I am a competitive cheerleader and, like all the other cheerleaders in the world, I want to show the world that what I do best, love with all my heart and can't do without is definitely a sport. Trying to clarify this long debate about how cheerleading is a sport and how it isn't is my greatest intention in this article. Polls say 60% of voters think cheerleading is a sport and 35% think it's not (Varnavas), so the polls are already on my side. Cheerleading should be accepted as a sport and it all depends on the voters, whether voters prefer competitive cheerleading or non-competitive cheerleading. Princeton University football game in 1880. One student in particular, Thomas Peebles, forwarded the idea of ​​a pep club to the University of Minnesota where he had transferred. The idea surprisingly spread like wildfire, and everyone joined a pep club at their university to encourage their athletes to victory ("History"). As cheerleading has become more popular and more and more women have become involved, in the 21st century, most cheerleading teams require a tryout process where you can showcase your talent and skills in order to be chosen. Previously, cheerleaders were selected based on their level of popularity, but today they require complex skills, the musculature of a linebacker, the grace and flexibility of a dancer, and the balance of a gymnast (AACCA). In 1972, Title IX became a federal law designed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for men and women in athletics (“Federal Court”). Under this federal law, cheerleading does not qualify as a sport and must still be considered a sport... middle of paper... according to US judge." The Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press, March 6, 2013. Web . 08 Nov 2013Egendorf, Laura K. Girls and Sports. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2012. Print “Federal Court Rules: Cheerleading Is Not a Sport.” FOX News Network, 21 July 2010.Web 08 Nov 2013“Story of cheerleading.” The International Cheerleader Union, 2009. Web 18 November 2013. “Being a Cheerleader: Is Cheerleading a Sport?” .Popoloski, Dan. “10 Reasons Why Cheerleading Is a Sport.” Bleacher Report, Inc, May 15, 2011. Web. November 14, 2013. “Should Cheerleading Be a Sport?” Illinois Business Law (2009). 2013 .