Cheerleading, dancing, and gymnastics are NOT sports, no matter how challenging they are, amirite?

Well they all take a considerable amount of energy, skill, and physical ability. I don't see how they aren't sports. Just because they don't work the same way basketball, football, etc. do, doesn't make it any less of a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think that Gymnastics, Cheerleading, and Dance Can Be a Sport. When you are doing them competitively, I see them as a sport. However, if they aren't competitive such as a dance routine or football game cheering, I see them as more of an Art. However, saying that they are an art doesn't mean they aren't hard. Because that's like saying music or acting isn't difficult. They are very difficult! It's just a different classification.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

except thats the point they don't work the same way. sports are sports and those arent sports. i am not putting down them and agree they are incredibly tough. cheerleaders cheer for sports; its not a sport in and of itself.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

why are they not sports? i dont understand why you don't consider them sports. Oh yeah, most cheerleading is competitive and there is a difference between side-line and competitive cheer...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

a sport is "a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. b. A particular form of this activity. 2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. 3. An active pastime; recreation." (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sport) Now, does dance, gymnastics and cheer fit under these circumstances? Yes, most forms of dance, cheer and gymnastics are in fact, sports.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

actually.. in my opinion, a sport is something that involves competition.. movement, and the potential for injury. Cheering for a basketball game is not a sport. But if one cheer team is going up against another cheer team.. then it is. The same with dancing and gymnastics... If you enter a competition it becomes a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

So....cheerleading (high kicks, flying in the air, backflips... and much more) don't have the potential for injury?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

it does. but if its not competitive its not a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

well not in my opinion

by Anonymous 13 years ago

how so? cheering on the side of a field is not a sport because its not competitive.. listen im not taking anything away from cheerleading... but a sport is a competitive activity. THAT IS NOT CHEERLEADING

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i love you forever and ever

by Anonymous 13 years ago

bahaha. i love you too...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You can do competitive cheerleading so this is ridiculous, cheerleading is a sport so get over yourself

by Anonymous 11 years ago

competitive cleerleading IS a sport even though they are not recognized as sports. Cheering at footballs games aren't sports

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i agree that cheerleading is a sport, but dance and gymnastics are

by Anonymous 13 years ago

oops i meant cheerleading ISNT a sport ha. dance and gymnastics definitely are

by Anonymous 13 years ago

clearly you have never tried gymnastics before

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Competitive cheer is a sport. High school cheerleaders don't do much. But my friend works for HOURS a week to get things down. I could never do anything she can. You have to be extremely fit to do what she can do. You're a very ignorant person if you base your opinion on what is a sport on football, soccer, etc.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

yes the other sports seem kinda lame next to gymnastics and cheerleading

by Anonymous 9 years ago

Dancing and gymnastics are sports, but cheerleading is not.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I agree with what people are saying. If you enter competitions and pratice hard, it should be considered a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

so are you saying marching band is a sport?? we enter competitions and practice hard. a good band will practice harder than any other group (cheerleading, football, ect.). BAND is NOT a SPORT!! yes i am in a top ranking band, but only nerdy losers call it a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Depends on the part of the band. I'm in the colorguard, it's basically a mix of dance and flag/rifle/sabre spinning, and if you saw the arm muscle our guard has built, you'd know it takes physical ability. And sometimes certain sections(or maybe its just me) have to march like 60 yards in 16 counts. which is basically running. I agree that the instrument playing isn't much of a sport, but the guard part definitely is.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Why is gymnastics an olympic SPORT then?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't understand how when you take it out of the context of competition cheerleading isn't a sport when they still perform all the same actions they would if they were in a competition. Whether or not they're competing against other cheer teams or not they're athletes and not a lot of people can do what they do. Same thing goes for dancing and gymnastics.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm torn on this Gymnastics-I agree, I'm only hesitant because you're not competing AGAINST anybody, which I think you need for a sport Dance (which to me means like poms)-No, if dancing is a sport, shouldn't musicals count as sports too then Cheerleading-This is the toughest one. I think we all agree that cheerleading at football/basketball games don't count as sports. When you get to competitions I'm not sure. I can't say either way and be totally sure. However, the national association of cheerleading coaches does not consider cheerleading a sport, but rather an "athletic activity." And also, a college in Connecticut (I forget the name), is trying to pass cheerleading as a sport under Title IX, so the legal system will decide for us soon.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

