Cheerleaders at high risks under untrained eyes
By Melissa Rohlin over at the L.A. Times has a compelling story about cheerleaders at risk without safety precautions or supervision. She writes: Statistics confirm the danger. Cheerleading injuries resulting in emergency room visits have increased almost sixfold since 1980, to nearly 30,000 in 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported. The exact number of serious injuries isn't known because there is no formal reporting system, but annual statistics tracked by Mueller's organization offer a snapshot of the situation. Over 26 years, disabilities or deaths caused by head or spine trauma are almost double for female high school cheerleaders than for female players of all sports combined: 73 "catastrophic injuries" -- including two deaths -- from fall 1982 to spring 2008. Gymnasts were second, with nine injuries.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
Melissa Rohlin has written a one sided compelling story of inadequate high school cheer programs. What she failed to point out were the numerous programs not associated with school cheer. Or school cheer programs that consider cheerleading a sport and train as such. These are the programs with highly trained coaches and facilities that provide a safe environment. They do not practice on grass fields or concrete. There is progression through the skill levels for tumbling and stunting. Pointing out all the facts does not make for good copy, not enough drama. For once I would like to see someone write about cheer that really knows the sport, not a sour apple that probably did not make her high school squad.
If any of you are wondering, yes my daughter does cheer for an All Star squad (not a school squad) at its highest level. She is young, however has trained for 5 years to get to this level. In my view it is up to the parent to consider the program and its aspects (especially safety) before a child should be allowed to participate.
This is very scary.