Everyone can agree that basketball and football are sports; these games create athletes. Arguments arise when activities such as cheerleading and gymnastics are brought to discussion. There tends to be a grey area around what is and is not considered a sport. A school’s marching band might put in the same hours as the basketball team, yet somehow not all of society is able to consider band as a sport. Activities such as band and cheerleading require hard work, certain skill sets, and have a team aspect. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a sport as “a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other.” There is not a set requirement for how much physical activity a sport must have.
The biggest argument against these activities is that they do not require enough physical exertion to be classified as a sport. Although, every person has a different amount of physical capability. Using the example of marching band, these musicians not only have to remember all their music, but they have to remember their routines as well. In saying this, I find it absurd that an activity can be judged based solely off of physical ability. Physical capability does not make a person any less of an athlete, each sport requires different skills.
A gymnast might not be able to shoot an impressive number of baskets, but in return, a basketball player will not be able perform a gymnastics floor routine. Neither of these athletes is more skilled than the other, they just have skills in different areas. As young children, we tend to pick a certain activity, or sport, that interests us. After this, we focus all of our time on this said sport. This is a choice, and there is no wrong answer. A gymnast chooses to be a gymnast, just as a basketball player chooses to play basketball. They both might take different physical activity, but this makes no difference. Each activity takes dedication, so society needs to accept different choices people make.
A simple debate such as what is considered a sport seems simple, yet it still affects many high school students. Some students debate over which sport is harder, while some say that one activity should not be considered a sport at all. All people have the right to their own opinion, but there are two sides to every argument. Society needs to stop classifying, and accept that sports can be more than just an after school activity. Some students take their sports seriously, while others use them as an opportunity to meet new people and be social, not seeing physical ability as a qualification to be considered an athlete. There is nothing wrong with either option, everything in life is a choice, but a person’s choice does not have to be the same as everyone else’s. It is human nature to judge, but it is time to realize that cheerleaders are not any less of athletes just because they do not have the same skills as a football player, and vice versa. Life is full of choices, and what sport you play is one of them.