Is cheerleading a sport? In my opinion, the answer is yes — cheer is definitely a sport. Cheerleaders dedicate hours of practice, build serious strength, and perform with the same level of discipline as any other athlete. From perfecting stunts and tumbling passes to maintaining stamina and coordination, cheer requires both physical and mental endurance.

Some people argue that only competition cheer counts as a sport because those teams compete against others. While that point might seem valid at first, it overlooks the fact that all types of cheer — including sideline, football, and basketball cheer — demand the same skills, effort, and athletic ability, even if they don’t compete formally.

According to basketball cheerleader Amaya Starling, “I believe cheer is a sport because we tumble, do jumps and stunts, and obviously have to be athletes to do these things.” I completely agree. It takes tremendous strength, flexibility, and energy to be a cheerleader. From projecting loud voices to lifting teammates into the air, cheer requires both power and precision.

To see what others thought, I conducted a survey asking students, “Is cheer a sport?” Out of 56 students, 76.8% voted yes, while 23.3% said no. Some of the “no” responses included comments like this:

• “Only competition cheer is a sport.”

• “Cheer’s main job is to cheer for a real sport.”

• “You don’t really come into contact with others.”

While these opinions are common, they miss how demanding cheer really is. According to an article from Bowie State University, cheerleading “involves physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another for entertainment.” Still, one person in the article argued that “you play football, you play basketball, but you don’t play cheer.” I completely disagree with that statement. Even though you don’t play cheer in the traditional sense, you still go through the same rigorous process as any athlete: tryouts, conditioning, teamwork, and endless practice.

For example, at cheer tryouts, participants must learn multiple cheers, a dance, and demonstrate precision and spirit. Practices often include running a mile, completing over a hundred jumping jacks, and intense conditioning. Communication and teamwork are just as essential as in basketball or football — especially when ensuring the flyer’s safety during stunts.

The basketball cheer coach also shared her perspective: “Cheer is definitely a sport. It requires physical skill, teamwork, endurance, and discipline just like every other recognized athletic activity. Not all cheer looks the same, but whether it’s competition, football, or basketball cheer, every type requires athleticism through stunts, tumbling, sharp motions, and energy.”

When asked if she believes society underestimates cheerleaders, she added, “I do think society often underestimates cheerleaders, focusing on the performance aspect without realizing the hours of training, conditioning, leadership, and community presence involved. Cheerleaders are athletes, motivators, and role models who bring both spirit and athleticism to their schools and teams.”

Another powerful quote from the Bowie State article sums it up well: “People often view cheerleading as ‘less than’ because at its origins it started as a hobby that supported other sports. It’s sad that something created to encourage others rarely garners that same support.”

Cheer deserves the same respect as any other sport. It’s time to recognize that cheerleaders are not just performers — they’re athletes and team players.

In my opinion, cheer is — without a doubt — a sport.