How Can You Help?

        Regardless if you are a college cheerleader like myself, a cheer mom, a coach or strictly a fan, you can make help to make a change! Help to keep cheerleading grow in your communities. By publicizing the cautions institutions should take to keep cheerleading safe is very important. Make sure they are providing qualified coaches, available trainers, safe equipment and a safe environment. This is crucial because it will limit preventable injuries and hopefully allow cheerleading to branch away from the mindset of being dangerous. Another way to advocate cheerleading becoming a sport is by forming groups to encourage prominent people to change the rules regarding Title IX. This is the law that is most limiting cheerleading from being a successful sport in college. Stay tuned in to Cheerleading As A Sport for more information on the progress of this case!

Title IX- Is it the newest outdated law?

As touched upon in a previous post, most institutions are shunning the idea of providing proper care for cheerleaders. They are also stubbornly denying cheerleading as a sport, using Title IX as their buffer. Title IX of 1972, is a questionably “outlived” law that demands universities to provide equal athletic participation opportunities for men and women (Stacy). Specifically its requirements include the following:

- Schools must provide a proportionally equal amount of male and female athletic opportunities. 
- Schools must show they are continually committed to creating more athletic opportunities for women. 
- Schools must provide proportionally equal athletic scholarship opportunities for male and female students.  
-  Schools must provide men and women equal access to equipment, game times, coaching and practice facilities, among others. (Seely)  

            True Story: In March of 2009, Quinnipiac University made the attempt to qualify competitive cheerleading as a sport at their school. After the attempt, a federal appeal made in court prevented schools from allowing cheerleading to count as a sport. The appeals court stated, "An activity can be considered a sport under Title IX if it has coaches, practices, competitions during a defined season and a governing organization. The activity also must have competition as its primary goal -- not merely the support of other athletic teams". Since this disappointment  Quinnipiac renamed its cheerleading team as Acrobatics and Tumbling and joined the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association to help push for an "sports" title. The name change was also made to differentiate itself from sideline cheerleading (Press).
          A news program broadcasting to Southern New England WTNH brings up the upsetting point that Title IX may not have bad intentions directing its discrimination towards cheerleading, but rather focuses its concerns on money (Judge). 

(Judge)

Tid Bit:  Not only is Title IX putting a burden on cheerleading, but on male sports as well. As cheerleading is being denied from college athletics, male athletes are being turned away as well. Since Title IX demands that universities give equal opportunity in sports, it is common to find male low  profile sports being cut. 

(Nelson)

Tid Bit: Being a UMass Cheerleader comes with unimaginable opportunities such as cheering at Gillette Stadium and the TD Garden. For this, I am grateful. One part of the team that is missing is the chance to be on scholarship through cheerleading. Since cheerleading is not a sport, there is no scholarship money to give out for being on the team. If Title IX were to change its regulations, I would expect more cheerleaders would become interested in the school, in hopes to come on scholarships, therefore improving the program. 

Basket Toss: #1 Leading Cause of Concussions in Cheerleading

(Zachary)

Injury Report

As cheerleading is getting more physically demanding compared to its difficulty when University of Minnesota cheerleaders performed, the rate of injuries is sky rocketing. According to a cheerleading article, over the past decade injuries within cheerleading have risen over 400% (Toporek). The popularity of the sport is increasing within high school, college and all star cheerleading teams. This whopping number derives from the increase in participants and difficulty of skills being performed. According to studies, “From 1990 to 2003, there was a 20 percent rise in the number of cheerleaders 6 or older, going from 3.0 million to 3.6 million, according to the AAP” (Toporek), 90% of which, being females (Mercer). 

The change in skill set has improved drastically: from basic jump combinations to dangerous basket tosses and complex tumbling passes. The American Assosiation of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators describes cheerleading’s’ specific attributes: “Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the strength of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastics” (AACCA). Even with the combination of required agilities from other sports, cheerleaders are often not offered access to qualified athletic trainers (Toporek). This is grave because safety is the most important aspect of a sport. Without proper exposure to injury treatments, cheerleading will continue to be associated with being hazardous. Some of the most common injuries include ankle sprains, and concussions; happening most commonly at practice while tumbling and stunting (Waters). A Journal for Nurses of the American Academy states that over 50% of high school cheerleading teams do not have a certified athletic trainer (Waters). If cheerleading were declared a sport, this would not be the case. What is a justified reason that cheerleaders should not be given access to trainers? Institutions should be jumping at the chance to improve the safety of their students.  

