Cheerleading can be dangerous « Liveshots

Health

Los Angeles, CA

35

comments

Cheerleading can be dangerous

November 12, 2009 - 4:05 PM | by: Anita Vogel

It may be hard to believe but cheerleading has become the single most dangerous girls' sport - responsible for more than 60 percent of women's sports-related injuries.

Experts say the reason is simple: a lack of supervision and training.

While most injuries from the sport are minor ...they can be catastrophic and deadly.

Consider the case of 19-year-old Patty Phommannyong. The beautiful and vibrant high school cheeleader fell into a coma after her heart stopped as a result of an injury she received when she was tossed high in the air during a cheer stunt. She's now a quadriplegic and lives in a nursing home.

Those involved in the cheerleading industry say parents need to be more involved. They should ask questions about whether the squads use mats and spotters to stand by during those dangerous stunts.

Another recommendation is for coaches to become certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators.
In fact only 13 states require that coaches have any sort of certification at all and there's also a movement to make cheerleading an actual sport in the NCAA, but so far no movement on that.

35 Comments

«12 »

Ron

Will this story be on line video? I was on the road and got it on my XM but would like to take it to out local School Dist as my child is a flyer and we just want to make sure they it like the real and danguors event it is. Thanks

November 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM

Heather

I am sorry but I had to comment.. DUH!! What parent does not realize that cheer is dangerous? It's a sport like horse riding, football, soccer, etc. Kids WILL fall.. they WILL get hurt.. and although sad.. some will hit the wrong way and die. Christopher Reeves became a quadriplegic in a horse fall in 1995.. Thank god my parents did not stop me from riding. I even got to go to Atlanta in 1996 for the Olympics. If they had stopped me I would never have lived my dream.

November 12, 2009 at 7:53 PM

Steve Palmer

I've seen competitive cheerleaders practice, and the things they do (like tossing a girl 15 feet into the air and then catching her) definitely require serious coaching and safety precautions. High school cheerleaders should NOT be left to practice moves they've seen in BRING IT ON unsupervised.

November 12, 2009 at 7:44 PM

JH Hancock

I really dont think it should be seen as a actual sport. You dont compete until what the end of the year or after football season then its not seen my espn or anyone big. I dont think people really care.

November 12, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Maggie B

I love watching cheerleading.... it is pretty cool. And hell yeah it is a sport!!! get on it NCAA!!

November 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM

Jordan

Just because it is dangerous doesn't mean it's a sport. Just because it is physically demanding does not mean it is a sport. The purpose of cheerleaders is to distract the other team and lead the cheers. This story is just part of the feminist movement to make cheerleading a sport

November 12, 2009 at 6:46 PM

Cheerleader relative

I have a relative who was a cheerleader. She was the spotter whenever they tossed this other girl up into the air. On two separate occasions the girl twisted incorrectly in the air, meaning that if my relative moved, this girl would be dropped. Knowing this, she stood still and took the hit. Both times the girl broke her jaw. Cheerleaders can be tougher than football players.

November 12, 2009 at 6:33 PM

Steve in Arizona

Mats and spotters won't stop a cheerleader from breaking her neck, if her head hits the floor. Throwing pretty girls in the air over any solid surface is dumb. Throwing pretty girls in the pool is fun and makes for great photo opportunities!

November 12, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Dave

Agreed. Daughter just turned 15, broken wrist. Luckily no surgery required. This in a well-supervised, well-coached school.

November 12, 2009 at 6:29 PM

College Quarterback

Big deal. This was a waste.

November 12, 2009 at 6:28 PM

Andy Williams

Wow. Great job adding fuel to the fire. You titled this "Cheerleading Can Be Dangerous" and cited one tragic but rare injury and, like everyone else who's written an article about cheerleading, did absolutely no research on the positive benefits of the sport. Who are your "experts"? Who are "those involved"? Which minor injuries can be catastrophic and deadly? Certification should be mandatory...you did get that right, I'll give you that. If you're going to jump on the "Dangers of Cheerleading" bandwagon you should, at the very least, talk to some of the kids who participate in the sport (yes, sport...give it a try and you'll find out just how much of a sport it is) and get their views on the positives and negatives of participation. You might be shocked...

November 12, 2009 at 6:23 PM

V storno

I have to little girls and I have told my wife that there is no way that either of them will ever be a cheerleader. The coaches don't care about the girls safety. It destroys little girls body image. It should be banned.

November 12, 2009 at 6:17 PM

Keith

parents are involved, but for the wrong reasons. Too many parents, whether of boys or girls, push their kids into doing things that they couldn't do when they were younger. They are living through their kids to get the glory.....just look at little kids who are pushed into beauty pagents like Jon Benet Ramsey....

November 12, 2009 at 6:13 PM

Gdawg

How many football players get injured per year? I am a cheer coach and understand the risks behind cheering. It just annoys me when they continue to change the rules for our sport but not football players or other male dominated sports.

November 12, 2009 at 6:11 PM

Teresa Mims

As a parent of a former cheerleader I know first hand how dangerous the sport can be. I would watch them practice and I could not believe that the coach was nowhere around. Not only that but the spoters which are mostly males in larger schools (not ours) had there backs turned while the stunt was going on and yes my daughter was dropped. Thank goodness she only had a few bruises. I agree parents ask questions and if all possible go watch a practice.

November 12, 2009 at 6:04 PM

John S

I can believe it. My 12 year old daughter is a cheerleader for the first time. I can certainly see how they get hurt. A couple of girls have had joints pop out. They just come back with a flexible wrap on and go back to cheering. I blame some parents for not being more concerned. They are too involved in living a dream through their kids. I don;t think many take the dangers seriously enough. Yes, they practice on mats but they don't have that in their performances.

November 12, 2009 at 5:59 PM

Todd Boyd

Cheerleading is definitely a sport and should be recognized by the NCAA. Today's cheerleaders are gymnast as well as well conditioned athletes that participate in mounts and stunts. Proper supervision by experience and trained coaches is critical to preventing serious injury.

November 12, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Lanny

My 9 year old daughter wanted to take cheerleading, but there weren't enough girls for them to have the class this school year. If and when she does participate, hopefully she will be taught how to do it as safely as is possible.

November 12, 2009 at 5:48 PM

Ьфч

How can this be hard to believe, as the lead suggests?! People have wondered for decades how/why school administrators allow cheerleaders to attempt the things they do. The reality is these girls are pushing the envelope too much, too fast. The blame lies entirely with the coaches for not pulling harder on the reigns.

November 12, 2009 at 5:45 PM

Tracy Colvin

I don't like cheerleading...PERIOD!!! It's way too dangerous!! It shouldn't be a "sport!" Cheerleading should be what it is meant to be...Cheerleading the crowd to yell for the team playing..like the good ole days! WHy in the world should you do stunts and pyramids? That's not cheering!!! ITs dangerous!

November 12, 2009 at 5:43 PM

«12 »