What is required for this sport is the ability to run over a mile, lift and catch heavy objects, be able to know your body and be extremely flexible. Players yell and scream at one another through their blood, sweat and tears. The pain is extraordinary, after their practice they like to soak in cold ice water, or a warm bath. On top of these  physical skills, these athletes must also  perfect their make-up, their smile and be skillful with a curling iron.

 Yes, we call them cheerleaders.  Majority of people believe that cheerleading is not a sport, especially other athletes . Marli Singleton who plays footballfeels that cheerleading is more of a club because “All they do is sign a parental consent to cheer and that’s it but, they’re not useless, they keep the crowd interested.” Another athlete Rashad Baker , a former basketball player at Moore Catholic High School, also disagrees. He feels that cheerleading is nothing close to a real sport. “ No, its not a sport, they just cheer and yell it’s nothing like basketball, they just try to hype up the crowd.”

      Cheerleaders put a lot of time and thought in their sport. Many cheerleaders around the U.S feel they need to prove a point in showing others that just because their girly and don’t get dirty like most sports ,doesn’t mean they can’t be considered a sport. Curtis High School senior cheerleader Ranga Rajakaruna  agrees, “People don’t understand what cheerleading consist of, people don’t understand throwing girls in the air is dangerous.”

Another cheerleader, Savannah Valentin explains why cheerleading should be considered a sport.  “We work together and use athletic skills. I feel people downgrade us because we say girly cheers and dress in skirts with glitter.”

          The pom pom cheerleaders aren’t the only ones who is against the negative views. Former basketball player and coach from the Staten Island Hurricane Football League supports cheerleading being a sport, he stated “What !, of course it’s a sport, they do a bunch of crazy flips and turns and throw each other in the air, besides, girls are catty so there is more competition in cheer.”

  If injuires is any indication of a sport, cheerleading should definately be included. Laurane Yearwood said, “cheerleading is dangerous and would never join.” Statistics say that 65% of several females high school and college injuries are from cheerleading. 22,900 children under the age of 18 have been admitted to the hospital.   Approximately 5,300 cheerleaders visit the emergency room during an average football season.

Cheerleaders can also compete in competitive cheerleading leagues where their stunts and athlectiism is pitted against other squads.