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