Cheerleading injuries
Cheerleading injuries are on the rise based on the recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Injuries have more than doubled between 1990 and 2002 while participation has only increased 18 percent.
These numbers are actually understated as they cannot possibly know how many injuries are seen in doctor’s offices, ER’s and other clinics and not reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission where these statistics originated from.
In addition, cheerleading and Pom Pon or dance squads at many High Schools are not sanctioned as sports. Therefore they do not always have qualified coaches and do not necessarily get needed equipment such as mats etc. for practices. This can be an additional source of some of the injuries.
At Floyd Central, for example, the dance team is not considered a sport and the girls do not get credit or a letter for participation. They probably spend more time practicing than most other sports but cannot get a school letter for their participation.
This particular study gives recommendations that are supported by the Memphis, Tenn.-based American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors. They all recommend that coaches get professional safety training and that high school and cheerleading associations adopt uniform safety procedures and also develop a national database for injuries. All of this is very reasonable and should be implemented by the schools.
It is sad when we see major head and neck injuries that completely destroy the lives of the cheerleaders and their families. We should do whatever it takes to protect these athletes.
These numbers are actually understated as they cannot possibly know how many injuries are seen in doctor’s offices, ER’s and other clinics and not reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission where these statistics originated from.
In addition, cheerleading and Pom Pon or dance squads at many High Schools are not sanctioned as sports. Therefore they do not always have qualified coaches and do not necessarily get needed equipment such as mats etc. for practices. This can be an additional source of some of the injuries.
At Floyd Central, for example, the dance team is not considered a sport and the girls do not get credit or a letter for participation. They probably spend more time practicing than most other sports but cannot get a school letter for their participation.
This particular study gives recommendations that are supported by the Memphis, Tenn.-based American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors. They all recommend that coaches get professional safety training and that high school and cheerleading associations adopt uniform safety procedures and also develop a national database for injuries. All of this is very reasonable and should be implemented by the schools.
It is sad when we see major head and neck injuries that completely destroy the lives of the cheerleaders and their families. We should do whatever it takes to protect these athletes.
posted by Anonymous at 6:06 AM
2 Comments:
I cannot believe those girls don't get letters! They work extremely hard and deserve a school letter, at the very least.
I wonder if it's the same at NAHS?
Scribner? Hazelwood?
As an ex-athlete (though a mediocre one, admittedly),I think those girls are being shortchanged.
Roz Tate
It is my understanding they do not get letters at any of the schools because it is not sanctioned as a sport by the IHSAA
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