Basket Toss Gone Wrong

Cheerleading stunts gone wrong and why the risk of injury is soaring. First time is never a charm in the cheerleading world. It takes blood, sweat, and tears, in order to get a stunt perfected or even just to learn it. Here are some examples on what goes on behind the scenes of what cheerleaders endure during there training process.

After many days hard at work and giving 100 percent at each practice stunts are learned and perfected to the best they can be, this is one example of what hard work can do.

Cheerleading the Most Dangerous Sport For Women

Eric Little

Eric Little is a nation wide know choreography. His choreography has won national titles. He has choreographed dances for the 7 time national champions Louisville cheerleading and he has also created dances for national winning teams such as Rutgers, Missouri, and Arizona. Last year American Cheerleader Magazine named him the 4th most influential person in the All-Star cheerleading business. His choreography has won 740 national titles, 11 world titles for such organizations such as Top Gun, World Cup, and Cheer Athletics these are only some of the many he has done business with. Eric has also worked with many teams in the NFL and NBA. Another great accomplishment that he has fulfilled is choreographing dances for the third segment of "Bring It On" and he produced dances for the movie "Bring It on All or Nothing." Eric Little is a very popular person known in the cheerleading world, and many teams seek him out in order for success.

This link below is the segment about Eric Little in the magazine American Cheerleader

http://iamericlittle.com/allstar.pdf

As Cheerleaders Soar Higher, So Do the Risks

Cheerleading over the past couple years have definitely made a new name for the sport. In an article from the New York Times As Cheerleaders Soar Higher, So Do the Risks they address the many concerns about the sport today. The article states that emergency room visits for cheerleading injuries nationwide have more then doubled since the early 1990's. The rate of life- threatening injuries has also startled researchers. Another popular topic that is brought up is how many things done during games would be against N.C.A.A regulations but since many states don't consider cheerleading a sport no rules are being broken. New acrobatic moves have turned each cheerleader into a daredevil. While the sport always had a sense of glamour now taped wrists, knee braces, and ankle braces have become a natural "fashion statement" in the cheerleading world. Having bags of ice covering cheerleader’s body's these days after a hard practice people view it as being just as common as the mascara they wear. No one never really understood the dangers of cheerleading until the media started to publicize them. Jessica Smith, an 18-year-old cheerleader at Sacramento City College, broke her neck in two places five months ago when a botched stunt dropped her headfirst from a height of about 15 feet. On any big squad in order to join they make you sign a medical wavier, Smith says now that they should just tell an athlete that they are signing a death waiver after she was thrown in the air and was 2 millimeters from ending up in a wheel chair. After the accident Smith's life changed forever. Her movement was restricted, she dropped out of school, and she rarely slept at night due to reoccurring flashbacks of the accident. Cheerleading is a sport where one must trust that someone will always be there for them but just like any other sport accidents happen. “Still, I’m one of the lucky ones,” she said. “Some people don’t walk away from a cheerleading fall.” Smith ended up suing Sacramento City College for negligence. “Everyone thought cheerleading was jumping up and down and yelling to the crowd, which seemed pretty harmless,” said Brenda Shields coordinator of an injury research center at the Columbus Children’s Hospital in Ohio. “No one knew how much cheerleading had changed,” Shields said. “Once we looked at the data, the numbers were a bit of a shock, and that’s when we realized the risks involved.” Cheerleading has evolved to a whole new level and every day one new person understands the potential risks that come with this sport.

As Cheerleaders Soar Higher, So Do the Risks
By BILL PENNINGTON

Published: March 31, 2007

"Athletes lift weights, CHEERLEADERS lift ATHLETES"

Co-ed stunting. True strength and dedication here.

