Cheerleading going mainstream

[Mudball]

I have never seen cheerleading as part of any British sport. It is a common thing stateside as well as things like the IPL..I was in a Services on the M25. Saw a group of fairly young girls returning from some sort of Cheerleading contest. They had obviously won from all the medals they were sporting. I am sure they will practice as hard as any sports people out there, but I had never known of it as a sport in this country. .. is it?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38235083/cheerleading-is-a-sport-get-over-it

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My cousin's daughter takes part in cheerleading contests across the NW of England. It's dance though, not sport. It's as much a sport as ball room dancing, i.e. not at all.

I don't blame these pastimes trying to reclassify as sports, it opens out a whole stream of funding, publicity etc. They aren't sports though, end of.

 

[Captainron]

My cousin's daughter takes part in cheerleading contests across the NW of England. It's dance though, not sport. It's as much a sport as ball room dancing, i.e. not at all.

I don't blame these pastimes trying to reclassify as sports, it opens out a whole stream of funding, publicity etc. They aren't sports though, end of.

Agreed

 

[Mudball]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38235083/cheerleading-is-a-sport-get-over-it

So that is Team USA .. gold, silver, bronze..

 

[Mudball]

My cousin's daughter takes part in cheerleading contests across the NW of England. It's dance though, not sport. It's as much a sport as ball room dancing, i.e. not at all.

I don't blame these pastimes trying to reclassify as sports, it opens out a whole stream of funding, publicity etc. They aren't sports though, end of.

Chess, Darts, track & field Athletes don’t involve a ball either..

 

[Papas1982]

Chess, Darts, track & field Athletes don’t involve a ball either..

I wouldn't classify them as sports either. Games, games, athletics imo.

 

[ColchesterFC]

My cousin's daughter takes part in cheerleading contests across the NW of England. It's dance though, not sport. It's as much a sport as ball room dancing, i.e. not at all.

I don't blame these pastimes trying to reclassify as sports, it opens out a whole stream of funding, publicity etc. They aren't sports though, end of.

I wouldn't classify them as sports either. Games, games, athletics imo.

Papas - What would make golf a sport rather than a game?

LT - Isn't golf just a pastime as well rather than a sport? I would agree that sideline cheer-leading (the girls with the pom poms) shouldn't be classed as a a sport but some of the moves involved in "real" cheer-leading are much closer to athletics and require gymnastic skills that make them worthy of being classed as a sport.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Chess, Darts, track & field Athletes don’t involve a ball either..

I didn't say you had to have a ball to be a sport. It is a classic sport v pastime question.

Colchester, golf ticks pretty much all of the is it a sport boxes for me. For one you have a clear winner, lowest number of whacks around the course. Cheerleading, along with all forms of dance, is entirely subjective and has no place as a sport. It has its own place but it is not sport.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I didn't say you had to have a ball to be a sport. It is a classic sport v pastime question.

Colchester, golf ticks pretty much all of the is it a sport boxes for me. For one you have a clear winner, lowest number of whacks around the course. Cheerleading, along with all forms of dance, is entirely subjective and has no place as a sport. It has its own place but it is not sport.

sport


an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
"team sports such as soccer and rugby"
synonyms: (competitive) game(s), physical recreation, physical activity, physical exercise; pastime.


It’s a sport - regardless of personal opinions , by the factual definition it’s a sport

Just like gymnastics or ice dancing , ski jumping etc etc - there are lots of sports where a judge gives marks for ability same with boxing , that’s someone judging as well

 

[bobmac]

Another Americanism we seem to have adopted.

 

[Papas1982]

Papas - What would make golf a sport rather than a game?

LT - Isn't golf just a pastime as well rather than a sport? I would agree that sideline cheer-leading (the girls with the pom poms) shouldn't be classed as a a sport but some of the moves involved in "real" cheer-leading are much closer to athletics and require gymnastic skills that make them worthy of being classed as a sport.

Until the likes of Woods came along I considered golf a game too. For me, the first key is physical exertion. Lots of overweight men waddling around a course in the past didn’t give it a great image. It now has a better image and isn’t the same as the pub games mentioned.

I fullly respect the physical conditions that cheerleaders must be in. But the second criteria for something being a sport in my eyes is that you have to be able to beat your competitor in a clear manner. Imo that’s by a simple manner of scoring points. Anything that is scored by a judge imo doesn’t fit the bill.

 

[Kellfire]

Until the likes of Woods came along I considered golf a game too. For me, the first key is physical exertion. Lots of overweight men waddling around a course in the past didn’t give it a great image. It now has a better image and isn’t the same as the pub games mentioned.

I fullly respect the physical conditions that cheerleaders must be in. But the second criteria for something being a sport in my eyes is that you have to be able to beat your competitor in a clear manner. Imo that’s by a simple manner of scoring points. Anything that is scored by a judge imo doesn’t fit the bill.

Your opinion is wrong though, as the definition of sport demonstrates.

 

[MegaSteve]

If folk are having a good day out participating...

What does it matter how it gets pigeon holed...

 

[bobmac]

Your opinion is wrong though, as the definition of sport demonstrates.

Some would say the definition given is just someone elses opinion

 

[User20205]

I didn't say you had to have a ball to be a sport. It is a classic sport v pastime question.

Colchester, golf ticks pretty much all of the is it a sport boxes for me. For one you have a clear winner, lowest number of whacks around the course. Cheerleading, along with all forms of dance, is entirely subjective and has no place as a sport. It has its own place but it is not sport.

Except Golf doesn’t have a clear winner, not at club level. Scratch comps maybe, but try shoehorning the handicap system into a definition of sport.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Until the likes of Woods came along I considered golf a game too. For me, the first key is physical exertion. Lots of overweight men waddling around a course in the past didn’t give it a great image. It now has a better image and isn’t the same as the pub games mentioned.

I fullly respect the physical conditions that cheerleaders must be in. But the second criteria for something being a sport in my eyes is that you have to be able to beat your competitor in a clear manner. Imo that’s by a simple manner of scoring points. Anything that is scored by a judge imo doesn’t fit the bill.

So boxing isn’t a sport then by your definition

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Line Dancing = Sport
Ball Room Dancing = Sport
Latin American Dancing = Sport
Ballet = Sport

If you think the above is correct then we have very different views on what is a sport. Fine, no problem. When the above are in the Olympics I think I will give them a miss, same as I do now with Dressage and Rhythmic gymnastics.

As Bob has pointed out, the definition is just someone else's opinion.

 

[User20205]

So boxing isn’t a sport then by your definition

There is an argument that activities were the result relies on subjectivity can’t be sports. Eg there must be a clear winner, most points, goals etc.
I don’t think it stands up IMO, as boxing, gymnastics, diving etc wouldn’t be classed as sports.
Competitive cheerleading ticks the sport box for me. But ultimately who cares what the label is as it’s probably on Eurosport anyway

 

[User20205]

Line Dancing = Sport
Ball Room Dancing = Sport
Latin American Dancing = Sport
Ballet = Sport

If you think the above is correct then we have very different views on what is a sport. Fine, no problem. When the above are in the Olympics I think I will give them a miss, same as I do now with Dressage and Rhythmic gymnastics.

As Bob has pointed out, the definition is just someone else's opinion.

It’s not subjective, there is a definition^^^^
The examples listed above, can be sports if there is any element of competition. I’ve never seen competitive ballet?
I don’t understand the need to label, or the inability of some fellas to broaden their horizons past football?