what do you mean, you don't compete against anybody in gymnastics. In football, you, backed with your entire team, compete against one other team. In gymnastics, you alone are competing against every single other gymnast at the competition, including the ones one your own team. That can be over 100 competitors in one meet. Even as a team, you're competing against dozens of others. Yes, you are competing AGAINST somebody.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I mean other people's performances have no effect on yours. In football it's offense vs. defense. In gymnastics, you're only focused on yourself, it doesn't matter what the other people do (Until it comes to awards of course).

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well, in Gymnastics, you are trying to get a higer score than other people. Other people's performamces do have an effect, if say the shoo-in doesn't stick her vault.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

To everyone who thinks dancing is a sport, is this a sport then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k&feature=related Skip to like 1:00 if you just want to see the dance, but watch the whole thing if you want a smile :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

A sport is something that u PLAY in my book... "lets go PLAY football" "Lets go PLAY soccer" ect..... These are there own activities. "Lets go dance" "lets go cheer" ect........couldnt think of a verb for gymnastitcs....

by Anonymous 13 years ago

What you are looking for is DO. "Let's go DO gymnastics"..... :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

"let's go PLAY swim" is swimming not a sport too then?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

oh so hopscotch is a a sport? Lets go play hide and go seek? Lets play tag? besides the rules of soccer are easy, kick the ball around people get pass the defenders and goalie and kick the ball into a net

by Anonymous 9 years ago

pro wrestling could count as a sport. Even though it is "staged", the wrestlers have to train a lot and practice moves to try and prevent injury. The main part of the ring is WOOD. There is a very high chance of getting injured.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

even when dancing isn't competitive it's still a sport. You have practices and training and technique and some studios have a big show at the end of the season, you could think of that as a "game."

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You try training 20 hours a week! It's tough! That's just for a competive gymnast not an elite one. Try holding a handstand for a minute. Need a lot of muscle for that don't you? Plus to capedcrusader you do compete against other people that's why they get medals at the olympics. We run just as much as a soccer player, require just as much coordination as a basketball player, and as much stamina as a cross country runner. And guys ever tried to do the iron cross? I don't think there is one football player who has the muscle, balance and coordination to do that. I can assure you that after one day of even a level 5 gymnast would make you sore for a week. Really gymnastics is a sport! My favorite quote? "gymnastics isn't easier because then it would be called football"

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't count them as sports because they're judged :|. Definite sports have a point system... Maybe they should have their own category? Sports that are judged or something @_@

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Have you ever heard of a perfect ten? There are points. If you hit the right skills you get a certain amount of points and the person with the most points win.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You have obviously never tried gymnastics if you think it isn't a sport. It fits every definition of a sport and is 10x more challenging than football, basketball, baseball, etc. And for people that say you have to be competing against other people for it to be a sport, what do you think a gymnastics COMPETITION is? You're not competing against a single other team; you're competing against every other person out there.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

http://www.robotswithfeelings.com/2010-06-14/cheerleading-is-dangerous

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'll agree with you on dancing and cheerleading, but gymnastics is defiantly a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay people here need to stop getting offended, when people say it's not a sport they don't necessarily mean that it's not harder than football or whatever.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

WTF as far as im concerned anything requiring physical training and competition is a sport. i do lacrosse, softball and gymnastics and i have say that gymnastics is by far the most intense and competive of the three. i cant speak for cheerleading and dance but i assume they feel similiarly

