OPINION: Should cheerleading be considered a sport

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The activity known for keeping things upbeat and positive - cheer. That may make us wonder, is cheer a sport?

Cheer consists of two major genres, which are sideline cheer and competition cheer.

The two of them are very different. To start, I believe that competition cheer is a sport, but sideline cheer is not.

Competition cheer includes that competitiveness that comes to mind when we think of a sport. For example, think of basketball.

Basketball is a sport because it’s competitive and requires a lot of physical work. Sideline cheer is not competitive and requires a small amount of physical work. Competition cheer, on the other hand, requires both competition and a lot of physical work.

Competitive cheerleaders spend a lot of time working and trying to remember their routines. It takes a lot of time and energy. It deserves to be a sport.

The purpose of sideline cheer is to boost school spirit by engaging fans, chanting and building up energy.

Sideline cheer is during fall and winter months in the basketball and football seasons.

A moderate amount of commitment is needed, with practices a few times a week as well as the actual games that need to be attended.

According to Scoreboard Fundraising, the purpose of competition cheer is to train for months, perfecting a short routine that will be judged based on difficulty, technique, creativity and synchronization to earn scores and titles.

Competition cheer is primarily year-round, especially in the winter and spring months. A lot of commitment is needed.

Sport or not, cheer is highly beneficial. It offers incredible opportunities for growth, teamwork and personal achievement.

CHEERLEADER LINE - Gracie Springbett, Ella Wagenknecht, Aubree Broekemeier and the other cheerleaders stand in line to lead a cheer during the homecoming football game. Photograph by Kate Miller