Cheerleading Arguments

An Argument on Cheerleading The announcer’s voice echoes through the fieldhouse saying “You may begin when ready.” This is the exact moment when every cheerleader about to perform takes their last deep breath before embarking on their two-and-a-half-minute routine filled with exhilarating music, breathtaking tumbling, and heart stopping stunts. This feeling is experienced not only by cheerleaders about to compete, but by every athlete before a big game, when they are shooting a free throw, or kicking a field goal. Although most Americans view cheerleading only as an activity where ditsy girls in short skirts cheer on their school’s football team, cheerleading has much more substance; it involves traveling to major competitions, possibly getting

The American Medical Association says “cheerleading should be considered a sport because of its rigors and risks” (Bonesteel 3). Doctors are seeing more and more cheerleaders coming into the emergency rooms with copious amounts of injuries. As of 2007, more than 26,786 cheerleading injuries were complications with the head and neck (Mueller 11). Because of this exact reason, and fatal catastrophes, states and cities all across the country have banned stunting. Cheerleading is also very high up on the list of women’s sports that cause the most injuries. Because it is not full contact like soccer and rugby, cheerleading gets overlooked many of times for injuries. Along with head and neck injuries, cheerleading is putting a strain on parts of the body that are not commonly used, making it just as likely to pull a muscle or tear an ACL as it is in football or soccer (“Make Cheerleading a Sport” 9). While the dangers of cheerleading are severe, they could be controlled with the simple act of making cheerleading a sport. Dr. Fred Mueller, a supporter of making cheerleading a sport, said “the primary benefit of officially recognizing competitive cheer as a sport is that it would allow the athletes on these teams access to the resources provided to traditional athletes.” The benefits of cheerleading becoming a sport include, but are not limited to, certified trainers, qualified coaches, and access to equipment that is safe and protective (Zeigler 18). Football has a set of rules and regulations for safety like wearing helmets and pads to help prevent serious injury. Cheerleading, being one of the most dangerous activities, should be provided with a set of rules similar to those of football. This could possibly cause the rate of hospitalization to go down for