Case Study: Cheerleading

Cheerleading (also called stunt and competitive cheer) in the United States has been the topic of discussion around its status as a sport (or not). Cheerleading has been discussed as an emerging sport by the NCAA; it has been deemed a sport by some university athletics programs; it has been the subject of court cases; and a major U.S. doctors’ association has even weighed in. (Much of this—but not all of it—has to do with Title IX. More on that later.)

In this case study, you will view a part of a cheerleading competition, read various articles and position papers, and report your conclusions to the class.

Let's start by viewing a recap of coverage of the 2013 International Cheer Union's World Cheerleading competition.

Video 2.3: Recap of the 2013 ICU World Cheerleading Championships.

 

Before you state your opinion on whether or not cheerleading is sport, let's read what some experts say.

• In the NCAA article NCAA Committee Looking Into New Sport, Michelle Brutlag Hosick examines how cheerleading has yet to reach emerging-sport status and reviews how organizations are attempting to make that leap.
• The second reading is an opinion paper by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators ( AACCA ) titled Doctors to Vote on Whether Cheerleading is a Sport. The paper discusses the athleticism of cheerleading, defines sport, and in the end provides AACCA 's opinion on whether cheerleading meets the definition of sport.
• The final reading is a USA Today article, AMA Officially Designates Cheerleading as a Sport.

View, read, form your opinion, and get ready to debate with your classmates.