I grew up in a time when seat belts were optional, Mom's lap was the child safety seat, bike helmets were only worn by those that raced, the only skaters that wore helmets were in the roller derby and most hockey players still chose not to wear helmets.  Some say that all the added safety equipment is leading to the whimpification of Americans; others say we are messing with natural selection by keeping stupid or uncoordinated people alive.  I think most of the safety improvements have been a benefit to our quality of life.

I have two boys that have given me the opportunity to attend hundreds of youth, middle school and high school sporting events during the last 12 plus years in Mukwonago.  During the last few years, one sport has caused me more concern for high-risk injury than any other.  Cheerleading!  Go to a high school basketball game this winter and you will see the cheerleaders performing on the gym floor.  Throwing girls into the air, standing on top of some cheerleaders and dropping into the arms of other cheerleader and performing high risk stunts.  This all takes place without the assistance of padded mats or protective gear.

Been to a high school track meet lately?  Even pole-vaulters that land on huge thick padding now wear helmets.  So why is it that with all the advances in athletic ability, which provides more spectacular yet dangerous stunts, and improvements to athletic safety gear, that cheerleaders have been left unprotected? 

In 2002 there were a half million cheerleaders in high school and college, and according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, accidents among cheerleaders accounted for more than half of all catastrophic injuries that occur to female athletes.  Between 1998 and 2007 there was a 42% increase in the number of cheer-related injuries in emergency rooms.  Cheer is no longer a sideline activity, it is a sport and the athletes involved have all evolved like other sports.  They are faster, stronger and more athletic.  Training for cheer takes place 12 months a year. 

There is little regulation at the high school level and the only way to curb accidents is to make existing guidelines mandatory at high school games and practices.  It appears that these guidelines are being enforced, but that still leaves room for improvements.  Maybe it's time to develop a cheer helmet, at least for the flyers on the team.  To be effective, there would have to be mandatory enforcement.  If left up to the cheerleaders they may avoid them to keep from getting helmet hair.  After all they are high school girls.

Side Note:  I would have included a picture for this topic, but I think an adult male taking a picture of high school cheerleaders would need to be able to prove he was a cheer parent or risk getting beat up by the crowd.