Regulated or not, cheering poses serious risks
Cheerleading has evolved well past the days of “Rah, rah, rah, GO TEAM” It has quickly become one of the most dangerous sports among young women. According to an article in the Washington Post, cheerleading accounts for more than half of all catastrophic injuries to girl athletes. We have seen an increased number of squads that are not just cheering for a localsports team, but are in competition for themselves.
Concussions and the serious side effects associated with them are in the news for good reason, but usually associated with football and soccer players. Concussions suffered by cheerleaders apparently aren’t being reported as frequently as those suffered in other sports. This could be a result of the ongoing effort of cheerleaders, coaches and parents to gain respectability for the sport.
Much of the concern for young athletes at risk for concussion goes to the obvious heavy-hitters: football, soccer, basketball. But an expert who studies the injury in youth sports say one major activity is being overlooked: cheerleading.
Female athletes may be at even higher risk for suffering a concussion than their male counterparts. Girls’ neck muscles are generally weaker than boys’, making them more susceptible to dangers that come from rapid acceleration or deceleration, and whiplash. – Melissa Dahl, msnbc.com
It is always important to make sure that the participants are well trained, not only in the how to execute stunts, but to do them in ways to protect themselves and their squad members.
We offer cheerleading insurance for teams and cheer school. For more information or a quote, call us at (800) 622-7370.
