|
I recently came across a news release from the national media on cheer injuries. In addition to the normal horror stories, it included the following points of interest:
- 73 cases of “catastrophic” cheerleading injuries in the U.S. over the past 26 years have been traced by Frederick Mueller, director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at UNC. These included two deaths and fractured skulls or broken necks that led to permanent disabilities.
- According to national estimates by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, almost 30,000 cheerleaders are treated in emergency rooms each year.
- Emergency room visits from cheerleaders have tripled since the mid-80’s when cheerleading became more “like gymnasts in little skirts.” Cheerleading popularity and participation also increased during this time.
- High risk stunts were also on the rise. Basket tosses, pyramids, and certain tumbling runs, top the list for injuries, which are frequently executed on gymnasium floors, grass, and dirt with nothing separating the cheerleader from the hard surfaces.
- High school cheer is not considered an official sport in most states. Therefore, cheer doesn’t necessitate the same limits on practice time, safety equipment, or training for coaches that are essential for other high school sports.
- The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) require cheer coaches to be certified in thirteen states. Certification often only requires an online test for coaches so there is no training in spotting techniques or gymnastics. And only about a dozen states regulate cheer by the rules that are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
- In July, the NFHS will start offering an online cheer coach certification course comparable to the AACCA course. Yet, each state will determine if the coach is required to take the certification course.
- AACCA has just introduced its first set of rules, which ban double twisting dismounts and basket tosses. And the rule only applies to the youngest cheerleaders who are on either the elementary, middle or junior high teams.
- Susan Loomis, the NFHS rulebook editor for spirit teams comments that there is no one who acts as ‘cheer police’ at the high school level. She does not know herself what the repercussions would be if someone did not follow or broke a rule.
Source: MSNBC
|
