Cheerleading going mainstream

[Lord Tyrion]

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.

Golf does have a clear winner, whoever bats it around in the least number of shots. Simple. The handicapping system is something that golf has introduced to level the playing field for social golfers in order to include more of them. If clubs only played scratch comps then comps would be very empty indeed, although that is obviously the purest form of the game. It is a manipulation of the system to encourage participation.

At the highest level it is literally the least number of shots that provides the winner, in most club comps it is the person taking the least number of shots after h/c has been counted. Still a clear winner, no judges involved.

The one I find hardest to square is boxing. Clearly a sport but judges cards spoil the clear definition. There is always one......

 

[User20205]

Golf does have a clear winner, whoever bats it around in the least number of shots. Simple. The handicapping system is something that golf has introduced to level the playing field for social golfers in order to include more of them. If clubs only played scratch comps then comps would be very empty indeed, although that is obviously the purest form of the game. It is a manipulation of the system to encourage participation.

At the highest level it is literally the least number of shots that provides the winner, in most club comps it is the person taking the least number of shots after h/c has been counted. Still a clear winner, no judges involved.

The one I find hardest to square is boxing. Clearly a sport but judges cards spoil the clear definition. There is always one......

But in handicap Golf the lowest score doesn’t win. It’s the lowest score relative to some arbitrary number that has loads of other factors affecting it, the most contentious being manipulation. What other sports can you say that in?
Horse racing?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

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?

The attempt to classify it as a sport is because they are trying to get onto the Olympics bandwagon, tap into the funding from UK sport. If they get it then a proper sport doesn't, money is finite. May be that is an old fashioned view but I don't want to see an existing sport dropped from the Olympics so that dancing can be shoe horned in. They have their place but it is not at an Olympics.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

But in handicap Golf the lowest score doesn’t win. It’s the lowest score relative to some arbitrary number that has loads of other factors affecting it, the most contentious being manipulation. What other sports can you say that in?
Horse racing?

Yes, horse racing adds weights in certain races in order to level the playing field. You are correct, handicap golf does manipulate the system but it does so to encourage participation. Without it the competition structure in golf would collapse. The elite level is pure, elite amateur level golf is pure and a few times a year club level golf is pure. The manipulation is an acceptable one at the level it is aimed at in my view.

 

[User20205]

The attempt to classify it as a sport is because they are trying to get onto the Olympics bandwagon, tap into the funding from UK sport. If they get it then a proper sport doesn't, money is finite. May be that is an old fashioned view but I don't want to see an existing sport dropped from the Olympics so that dancing can be shoe horned in. They have their place but it is not at an Olympics.

What about if we’re really good at it? More medals for team GB?? Are rhythmic gymnastics & dressage in the Olympics still? I don’t know, if so that ship has sailed.
I reckon I’d sit down and watch cheerleading over pistol shooting? Or any winter sport

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What about if we’re really good at it? More medals for team GB?? Are rhythmic gymnastics & dressage in the Olympics still? I don’t know, if so that ship has sailed.
I reckon I’d sit down and watch cheerleading over pistol shooting? Or any winter sport

If we are half way decent then we will be all over it. UK sport have been very savvy about concentrating on certain disciplines to haul in the medals, cycling and rowing being the stand out ones. As someone pointed out though, the Americans will be all over this one, ha ha. We may get silver though.

Dressage and RG are Olympic sports, shakes head in bemusement , I threw them in as examples of what can happen if you don't close the gates quickly enough.

It is all subjective, great subjects for discussions down the pub or on a forum. I have relatives who are involved in different types of dance, cheerleading, ballet, modern but for me they are part of the arts, not sport. They are a different arena.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If we are half way decent then we will be all over it. UK sport have been very savvy about concentrating on certain disciplines to haul in the medals, cycling and rowing being the stand out ones. As someone pointed out though, the Americans will be all over this one, ha ha. We may get silver though.

Dressage and RG are Olympic sports, shakes head in bemusement , I threw them in as examples of what can happen if you don't close the gates quickly enough.

It is all subjective, great subjects for discussions down the pub or on a forum. I have relatives who are involved in different types of dance, cheerleading, ballet, modern but for me they are part of the arts, not sport. They are a different arena.

I believe 1912 was the first time dressage was in the Olympics and why does rhythmic gymnastics, all gymnastics events use a judge , and what about diving ? You see when you use define boundaries there is always something that breaks them

 

[Papas1982]

So boxing isn’t a sport then by your definition

Pretty sure there is an opportunity for a history to be had without the need of judges. It's not a sport I follow massively, but originally it went til one dropped I believe.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

What about tiddlywinks?

And conkers??

 

[USER1999]

What about tiddlywinks?

And conkers??

Conkers got banned ages ago, due to health and safety. May be it could join the dangerous sports listing.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

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

Ice hockey doesn't use a ball

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Conkers got banned ages ago, due to health and safety. May be it could join the dangerous sports listing.

That's a real pity, probably my best chance of making it big as a sports star

 

[Hacker Khan]

The attempt to classify it as a sport is because they are trying to get onto the Olympics bandwagon, tap into the funding from UK sport. If they get it then a proper sport doesn't, money is finite. May be that is an old fashioned viewbut I don't want to see an existing sport dropped from the Olympics so that dancing can be shoe horned in. They have their place but it is not at an Olympics.

You could say that about tennis, football and golf though. Anyway, the Olympics and Winter Olympics will always evolve with regards to the sports they have, can't wait for the e-sports to get in.

 

[Papas1982]

Ice hockey doesn't use a ball

Where have I said a ball has to be used?

 

[MegaSteve]

can't wait for the e-sports to get in.

...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Use to work with a lady who was on the verge of the national cheerleading squad. She had to work very hard in the gym and in dance classes and was superbly supple and strong. Not sure she ever classed it as a sport herself and for her it was something different, which she was good at and enjoyed. That would seem good enough for me

 

[Sharktooth]

Conkers got banned ages ago, due to health and safety. May be it could join the dangerous sports listing.

On that basis, women’s beach volleyball should be banned as well. I dislocated my wrist watching that!