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