Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling For Cheer Competitions

During cheerleading competition season, many cheer teams travel to an event destination. Some travel locally and are able to drive, but others need to make arrangements for air travel. Local competitions allow teams to return home, but other competitions require overnight stays at hotels. No matter what circumstances your competition season holds, use these tips to make sure that you take some time to focus on safety. On The Road Wear your seat belt at all times when the vehicle is in motion. If you are on a bus, stay seated in one spot – don’t keep switching seats to visit other team members. After any stop, the coach should do a role call before hitting the road again. This will help make sure that every team member and chaperone is back on the bus and that no one gets left behind. Your bus should be equipped with a first aid kit and a safety kit. Check for these before you get on the road, and have your own kits prepared to bring just in case the bus does not have them. Monitor the driver’s awareness, reaction time and health. For long trips, there should be more than one driver, and no one should drive for more than 4 hours at a time. Most people use electronics for directions these days, but be prepared for anything by bringing a good old fashioned map and printed directions as backup. In The Air Use luggage tags that clearly display your contact information in case it is lost or misplaced. Try to add some flare to your bag so it stands out, like a cheer keychain or ribbon – especially if your cheerleading squad is traveling with the same team bag! Be aware of the current airline rules, including weight limits on checked baggage and restrictions for carry on items. Pay attention to the in flight briefing on safety and exits. This is a presentation that the flight attendants do before take off, and it covers the location of exits, how to use your seat belt and what to do in case of an emergency. Obey the captain and flight attendants’ instructions while in the air. They will let you know when you need to stay seated and when your seat belt should be fastened. At all times, you should avoid blocking the aisles. At The Hotel Don’t answer the door for anyone you don’t know. If they claim to be a hotel employee but you are not expecting a delivery or room service, call the front desk to verify the person’s identity before opening the door. Try not to walk around with bare feet. There could be broken glass or other dangerous items on the ground that could injure you. You don’t want to have sore feet for a competition! Hotels are public places with a lot of foot traffic and having bare feet could make you vulnerable to catching a foot fungus. Double check that you have your room key before leaving the room, and take all of your valuables with you when the room is going to be empty. Under no circumstance should you practice any cheer stunting in or around the pool area. Period. It will be tempting, and you may see other teams doing it, but it isn’t worth the risk. At The Competition Stay in a group as much as possible when traveling and when you are onsite at the competition. Use the buddy system, where 2 or more people are assigned to keep track of each other. Be sure to check the weather report for the area that you are traveling to so you can be prepared. If there is bad weather expected where you are staying, make sure that everyone is aware of the emergency plan for the area and for the team. Make sure that there are enough chaperones to efficiently keep an eye on the team. It may mean that you have to do plan to do some fundraising to cover their costs, but it is worth it to keep everyone comfortable and safe. How does your team stay safe during competition travel? Share your tips with our readers in the comments section!