Health & Fitness

Coordinating the count series, timing and motions of a cheerleading stunt is only the beginning of mastering a move. Once the flyer is in position for the stunt, what next? Well, she needs to be able to come back down to the ground safely, and the dismount should be performed as cleanly as the stunt itself. For beginners, a good basic dismount to learn is the pop down.

Though a basic dismount, the pop down still requires strength, agility, skill and
trust among squad members. Members of cheerleading stunt groups need to have a
fitness and strengthening routine to keep their bodies and muscles conditioned for the demands of stunting. Stunts and dismounts should only be performed under proper, trained supervision to
ensure the safety of everyone.

Before any group attempts a stunt or dismount, they should discuss and decide on a standard count series. Each and every stunt and dismount a group performs should be done on counts, and it is typically the responsibility of the spotter to keep the beat and call it out. Timing is critical in stunting and dismounting, and new teams need to practice their timing as much as they practice their actual stunts.

How To Perform A Pop Down Dismount From A Thigh Stand

Click above to view large image

Bases

• The bases will remain in lunge position until the flyer has landed. The bases must keep their eyes up, on the flyer, at all times during any stunt or dismount.

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• Both bases should remove their outside hands from the flyer’s feet and reach up with their palms up to receive the flyer’s hands.
• Once the main hand grips are secure, the entire stunt group will dip slightly. As the group rises up from the dip, the left base should release the flyer’s thigh and raise her arm to place her hand (thumb out) at about the flyer’s elbow.
• Simultaneously, the bases will release the flyer by popping her up slightly. As the flyer is being released, the right base will release the flyer’s thigh and bring her arm up to catch the flyer’s bicep as she is landing to help stabilize her.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the bases release her arms and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

Flyer

• The flyer should stay tight and keep her legs locked during this dismount.
• When the stunt group is ready to dismount, the flyer should lean forward slightly from her waist, without bending her knees, and bring her arms down to the “T” position, where the bases will lock hands with her.
• Once those main hand grips are secure, the bases and spotter will dip the flyer slightly, then release her by popping her up. During the release, the flyer will get additional support and stabilization from the bases as they release her thighs and grip her biceps.
• As the flyer is being released, she should push her ankles together so that she’ll land with her feet together. She should bend her knees when she lands to absorb the shock of the landing.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the bases and spotter will release her and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

Spotter

• The spotter will help guide the flyer down.
• Once the main hand grips between the bases and the flyer are secure, the spotter should follow the movements of the bases as they dip the flyer slightly, and prepare to take on more weight when the flyer is released.
• As the flyer is coming down, the spotter should help stabilize her and absorb some of the impact of the landing by bending their knees.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the spotter can release her waist and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

How To Perform A Pop Down Dismount From A Basic Extension

Click above to view large image

Bases

• The bases must keep their eyes up, on the flyer, at all times during any stunt or dismount.
• The bases should lower the flyer back into the elevator position by dropping their hands down to their shoulders or chins.
• Next, the bases will shift the flyer’s weight to their back hands and their front hands will reach up, with their palms up, to receive the flyer’s hands. This should be done one base at a time, to maximize the flyer’s stability.
• Once those main hand grips are secure, the bases and spotter will dip the flyer slightly, then release her letting go of her feet. During the release, the bases should step out slightly with their outside foot, to position themselves in the best way to support the flyer.
• The bases should raise their now free inside arm up and grip the flyer’s bicep as she is coming down.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the bases release her arms and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

Flyer

• The flyer should lean forward from the waist, without bending her legs and keeping her head straight, and begin to bring her arms down. The flyer needs to maintain a tight core throughout the dismount.
• The flyer will grasp the bases’ hands, one at a time, as they reach up. The flyer should keep her head up and continue to look outward.
• Once those main hand grips are secure, the bases and spotter will dip the flyer slightly, then release her letting go of her feet. During the release, flyer will bring her arms out into a “T” position and push her ankles together.
• The flyer should land with her feet together and bend her knees when she lands to absorb the shock of the landing. She should also use the support that she is getting from the bases and spotter to help reduce some of the weight of the landing.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the bases and spotter release the flyer and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

