Page 4 | Is cheerleading a legitimate sport or not? I think it deserves genuine support

TheQuirkyMaker · 2025-11-15T23:09:29+00:00

Here: [[https://youtu.be/fR-z4-2YwS8?si=O4FYDOf26NGj5uYY https://youtu.be/fR-z4-2YwS8?si=O4FYDOf26NGj5uYY]]

Lucelulu · 16/11/2025 18:14

Although the reason it began with men seems to be connected to the fact that women and minorities were not allowed to attend the institutions where it started

RandomMess · 16/11/2025 18:13

If you look up the team performances at “worlds” when they compete as countries they do a chant and a bit of pom Pom at the beginning, this only happens when they compete as a country, you will also notice that their kit is more modest and little “bling” compared to when they compete in their all star teams.

There is guidance around insisting on more modest outfits and the range of age groups etc has been revised and rerevised in recent years to improve safeguarding.

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 18:11

RandomMess · 16/11/2025 18:02

@MasterBeth no they don’t lose marks if they don’t smile. Nor do they receive or lose points on what they do or don’t wear.

Actually I fib if they are not modest enough they can have deductions.

Wow. A modesty clause. How progressive.

Lucelulu · 16/11/2025 18:06

RandomMess · 16/11/2025 17:57

@Lucelulu the roots of sideline Cheer was originally performed by men!

Ooh interesting I didn’t know that and just had a quick look at the history.
Apparently the International Cheer Union got full recognition status by the IOC in 2021 for those discussing. I think from the complete outside the perception is perhaps of the 80’s and 90’s US high school gender stereotypes and women cheering men on

Dozer · 16/11/2025 18:02

@MenoCoach I agree about the awesome athleticism, but in the US show there were clearly a lot of stereotypes about both sexes and homophobia going on. For example, am sure no one batted an eyelid at traditionally masculine, sporty men being the ‘bases’ but presumably there were no male fliers. (When some men have a small, light physique - eg jockeys)

RandomMess · 16/11/2025 18:02

@MasterBeth no they don’t lose marks if they don’t smile. Nor do they receive or lose points on what they do or don’t wear.

Actually I fib if they are not modest enough they can have deductions.

BillieWiper · 16/11/2025 17:59

TheNightingalesStarling · 16/11/2025 17:55

It was a Demo sport... the host country picks them. Next time it includes Flag Football (like Tag rugby) in Los Angeles.

Show quote history

Ah ok. As in each time the host country can pick a certain number of sports to be included just in that one Olympics?

RandomMess · 16/11/2025 17:57

@Lucelulu the roots of sideline Cheer was originally performed by men!

Jc2001 · 16/11/2025 17:57

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:47

If there's an animal in it, it's not a sport.

Show quote history

Yeah, I was agreeing with you.

TheNightingalesStarling · 16/11/2025 17:55

BillieWiper · 16/11/2025 17:51

Yeah, I see no reason against it being in there. I think they withdrew breakdancing sadly though due to the scandal with that Aussie woman!

Show quote history

It was a Demo sport... the host country picks them. Next time it includes Flag Football (like Tag rugby) in Los Angeles.

Bumblebee72 · 16/11/2025 17:52

BillieWiper · 16/11/2025 17:51

Yeah, I see no reason against it being in there. I think they withdrew breakdancing sadly though due to the scandal with that Aussie woman!

Show quote history

You'd hope. Even the better ones were just rolling around on the floor.

BillieWiper · 16/11/2025 17:51

Bumblebee72 · 16/11/2025 17:35

To be fair breakdancing can be the olympics, cheer leading can.

Show quote history

Yeah, I see no reason against it being in there. I think they withdrew breakdancing sadly though due to the scandal with that Aussie woman!

MenoCoach · 16/11/2025 17:49

Lucelulu · 16/11/2025 17:22

because it has its roots - however different it is arguably now - in activity that objectified women for the gaze of men?

Show quote history

Our team had men in it and two of them were huge because they used to be in the football team (great for bases - strong with big hands). I was amazed that they stepped over that line from football to cheer and didn't care what people thought. Nobody seemed to care. They weren't for the male gaze (unless you count gay men?). Times change. Let's just support the young athletes that get so much out of it.

