Imagine an arena with bright lights, ESPN camera crews, screaming fans, and a huge trophy on the line. No, it's not the Superbowl or the World Cup. It's the NCA All-Star National Championship. This is where competitive cheerleaders step onto the mats and perform a one to three minute routine. These routines include acrobatics, claps, somersaults, dances and performances that accumulate to receive the highest score from the judges. Competitive cheerleaders perform in front of the audience and judges in hopes of receiving the first place title. In contrast, traditional courtside cheerleaders do not compete, but instead support sports teams. Many people don't consider cheerleading a sport, because they imagine that all cheerleaders are traditional sideline cheerleaders. There are several criteria that govern a sport. Criteria include: the activity should involve physical exertion, engage in competition, and contain rules governing the activity. Additionally, a winner must be declared. Competitive cheerleading should be considered a sport due to its high level of physical activity, competition, and set of rules. First, competitive cheerleading requires a particularly high level of physical exertion with an equally high risk of injury. According to “The American Journal of Sports Medicine,” college and high school cheerleading injuries account for more than half of the catastrophic injuries that occur among female athletes (881). To make national teams, cheerleaders must participate in an extensive tryout process, which could take more than a week. Additionally, athletes must meet a number of physical requirements regarding skill and fitness that involve extensive training programs. They must be able to do a variety of… middle of the paper… and just as athletic and physically fit as any other accepted sport. If you don't consider competitive cheerleading a sport because of its scoring system or defined strategy, then you shouldn't consider gymnastics a sport either. Works Cited Boden, Barry P., Robin Tacchetti, and Frederick O. Mueller. “Catastrophic Cheerleading Injuries.” The American Journal of Sports Medicine 31.6 (2003): 881-88. Network. March 25, 2014. “Competition Strategy: What Judges Look for in a Routine.” Cheer Coach Magazine & Advisor 26 June 2013: n. page Network. March 30, 2014."National Cheerleader Association::Cheerleader." National Cheerleaders Association::Cheerleader. NCA and Web. March 31, 2014. "WatchESPN." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures and Web. March 31. 2014. .