Cheerleading Dangers

Whether or not cheerleading is officially considered a sport at your school, there are still many cheerleading dangers that you should be wary of. While some would argue that cheerleading is in fact more dangerous than football, others would point out that many safety precautions can be put in place to avoid injury most of the time. Like all sports, cheerleading carries a risk, but cheerleading dangers do not have to be unnecessarily high if you take the proper safety precautions.

Ankle injuries are common among cheerleader athletes.

Avoiding Cheerleading Dangers

There are many ways to avoid cheerleading dangers. The best way is to be aware where the potential dangers are so you can address them before an accident happens. Below is a list of things to look out for during practice.

Protect Those Flyers!

Among cheerleading dangers, a flyer getting dropped on her head is probably one of the most dangerous and has the most serious potential consequences. Therefore, when in practice or performing you want to take all possible safety precautions to protect your flyers. Here are a few things you should always do:

• Never perform anything that hasn't been performed perfectly in practice for at least a month. Never perform anything that your flyer isn't confident in doing. If she doubts her ability, that is your cue as a coach to step back and do something easier. A little pushing in practice with extra safety precautions is fine. Pushing on performance day is a big danger.

• Make sure you always have extra spotters. Sometimes, when the adrenaline is rushing, bases throw a little harder, and the tendency is for the flyer to go back beyond the reach of the spotters. If you have more than enough, it won't be a problem.

• Flyers should wear stunting shoes with finger grooves so that the people holding her have a better grip.

• Take your time teaching stunts. Never put a full stunt together until all the cheerleaders are confident in their role in the stunt.

Get In Shape

While the most catastrophic cheerleading injuries occur when a flyer falls, there are other cheerleading dangers such as sprained ankles, torn ligaments, and similar injuries. The best way to prevent these types of injuries is to have the squad participate in a regular workout that is suitable for their level. Workouts should entail the following:

• Regular aerobic activity: Some squads actually begin practice by having the girls run a mile around the track.

• Sufficient stretching: A coach should never encourage girls to stretch beyond their limits. With regular practice and progressive stretching, any cheerleader can achieve the flexibility required to do some of the moves. However, it won't happen over night. Proper stretching also warms up muscles before routines and stunting; warm muscles are less injury prone.

• Strengthening: Cheerleaders should engage in a regular strength training program that is monitored by a professional trainer. The demands of cheerleading require that cheerleaders be strong--not just in their arms and legs but throughout their entire core.

When Something Happens

Part of being a safety conscious coach is being prepared when something happens. If your squad has access to trainers, they should be on hand for all sessions. If your squad doesn't have access to trainers, you need to limit the difficulty of your stunts. It might be tempting to try something more difficult, but for safety reasons, it's important not to. With that said, things do happen in sports, and cheerleading is no exception. You should always have on hand:

• Each girls' insurance information and emergency phone numbers. These should be carried with the squad wherever they go--be that a game, practice or a competition.
• A first aid bag that is complete with sports specific items such as splints, ace bandages, a neck brace and athletic tape.

Being a Safety Conscious Coach

All sports carry some risk of participation. You can injure yourself anytime your body is active. However, you can do a substantial amount to minimize the occurrence of those injuries and keep your squad safe. Many national organizations now offer safety training for coaches, and it is worth the effort and money to go. Doing so will make you a better coach.

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