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i play softball and it is probable the easiest sport in the world but thats the thing its a sport and everyone knows it. if you have to argue that something is a sport so intensely then its probable not a known sport. nobody sits down to the tv and hopes cheerleading is on or gymnastics and in fact they never are. GO WATCH ESPN and tell me what time dance is on because it will never be.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

right, which is why you posted this amirite and why you replied to this comment. does ESPN define what a sport is? like does MTV define what music is? and anyways, ESPN does show college gymnastics and cheerleading competitions, and i'm not sure but i think they show dance team nationals, not that it matters. if gymnastics isnt a sport, then what is it? an activity? like scrapbooking? just try to convince anyone that gymnastics and scrapbooking are more alike than gymnastics and an "actual" sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think gymnastics is a sport, but cheerleading and dancing aren't

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i do gymnastics not cheerleading or dance but even i have to admit that the others are sports, and much better to watch or do

by Anonymous 9 years ago

Wow, you obviously have never been in any of these. If dancing was any easier, it would be called football.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

how is gymnastics and dancing a sport but COMPETITIVE cheerleading isnt ? cheerleaders have competitions.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Does it have any potential for being in the olympics?then its a sport!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Only competitive cheerleading is a sport. Middle school/high school cheerleading is just an activity for snotty beeyotches.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Dancing IS A SPORT. We have just as much training and technique and practices as any other sport. I know girls that are in the Dance Studio 7 days a week for hours. We have shows and competitions and we compete against individuals and groups. My mom works at a hospital and they have a special clinic specifically for dancers to help treat their injuries. So dance is definitely a sport. IN FACT, some pro football players TAKE DANCE to help them with coordination on the field. And yes, I agree you can't win at dance or gymnastics or cheerleading in the same sense you do in football etc. but either way, you're still proud of yourself when you do win right? So does it matter the sense you win in which to classify it as a "sports win"? And another thing, do you KNOW how much GUTS it takes to get out there dance or cheer or do gymnastics? With all eyes watching you? Most of the time, if not all the time, (with the exception of cheerleading) you're all alone out there.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I love you.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Gymnastics & competitive cheerleading are officially sports. But, dancing, however, is not. It's an activity that takes a lot just like football or any other "sport" does, but as far as defintion goes, it's not a sport, so GTFover it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There are dance competitions though. And the dancers can get hurt from all the training they do. Some people devote their whole lives to it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay, here's my taking: Dance is a sport; I did it for 3 years, and I won't lie; I was usually pretty tired at the end of practice. Gymnastics is a sport, too, because, I mean, look how skinny gymnasts are! Tell me how you can be that small and not have gotten a workout. Cheerleading, in my opinion, is not a sport. It's a watered-down version of gymnastics. I will give cheerleading this, though: not everyone can do a backflip. But all in all, cheerleading is a bunch of over-spirited girls clapping & jumping on the sidelines.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

How is dancing a sport? That makes no fucking sense. You're not even on a team. Cheerleading is the only sport of the three.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Gymnasts can do everything cheerleaders can do.We can tumble.And before you say anything about flying, we don't need people to throw us in the air.We do it ourselves.We do back handsprings on 4 inches of wood covered in leather.We run at full speed towards a stationary object and flip ober it.We swing fromwooden rods at high speeds ten feet above the ground. One day in a level four gymnastics class,,and you will be more sore than if you did ten cheerleading competitions in a row. Gymnasts are also on teams.We work hard to make the team,,stay on the team, and compete for the team, in addition to working hard for ourselves. Gymnastics is more of a sport than Cheerleading can ever be. I like cheerleading, but just remember every gymnast can be a cheerleader,, but not every cheerleader can be a gymnats.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

