USA Cheer, USA Gymnastics have plan to make cheer a sport

[EPJr]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A second organization announced plans Wednesday to create a new sport out of competitive cheerleading in an effort to get competitions recognized by the NCAA.

A week after USA Gymnastics announced it will sanction meets among the six schools that have had varsity competitive cheer teams, a competing plan was introduced by USA Cheer.

The governing body for cheerleading organizations said it is teaming with 15 colleges to create the sport of "stunt." USA Gymnastics sanctioned events will be called "team acrobatics and tumbling."

"We're trying to provide schools with a format that will work at the collegiate level and will help satisfy Title IX for many of the universities," said Bill Seely, the executive director of USA Cheer. "One of our priorities is to make sure that it does not come at the expense of traditional cheerleading."

Both efforts stem from a recent federal court ruling in Connecticut that found competitive cheerleading wasn't established enough to meet the federal gender equity requirements of a Title IX sport.

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[SuperHornet]

I like it. But will the National Corrupt Athletics Junta go for it? Doubtful at best....

[BlueHen86]

I like it. But will the National Corrupt Athletics Junta go for it? Doubtful at best....

Fortunately it's the NCAA, and not the NCAJ, from which they are seeking to gain recognition.

[93henfan]

As long as they'll agree to a hand cam for the male cheerleaders, I wholeheartedly support all efforts to advance the sport.