| Cheerleading, once a rather tame activity | | | | team since 1977. "In our society, it's |
| composed mostly of pompoms and megaphones, | | | | acceptable that every year a number of young |
| has taken an about face in America over the | | | | men will die on a football field. But, my |
| last few decades. | | | | heavens, if a female breaks a fingernail, or |
| | | | her arm, well, then it must be time to ground |
| Today, cheerleaders use gymnastic moves and | | | | them." |
| athletic ability to flip, somersault and even | | | | |
| catapult one another into the air, with | | | | But the spokesperson for Nebraska, Barry |
| stunts that can rival the excitement of any | | | | Swanson, felt otherwise. "We didn't eliminate |
| football or basketball game. | | | | cheerleading or reduce the cheerleading |
| | | | budget in any way. All we eliminated was the |
| In fact, "[Cheerleading has] evolved from a | | | | danger ... In football you have helmets and |
| school-spirit activity into an activity | | | | pads," he said. "Cheerleaders do their stunts |
| demanding high levels of gymnastics skill and | | | | on hardwood floors or turf. We consider that |
| athleticism," according to a study in the | | | | risk without reason." |
| journal Pediatrics. | | | | |
| | | | Other schools that have "grounded" |
| It has also become much more dangerous, with | | | | cheerleading squads include San Jose State |
| the increasingly complex moves putting | | | | University, which did so in 2004 after an |
| cheerleaders at risk of potentially serious | | | | accident, and Duke University, which has |
| head, neck and other injuries. | | | | forbidden stunts since the '80s. |
| | | | |
| Cheerleading Injuries Double Since 1990 | | | | How Does Cheerleading Stack Up? |
| | | | |
| The Pediatrics study found that cheerleading | | | | Compared to other youth sports, cheerleading |
| injuries have more than doubled from 1990 | | | | is still one of the safer options. In 2003, |
| through 2002. Participation, however, grew | | | | for instance, 100,000 female basketball |
| only 18 percent during that period. | | | | players visited emergency rooms for related |
| | | | injuries, while only 25,000 cheerleaders did |
| Over the 13-year study, 208,800 5- to | | | | so, said Jim Lord, executive director of the |
| 18-year-olds were treated at U.S. hospitals | | | | American Association of Cheerleading Coaches |
| for cheerleading-related injuries. Almost 40 | | | | and Advisors. |
| percent involved leg, ankle and foot | | | | |
| injuries. | | | | The seven most dangerous youth sports in |
| | | | America, based on percentage of injuries |
| Researchers say the actual number of injuries | | | | versus total participation, include not |
| is likely much greater, though, because the | | | | cheerleading but: |
| study only involved ER-treated injuries, not | | | | |
| those treated at doctors' offices or by team | | | | 1. |
| trainers. | | | | |
| | | | Football |
| What Makes Cheerleading so Dangerous? | | | | |
| | | | 2. |
| Although cheerleaders use a high level of | | | | |
| athletic ability, cheerleading is still not | | | | Mountain biking |
| considered a sport by the majority of | | | | |
| schools. | | | | 3. |
| | | | |
| Because of this, it is not subject to the | | | | Basketball |
| same safety regulations as other sports, like | | | | |
| football. Meanwhile, cheerleading squads can | | | | 4. |
| exist without coaches or with coaches that | | | | |
| have no safety certifications or training. | | | | Soccer |
| Some schools also do not have the proper | | | | |
| equipment or space for cheerleaders to | | | | 5. |
| practice safely. | | | | |
| | | | Skateboarding |
| Said Brenda Shields, the study's lead author | | | | |
| and an injury researcher at Columbus | | | | 6. |
| Children's Research Institute in Ohio, | | | | |
| "[Cheerleaders may] practice in hallways and | | | | Baseball |
| practice on hard surfaces instead of mats. So | | | | |
| when they fall off a pyramid or from in the | | | | 7. |
| air and they land on hard surfaces, the | | | | |
| chances for injury are drastically | | | | Softball |
| increased." | | | | |
| | | | Nonetheless, the study researchers |
| Some Cheerleaders Get 'Grounded' | | | | recommended several approaches to make |
| | | | cheerleading safer: |
| In response to safety concerns, some schools | | | | |
| are choosing to prohibit stunts and keep | | | | Coaches getting professional safety training |
| cheerleaders safely on the ground. | | | | |
| | | | High schools and cheerleading associations |
| The University of Nebraska has prohibited | | | | adopting uniform safety procedures |
| pyramids and other gymnastic stunts since | | | | |
| 2002. The decision to keep cheerleaders | | | | Developing a national database for injuries |
| "ground-bound" came after a cheerleader | | | | |
| landed on her head while doing a double back | | | | The American Association of Cheerleading |
| flip at practice in 1996. She has only | | | | Coaches and Advisors also has a safety manual |
| limited use of her arms and legs, and the | | | | for cheerleaders and safety courses for |
| school settled a related lawsuit for | | | | coaches. |
| $2.1-million. | | | | |
| | | | "It's not that the sport is dangerous, but |
| The move was controversial, as many | | | | it's people trying skills they shouldn't," |
| cheerleaders seeking scholarships will avoid | | | | said Lord. |
| schools that don't allow stunts. Other called | | | | |
| it a "sexist" move. | | | | "We are by no means minimizing the injuries; |
| | | | we are simply putting them into perspective. |
| "Cheerleading is considered primarily a | | | | When compared to other sports, cheerleading |
| female activity," said T. Lynn Williamson, | | | | is a low-risk activity," he maintained. |
| adviser to the University of Kentucky cheer | | | | |