Sporting-Lincs Forum

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Cheerleaders have been angered by a US court ruling that their pom pom routines do not constitute a competitive sport.

In a ruling that could have ramifications for the most popular girls at colleges across the country cheerleading was deemed too "disorganised" for full sporting status and declared a support "activity."

The decision followed a bitter legal case brought by players on a university women's volleyball team who claimed they were being discriminated against in favour of cheerleaders.



Quinnipiac University in Connecticut had announced in March last year that it was cutting the women's volleyball team to save money.

That would have put it in breach of equality laws which require it to offer similar athletic opportunities for male and female students.

The university said it would instead offer a sporting outlet for girls by setting up a cheerleading squad, which was cheaper.

Sidelined volleyball players were outraged and set out to turn the tables by suing the university and arguing that cheerleading was not a sport.

In a clear legal win for the volleyball team, US District Judge Stefan Underhill ruled: "Competitive cheer may, some time in the future, qualify as a sport. Today, however, the activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganised to be treated as offering genuine varsity athletic participation opportunities for students."

It was believed to be the first time the sporting status of college cheerleading has been decided by a judge.

The 40-strong cheerleading team had shown the court a video of themselves performing acrobatic moves in a national competition but it did nothing to sway the verdict.

Mary Ann Powers, coach of the crestfallen cheerleaders, said they had been unfairly stereotyped as "the bobby socks, the ponytail and skirt and the girl that wants to be liked by all the boys." She said her team was instead comprised of high level gymnasts who must perform specific tumbling and throwing elements.

She said: "I think what offends cheerleaders more than anything is other women degrading them and knocking what they do." The volleyball team, which won only five of its 35 games last year, has been reinstated and the players were jubilant.

Robin Sparks, the coach, said: "The athletes all look forward to getting back on the volleyball court for preseason in three weeks.

"As their coach, I feel fortunate to be able to work with such strong young women who are not afraid to stand up for their principles. It will be a joy to be back in the gym with them this fall." Competitive cheerleading consists of intense two-and-a-half minute routines which are scored like gymnastics.

Over 5,000 cheerleaders participated in this year's National Cheerleaders Association collegiate national championships in the US. Some participants even object to being called "cheerleaders."

Tori Maynard, a member of the University of Oregon team, said: "We don't even use that word anymore. It's a stereotype. We're trying to change the perception of the sports fan, have them understand what this is, and have them respect that." But opponents say colleges are just using competitive cheerleading as an excuse to eliminate recognised women's sports which cost more money.

Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a lawyer for the Women's Sports Foundation, said: "I would hate to see viable sports that lead to Olympic possibilities, international opportunities, thwarted in favour of a sport that doesn't lead to any of those."