Kentucky has a national championship cheer squad but STUNT is a different type of competition. (Vicky Graff Photo)
So what is STUNT? If you are like me, you probably have no idea. But guess what — the University of Kentucky is adding the sport of STUNT. It will be one of 65 schools offering what UK called the “fastest-growing female sport” in the United States.
Kentucky has a club STUNT team in place — something I did not know.
Practice will begin during the fall semester, with the first competition expected in February 2022. Kentucky also has to find a coach.
Here is information UK provided for those of us who really have no idea what this sport is.
Q: What is STUNT?
A: STUNT is a competitive, head-to-head, four-quarter game between two teams that focuses on the technical and athletic aspects of Cheer. The skills that a young athlete has learned through Cheer (partner stunts, pyramids, jumps, tosses, tumbling) define the routines that must be performed in each of the four quarters by both teams head-to-head on the floor at the same time. The team that executes the skills best wins the round and the point. That team then has the opportunity to determine which routine level will be called next. This allows the coaches to employ a great deal of strategy throughout the game to advantage their team and affect the outcome of the game. With four quarters of play – partner stunts, pyramids, and tosses, jumps and tumbling, and team routine – STUNT is an exciting sport to play, coach, and watch. For more information on STUNT or to watch a video of a STUNT game, go to www.stuntthesport.org and/or www.collegestunt.org.
Q: Why STUNT at Kentucky?
A: UK Athletics has been researching and reviewing current and emerging women’s sports to find one we felt addressed the interests and abilities of young women attending UK and also demonstrated great growth potential. We didn’t want to add a sport just for the sake of adding a sport. We wanted to add a sport we felt would generate the support and following that our other women’s sports enjoy. We have a very robust and successful women’s athletics program at UK. We wanted to add a sport we felt would add to that success and afford a championship experience to even more female athletes. There is a very strong cheer culture at UK. Therefore, this first competitive varsity sport that has been created in a format that permits the young women who have trained in that culture to be college student-athletes provides another opportunity for UK women’s athletics to excel.
Q: Why now?
A: UK has been monitoring the progress of STUNT through the NCAA Emerging Sport process. It was recently approved by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and has been recommended by the Strategic Vision Committee to all three Divisions of the NCAA. It has been approved by the D-lll and D-ll Councils and will be reviewed by the D-l Council in October. The sport has worked closely with the NCAA to develop rules and regulations for STUNT teams and events. It has developed to a point at which UK feels it is the best option to provide meaningful female participation opportunities in our program.
Q: Is this a scholarship sport?
A: Yes. The team will be comprised of scholarship and non-scholarship student-athletes. It is an equivalency sport, which means that scholarship athletes may receive full or partial aid. The number of scholarships permitted for this sport will be determined by the NCAA. UK will grow the number of athletes in coming years as the program is developed.
Q: When do college STUNT teams compete?
A: STUNT is a spring sport. The season runs from February-May.
Q: Will current UK cheerleaders compete on the STUNT team?
A: We do not anticipate UK cheerleaders being part of STUNT. Traditional cheer teams and STUNT are different disciplines. STUNT is one of the fastest-growing sports at the high school level for young women. Therefore, our student-athletes will be recruited from outstanding STUNT teams across the nation.
Q: How many student-athletes are normally on a STUNT team?
A: Most successful STUNT programs have up to 50 student-athletes on their roster.
Q: How long does a STUNT competition last?
A: Most STUNT games last approximately one hour.