'cheerleading is the only sport of the three' sorry, what? gymnastics is clearly a sport

by Anonymous 10 years ago

cheerleaders yell and scream and have no muscle because they are too busy putting makeup on it is a sport but definitely not the hardest gymnastics is of a sport out of the three and dance has a few of the elements in gymnastics sorry if i sound mean but it is just my opinion so it really doesn't matter

by Anonymous 9 years ago

This is not about how hard they are. They are EXTREMELY hard and i was never able to do them. but i play ice hockey and thats a sport and is probably the same amount of dedication and work. if anyone plays hockey they know how time consuming it is and i played for two teams. the issue isnt about how hard or challenging they are its about the concept of what a spot is or isnt. and i think that it should be unanimous. tell me one person that doesnt think football isnt a sport. but you can find a whole bunch of people thinking cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics arnt. sry.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

in my opinion it doesn't matter if football is or isn't a sport, people say it is a sport and there isn't one person who says it isn't but a lot of people especially gymnasts know that it, even though causes a lot of injuries, isn't the hardest sport

by Anonymous 9 years ago

okay, i am a cheerleader and a volleyball player. They both take a lot of effort. i have to run everyday for both sports. I would say cheerleading is actually harder than most sports because i think i have gotten kicked in the face or fallen on the floor more times than i can even count. So, cheerleading IS a sport because more work and effort is put in than most sports.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

really? i've done all three of those. they're all sports. I dare you to go to a cheering practice. watch what we go through. I'd like to see you tumble with the risk of getting hurt, lift someone, or be lifted. you're being lifted by other people. one wrong move, and one or all of you could get hurt. i get kicked in the face at least once a practice. we just get right back up and keep going, no matter how much it hurt. go to a competition. some teams have INCREDIBLE routines that take time and skill to get perfect. we have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to show the judges what we can do. there is no room for screwing up. my team has been state champs for the past 6 years. we recently got the highest score in state history, and probably as close to perfect as you can get. that takes skill. take it from someone who has been cheering for almost 10 years, it's a sport.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I have done all three of these competatively and I personally think dancer, gymnasts, and cheerleaders deserve more credit. We train hard, you must be incredibly fit, and you compete for being the most skilled and technically acutate. Judges are like referees they just decide if it was correct or not not if it was pretty because we are real athletes girls who want to play dress-up cause we that is what Halloween Is for. Looking pretty is just a bonus to these sports.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Dance is DEFINITLEY a sport, people always count it out because they dont know how hard and challenging it is.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think a few of the reasons people don't understand how hard dancing is is because 1.) They've never competitively danced and don't understand the training or strength involved and 2.) Dancers make it look so easy by their gracefulness making it seem like not that much is involved.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

you took the words right out of my mouth

by Anonymous 9 years ago

i agree, dance is a sport for sure.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

yeah i compete in dance competitions, its totally a sport!!!!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

im not even in dance and i know its a tough sport

by Anonymous 9 years ago

all 3 of them ARE sports; you have to remember routines, just like you have to remember plays for basketball, football, etc. and all 3 take physical abilities just like any other sport. if you think they take nothing, then i want to see a team of basketball players do a cheer, after doing back flips and throwing people into the air.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think gymnastics and cheerleading are sports, but dancing is an athletic artform. I'm a dancer myself so don't attack me.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Cheerleading and gymnastics are sports. Dancing is an art form. (I'm a dancer, don't judge me)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Gymnastics=Sport,Dance=Artsy sport,Cheerleading=Activity A.K.A NOT a sport!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Are you kidding me? If gymnastics isn't a sport then I don't what is. The distinction (which you seem to find extremely difficult to make), is that gymnastics is an individual sport while football is a team sport. Gymnastics requires so much mental confidence, determination, and ability that it makes team sports like football look like a joke. Gymnasts are athletes in the complete sense of the word.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

So true, people think it's too different from football because it's not a team sport

by Anonymous 10 years ago

so true

by Anonymous 9 years ago

Gymnastics is a sport. Last time I checked, gymnastics was in the olympics. The olympics is for sports. I don't see softball or basketball there. So are those real sports since they aren't in the olympics? Obviously not. The olympics is for sports. It's either they aren't a sport, or nobody actually cares about them as much.

by Anonymous 4 years ago