Competitive Cheerleading Not a Sport.

[Wilgrove]

Before I get banned for verbally killing Arborlawn for his antedeluvian views on male/female relations (provided he is serious about them), I leave you with this ...

Replacing volleyball with competitive cheerleading!? I'm with the judge on this one.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/07/2 ... a-sport%2F

I thought cheerleading did have competition....

[You-Gi-Owe]

Before I get banned for verbally killing Arborlawn for his antedeluvian views on male/female relations (provided he is serious about them), I leave you with this ...

Replacing volleyball with competitive cheerleading!? I'm with the judge on this one.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/07/2 ... a-sport%2F

If there are no clear set objective standards, IMHO, it isn't a sport or sports-game.

The more judging becomes a matter of subjective grading, the more it is prone to hijinx.

[Chrobalta]

Both are sports, and both get women dressed in skimpy outfits. What is not to love???

[Risottia]

Replacing volleyball with competitive cheerleading!? I'm with the judge on this one.

And it took a judge to realize that cheerleading isn't a sport?
If cheerleading is a sport, then also tango is a sport...

To be a sport, it must have competition. ...

Ok. So tango IS a sport according to you, since there are tango competitions and tango requires athletic skills.

Btw, I reject your notion of competition being necessary to be defined as sport. Example, mountaineering IS a sport even when you aren't competing against anyone else.

Also, your bit about the spectators is totally irrelevant. The presence of spectators qualify something as a show. It's what the partecipants (contenders) do that can qualify something as a sport.

[Grainne Ni Malley]

Cheerleading requires timing, gymnastics, athleticism, a team... just to name a few off the top of my head. Sounds like a sport to me.

[Risottia]

Cheerleading requires timing, gymnastics, athleticism, a team... just to name a few off the top of my head. Sounds like a sport to me.

Sounds like a dance show to me. Expecially since its focus is on the spectators, not on the athletic gesture per se.

[Sarzonia]

Sounds like the judge has a sports journalist's sense instead of a newspaper publisher's.

Good ruling.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

The one activity I could never call a sport is chess.

Its just a conspiracy by Nerds to make themselves seem more athletic.

[Grainne Ni Malley]

Cheerleading requires timing, gymnastics, athleticism, a team... just to name a few off the top of my head. Sounds like a sport to me.

Sounds like dance to me.

There are a lot of Olympic sports you would consider to be "dancing", I imagine.

[Risottia]

Btw, I reject your notion of competition being necessary to be defined as sport. Example, mountaineering IS a sport even when you aren't competing against anyone else.

What definition are you going from to state that mountaineering is a sport?

Physical activity done for one's own amusement. (see the etymology of "sport").

[Risottia]

Cheerleading requires timing, gymnastics, athleticism, a team... just to name a few off the top of my head. Sounds like a sport to me.

Sounds like dance to me.

There are a lot of Olympic sports you would consider to be "dancing", I imagine.

Exactly.
The difference between dancing (a show) and a gymastics competition (a sport) would be where the focus lies. If the main focus lies on the physical activity itself, I'd say it's a sport. If the main focus likes on how much the onlookers (eventual judges included) enjoy the display, I'd say it's a show.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Btw, I reject your notion of competition being necessary to be defined as sport. Example, mountaineering IS a sport even when you aren't competing against anyone else.

What definition are you going from to state that mountaineering is a sport?

Physical activity done for one's own amusement. (see the etymology of "sport").

Bit too vague.

[Risottia]

Bit too vague.

edit: See the post above for a reply - well, not a reply, more like a better try.

[Risottia]

And when the judges are scoring based on the difficulty of each move you come into a difficult area where the two points meet. The cheerleaders are focusing on the physical activity to impress the judges.

And the whole concept of that physical activity is "trying to persuade the spectators to support a team over another", so generally I'd say it's more of an artistical thing (a show) than of a sport.
But I agree that I'm trying to split hairs here - and an arbitrary hair, too.

[Grainne Ni Malley]

Cheerleading requires timing, gymnastics, athleticism, a team... just to name a few off the top of my head. Sounds like a sport to me.

Sounds like dance to me.

There are a lot of Olympic sports you would consider to be "dancing", I imagine.

Exactly.
The difference between dancing (a show) and a gymastics competition (a sport) would be where the focus lies. If the main focus lies on the physical activity itself, I'd say it's a sport. If the main focus likes on how much the onlookers (eventual judges included) enjoy the display, I'd say it's a show.

Judging Form for Cheerleading Competition:
http://www.cu-portland.edu/lest/documen ... _judge.pdf

Looks like there's plenty of focus on the physical activity. The inclusion of choreography doesn't mean it's "just a dance".

[Dakini]

This has gone so wrong so quickly.

