When most think of sports, usually the same key words come to mind:
athletic,
masculine, popular, and competitive teams, just to state a few. Sports is defined by Dictionary.com as "an athletic activity requiring skill or physical
prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc." This is where some
disagreement may come in as to what is, or is not a sport. The
dictionary gave us some. So, if someone asked if football or soccer was a sport, the
majority of people, if not everyone, would agree it was. But if someone suggests that cheerleading is a sport, there is usually much
debate. Some argue that it is just for girls in short skits, that jump up and down yelling chants. Others would say it is highly competitive, dangerous, and that a lot of athletic strength is required. I would have to agree that it is a sport. I was a cheerleader for youth football, in my high school and in college. I cheered for the majority of my life and I know it takes a lot of practice and hard work to master it. Cheerleaders practice just as much as the other sports. They need to perfect the cheers, dance steps, gymnastics, jumps, and stunts. Stunts are when team members lift and/or throw others in the air. This may look easy, but actually it is not. It takes many times to perfect this and get the timing right. Stunt groups become very close as they must build so much trust in each other. If one person in the group
fouls up, it is up to the other members to step in. Hopefully they react in time before someone falls and hurts themselves. Cheerleading is high on the list of causing injuries due to its dangerous
rigor and the physical demands placed upon the team members. Although I may be bias in my opinion that cheerleading is a sport, I hope you realize that just like any sport, one must be disciplined to be successfully participate in this demanding and tough activity. Although you may not understand it completely, I hope you can respect what goes into cheerleading.
Vocabulary:
athletic- active, strong
masculine- manly
prowess- ability, skill
disagreement- not agree
dictionary- place that defines words
majority- most
debate- different opinions
fouls- mistake
rigor- strictness
Vocabulary activity:
Grammar point: When to use its and when to use it's. This is sometimes mixed up because they sound alike. But its is used as a possessive. For example. Did you see its footsteps? "Its" owns the footsteps. It's is a contraction for it is or it has. For example, It's starting to snow again. The it's is a contraction for it is.
Grammar activity: Complete the following sentences using the correct its/it's.
1. The dog licked ______ lips when it saw the big, juicy bone.
2. My teacher said that ______ important to practice times tables.
3. The football team won ______ final game.
4. ________ time to go to work.
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