           Tid Bit: Being a UMass cheerleader, I am considered to be part of "Marketing" for athletics. I often feel bitter towards the athletic department, jealous of the access to Boyden (Athletic Training Facility separate from the hectic Recreation Center) that cheerleaders do not have. This year the cheerleading team got a new coach, who lucky for us, was desperate to help us have a name throughout the school. Starting with our safety, she set up a meeting with the head trainer at Boyden who official granted us access to the sports trainers. This is a major step for UMass Cheerleading towards becoming a safer activity and potentially aiming towards being a sport rather than a marketing tool. It is also comforting knowing that the cheerleading team has a crew helping us stay healthy. 

  True Story: Kali Wald,18, suffers from short term memory loss due to a cheerleading related injury. In 2011, Kali was dropped from her flier position twice; once one her upper back and neck, and the second time directly on her head. As serious of a fall that she had, it is harrowing to know that this injury potentially could have been prevented from creating permanemt damage. After the first fall, Dave, Kali's father, confirmed that the coach was unaware of the graveness of Kali's injury, allowing her to do more stunting which ultimately resulted in Kali being dropped on her head. If cheerleading coaches were required to have specific attributes and qualifications, it is likely that they would have been able to see symptoms in Kali that she needed immediate medical attention. Without the second fall, Kali hypothetically could have had a full recovery. Kali still has concussion symptoms and cannot lead a regular day at school due to head aches and dizziness (Cheerleading).   

Take A Stance: Too cheerleaders who have been injured, much like Kali, it make seem as though their stories have been left in the dust. Why wouldn't officials take initiative after such trauma? Well, there is hope: a Doctors Group, the American Academy of Pediatrics, is enforcing cheerleading regulations for the safety of the participants (Doctors). 

(Doctors)

All Girls Cheerleading Competition: demonstrating difficult skills

Here is an example of competitive cheerleading. 

("Cheer Extreme")

Minnesota Cheerleading

           History has a common theme of refusing to accept changes being made throughout the world, and oftentime, people display a sense of stubbornness pushing for things to stay the same. In cheerleading, this is creating a major issue, where older generations have a stuck image in their heads about how the sport was when they were young. The fact of the matter is: cheerleading has developed tremendously in these past two decades alone! It is important that we open our eyes to the positive growth in cheerleading and accept the sport as physically demanding. If cheerleading becomes recognized as a lawful sport, it will create a safer environment for the athletes, and provide opportunity to so many cheerleaders entering college. 

Background: The University of Minnesota was the first college to have sideline cheerleaders at football games. The head coach, Thomas Peebles brought the school spirit to the University after graduating from and cheerleading at Princeton University (Alumni). Johnny Campbell, a University of Minnesota student, was the first cheerleader to lead the crowd in a chant in 1898 at a football game verses Northwestern. Minnesota won 17-6 and credits Johnny for their victory (University).

Pictured above: Minnesota Rooter Kings (Alumni). 

Work Cited

           

"AACCA.org - Cheerleading as a Sport." The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators. N.p., 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            This paper is a written by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators. This credible group touches upon whether cheerleading should be considered a sport. Over the past twenty years, cheerleading has become more and more athletic based. There is also an increase of competitiveness within the sport. Competition however, still comes secondary to the main function, which is cheering on other athletic teams. The paper says, “Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the strength of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastics” (AACCA). The AACCA was developed to set safety standards. According to the definition of a sport made by the Women’s Sports Foundation, cheerleading does not reach the criteria because its priority is not competition, but raising school spirits through leading a crowd. It is debated whether making cheerleading a sport would push schools into hiring more qualified coaches. The AACCA believes the best category for cheerleading is an “Athletic Activity”.

            This source is very credible because it comes from the official cheerleading website containing all the regulations. It is presented very clearly with subtitles where a new point is brought up/ touched upon. This is one of the more vague sources because it does not choose a side of where cheerleading should fall, and instead makes up its own category. But it still provides valuable points.

