In a new statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, they say that all school sports associations should designate cheerleading as a sport and make it subject to safety rules and better supervision. When activities such as cheerleading are not classified as a sport it limits athletic trainers, it sets no rules for practices, and does not require certified coaches… all things which are making cheerleading excessively dangerous.
According to recent studies, high school cheerleading has a higher rate of catastrophic skull fractures and spinal injuries than any other female sport and needs the rules and regulations of being classified as a sport to protect the participants.
So… is it a sport?