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