"Alumni Association Angle." University of Minnesota Alumni Association. University Archives, Fall 2009. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

"Cheer Extreme Senior Elite: 2012 Battle at the Beach Day 1." YouTube. YouTube, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

"Cheerleading Should Be Designated as a Sport to Improve Safety Rules, Doctors Say ." NY Daily News. Associated Press, 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.

Doctors Group: Cheerleading Should Be Considered a Sport. Perf. Kelly Mcdermott. WXYZTV Detroit, 2012. News Report. Youtube. 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

            Healey, Michelle. "Eye on Cheering Safety.(sports)." Usa Today. (2012). Print.

 Judge: Cheerleading Is Not a Sport. WTNH, 2013. News Report. Youtube. 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

Mercer, Lisa. "In High Spirits." Sporting Goods Dealer 205.2 (2006): 18-20. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            This article starts by giving a brief history of the sport. Started in the 1800s at Princeton University by men who cheered on the football players. Thomas Peebles took the tradition to the University of Minnesota and it started to become more recognized. In the 1900s megaphones were introduced. Then, in 1978 CBS televised cheerleading as a sport for the Collegiate Cheerleading Championships. Today, 90% of cheerleaders are females. The number of cheerleading related injuries has doubled between 1990 and 2002 even though participation only increased 18%. This source was moderately useful for my essay. It contributes a variety of good statistics. This article was much more informative numbers wise than the others. Giving specific time periods and influential peoples names from the evolution of cheerleading. The essay was laid out chronologically which was helpful but ended with more facts on products such as Kaepa’s rather than more recent facts and stats.

Nelson, Mariah. "And Now They Tell Us Women Don't Really Like Sports?" Ms. Magazine | From the Archives. N.p., Winter 2002. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Press, Associated. "Court Upholds Cheerleading decision." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 07 Aug. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.

Seely, Billy. "Understanding Title IX." USA Cheer. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.

Stacy, Teicher K. "Cheerleading Doesn't Count as a Real Sport, Judge Rules." The Christian Science Monitor: 2. Jul 22 2010. ProQuest. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            Stacy Khadaroo, the staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor wrote a revealing essay concerning the manipulation on cheerleading not being a college sport. Too keep from sexism, according to Title IX (a federal gender- equity law), there must be an even distribution between female and male student athletes at a given university. After a case study done for the University of Quinnipiac, it was decided that competitive cheerleading was too new and underdeveloped to be treated as a varsity sport. Another debate being made is whether Title IX is reasonable since often times interests to play college sports is not equal in men and women on campus, so proportional numbers are not needed to ensure equal opportunity. If more men are interested in sports, more men should have the opportunity to join. Quinnipiac is pro- cheerleading as a sport. The intended audience is anyone who could help persuade the government to allow a headcount on cheerleaders to count as a sport in the Title IX for college sports equality in gender. Regardless of peoples opinions on what category cheerleading should fall under, “Neither the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) nor the US Department of Education has recognized competitive cheerleading as a sport” (Stacy).This source is very useful for a focus on why defining cheerleading, as a sport is a major change for institutions such as colleges. I think since this source uses a specific college as an example it is credible. It is presented very straight forwards and understanding.

           

TOPOREK, BRYAN. "Sport Status Urged For Cheerleading." Education Week 32.10 (2012): 5. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            This article states that cheerleading should be marked a sport by all 50 states to make sure that each team has qualified coaches and access to athletic trainers. As of 2012, only 29 states qualify cheerleading as a sport. Over the past decade injuries within cheerleading has risen over 400%. The article says, “From 1990 to 2003, there was a 20 percent rise in the number of cheerleaders 6 or older, going from 3.0 million to 3.6 million, according to the AAP” (Toporek).This article did not give any specific examples but mentioned multiple statistics, which makes it seem credible. This is a less useful source because of the small amount of information given.

"University Traditions." Traditions. University of Minnesota, 26 May 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

Waters, Nicole. "What Goes Up Must Come Down! a Primary Care Approach to Preventing Injuries Amongst Highflying Cheerleaders." Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 25.2 (2013): 55-64. Print.

Zachary. "Photo of the Day: SCSU Basket Toss." Web log post. Zacharyc. N.p., 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.