A university in Connecticut desperately wanted a court to find cheerleading qualifies as an official sport. Here’s why – and what the court decided.

Officials at Quinnipiac University decided in March 2009 to do away with the school’s women’s volleyball team. It figured that even with the elimination, it could stay in compliance with Title IX by elevating cheerleading to competitive-sport status and making a few other moves.

Title IX is a federal law that requires schools to provide equal athletic opportunities to men and women.

When members of the volleyball team sued to block the planned elimination, the school asked the court to find that cheerleading could be counted as a sport for Title IX purposes.

But the court disagreed, saying cheerleading is “too underdeveloped and disorganized” to be considered a varsity sport.

That means the school has to keep the volleyball team intact for now.

Did the court get it right? Tell us what you think below.

Tags: cheerleading, Quinnipiac University, Title IX