A New Varsity Sport is Born



The New York Times' Bill Pennington writes today about the University Of Maryland's initiative in granting their cheerleading squad varsity sport status.

Maryland's decision to sanction an all-women's competitive cheerleading team has roiled some women's sports advocates, creating an odd face-off between traditional supporters of women's athletics and the latest benefactors of a Title IX opportunity, the cheerleaders. It has stirred an age-old argument about what constitutes a sport and has resurrected longstanding stereotypes.

It has members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association discussing whether to recognize cheerleading as a sport. And it has reopened the thorny national debate on Title IX and the appropriate ways for institutions to comply with it.

"People have to get past the idea that cheerleading is shaking pompoms and kicking your legs in the air," said Lura Fleece, Maryland's coach, whose team completed its first official season yesterday by finishing seventh in the National Cheerleading Association championships in Daytona, Fla. "Because that isn't cheerleading anymore. It's about strength and gymnastics and teamwork. We're athletes and now we compete. Just because cheerleading is all female and we're not mimicking some recognized men's sport, that means we're not a sport?"

Maryland's competitive cheer team is separate from the squad that cheers on the sidelines at Maryland's football and basketball games. The separation was pivotal to meeting federal guidelines that have instructed colleges for several decades that drill teams, bands and pep squads cannot be considered athletic programs for Title IX purposes.

Fleece said that since Maryland created its competitive cheer team last fall — and notified Title IX watchdogs at the federal Department of Education that it was doing so — she has heard from more than 50 colleges or universities expressing interest in following that path.

Cheerleading has come up for discussion at every recent meeting of the N.C.A.A.'s Committee on Women's Athletics, which in the last decade has helped recognize several new women's sports like synchronized swimming, bowling, crew, equestrian and rugby.

"It has great potential," said Lynda Calkins, the committee's chairwoman and athletic director of Hollins University in Roanoke, Va. "All it takes is one school to start things. I think others will join Maryland."

As someone who has watched the DVD of "Bring It On" some 30 times in a row, I can concur that there's a lot of strenuous activity involved. On the part of the cheerleaders, too.

Had a move like Maryland's been made in an earlier era, perhaps deposed Toronto Raptors dancer Lucie Marshall could've received a college scholarship (prior to being thrown off the squad, that is).

Posted: Sun - April 4, 2004 at 05:08 PM      

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