Spotter

• The spotter will help guide the flyer down.
• Once the main hand grips between the bases and the flyer are secure, the spotter should follow the movements of the bases as they dip the flyer slightly, and prepare to take on more weight when the flyer is released.
• As the bases release the flyer’s feet, the spotter should reach up and grip the flyer’s waist. As the flyer is landing, the spotter should help stabilize her and absorb some of the impact of the landing by bending their knees.
• The spotter may choose to keep their hands on the flyer’s ankles until the flyer is released. If so, it is important for the spotter to remember to pull their arms up and out when they release the flyer’s ankles so that they don’t hit the flyer. The should also help the flyer get her feet together by pushing her ankles together.
• Once the flyer has landed and is stable, the spotter can release her waist and the entire group faces forward with the feet together and their arms at their side.

An alternate way to do a basic dismount is to adjust the way the feet come down. By having the flyer step down with one foot first, and then the other, the dismount would become a walk down. In a walk down, the flyer’s feet meet and come together on the ground.

I’ll admit it. I let you down when I last discussed
this year’s hottest new fitness trends because I left one — perhaps the very best — completely off the list. Confession: this fitness trend completely slipped under my radar but I’m happy to have discovered it now so I can share it with you.

Cheerleading may still not be considered an official sport, but it’s not being hailed as an excellent health benefit and a great way to stay in shape. Taking the fitness world by storm is
Cheerobics, an aerobics-meets-cheerleading workout with the very apropos tagline, “Be fit, be a cheerleader.”

Cheerobics explains the many benefits of cheerleading on its website and, what we love most, defends cheerleading as an activity that is so much more than just
waving pom poms in the air. To celebrate the fun and exhilarating cheer workout, Cheerobics offers classes and DVDs, so you can work on your Cheerobics with the support of others or in the comfort of your own living room.

We think this would be great for cheer parents to enjoy! (In fact,
one cheer mom became a Cheerobics instructor and appeared on Good Morning Texas news). Or, even as a supplemental workout for cheerleaders dedicated to their fitness. We would much rather take a Cheerobics class than run on a boring treadmill.

Though Cheerobics was created across the pond in the UK, the trend has caught on in the US and was even featured on the Dr. Oz show. Check out the video below:

For someone like me, who hates mundane workouts at the gym and prefers something fun, Cheerobics sounds like a workout I definitely need to try.

To find out more about Cheerobics, including its classes and DVDs, visit
http://www.cheerobics.net/.

What do you think about Cheerobics? Will you give it a try? Do you think this would be a great workout for cheer parents? Comment below!

There are so many recommendations for the “right diet,” where does one even begin? We’ve all heard of Atkins, Weight Watchers, the Zone, Paleo, counting calories, high protein, low carb…what does a cheerleader need to do to make sense of it all?!

Start with the basics!

Cheerleaders need to
fuel themselves with highly nutritious food in order to perform at their very best. Stunting, tumbling, cheering, dancing, and everything else that goes into a
cheerleader’s daily life requires energy, and lots of it. The best energy comes from food (put down that extra-large coffee or energy drink!) so enjoying  the right kind is a big part of living an active lifestyle. Putting together a healthy eating plan can be surprisingly easy if you focus on choosing
‚ and avoiding!
‚ the right foods.

Choose:

Foods high in lean protein.

Foods like lean chicken breast, fish, tofu, black beans, and even vegetables like spinach  have lots of protein, and it’s important to get your required daily amount. A common myth is that too much protein will cause a person to bulk up with unwanted muscle. In reality, protein allows your body to rebuild and repair current muscles and cells, and is necessary for athletes of any kind, especially those who put in
long hours conditioning, like cheerleaders.

Avoid:

Non-lean animal protein.

A steak or juicy hamburger can be an incredibly satisfying meal every once in a while, but try not to let them be a part of your everyday menu. While they are high in protein, they also come with higher fat contents, and it’s not usually the good kind of fat.

