Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/22/eveningnews/main613227.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2
Is cheerleading too dangerous? Over the years cheerleading has gotten more and more competitive. This means that their moves and stunts have got to be bigger and better, and unfortunately, more dangerous to win and be the best. “Cheerleaders today are as competitive as the teams on the playing fields,” said a CBS News Correspondent.
Having once being a high school cheerleader, I have seen how each year stunts get more creative, different, intense, and dangerous. Just one wrong move can cause you, or even all the girls in the stunt, major injuries. In the CBS News article it mentioned how “…just months into her freshman year, the stunt went wrong at practice and Rechelle became the second cheerleader this year left paralyzed.” In my four years of cheerleading I have seen ambulances take girls away on three separate occasions, and I personally had my jaw dislocated from stunts gone wrong. The article also mentioned “In girls' sports, more than half of the catastrophic injuries - those causing paralysis or death - are happening on the sidelines, in cheerleading accidents.” As competitive cheerleading progresses so does the intensity and danger.
The safety of the girls and responsibility of properly teaching these stunts lies with the coach. Unfortunately the dangerous moves are often taught and supervised by people who do not fully understand or are not qualified. The CBS News article quoted how, “In professional gyms, coaches are specialists. In schools, the coach might be doing double duty as the math teacher.” The most important position in high school cheerleading is the coach, because the girls’ safety ultimately lies in that person’s hands since they teach, choreograph, and allow the dangerous moves causing injuries.
-Bree Torres
Kin 338i t/th
9:30-10:45
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1 comment:
TO; Bree Torres
You mentioned 4 injuries including yourself in the comments on Cheer as Dangerous. Do you know if all of those accidents have been reported to Dr. F.O. Mueller through the NCCSIR for inclusion in the annual study of Sports Injuries? They can be reported at the following;
cheerinjuryreport.com
Periodically I serve as an Expert Witness in Cheer Injury cases around the US and have been compiling my own list of Severe & Catastrophic injuries. My records are simple;
Date of injury
Activity Description; Stunt & position & type -or- Pyramid & position -or- tumbling skill
Injury;
Name: (to prevent duplication)
By the way 3 ambulances in one year is a serious concern because Safety doesn't hurt. Most of Cheer injuries can be prevented through proper use of the basics;
Learn fundamental skills before attempting Complex skills
Competent & Experienced Coaches
Proper Physical Conditioning & Stretching
Use of appropriate equipment
etc.
ONE Bottom line in my book is that a mat doesn't provide Safety, ... especially when no athlete lands on it with anything other than their feet!
Proper Skill learning & focus on Spotting techniques can allow many to participate at the limits of their physical & mental abilities SAFELY.
Every day gymnast and Circus performers perform some pretty amazing skills with fewer injuries & less severe than cheer!
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