Separating "Pep" from "Competitive/Performance" Cheer Squads

Posted by Terry Zeigler Oct 26, 2009

With the release of the catastrophic injury report from University of North Carolina last year, evidence was released for the first time about the severity of injuries that are being sustained by young girls in the sport of cheer. Although there is differing opinion as to whether this report overstates the number of injuries or understates the number of injuries due to the lack of a standardized reporting system, the bottom line still needs to be increased awareness and education for all involved with this sport.

The more I have read and researched the number and types of injuries involved in cheer, the more it stands out that adults are being asked to coach or supervise groups of cheerleaders with sometimes little to no background in tumbling and/or stunting. Even with qualified, experienced coaches, the athletes will still risk severe injury because of the types of stunts they are doing.

It is also clear that some schools are content with "pep" squads whose squads cheer and dance from the sidelines at games. Their sole purpose is to encourage and to "cheer" on their teams. If this is the primary goal of these teams, then a simple solution is to require that these types of teams keep their feet on the ground. They could be coached or "supervised" by a teacher on campus and these "coaches" would not require advanced training.

However, If a school would like to allow its teams to tumble and stunt, then they should require coaches with experience in tumbling, spotting, and stunting. These coaches should also be required to have and maintain certification in first aid/CPR/AED and have an emergency plan in place in the event of a catastrophic injury. These coaches should be educated as to the proper strength requirements for their teams as well as knowledgable in safe progressions for all tumbling and stunt skills.

These teams should have access to certified athletic trainers for advanced medical care and treatment of injuries. Emergency medical equipment should also be on hand including a fully stocked first aid kit and an AED.

Competitive/performing cheer squads should be required to follow published safety rules as to proper equipment and surfaces to tumble/stunt on. Last, the cheer squads should have a mandatory injury reporting protocol so that all injuries that occur can be reviewed and studied for future prevention.

While more research is being gathered, differentiating between a "pep" squad and a "cheer" squad and requiring that "pep" squads keep their feet on the ground could be one way to make the sport safer.