Choose:

Foods with “good fat.”

The good fats include polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, both of which have multiple health benefits, including lowering the bad type of cholesterol and providing Vitamin E. Polyunsaturated fats include Omega-3s which, according to the American Heart Association, can aid in increasing heart health. Polyunsaturated fat is commonly found in fish like salmon or trout, as well as foods like walnuts and flaxseeds. Monounsaturated fats can be found in olives and olive oil, avocado, almonds, and more. Good fats are filling and satisfying; making sure you have enough fat in your diet can help you
eat less overall and control cravings.

Avoid:

Foods high in saturated and trans fats.
It’s almost impossible to completely remove these fats from a typical diet, nor is it necessary, but try to limit them as, according to the American Heart Association, these types of fats can increase bad cholesterol (LDL), lower good cholesterol (HDL), and clog arteries. The bad fats are commonly found in animal products (meat, eggs, high fat dairy, etc.), vegetable oils, and in many fried foods or processed snack foods like cookies, crackers, and popcorn. It’s a good idea to check the labels on items before you buy to ensure that the amount of saturated or trans fat is low.

Choose:

Whole foods.

What are the ingredients in a banana? Banana! Whole foods, or foods that are not overly processed, are typically more nutrient dense and pack a heavier punch of vitamins and minerals. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread (think sprouted, not just wheat), legumes, and raw or roasted nuts (hold the salt!) are great choices when looking for something that is not overly processed.

Avoid:

Overly processed foods.

If you can’t pronounce, or at least can’t recognize, the majority of the ingredients on the label, do you really want them all inside your body? Highly processed foods include most pre-packaged meals, easy-to-grab breakfast bars, and anything else you may think of as “convenient.” But don’t worry, it’s easy, and often less expensive, to create your own versions of grab-and-go food! Used to having a cereal bar in the morning? Try low-fat Greek yogurt with your favorite berries on top. Love to get a smoothie from the fast food drive through? They’re not as healthy as you think! Whip up your own with fresh fruit, chia or flax seeds, low fat milk or almond milk, ice, and a handful of spinach (you won’t taste it, trust me!). You can even add a small amount of honey or agave syrup to sweeten it. Not only will it taste great, but you’ll know everything that went into it!

Choose:

Complex carbohydrates.

I’ve heard too many people (not one of whom were nutritionists or fitness professionals!) say that one should avoid fruit as a part of a balanced diet. I’m not saying you should eat your daily calories in oranges, but avoiding fruit because it’s high in sugar is avoiding the wrong type of sugar. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally high in complex carbohydrates, or sugars that your body slowly digests, which in turn
provide the energy you need to go from school to practice to competition. Other good sources of complex carbohydrates are starchy foods like potatoes, whole grain pastas and breads, legumes, and beans. Don’t be afraid of carbs. Without them, you won’t have the energy to successfully hit your tumbling pass or be alert enough to ensure you catch your flyer. Carbs are not the enemy.

Avoid:

Simple carbohydrates.

While carbs in general may not be the enemy, simple carbohydrates (think corn syrup, table sugar, and molasses) are not something you need as a significant  part of your daily diet. Soda, candy, cookies, cupcakes, chips, and many other types of packaged goods all contain simple carbohydrates that are rapidly digested, and in turn, do not provide long lasting energy. You may feel a sugar high for a couple of hours, but that drop after? That’s the initial effect wearing off, leaving no fuel for your body to use in the long term. Try and limit your refined sugars and simple carbs as much as possible.

Choose:

A healthy, balanced diet.

Cheerleaders are athletes, and need to fuel their bodies to perform at their best.  Try to eat a healthy balance of lean proteins, fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and healthy fats. Remember, too, that an occasional treat like ice cream or a cheeseburger is totally fine
‚ as long as it isn’t a daily habit.

Avoid:

Obsessing.