Dedication To The Sport

SIU Cheerleader falls from pyramid and continues to cheer off the court while on a stretcher. One of the first major injuries that perked up the awareness of the sport. With 3:25 left in the Salukis' 59-46 victory over Bradley, Kristi Yamaoka fell head-first from about 10 feet in the air onto the Savvis Center floor during the SIU cheerleading squad's timeout routine. She was brought to Saint Louis University Hospital to undergo tests on her back, head, and neck. To show true spirit while getting carted off the floor Kristi continued to do the motions to the school song while the crowd and her teammates cheered her on. A true full hearted cheerleader proved too many that she truly loved the sport. After this injury many people realized the dangers of the sport. Yamaoka's teammate Keith Kelly said the team always focuses on safety first and foremost, but said accidents sometimes occur in cheerleading just as in any other sport.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Cheerleading Injuries On The Rise

Cheerleader Dies After Stunt

Cheerleading has progressed to be one of the most dangerous sports around. From the vigorous tasks it makes your body perform there is a great deal of hardship. This sport requires one to be nothing but in shape and healthy. Cheerleading can take a toll on many and the sport has actually taken many lives, or has caused many serious injuries. People have worked hard to try and give the sport more a voice and to ensure that more safety regulations will be ensured. The family of a Massachusetts cheerleader, who died accidentally after she was kicked in the chest during a competition is now working with state law makers to make sure this tragedy doesn't happen again. "We hope her death will shed light on the inherent risks of cheerleading and we hope that additional safeguards are taken," said Lauren Chang's mother Nancy Chang, who doesn't believe safety, education or medical services have kept up with a sport that has become more daring during the years. Many people don't view cheerleading to be a dangerous sport and the right precaution after certain injuries are never taken to the extent that they should be. Lauren Chang is the one of many who have died from this sport and now action is being taken in hopes that new safety regulations will be put into place.

Here is the 911 call of Lauren Chang after the injury occurred.

Cheerleader In The Spotlight !

Cheerleading will never be consider an individual sport. Teams must work together in order to become the best of the best. Even though cheerleading is a group effort there is always one cheerleader out of the bunch that gives that extra effort. Molly Silven of Bellingham, MA is one of these unique cheerleaders. Hard working not only as part of a team but pushing herself individually she was able to inspire others to work just as hard. Attending Mt. St. Charles Academy and only cheering 1 year out of her 4 she was able to grow into loving the sport. Molly was a gymnast since the age of 9 which helped her become the great cheerleader she is today. Now attending Elmira College and cheering on the competitive team she was able to get a taste of the real deal. On top of this high demanding sport commitment Molly is fulfilling a major in bio/Pre-Med and she is also a trustee scholar. Molly was recruited into the EC cheerleading program and she became an asset to the team. Always eager and willing to try new things she not only grew as a cheerleader but as a person in general. With a standing tuck, to a round off back handspring full Molly always took the mat with a sense of determination to hit everything perfectly. Molly Silven states "I never expected to fall in love with the sport as much as I did, EC cheer has not only become something that I love to do, but it gave a sense of family with the girls. No one sees the blood, sweat, and tears we all endure and truly no one cares, all they care about is the routine we deliver in the end, it's a brutal world." Molly Silven is eager to take on next year challenges and is staying in tip top shape till then.

Cheer Extreme

“850 National Champion titles and still counting,” the coach of this highly ranked national team states. Cheer Extreme is an all-star cheer program that serves the top athletes who naturally have a love for the sport. This team is largely composed with six locations and over 800 athletes. This all-star program is the largest in NC with a National reputation; it is one of the best programs in the Southeast. I posted a video of this team at JamFest Nationals. The talented senior team showed off a flawless great routine that brought them home with yet again another National title. Not only that but this routine lead them to a victorious win at all level worlds. This team is filled with heart and spunk; they have a never give up never back down mentality and give the sport of cheerleading a good name!

Varsity.Com where cheerleading comes to you

Watch all the cheerleading you want, and keep up to date with all the competitions going on. You can get coverage and results from all the major NCA, and UCA events and many more. Watch it all on http://www.varsity.com/

If you want to view specific teams just look for that event and then search that team in the search box. Enjoy!

