JAIME'S OPINION........

CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT

We have all heard the opinion that cheerleading is not a sport. The fact that we don't tackle our opponents to the ground for a ball does NOT mean that we are not athletes. We work just as hard as "real athletes" work. Our practices are just as intense and competitions are just as intense as a football or basketball game. Cheerleading, unlike most, is not a selfish one. Part of being on a cheerleading squad is appreciation and cheering for for our fellow athletes. The same athletes that insult the sport. What is it that qualifies an activity to be a sport? Is it the ball? No, can't be the sweat, cheerleaders sweat just as much. Is it the practice? Nope, our practices are more intense than many other sports practices. The audience? No, can't be that either. So WHAT is it?! Cheerleading takes just as much dedication and skill as any other sport, and sometimes it takes more. The problem is that other athletes have no idea what it takes to be a cheerleader. We make it look easy. We fly through the air with grace, we catch our teammates as though they are feathers floating from the sky. They don't understand the technique and time it takes to master such skills. To us, cheerleading is not a game, like football or basketball, cheerleading is a way of life. Cheerleading more than any other sort, teaches important skills such as cooperating. Lets face it, if a cheerleading squad can't cooperate, stunts can't hit and people get hurt. Other sports ENCOURAGE team cooperation, and they may lose a game if they fail to cooperate; but overall, no one gets hurt. What does a "sport" have that we don't? We practice, compete, have rules, go through training, sweat, fall, get hurt, and dedicate our lives to cheerleading....there is NO REASON why cheerleading should not be considered a sport.