Cheerleaders still whip crowds into frenzies of school spirit with pompoms and peppy attitudes, but the increasing popularity of difficult stunts has sent the number of cheer injuries flying. "Cheerleading isn't about a skirt any more. It's athletic," said SuzAnne McDonald, a coach at San Bernardino's Cajon High School and Cal State San Bernardino. Cheer-related injuries in emergency rooms rose from 18,858 in 1998 to 26,786 in 2007, a 42 percent increase, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates. Big stunts sending cheerleaders into the air and high pyramids have become common over the last 20 years, exposing cheerleaders to more injuries, from common sprains and strains to rare broken necks. There is little regulation at the high school level because cheerleading falls in the hinterland between activities such as chess and sports like soccer. Experts say the only way to curb injuries is to make existing safety guidelines mandatory at high school games and practices. Little regulation means there are no solid numbers on cheer participation or injuries. Jim Clover, coordinator of SPORT Clinic in Riverside, Calif., has had a front-row seat for the evolution of cheerleading from sideline activity to main event. "Cheerleaders are as tough as nails," he said. "They have definitely become athletes." Clover said cheer is following the trend of many sports. "Kids are getting bigger and stronger and faster. They are working out 12 months a year," he said. "Everybody has got a private coach. Nobody did that 10 years ago." McDonald led her team to a national championship this year with safety and skills training. She brought out her veteran and new cheerleaders recently to learn a basic stunt in small increments, a cornerstone of safety, McDonald said. "We don't have a lot of injuries because we pay attention to the details," she said. Two girls called bases stood beside the "flyer," and a spotter stood behind. The bases hoisted the flyer halfway up, then all the way, and then the girls learned to catch the flyer as she fell back. Experienced flyer Domonique Barnes, a 17-year-old senior at Cajon High, learned the new stunt quickly. In the shaky hands of new cheerleaders she still feels nervous, but with well-trained teammates, "It's just natural." Reach Jessica Logan at jlogan(at)PE.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com
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