TheNewYorkTimesstatesthatcheerleadingisthefastestgrowinggirls'sport，yetmorethanhalfofAmericansdonotbelieveitisasport．Inaddition，theyfailtodistinguishbetweensidelinecheerleadersandprofessionalones．Sidelinechee
TheNewYorkTimesstatesthatcheerleadingisthefastestgrowinggirls'sport，yetmorethanhalfofAmericansdonotbelieveitisasport．Inaddition，theyfailtodistinguishbetweensidelinecheerleadersandprofessionalones．Sidelinecheerleaders'maingoalistoentertainthecrowdandleadthemwithteamcheers，whichshouldnotbeconsideredasport．Ontheotherhand，professionalcheerleadersaimtocompete．
Asport，accordingtotheAssociationofCheerleadingCoachesandAdvisors，isa"physicalactivityagainstacompetitor，governedbyrulesunderwhichawinnerisdeclared，andtheprimarypurposeofthecompetitionisacomparisonoftherelativeskillsoftheparticipants．"Becausecheerleadingfollowstheseguidelines，itisasport．
Competitivecheerleadingincludeslotsofphysicalactivity．Likegymnasts，cheerleadersmustlearntotumble（翻滚）．Theyperformstandingbackflips，roundflipflops，andfulllayouttwists．Cheerleadersalsoperformliftsandtosses．Thisiswherethe"fliers"arethrownintheair，heldby"bases"indifferentpositionsthatrequirestrengthandcooperationwithotherteammates．
Justasbasketballandfootballhaveguidelinesforcompetitiveplay，sodoescompetitivecheerleading．Thewholeroutinehastobecompletedinlessthanthreeminutesand15secondsandthecheerleadersarerequiredtostaywithinacertainarea．
Competitivecheerleaders'goalistobethebest．Justlikegymnasts，theyareawardedpointsfordifficulty，technique，creativityandsharpness．Themoredifficultamountorastunt，thesharperandmorein-syncthemotions，thebetterthescore．Cheerleadingisateamsportsowithoutcooperationandsynchronization，firstplaceisoutofreach．
SowhydomanyAmericansnotthinkcheerleadingisasport？Itcannotbebecausecheerleadersdonotuseballsormanipulateobjects（ifyoudonotcountmegaphones，pompomsandsignsasobjects）．Wrestling，swimming，diving，track，cross-country，gymnastics，ice-skatingandboxingarerecognizedsportsthatdonotuseballs．Somepeoplearguethatcheerleadersarejust"flirtsinskirts"withtheironlyjobtoentertainthecrowd，butcheerleaderstodaycompeteagainstothersquadsandworkjustashar