Stacie Willoughby

English Composition

Professor Sandy-Smith

November 17, 2020

Literature Review

Why cheerleading is a demanding and credible sport. Cheerleading is an activity that is

highly controversial. Some see it as just a fun thing to do. The amount of work and time that gets

put into cheerleading is just a smooch if not more than any other sport. The commitment and

time that is put into this sport are unmatched. With cheerleading becoming more accepted as a

sport, it is important for people to not categorize all cheerleaders the same. Cheerleading comes

with many different levels. Throughout time cheerleading has evolved tremendously. It has

become more demanding and competitive.

The key points that were discussed throughout all of the sources are the reasons why

cheerleading is a sport. The time and effort put into the sport. The articles and interviews all talk

about how the sport is demanding. They talk about the amount of time and labor that is put into

cheerleading. The physical toll it takes on a person. The work that gets put into cheerleading is

just a smooch as football, basketball, baseball, etc. “Cheerleaders are athletes that work hard and

are dedicated to the sport of cheerleading”(Carpenter1). A sport is when athletes learn and

practice a specific game/ routine. A cheerleader learns a routine and practices it over and over
again to perform at a competition. “Cheerleading presentations are judged on originality of

choreography, the athleticism of athletes, showmanship….”(Boyce1). The articles call

cheerleaders athletes. When doing a sport you are considered to be an athlete.

The amount of work that goes into cheerleading is major. Cheerleaders have to go to

practice, workouts, tumbling lessons, jump classes, etc. Outside of the mandatory practices.

Cheerleaders have to go to tumbling classes. Not only are these classes hard, but they are also

competitive. Being in a gym full of cheerleaders, you are constantly trying to be better than one

another. This pushes you to be a better athlete and cheerleader. In a cheerleading routine, there is

synchronized tumbling. This then comes to the team tumbling practices. This is when you are

throwing your tumbling pass over and over to get the timing down with your other teammates. In

order to have the endurance to do this, the teams will have conditioning/ lifting days. This is

when the team has a day of just conditioning and working out their bodies. This prevents

injuries, lack of endurance, and fit bodies.

Misconceptions about cheerleading being a sport are the basic stereotypes. People think

of cheerleading as waving pom-poms and dancing around. Although this is a part of

cheerleading, there are a lot of physical things that have to be done. There is a particular way to

do the motions that create the cheers. “...when it is simply yelling into the crowds…”(Betts1).

Most of the misconceptions about cheerleading not being a sport are from those who have never

seen more than a Friday night football game. When the average person thinks of cheerleading,

the image they have in their head is far from what it takes to be an All-Star cheerleader. Other
sports think that cheerleading is not a sport because they don’t see all of the work that goes into

what cheerleaders do.

Cheerleading is a hard sport. The countless hours and hours put into cheer are the same as

any other sport. The physical contact with teammates and coaches is hard. The dedication that

these athletes put into their sport is hard work. The practices every week, the games, tumbling

lessons, and conditioning is a time-consuming thing. Learning a two minute and 30-second

routine while trying to showcase extreme difficult skills is a challenge. Teams practice year-

round for two major competitions that can win the gold medals. The unlimited full outs at

practice before the weekend of competition has athletes puking, crying, doubting themselves.

Fighting your own teammates to get a place on the mat is not only competitive but hard on each

individual knowing that their spot is never guaranteed. In most sports, every player gets the

chance to play. In cheerleading, you have to fight for what you want. If you aren’t the best, you

won’t be in the routine. The level of difficulty that cheer encounters are well overlooked. The

sport is not easy and should be respected.

Boyce, Rebecca. “Cheerleading in the Context of Title IX and Gendering in Sport.” Sport

Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, Oct. 2008, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=ehh&AN=57121870&site=eds-live.

This article written by Rebecca Boyce is very descriptive, thorough, and informational.

The information in this article helps breakdown the definition of a sport and how cheerleaders fit

the qualifications to be considered a sport. The article talks about all of the things that

cheerleaders experience when they participate in this sport. The effects it has physically and

mentally is tremendous. The struggles that cheerleader’s recognition as a sport is looked past has

been helped by the Title IX legislation.

Carpenter, Christen. “Proof That Cheerleading Is a Sport - How Far Cheerleading Has

Come.” Chasse Cheer Blog, Chasse, 13 Feb. 2018,

www.chassecheer.com/blog/lifestyle/proof-that-cheer-is-a-sport/.

The article written by Christen Carpenter is the explanation of why cheerleading is a

sport. Explaining the definition of a sport and then stating specific correlations to it
 makes this source credible. Talking about the different types of cheerleading and how

each one works. The emphasis on All-Star cheerleading is an eye-opener to most people.

When thinking of cheerleading, you think of pom-poms and chanting cheer from the

sidelines. Carpenter explains what All-Star cheer is while telling a personal story of being

a cheerleader.

Popoloski, Dan. “10 Reasons Why Cheerleading Is a Sport.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher

Report, 3 Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/613494-10-reasons-why-cheerleading-

is-a-sport.

This article gives information on 10 reasons why cheerleading is a sport. Starting with the

definition of a sport. He talks about how athletes work, the activity level, and things athletes do

to train for their sports. In all sports, competition is a huge role. In cheerleading, you are always

competing against different teams that are trying to reach the same end goal as you, winning. He

then compares cheerleading to other sports. The article talks about how you have to do other

sports while cheerleading.

Whiteley, Greg. “Cheer.” Netflix Official Site, Netflix, 8 Jan. 2020,

www.netflix.com/watch/81039393?trackId=13752289.

The is a source that can really visualize what cheer is. This documentary will take you

along for the long journey of a college cheerleading team. It will show you the competition with

just your teammates in trying to reserve a spot for yourself on the mat. It shows the brutal

practices, the never-ending conditioning, the lectures, the injuries, the pain and tear, and the
happiness as a team. The series shows from start to finish what it takes to get ready for the

National Championship in Daytona, Florida.

Kauffman, Jessica. Telephone interview. Conducted by Stacie Willoughby, 13

November 2020.

This interview is coming straight from a cheerleader herself. In this interview, I asked

questions from the beginning of her cheerleader career until the last day of it. Jessica told

me it started when she was seven years old. Starting tumbling classes at the gym. Starting

in third grade. Practices were two times a week for two hours. This was aside from the

motion and jump classes. As she got older, cheer became more demanding. She was

practicing eight hours a week for two sideline teams. Also being a part of the competition

team, she was practicing another four hours a week.