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