You’re human, and you’re allowed to not be perfect. Don’t look at food as the enemy, look at food as fuel: whatever quality you put in your body will have a direct effect on what  energy  you get out. Don’t obsess over the number of calories you’ve eaten, if you’re eating more than your friends (who may not be as active as you), or if you indulged in an ice cream sandwich after dinner. Treat your body well by
eating regular meals and remembering to keep everything in moderation.

Cheerleading camp is a summer tradition dating back to the late 1940s. As the weather gets hot and a new football, basketball and
competition season approaches, cheerleaders gather together at cheer camp programs to learn from professionals, other squads and each other. Here’s a brief on what it’s all about what to bring, and how to keep the
spirit of cheerleading camp alive all season!

Fill out the form below to get your free copy now, and easily save, print and share this guide with your cheer community!

Highlights

Cheer Camp: How To Prepare And Be Successful

Thinking about attending cheer camp? Wondering what to expect when you get there? Not sure what to bring to camp? Here’s a brief on what it’s all about.

Coach’s Guide: How To Get The Most Out Of Cheer Camp

Camp is an important place for cheerleading squads to bond, build trust, learn in a safe environment, improve their skills and prepare for competitions. It is also an invaluable place for coaches to gather materials, information and tips that will help them train and lead their squad. Now that you have decided that your team should kick off cheerleading season with camp, how do you choose the right one and prepare your team for the experience?

What To Expect At Cheer Camp

Camp will be filled with experienced (and enthusiastic!) instructors and volunteers that will help teams build self-confidence, inspire and be inspired in a positive environment that promotes a love for cheerleading. What should you expect as a coach, captain or new team member?

Cheer Camp Checklist

Whether your camp is only a few days or a little longer, you want to make sure that you don’t forget anything important! Making a list beforehand will ensure you have everything you need so you can focus on learning and teaching. Get started with this list of things you should plan to pack, things you should definitely leave behind and tips to beat the heat and perform your best.

Download your FREE copy of the guide now to access all the tips, and to see 6 reasons to be psyched for camp!

Tumbling For Cheerleaders Week 4
‚
The Pro’s Moves 

Get tips for more tumbling moves in the free
Tumbling for Cheerleading Guide, available now!

Tumbling is a form of gymnastics that requires athletes to use their bodies to flip, twist, roll and jump. Tumbling is most often used at cheerleading competitions and during
gymnastics routines at the Olympics, but dancers and other stage performers also tap tumbling to give their show a “wow!” factor. To excel in tumbling, you must be disciplined, skilled, fast and strong with maximum flexibility and stamina.

This week I’ll cover two pro tumbling moves: the front and back tuck. These moves are extensions of the
beginner, rookie and expert tumbling moves covered earlier this month. You need to have those moves mastered before attempting to learn these advanced moves. Don’t expect a “shortcut” or “quick way” to learn any tumbling moves
‚
they don’t exist. Attempting any tumbling move without the proper training and supervision can result in serious injury. Use mats, training equipment and spotters until you have mastered tumbling moves. Don’t forget to properly
stretch and warm up!

How To Do A Back Tuck

The back tuck, like the back handspring and roundoff, is a staple move for tumbling passes in cheerleading. The back tuck can be done as a single move from a standing position, but is often done as part of a longer tumbling pass in cheerleading. As a beginner, and while learning this move, you should practice the move on its own. Once you can do the move alone, you can add it to a tumbling pass, such as off the rebound of a roundoff or back handspring.

