Do you think cheerleading is a sport?
Whether you agree or disagree with the classification, in the eyes of New York State it now is.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced on Monday that the Department of Education is making cheerleading an official sport.
Cheerleading will now be subjected to the same student eligibility standards as other athletes, plus its coaches will be required to undergo certification and safety testing as required of other athletic coaches.
As Donnie Webb points out in the article linked above, Section III has long been a supporter of cheerleading and has advocated for it to be a sport for some time now.
"Section III Executive Director John Rathbun said about 40-45 cheerleading squads participated in this year's Section III championships. They held two different championships in the fall and winter and crowned championship squads in five different classifications.
The cheerleading squads perform a two-and-a half-minute routine in competition that features everything from dancing, cheers and gymnastics to pyramids in which students are hoisted and thrown in the air in what are called stunts. Judges score the squads on the different aspects of their routines.
'It's competitive. It's very, very competitive," Rathbun said. "Those kids work just as hard as other sports teams. A lot of people don't appreciate the effort they put into their craft.'
Nina Baker, the Section III chair for cheerleading and the former cheerleading coach at West Genesee High School, says it is definitely a sport.
"The girls are throwing people in the air and throwing themselves in the air, Baker said. "It's evolved from pom-poms and skirts to gymnastics, dancing, stunting. These kids are true, true athletes and well-conditioned machines. They really are. Its not one of those things where you wake up in the morning and do a routine. It's two and a half hours of hard work (at practice)."
If you want to get technical about the whole thing, here is how Dictionary.com defines a sport.
"1. An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc."
What do you think about New York State's ruling on cheerleading?
Is it a sport?
If you don't think it is, why not?
What is your definition of a sport?
Drop below in the comments section or contact me at the info below and tell us what you think.
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