Over the past few decades, cheerleading has evolved from pompoms and cheers to elaborate yet dangerous performances. Modern cheerleading includes plenty of stunts, including flips, cartwheels, pyramids and basket tosses. While these moves are entertaining, they also come with risks. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, cheerleading accounted for more than 66 percent of catastrophic injuries for females both in high school and college.
Injuries
Some cheerleading performances look more like a complicated gymnastics routine. The added emphasis on back flips, handstands, cartwheels and other gymnastic moves also adds to the risk of injuries. According to Connect with Kids, an education company that helps parents and teachers teach health and wellness to minors, more than 40 stunts may be performed in a three- to five-minute cheerleading routine. Common stunt-related injuries may include sprains, strains, head injuries and broken bones.
Botched Stunts
When cheerleading stunts go bad, the results can be scary. Jessica Smith tells the NY Times about a botched stunt that broke her neck in two places. After being tossed 15 feet into the air, the cheerleader, who was part of a pyramid structure and supposed to catch Smith, fell. As Smith descended toward the ground after performing a flip, there was no one there to catch her. She fell on her head. The "New York Times" reports many similar and scary cheerleading stunt accidents. The higher level of difficulty in cheerleading stunts may be to blame for the increase in injuries and danger.
Death
In 2008, 20-year-old Lauren Chang died from injuries received from a cheerleading stunt gone bad. She was kicked in the chest while performing a basket catch. In 2005, 14-year-old Ashley Burns died from landing on her stomach after being tossed into the air. The crash burst her spleen. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, high school cheerleading had more fatalities than any other sport. College cheerleading fatalities are also greater than most collegiate sports.
Cheer Safety
Organizations such as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators, the defining source for cheerleading safety and regulations, have made significant changes regarding what kinds of stunts are allowed for middle and high school and college cheerleading teams as well as redefined the safety requirements of cheerleading performances and competitions. The organization also developed a manual that provides guidance on how to perform stunts safely as well as information regarding emergency and injury response as well as safe dancing and cheerleading techniques.
References
- National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research: 25th Annual Report
- Connect with Kids; The Dangers of Cheerleading; Yvette J. Brown
- "New York Times"; As Cheerleaders Soar Higher, So Does the Danger; Bill Pennington; March 2007
- ABC News; Another Cheerleader Dies; Anne-Marie Dorning; April 2008
- American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators: Who We Are
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