Click above to view large image

• The back tuck starts with a powerful set. The first step of your set is your squat. Start by standing with your feet together and legs straight, arms raised. Go into a controlled squat while at the same time swinging your arms down and behind you. Don’t hold back with your arm swing. You want it to be powerful so you can build enough momentum for your backward motion. During your set, keep you chest up and your back straight. Your eyes should stay off the ground. Keep them focused forward.
• The second step in your set is the lift off. As you rise out of your squat, swing your arms up with all your power and extend your reach upward. You should also begin pushing off the ground by lifting your heels and coming up on your toes. Stay in control of   your body by keeping your core tight and tensed.
• As you reach the peak of your set (the swing of your arms straight up and your heels off the ground), use its momentum to jump up. Unlike the back handspring, do not jump backward. Focus on getting your jump as high as you can and let your arms pull you upwards while launching off the ground with your legs.
• Resist the urge to drop your arms and tuck your knees right away. You need to wait until your jump as reached its peak. Once you are in the air as high as you can go, tuck your knees into your chest. It is important to bring your knees into your chest, instead of pulling your chest forward to meet your knees. Your shoulders should be slightly curved forward, and your head is still straight (though now you are looking up instead of in front of you). Do not throw your head backward. When you tuck your knees, it should be a snap motion. Pulling them in quickly will help propel your rotation. After you tuck your knees and begin rotating, your arms can either pull in under your knees or wrap around your legs.
• Your momentum will rotate you through the move. As your rotation is ending, you want to release your legs, and begin to straighten them while extending your lower back. Land with your whole foot (not the heel or the toes), and bend your knees to absorb the impact of the landing. As you are landing, you should begin to swing your arms upward. This will help you balance, and will shift your momentum from forward to upward. Use that momentum to bring your body straight and up, and continue raising your arms to end the move in the same position you started.

NEXT:

Pro’s Guide To Tumbling For Cheerleading: Front Tuck

Once you have mastered all of the tumbling moves covered in this series (and not a moment before!), you can start combining them with other moves to create tumbling passes and help you craft your technique into controlled skill. Start slow, and work on getting faster
after you are comfortable with the changes and shifts in movement.

Make sure you wear the correct
cheerleading shoes and practice wear when you are learning how to tumble. Your shoes should be flexible and supportive, and your practice wear should be tight-fitting so your body won’t get tangled in extra material.

This is a general overview of some basic cheer motions with the focus on the position of the arms. You may perform them, or see them performed, slightly different. These motions can be used while a cheerleader is on the ground or up in a stunt, and the position of his or her feet will vary from being shoulder width apart to being together, depending on when and the motion is being used.

You may also know some of these moves by different names, since
cheerleading teams might refer to a move by a unique, regional name.

Review our other
cheer motion articles to get tips to you help you perfect all your motions and strengthen your arms!

Scissors

One arm should go straight up, into a Touchdown motion, while the other arm goes straight down into a Low Touchdown motion. (Review previous motions.) Your hands will be in fists with the thumb of your raised hand facing behind you and the thumb of your lowered hand facing outward and away from your body. Scissors can be done as a left or right motion (if the right arm is in the Touchdown motion, the move is Right Scissors).

Corners

One arm should go into a Half T motion, but you should pull your arm in so that your fist is under your chin. Your pinkies will be facing out and your thumbs will be facing your shoulders. Your other arm should go into a Dagger motion, but you should rotate your fist so that your pinkies are facing out. Corners can be done as a left or right motion; if the right arm is in the Half T motion, the move is Right Corners. (Review Half T here, and Daggers here.)

High and Low Broken V

For a Low Broken V, start in the Low V position. Then bend your elbows up and in, bringing your fists below your chin. Your pinkies should be facing out. Your elbows should point down and away from your body.

For a High Broken V, start in the High V position. Then bend your elbows down and in, bringing your fists to rest just below your shoulders. Your pinkies should be facing out, and your elbows should continue to point out and away from your body. (Review the High and Low V motions here.)

Check

Extend one arm into a High V motion, keeping your thumbs facing out and your pinkies facing back. The other arm should go into a position similar to the Low Touchdown motion, but instead of pointing your fist down, you should bend your elbow so that your forearm is pointing away from your body at a 45 degree angle. Your fist should have fingers up, with your thumb facing back.

What’s a cheerleader without cheers? No matter where you’re performing – on the sidelines, a blue mat, or gym floor –
a good cheer squad knows the value of spirited cheers and chants.

If you’re a new cheerleader, read about everything you need to know about cheers and chants. If you’re an experienced cheerleader or coach, familiarize yourself with the details you may have forgotten.

