Helena Frye
Basketball and cheerleading are both popular sports with dedicated followings. Basketball is a team sport played on a court, with players aiming to shoot a ball through a hoop, whereas cheerleading is an activity that involves encouraging and entertaining the crowd and team through chants, dances, and stunts. While basketball is widely recognised as a sport, cheerleading is sometimes not considered a sport due to its association with other sports, despite the athleticism and skill required.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Season length | Basketball: 2-4 games per week |
| Cheerleading: N/A | |
| Player behaviour | Basketball: players arrive late and leave early |
| Cheerleading: cheerleaders are expected to arrive early and stay late | |
| Respect | Basketball: players are respected |
| Cheerleading: cheerleaders are not respected | |
| Physical activity | Basketball: physical activity |
| Cheerleading: cheerleading can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity | |
| Difficulty | Basketball: N/A |
| Cheerleading: College squads perform more difficult stunts | |
| Safety | Basketball: N/A |
| Cheerleading: Cheerleading can be dangerous, and there have been calls for improved safety rules | |
| Competition | Basketball: N/A |
| Cheerleading: Cheerleading competitions exist, and elite cheerleaders can compete at the Cheerleading Worlds | |
| Scholarship opportunities | Basketball: N/A |
| Cheerleading: Few to no scholarships are offered at the collegiate level |
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What You'll Learn
Cheerleading is more dangerous
While full-contact sports like football may come to mind when thinking about sports injuries, cheerleading is considered one of the most dangerous sports. In fact, cheerleading makes up 50-66% of catastrophic injuries in female athletes. Catastrophic injuries are defined as severe injuries to the spine, spinal cord, brain, skull, or spinal fractures.
Cheerleading injuries affect all areas of the body, with the wrists, shoulders, ankles, head, and neck being the most commonly injured. Sprains account for more than half of all cheerleading injuries, with ankle sprains being the most common. Back injuries are also prevalent in cheerleading, often caused by tumbling, stunts, twisting, rotating, lifting, catching, or falling during stunts.
The lack of recognition of cheerleading as a sport has led to a shortage of qualified coaches. Coaching may be done by a school faculty member without experience in cheerleading or its physically demanding aspects. Proper stunt technique knowledge, supervision during practice, and the ability to identify symptoms of serious injuries like concussions are essential for cheerleading coaches.
However, it is important to note that the overall number of injuries in cheerleading is relatively low compared to other sports. Additionally, the rate of concussions in cheerleading is significantly lower than in other high school sports. Furthermore, cheerleading has experienced a significant reduction in injuries since 2010 due to additional rules, restrictions, and improved coach training.
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Basketball players have a longer season
Cheerleaders are often expected to attend practices four or more days a week, with competitions usually taking place on the weekends. This schedule can vary depending on the level of competition and the organization of the cheerleading squad. For example, high school cheerleaders may also cheer for other sports, such as football, and therefore their schedule may align with the seasons of these other sports.
On the other hand, basketball players often have access to open gyms year-round until their official season starts. During the season, they have tryouts, practices, and games against competing teams. If they perform well in their conference, they may advance to districts and further levels of competition, extending their season even further.
It is important to note that the length of the season may also depend on the level of play and the specific league or organization. For example, in college, cheerleading squads may perform more complex stunts and routines during basketball games, which could extend their active participation in the sport.
Additionally, the off-season training and preparation for both basketball players and cheerleaders can vary. Basketball players may continue to train and develop their skills during the off-season, while cheerleaders may focus on honing their athletic abilities and learning new routines.
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Cheerleading is more physically demanding
While basketball and cheerleading are both physically demanding, cheerleading involves more intense physical activity. Routines can include tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting, with some squads performing difficult stunts such as multi-level pyramids, flipping, and twisting basket tosses. In fact, some cheerleaders have extensive acrobatic skills and the strength to carry their teammates on their shoulders or even in their hands during competitions.
Cheerleading demands a high level of athleticism and fitness, and participants must be in excellent shape to perform the routines. It also requires a high level of mental preparation, as cheerleaders need to know what they and their teammates are doing at all times.
In contrast, basketball cheerleading often involves sitting, and cheerleaders are sometimes criticised for "just standing there and cheering". While this may be true to an extent, it is important to note that cheerleaders are often restricted by limited space on the sidelines, and their ability to perform stunts may be impacted by the proximity to the basketball court.
Furthermore, cheerleading squads often practice several days a week, with competitions typically held on weekends. This demands a significant time commitment from participants, which may be more demanding than the time required for basketball.
Overall, while both activities require physical exertion, cheerleading may be considered more physically demanding due to the intense physical activity, complex routines, and time commitment involved.
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Basketball players have more practice
Basketball players have open gyms year-round until their season starts. Once the season begins, they practice until game time. If they perform well in their conference, they advance to districts and then further competitions. Cheerleaders, however, have to compete with other squads at local or regional competitions, and their routines are typically only one to three minutes long.
Basketball players also have tryouts before the season starts, ensuring that only the most skilled and committed individuals make the team. This fosters a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among players, who spend a significant amount of time practicing together. Cheerleading squads, particularly in high school and college, may face challenges in being recognized as athletes due to the perception that cheerleading does not meet the criteria of a sport.
While cheerleading requires athleticism, fitness, and mental preparation, the focus is often on the aesthetic aspects, such as uniforms and routines, rather than the extensive practices and competitions that basketball players engage in. Basketball players are solely focused on refining their skills and strategies, which requires a significant amount of practice time.
Additionally, basketball players have the opportunity to compete at various levels, from local conferences to districts and beyond. This competitive aspect provides a strong incentive for players to practice and improve their skills continuously. Cheerleading squads, while they may compete locally or regionally, do not always receive the same level of recognition or respect as athletes in a sport.
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Basketball players are more respected
Cheerleading, on the other hand, is often not considered a "real sport" and is not recognised as such by many organisations, including the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. This means that cheerleaders often do not receive the same respect as basketball players, despite the athleticism, coordination, and mental preparation required for their routines.
Additionally, basketball players have a more defined and structured role within their teams, with clear positions and responsibilities. They are also directly involved in the outcome of the game, as their performance has a direct impact on the result. Cheerleaders, on the other hand, do not have the same level of responsibility or impact on the outcome of a game, which may contribute to the perception that they are less important or respected.
Furthermore, basketball players often have more opportunities for advancement and recognition, such as through competitive leagues, scholarships, and other forms of support. They also have a more defined path for improvement and success, with access to coaches, trainers, and other resources to help them develop their skills.
While cheerleading does require a high level of athleticism and should be respected as a sport, the fact that it is often not officially recognised as such contributes to the perception that cheerleaders are less respected than basketball players. This may also impact the level of support and resources available to cheerleaders, further contributing to the disparity in respect between the two activities.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball is a team sport played on a court with the primary objective of scoring points by putting a ball inside a hoop. Cheerleading is an activity that involves chanting slogans, dancing, and intense physical activity to motivate sports teams and entertain audiences.
Basketball players need to be physically fit and have good hand-eye coordination. Cheerleading requires athleticism and a high level of fitness to perform stunts, tumbling, and dances.
Basketball players need to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot the ball with accuracy. Cheerleaders need to be able to perform complex routines, including tumbling, dancing, and stunting, while also needing to know what their teammates are doing at all times.
Basketball seasons can be long, with 2-4 games per week, plus practices. Cheerleading involves practices 4 or more days a week, with competitions often on weekends.
