Cheerleaders not cheering sport title

ALBUQUERQUE, NM {KRQE} - Cheerleading is now a sport, but some cheerleaders are not happy about it.

The New Mexico Activities Association, NMAA, took a vote last year, asking all of the 160 member schools around the state to decide if cheerleading should be considered a sport.

APS voted no, but the majority of the state's schools said yes.

That means cheerleader's around the state are now no different than any other athlete, including at APS.

NMAA did give schools the chance to bow out of the plan, but APS decided not to take it, and wouldn't explain to News 13 why.

Cheerleading must now follow APS's policies for every other sport, which, among other things, does not allow travel for competitions out of state.

That's where cheerleaders show off their skills for scholarships and compete for titles.

Amy Vigil is a parent of a La Cueva cheerleader, she doesn't like it.
“It limits their ability to really compete,” she said.

Other schools districts decided to opt out of the NMAA's plan, giving their cheerleaders a leg up, by allowing their cheer squads to compete nationally.

Other districts that did go along with the plan still allow teams to travel out of state.

APS told News 13 that they won't make an exception to allow cheerleaders or teams from any sport to travel out of New Mexico because that would be unfair to schools that can't afford it, and to the teams that aren't able to raise their own money.

It also means APS squads can no longer hire outside coaches to hone their skills, people trained in complicated stunts and tumbling techniques.

Something Vigil said opens the door for injuries.

“Is that as safe as having a gymnastics coach that, that is their profession and they are trained and certified teaching our kids how to do it?” Vigil asked