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Why recognition?
Why is it so important that cheerleading is recognised as a sport?
Official recognition as a sport can lead to increased government funding and tax exemptions. Particularly in North America and Australia, participants in recreational activities can also become exempt from liability for personal injuries caused during the performance of a lawful recognised sport (although arguably this may represent a double-edged sword for injured claimants).
However, perhaps the most important reason that cheerleading should be recognised as a sport is that it will help to raise and maintain standards for SAFETY and GOOD GOVERNANCE within the cheerleading community.
The following four case-studies illustrate these points further:
Safety (PDF, file size: 413.34KB)
Good Governance (PDF, file size: 596.65KB)
Competition Pathways
Technical Standards
Educators may also find our Crowdlaw resource in this area helpful.
Read Academic / Expert Opinion
The overwhelming conclusion from academics and experts is that cheerleading should be recognised as a sport. Click here to read their analysis:
K Lines & J Heshka, ‘Gridiron Spirit: Cheerleading Is a Contact Sport, Declares the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in Noffke v. Bakke, 2009 WI 10’ (2009) 27 Entertainment & Sports Lawyer 1 (PDF, file size: 1.26MB)
K Lines, ‘Pom-Poms & Lawyers: How to ensure schools have safe cheerleading squads’ (2009) Education Law Update, April
COMMENTARY / COMPARISON DEFINITIONS OF SPORT & CHEERLEADING – K Lines
K Archie, “Cheerleading goes on trial” (PDF, file size: 134.98KB)
G Easterbrook, “No cheers for latest definition” (PDF, file size: 139.16KB)
F Mueller, “Cheerleading Special report?”
H Appenzeller, “In my opinion” (PDF, file size: 130.91KB)
N Nyhoff, “Why don’t we recognize cheerleading as a sport?” (PDF, file size: 129.02KB)
P Fisher, “Is cheerleading a sport?” (PDF, file size: 129.28KB)
DELICIOUS BOOKMARKING
Women’s Sport Foundation "Cheerleading Drill Team and Band as Varsity Sports" (PDF, file size: 61.49KB)
N Lauchaire, Is Cheerleading a sport? (Varsity, October 2004)
American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (Position Paper)