1. What makes a cheer or chant good? What are the elements of a cheer? Before you can create, learn, or understand cheers and chants, you’ve got to know how they started and why they’re a game necessity.
2. You’ve got some great cheers so you can use them at any point during a game, right? Wrong! It’s crucial to know when it is and isn’t appropriate to cheer and which cheers you should use at different points of a game.
3. A good cheer isn’t just about shaking pom poms and shouting out chants. Many cheers involve choreography. To make your cheer catchy and spirited, know what types of moves and music work well for games and pep rallies.
4. Teaching a cheer? By understanding the key elements of teaching, you’ll have no problem teaching your squad new cheers.
5. It’s not always easy learning a new cheer. By following our tips for learning (and remembering!) new chants, you’ll never have a problem mastering cheers all season long.
6. Just for fun, if it were possible to cheer anywhere in the world, where would you cheer? We made a list of the dream cheering destinations that should be on every cheerleader’s bucket list.

Do you have a favorite cheer? What do you love most about cheering?

Check out the complete Cheer Competition Guide For Coaches!

Though the
“Is cheerleading a sport?” debate rages on, those in the cheerleading community know no bounds to their competitive side. Each year, hundreds of cheerleading competitions are held around the world. These competitions feature some of the most talented young athletes in world, and some of the most awe-inspiring stunts that you’ll ever see live, short of going to a Cirque du Soleil show.

Competitive cheerleading is an exciting world that continues to grow each year, from the first competitions in the 1980s to today’s competitions that feature age groups starting as young as five years old and even extend to special needs cheerleading teams.

Competitive cheerleading has gained some publicity lately as more and more organizations recognize the dangers involved with extreme tumbling and human stunting. As competitive cheerleading gains more speed, the skill levels only become further advanced and more dangerous. However, properly trained squads can pull off routines packed with stunts, tumbling, dancing and cheering with a smile.

So what is all the fuss about, and should YOUR squad compete?

Competitive cheerleading is done for many of the same reasons other sports have competitions: trophies, recognition, scholarships, honors, prestige. But it is also more than that. Cheerleaders compete for the excitement. They compete because they have worked hard developing, learning and perfecting a routine. They compete because seeing the crowd react to them is a reward in itself.

Before deciding if your squad is ready for the pressure and demands of competitions, consider these questions:

Does Your Squad Have The Skills?

There are many different levels of cheerleading competitions, and a squad needs to carefully choose a competition that will allow them to compete with other squads at their level. A squad should evaluate its size, experience and dynamics. Are there several experienced, returning squad members or are most of the girls new to the team? Have the girls on the squad known and worked with each other for a long time, or are they still working on building respect and trust?

Do You Have The Time To Prep?

A competition routine is not the same as your homecoming or half time routines. A competition routine has to be thoroughly planned, coordinated and practiced – in addition to any of your regular practices. Many squads even
hire a choreographer to help them prepare for competitions.

Typically, the cheer competition season lasts for the entire beginning of the calendar year, but training for competitions can start as early as the summer before the season. Each squad needs to evaluate their own regular season schedule and any community commitments before signing up for competition responsibilities.

Do You Have The Support?

Participating in cheerleading competitions not only requires some of your budget, but also support from your school or organization and community.

If you didn’t plan a budget for competitions during your
fundraising activities, chances are it will be a struggle for you to come up with all the funds in time. Some of the costs that a squad will need to cover in their competition budget include:

• New Uniforms. Most squads order special cheerleading uniforms for competitions, along with new cheer shoes and travel gear. Not to mention accessories and makeup. Using new uniforms and gear ensures that a squad will look their absolute best on the floor.
• Competition Fees. A squad’s captain or coach need to do their research and determine what the up front costs for each competition will be. Depending on the competition, it could be a small sum per squad member, or a couple thousand dollars for a team. Don’t forget to factor in travel and accommodation expenses!

Is It Worth The Risk?

As with any stunting, there is risk involved. If your squad wants to win a competition, they will have to push themselves emotionally and physically to improve and master their skills. Increasing the level of difficulty in a routine will mean more complicated stunts and tumbling. Only properly trained professionals should be working with squads to condition them for performance.

