Federal Judge: Cheerleading Not A Sport

NEW YORK (CBS) - Cheerleading routines require quite the skill, confidence, and teamwork – just like any other athletic activity. But is it really a sport?

A controversial ruling intended to level the playing field between men and women college athletes appears to have backfired Thursday.

A federal judge's decision that competitive cheerleading is not an official sport has many hopping mad.

The popular film "Bring It On" showcases the spirit, spunk and sass of cheer competition, and the grueling battle to be ranked number one.

The cheerleading rage, though, is not just in the movies – it's sweeping across college campuses, and for many young women, it's their ticket to Division 1 athletics.

Challenging, strenuous, three-hour practices five days a week are just a part of the routine for cheerleaders, combining dangerous flips and dance for soaring gymnastic routines – and loads of injuries.

"Cheering rocks" scream the girls at the Future Stars Summer Camp in Old Westbury, where their coaches – Hofstra cheerleaders – are reacting to a federal judge's ruling that competitive cheerleading is not a sport.

"I played soccer throughout high school, lacrosse for nine years, and by far, I think [cheerleading] is the most physical and mental sport," cheer coach Angelica Alestra says.

The ruling stems from a Quinnipiac Universitywomen's volleyball team who sued – and won – when the school disbanded the squad and replaced it with cheerleading.

"We run, we work out, we stunt, we flip, we are lifting other girls," cheerleader Jaclyn Riportella says. "It really upsets us that we are not considered a sport. We have two national championships."

U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill disagreed.

"Today, the cheer activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganized to be treated as offering genuine varsity athletic participation opportunities for students," Judge Underhill said.

It's the first time a judge has decided whether cheer squads keep schools in compliance with Title IX, which mandates equal opportunities in athletics for men and women.

"Very controversial decision, especially college-level," David Stapleton, director of the Future Stars camp, says. "Here, we have young athletes here at the cheer camp and amongst other programs as well. I'm sure we all disagree."

The judge wrote competitive cheer may, some time in the future, be considered a sport under Title IX. The girls at Future Stars hope it becomes a reality before they get to college.

An activity can be considered a sport under Title IX if it has coaches, practices, and competitions during a defined season – and a governing body.

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