The Importance Of Sideline Cheerleading

Sport - an activity involving physical exertion and skill. Sideline cheerleading for many people may not be considered a sport, but there are many reasons why it should be considered one. Cheerleaders still practice just as much and just as hard as other sports do. Performing at pep rallies and games can be a difficult task to complete. Cheerleaders, like other athletes, are drug tested before starting practice. In school, cheerleaders’ grades are checked and monitored. Cheerleading also has a rulebook with standards that are to be followed. Sideline cheerleading is a sport and should be considered one by all.

Cheerleading requires just as much practice as other sports. Like any other sport, cheerleaders are to have ten full practices before

they are allowed to perform at any event. Cheerleaders also practice five days a week, like other sports. Practices are also just as demanding as they are in any other sport. Conditioning, stretching, and weight lifting are all included in cheerleading. Then there is also the aspect of learning the sidelines, cheers, and dance(s) and practicing them so much that you could easily do them in your sleep. All of these require the synchronization of all of the cheerleaders and strong, stiff, smooth movements. Learning the sidelines take quite a bit of time, as there is a lot of them to learn. The cheers take a decent amount of time and are harder to remember sometimes as they are longer than sidelines. The dance(s) take the longest time to learn. Getting down the rhythm and synchronization can be difficult, especially if there are ripples or spot changes during the dance. Now, putting this all together is a massive amount to remember. At any point during a cheerleading event, such as games and pep rallies, cheerleaders have to remember and perform the sidelines, cheers, and/or dance(s) without any problems. Cheerleading practice is just as taxing and difficult as it is for any other sport.
Performing at games and pep rallies can be a difficult task. If the team is losing, the fans can be reluctant to cheer on the team. Fans can also be unwilling to participate in echo cheers where they’re supposed to repeat what the cheerleaders say, or say certain words and phrases. The games and pep rallies can also be laborious in the fact that cheerleaders are yelling loudly for a long period of time. There is often situations where the cheerleaders lose their voices because of the yelling, but then still go to practice the next day and yell out cheers. Performing in front of people during games and pep rallies can be scary and intimidating. There is so much pressure to do well and not mess anything up that the nerves can get to you quickly. Performing at games and pep rallies can be a difficult task.
Cheerleaders are required to be drug tested. In sports like volleyball or basketball, the players are required to be drug tested before being able to start practice. Only if they pass the test are they able to play. Cheerleading also has this rule. This shows that cheerleading has the same standards as other sports do. Before a cheerleader is able to practice, they have to take and pass a drug test.
Cheerleaders’ grades are monitored.

In sports, the players are not allowed to have more than two F’s or they are deficient. When a player is deficient, they cannot participate in any event that week, though they can practice if the coach lets them. In cheerleading, this same rules apply. A few cheerleaders have even been kicked off the squad for being deficient two weeks. Cheerleaders’ grades are checked up on and monitored just like any other sport.

Cheerleading has a set of state mandated rules to follow. Sideline cheerleading has a handbook from the South Dakota High School Activities Association that they are required to follow. This handbook includes safety regulations, uniforms and appearance, when and when not to cheer, and having rosters posted. Like any other South Dakota high school sport, cheerleading has state mandated rules and standards that they are to abide by.

Cheerleading is and should be considered a sport. Cheerleading practices are as frequent and difficult as any other sport. Cheerleaders are drug tested before being able to participate in practices. Performing at pep rallies and games can be a difficult task. Cheerleaders’ grades are observed and meant to be kept up. Cheerleading has standards they are held to and a handbook to follow. Sideline cheerleading, though it may not be played against anyone, still is and should be considered a

sport.