To prevent injuries, your squad should consult safety publications, rules and tips from nationally recognized cheerleading organizations such as
The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators and the
National Cheer Safety Foundation.

Athletic safety is a hot topic – especially in cheerleading. All recent research has concluded that cheerleading is second only to football regarding catastrophic sports injuries. Despite all the research, cheerleading is still not a sanctioned sport by the
NCAA Title-IX standards, which means that some common
safety rules and regulations are not governed for cheerleading. In general there are
cheerleading industry safety standards, but each organization or school ultimately has control over the requirements for coaches, spotters and choreographers. It’s in the hands of the organization’s officials and coaches, and the program’s participants and their parents, to keep an eye towards safety and enforce preventative measures.

As you
think about joining cheerleading, continuing cheerleading or being a leader for a cheer gym, organization or squad, keep these must-know safety statistics from the Catastrophic Sport Injury Research 28th Annual Report 2011 in mind, and consider visiting the
National Cheer Safety Foundation page for help developing your own comprehensive safety plan.

Below are statistics from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research’s 28th Annual Report 2011. The full Catastrophic Sport Injury Research 28th Annual Report 2011 is
available to download here.

Cheerleading Safety Statistics

Of the 128 direct injuries reported for high school female athletes during the 2010-2011 season,
83 of them were from cheerleading. No other sport (including gymnastics, basketball, track, volleyball and more) had injuries in the double digits reported.

Of the 51 direct injuries reported for college female athletes during the 2010-2011 season,
36 of them were from cheerleading. No other sport (including gymnastics, basketball, track, lacrosse and more) had injuries in the double digits reported.

64.8% of all high school and 70.6% of all college direct catastrophic injuries reported for female athletes were
a result of cheerleading in the 2010-2011 season.

Cheerleading at a high school and college level
accounts for two-thirds of all catastrophic injuries to female athletes.

From the 1982-1983 season to the 2010-2011 season, the overall percentage of catastrophic injuries to high school and college female athletes rates at
66.5%.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, here is the estimated number of
emergency room visits that were caused by cheerleading injuries:

1980 – 4,954

1986 – 6,911 (39.5% increase)

1994 – 16,000 (131.5% increase)

1999 – 21,906 (36.9% increase)

2004 – 28,414 (29.7% increase)

2006 – 25,966 (8.6% decrease)

2007 – 28,786 (10.8% increase)

2010 – 36,288 (26% increase)

Of those emergency room injuries in 2010, a total of
19.3% were head injuries:

1,579 concussions

361 contusions

2,292 internal injuries

or
neck injuries:

79 contusions

60 fractures

1,325 sprains/strains

Of those athletes
visiting the emergency room with cheerleading injuries:

291 were hospitalized

71 were treated and transferred to another hospital

49 were held for observation

Florida treated more cheerleaders for injuries
than for any other sport in the 2010-2011 season.

Download the full Catastrophic Sport Injury Research 28th Annual Report 2011 now to see more and to access a sample review of the data that the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research has collected over the past 29 years.

About The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research:The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research:collects and disseminates death and permanent disability sports injury data that involve brain and/or spinal cord injuries. The research is funded by a grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the American Football Coaches Association, and the National Federation of State High School Associations. This research has been conducted at the of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 1965. Each year three annual reports are compiled.

Cheerleading is a great sport and a great activity that comes with many benefits to the athletes. Don’t let these statistics scare you away, just use them as motivation to make sure that safety is a priority for your local cheerleaders!

• Insist on qualified and certified coaches and trainers – with no exceptions.
• Make sure that practice is being held on the correct surface and that the team has updated equipment and supplies.
• Make conditioning a priority. Cheerleaders should have a routine stretching and strength training schedule to help prevent unnecessary injuries.
• Treat injuries immediately and don’t rush an injured cheerleading back into play. Give concussions and muscle injuries time to heal properly, and don’t pressure the athlete to push themselves beyond their limits.