Cheerleading Injuries Essay

“In the early 2000’s, cheerleading was considered one of the most dangerous school activities. The main source of injuries come from stunting...injuries can be as serious as whiplash, broken necks, broken vertebra, and death” (Wikipedia contributors). “There were two fatal injuries, 13 that led to paralysis and 29 very serious head or spinal injuries without paralysis” (Hughes) .
II: prevention:
“Most injuries occur due to lack of training” (Hughes). Only 3% of the 2.9 million female high school athletics in the United States are cheerleaders, yet cheerleading is responsible for nearly 65% of all catastrophic injuries in girls’ high school athletics (Wikipedia contributors). Cheerleading injuries can easily be avoided, yet some cheer coaches don’t take the time to take go through safety procedures, or even to get trained by certified professionals. “College squads are required by the AACCA to be coached by trained professionals...Warm-ups and stretching are imperative before and after practice sessions” (Hughes) . To
Schools are divided into divisions based upon their level of performance and how large the group is. Schools are also divided based upon if they want tumbling, stunts, or cheers in their routine. In cheers judges look for clarity in words, crowd involvement, and tight motions. Transitions and formations are also crucial in the routine. Cheerleaders need to utilize the whole floor, and use more than one formation. When transitioning, judges score groups higher when they involve floor work, the most commonly used floor work is a floor roll. During the dance, facial expressions, enthusiasm, rhythm, and sharp motions are big points. Most importantly, the ending is what wins them over. The ending of the routine is the last thing the judges see, it needs to be strong so they remember it. (“2014 Neb. State Cheer & Dance