Go Team!
A federal judge rules that leaping sexily about is not a sport
Jul 29th 2010 New york
“WE’RE gymnasts, too, except no beams, no bars, no vault.” So says a cheerleader in “Bring It On”, a film about competitive cheerleading. The stereotype of a gaggle of pretty girls waving pompoms as they cheer the boys’ football teams is not quite accurate, cheerleaders feel. Many squads are made up of serious athletes who compete nationally with their flips and leaps.
Bill Seely of USA Cheer, a cheerleading governing body, is one of those who have been pushing to change the name to “competitive stunts” or “group gymnastics”. This year eight universities formed the National Competitive Stunts and Tumbling Association (NCSTA), which will act as the governing body and coaches’ association for competitive cheer.
Quinnipiac University, one of the NCSTA’s members, recently found itself in hot water over cheerleading. Last year, in an attempt to save money, Quinnipiac announced plans to cut the women’s volleyball team. At the same time, it elevated the cheerleading squad into a new varsity (top level) sport. Five of the volleyball players and their coach filed suit, alleging that the decision to eliminate their team violated Title IX, a federal law which requires gender equity, and is applied mostly to school sports. A federal judge agreed, finding on July 21st that Quinnipiac had discriminated on the basis of sex. Furthermore, he ruled that the university’s cheerleading did not qualify as a varsity sport. It might do so in the future but, he said, “the activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganised”.
Although the decision was hardly a surprise—especially as cheerleading is not recognised by the Education Department or by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which organises college sports—it was booed roundly by many cheerleaders. (According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, competitive “spirit squads” involve 118,000 female high-school athletes, making this the nation’s ninth-most-popular women’s “sport”.) Kimberly Archie, a former cheerleader, thinks they need the “sports” designation. It would put them under the NCAA in matters of safety and insurance, which might lead to proper rules. Cheerleading has the highest percentage of catastrophic sports injuries among female high-school athletes.
Jonathan Orleans, a lawyer for the volleyball players, thinks the decision could eventually help cheerleading become an official sport. The Women’s Sports Foundation applauded it. The foundation embraces many aesthetic sports, such as synchronised swimming and figure skating, and would welcome cheerleading if it ever became a “true sport”. Rah Rah Rah!
A federal judge rules that leaping sexily about is not a sport
Jul 29th 2010 New york
“WE’RE gymnasts, too, except no beams, no bars, no vault.” So says a cheerleader in “Bring It On”, a film about competitive cheerleading. The stereotype of a gaggle of pretty girls waving pompoms as they cheer the boys’ football teams is not quite accurate, cheerleaders feel. Many squads are made up of serious athletes who compete nationally with their flips and leaps.
Bill Seely of USA Cheer, a cheerleading governing body, is one of those who have been pushing to change the name to “competitive stunts” or “group gymnastics”. This year eight universities formed the National Competitive Stunts and Tumbling Association (NCSTA), which will act as the governing body and coaches’ association for competitive cheer.
Quinnipiac University, one of the NCSTA’s members, recently found itself in hot water over cheerleading. Last year, in an attempt to save money, Quinnipiac announced plans to cut the women’s volleyball team. At the same time, it elevated the cheerleading squad into a new varsity (top level) sport. Five of the volleyball players and their coach filed suit, alleging that the decision to eliminate their team violated Title IX, a federal law which requires gender equity, and is applied mostly to school sports. A federal judge agreed, finding on July 21st that Quinnipiac had discriminated on the basis of sex. Furthermore, he ruled that the university’s cheerleading did not qualify as a varsity sport. It might do so in the future but, he said, “the activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganised”.
Although the decision was hardly a surprise—especially as cheerleading is not recognised by the Education Department or by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which organises college sports—it was booed roundly by many cheerleaders. (According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, competitive “spirit squads” involve 118,000 female high-school athletes, making this the nation’s ninth-most-popular women’s “sport”.) Kimberly Archie, a former cheerleader, thinks they need the “sports” designation. It would put them under the NCAA in matters of safety and insurance, which might lead to proper rules. Cheerleading has the highest percentage of catastrophic sports injuries among female high-school athletes.
Jonathan Orleans, a lawyer for the volleyball players, thinks the decision could eventually help cheerleading become an official sport. The Women’s Sports Foundation applauded it. The foundation embraces many aesthetic sports, such as synchronised swimming and figure skating, and would welcome cheerleading if it ever became a “true sport”. Rah Rah Rah!
2 comments:
JESSIE one thing is for sure you have a creative mind.I rank cheering at #163 on my sports list behind foosball and ahead of figure skating. GRC3
1st) It's Jesse without the extra 'i'
2nd) I saw this article and thought someone would appreciate it.
At least the picture.
3rd) Women's or Men's figure skating?
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