Cheerleading as a Sport

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that cheerleading is a sport. The paper provides a definition of what constitutes a sport and discusses why many people refuse to acknowledge or accept cheerleading as its own sport. The paper then describes historical stereotypes of cheerleading and explains how cheerleading, in fact, fits into the definition of sport very well.

From the Paper:

"The true problem is that when we think about athletes and competitive sports, there is usually a lots of sweat, body contact and maybe some dirt and blood. By those standards, cheerleading is just like any sport. Cheerleaders perform for short bursts at a time, giving their performance all they have to do the best job they can, just as hockey players go on and ff the ice after a fast play or a period of rapid skating. Cheerleaders sweat, but it is often masked by their makeup, their quick movements and the lack of coverage when they are off stage, whereas football players are often seen resting on sidelines with sweat dripping off them. Cheerleaders have lost of body contact, but for them it is part of the event - a requirement and a test of physical ability in many ways similar to boxing. And there is blood and dirt, with scrapes, falls and broken bones. All in all, cheerleading may not be the messiest sport, but just because they look nice and perform in unison does not mean they are some of the strongest and most talented athletes around - and well deserving of recognizing their craft as a legitimate sport."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brady, Erik. "Cheerleading in the USA: A sport and an Industry." USA Today 26 April 2002: 1a.
• Campo-Flores, Arian. "Drills and Spills." Newsweek 31 Oct. 2005: 48-49.
• Campo-Flores, Arian. "Cheerleading Gets Tough." Newsweek 21 May 2001: 50.King, Kelly. "Cheesecake Sport." Sports Illustrated 4 Nov. 2002: 72-73.
• "Cheerleading Becomes a Varsity Sport." National On-Campus Report 1 May 2004: 5.
• "Cheerleading Fun Facts." About.com 2006. 3 Oct. 2006 <http://cheerleading.about.com/od/cheerleadingfunstuff/l/blfunfacts.htm>

More papers on Cheerleading as a Sport:

• Persuasive Essay # 75247 : "Cheerleading is a Competitive Sport"
• Analytical Essay # 33203 : "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"

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