It's NSG, what do you expect?

The whole thread is perposterous anyway, since Cheerleading is the most dangerous sport since gladitorial combat. Seriously.

So what is it about men that they won't watch a woman's sport unless it involves skimpy costumes and near mortal danger for the women?

Because its the only women's sport thats very competitive?

Volleyball isn't a competitive sport?

Hell, I thought that most sports were competitive, this is what distinguishes them from games.

[Sarzonia]

The one activity I could never call a sport is chess.

Its just a conspiracy by Nerds to make themselves seem more athletic.

So is using the term "mathletes". God I hate that term.

[Class Warhair]

The one activity I could never call a sport is chess.

Its just a conspiracy by Nerds to make themselves seem more athletic.

Hey! I LIKE chess!

are you looking for a punch in the head?

Pawn to King Four, Punk!

[Glorious Homeland]

Why do the Americans always have to make shit activities up and brand them "sports" so the participants can't get upset in knowing they're just competing in an activity, rather than being glorified for doing it?

No, cheerleading is not a sport, televised "professional wrestling" is not a sport, eating is not a sport. All shit ideas. Let's try to be conservative rather than progressive when it comes to such definitions and classifications, please.

[Dakini]

Why do the Americans always have to make shit activities up and brand them "sports" so the participants can't get upset in knowing they're just competing in an activity, rather than being glorified for doing it?

No, cheerleading is not a sport, televised "professional wrestling" is not a sport, eating is not a sport. All shit ideas. Let's try to be conservative rather than progressive when it comes to such definitions and classifications, please.

Let's not forget poker.

[Maurepas]

This has gone so wrong so quickly.

It's NSG, what do you expect?

The whole thread is perposterous anyway, since Cheerleading is the most dangerous sport since gladitorial combat. Seriously.

So what is it about men that they won't watch a woman's sport unless it involves skimpy costumes and near mortal danger for the women?

Because its the only women's sport thats very competitive?

Volleyball isn't a competitive sport?

Hell, I thought that most sports were competitive, this is what distinguishes them from games.

Games should also be competitive...extremely competitive,

[Class Warhair]

Why do the Americans always have to make shit activities up and brand them "sports" so the participants can't get upset in knowing they're just competing in an activity, rather than being glorified for doing it?

No, cheerleading is not a sport, televised "professional wrestling" is not a sport, eating is not a sport. All shit ideas. Let's try to be conservative rather than progressive when it comes to such definitions and classifications, please.

Er, why?

"Sport is a sacred institution which is fundamental to our way of life. This forum affirms that the term "sport" refers only to physical activities involving at least one man and one ball"

Really, what does it matter how the word is defined?

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Why do the Americans always have to make shit activities up and brand them "sports" so the participants can't get upset in knowing they're just competing in an activity, rather than being glorified for doing it?

No, cheerleading is not a sport, televised "professional wrestling" is not a sport, eating is not a sport. All shit ideas. Let's try to be conservative rather than progressive when it comes to such definitions and classifications, please.

Er, why?

"Sport is a sacred institution which is fundamental to our way of life. This forum affirms that the term "sport" refers only to physical activities involving at least one man and one ball"

Really, what does it matter how the word is defined?

Defining words are very important to NSG, always have been.

[The Sentenial Empire]

Our school didn't have a Volleyball team of either gender, IIRC, *shrugs*

I don't think of Cheerleading as a sport, but, you know, chess is a sport, and Cheerleading's alot tougher, physically, than that(not that I'm not a fan of chess, I consider myself quite good at it actually, ) , but the fact that they were "required" to have something for the girls to compete in's pretty low. Only thing we didn't have a girls or coed team for was Football, IIRC.

For some cheerleading is a sport...most places they dont care enough to try though

[New new nebraska]

Of course it's not a sport. As stated in the article cheerleadings primary purpose is ti support other teams. Secondly cheerleading is an individual displays of showmanship then subjectively judged. An art or music compition would not be a sport.

To me a sport fits the following criteria: a) relatively high level of athleticism, b) competive, c) defined rules, no judging, scoring/tallying of some form, with dos and don'ts of playing, d) can't be too reliant on equipment (bats,balls,helmets,goals,gloves,etc. are fine. No NASCAR; you must exert the energy to put things in play, e) shouldn't be too violent, there should be some fouls/penalties to keep things from getting out of hand (boxing and wrestling are exceptions), f) as with most things someone should be slightly better at it, the sport should have different levels h.s,colleges,minors,pros, g) it should be able to be tweaked to become more accesible for different areas,age groups, climates etc. For example ice hockey in an arena canove ti a frozen lake or floor hockey in a gym or park on rollerblades or on foot, or with a ball instead of a puck.

Preferably it a team sport but that doesn't exclude it.