I'll be honest, as a former stunting cheerleader I'm not into the dancing by the sidelines kind of cheerleading. I feel like it was nothing like what we did.

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:48

shakethatshimmy · 16/11/2025 17:46

It’s not judged on what’s aesthetically pleasing though, it’s about the skill and difficulty ratings. If they’re doing basic moves/stunts where the other teams are doing more challenging moves then they won’t score as high. Same if a team fall from a stunt vs one that doesn’t. Not dissimilar to diving judging etc.
They aren’t being judged on their outfits which tbh are often quite modest, there’s a lot of bling but I’m far happier with my daughter in a skirt with built in shorts and a bodysuit than the Leo she had to wear with no knickers underneath with totally bare arms and legs. Yes some wear crops and shorts but a lot don’t.

Do they lose marks if they don't smile?

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:47

Jc2001 · 16/11/2025 17:43

Well, that goes for any sport involving animals.

Show quote history

If there's an animal in it, it's not a sport.

shakethatshimmy · 16/11/2025 17:46

It’s not judged on what’s aesthetically pleasing though, it’s about the skill and difficulty ratings. If they’re doing basic moves/stunts where the other teams are doing more challenging moves then they won’t score as high. Same if a team fall from a stunt vs one that doesn’t. Not dissimilar to diving judging etc.
They aren’t being judged on their outfits which tbh are often quite modest, there’s a lot of bling but I’m far happier with my daughter in a skirt with built in shorts and a bodysuit than the Leo she had to wear with no knickers underneath with totally bare arms and legs. Yes some wear crops and shorts but a lot don’t.

Jc2001 · 16/11/2025 17:43

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:34

Yeah, absolute bullshit "sport". And even if you should give out medals for it, the horse should win it.

Show quote history

Well, that goes for any sport involving animals.

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:37

True, but breakdancing shouldn't be.

Bumblebee72 · 16/11/2025 17:35

BillieWiper · 16/11/2025 17:24

It should be seen as adjacent to gymnastics, but then it's also in the dance area, so it's kind of in a venn diagram of sport and dance/performance.

Is it trying to be recognised as a sport in the Olympics? Or for funding purposes? As long as it has it's own following and competition and structure then does it matter whether it's classed as sport, dance, performance?

Edited

To be fair breakdancing can be the olympics, cheer leading can.

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:34

TheNightingalesStarling · 16/11/2025 17:27

What about dressage? Thats just Horse Dancing....

Yeah, absolute bullshit "sport". And even if you should give out medals for it, the horse should win it.

MasterBeth · 16/11/2025 17:32

Dozer · 16/11/2025 17:24

So applying your criteria @MasterBeth diving would not be a sport either.

And perhaps even boxing and martial arts, don’t those involve points and some subjective judgment?

I guess it depends what's being judged. If it's an objective count of movements completed, I will allow it. Once it becomes a subjective judgement of what's aesthetically most pleasing, then I don't think it's a proper sport.

Martial arts? Aren't they mostly trying to judge how many times Player X kicked Player Y in the head, or whatever?

Boxing? Not a sport. Legalised thuggery.

CryMyEyesViolet · 16/11/2025 17:28

GoogolB · 15/11/2025 23:16

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are pretty clear that it’s dance, not sport. The weird jumping on to a bloke’s hand doesn’t happen in actual cheerleading, afaik.

There’s two different types of cheerleading - that that the Dallas Cowboys do, and then there’s competitive cheerleading which is more like gymnastics with flips and pyramids etc. The latter is more of a sport than the first.

TheNightingalesStarling · 16/11/2025 17:27

What about dressage? Thats just Horse Dancing....

Dozer · 16/11/2025 17:25

Netflix’s Cheer made clear the athletic achievement, danger, close teamwork of the dance/sport, and the ridiculous sexism (and homophobia)

Dozer · 16/11/2025 17:24

So applying your criteria @MasterBeth diving would not be a sport either.

And perhaps even boxing and martial arts, don’t those involve points and some subjective judgment?