning, especially with abs and body strength. They make us hold a plank for minimum of one minute as well as side planks. There’s also a lot of stunting involved; it’s not as easy as it looks. The bases have to hold up and 80 to 100 pound girl, and keep her in the air. It’s very easy to get hit too when catching the flyers.

Cheerleaders have to be able to tumble and do flips and tricks. Whenever they tumble, they have to have enough power to actually do the trick. While in the air, they have to squeeze tight and finish the trick before they even think about landing. The landing has to be timed just right, if not it could result in injuries: broken ankles, legs, arms, and sometimes concussions. Cheerleaders practice 2-3 hours a day, many days a week. At competitions, the goal is to win and get first just like football and basketball. A stunt doesn’t hit? Deduction. Tumbling doesn’t land? Deduction. Transitioning isn’t right? Deduction.

It’s not all just peppy, happy cheering. Cheerleading is a real sport.