There are professional cheerleaders, songleaders, and mascots that work for this association, judging competitions and leading camps to teach routines and techniques to improve high school cheerleaders. .
Cheer meets the criteria required for a sport. The criteria are "1) physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of mass. 2) a contest of competition against or with an opponent. 3) is governed by rules which explicitly define the time, space, and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared" (Is Cheerleading online). A basket toss, in which you throw a girl in the air, is the perfect example of propelling a mass, or a girl, through space. There are competitions that squads go to compete with other schools. Cheer, just like other sports, has rules. There are rules for a competition and a list of regulations having to do with stunts, tumbling, and other laws to ensure safety. The criteria applies to cheerleading.
One athlete said, "It doesn't include a ball or field". This quote was from a swimmer. Not all sports include a ball and a field. Look at swimming, track, gymnastics, hockey, etc. Then look at the definition once more. No where does it say you need a ball or a field. People think that since most sports have balls, all sports need balls. As for the field, it could be any general area that provides some type of stage for the sport to be held (i.e. Pool, rink, track). .
Another counter argument was "the winner is decided by a judge" (survey). Judges and referees have few differences. Both judges and referees decide scores, and the scores decide winner. If a referee calls someone out or something out of bounds, it tampers with the score. If a judge sees a missed placed hand or an illegal move, it tampers with the score. Gymnastics, figure skating, and diving all have judges. Points are points no matter who decides how you earn them.