Gym City Lites All-Stars

Gym City Lites All-Stars, located in Cortland Manor consists of three dedicated teams that practice two times a week for about 2 and half hours. The three teams that make up the program are broken up into specific age groups. The youngest of the City Lites family is the Pee Wee team which is coached by Amanda Perez. Amanda was a high level championship gymnast. Recently, our Pee Wee team placed 2nd in the Cheer NY Nationals. The next team to follow is the City Lites youth team. This team is for kids 11 and under. This elite All Star Team is also coached by our high level Gym City Team coaches, and head coach; Regina Albano, who has been coaching cheerleading for 21 years. This team recently just placed second at Hershey Park Open Championships. The last team to make up the City Lites family is the senior team. This team is coached by Kristina Valente, and her Assistant Coach, Tope Aiyegbo, who was both collegiate cheerleaders at St. Johns University. These coaches are also staff members on UCA (Universal Cheerleading Association) and they are USASF certified for levels 1-6. This year the striving and determined Lites family wowed the crowd with an amazing routine that brought them home with many championships. The greatest achievement for the team this year was getting a bid to the all levels championships (worlds). Not only did this team get a space to compete at this high level competitive competition, but both youth and seniors were able to bring home the gold. Gym City ended there season by going to Hershey Park. Not only is this a time for the teams to have fun and spend time together but it's in a way an award for all the hard work that each team has put in. The Gym City family is preparing themselves for a new season of success and hoping that tryouts will not only bring back returning members but some new faces to. The main goal for this gym is to have the cheerleaders feel good about themselves. Each program is designed to give each individual cheerleader some type of benefit within and the obvious physical benefits; strength, agility, coordination, and flexibility. It teaches the cheerleaders to overcome obstacles and to never give up. Each coach helps create the mind set that if you work hard at something and put your mind to it you will be able to achieve it. This gym creates a sense of family and determination and gives all the kids numerous opportunities. This gym creates a sense of pride in the sport and never gives up on a dream of success.

Louisville Cheerleading

The University of Louisville co-ed cheerleading squad has won 14 National Cheerleading Association Championships, and the all-girl squad has won six championships. Louisville cheerleading is a high recognized team and role model for many. They give up all breaks or part of them to train for 2 minuets and 30 seconds on the mat. Both teams are coached by Todd Sharp, James Speed focus in on the Co-ed team while Misty Hodges focuses in on the all-girl team. Standards are set very high in order to make this team and it's an honor to be able to call yourself a Louisville cheerleader. This year the all-girl team ended up coming in second at Nationals, losing to one of their big competitors Maryland. It was a heartbreaking loss for the team since they consecutively won the title of National Champion years before. It was a hard loss but it will not stop the lady cards from striving to work and be the best they can be. People now and returning members are working hard on fitness, tumbling, stunting, and over all crowd appeal in hopes they will be able to call themselves a CARDS CHEERLEADER!!

Elmira College Cheerleading

Elmira College Cheerleading consists of two teams; varsity game team and varsity competition team. EC competition team has been competing in the all-level NCA (National Cheerleading Association) College Nationals since 1999, and each year they are given a partial paid bid to attend. In 2000, the Soaring Eagle cheerleaders won the NCA All-Women Division II category and each year since, have placed in the top ten. In 2007 the Soaring Eagles brought home their second All-Women Division II National Championship. The girls continue bringing home victory and placing first in there regional competition that took place in Albany. This year the girls delivered a great routine in hopes of another National Championship. After a hard two days of competing Elmira College was robbed of there place they deserved and ended up in sixth. In order to achieve such great goals a team needs to be willing to dedicate a good chunk of there time to practicing and competing. This team starts practicing in the summer by attending NCA College Cheerleading Camp and starts right back up once school starts, and then there season ends after Nationals which is in April, out of all the Soaring Eagles Athletics Teams this team has the longest season. In order to stay in shape this team gets 2 weeks off after nationals and then they start a third term work out and a once a week practice which last 2 and half hours. This year competition team consists of 23 girls and the team will remain the same minus the 5 seniors graduating and the incoming recruits coming in during the fall of 2010. Elmira College Cheer is already working hard during this time in hopes by the summer when they attend College Camp in Boston they will receive a full paid bid to 2011 College Nationals. This team is nothing but heart and has a very dedicated head coach, Amber Myers- Fleming who used to cheer for Slippery Rock All-Girl. Having a coach like her theirs enough room for fun but she knows when it's time to work. She is a determined, dedicated coach and the right person for the job. This year she made the focus of the team revolve around trust, confidence, and family or as the team said "Ohana." They focused on the saying "It's a forever kind of thing," meaning no matter what everyone sticks together and no body gets left behind. This team is one of the most dedicated teams out there and that's why they are as great as they are. With a team of standing tucks, 4 full’s, 5 heel stretch double downs, 13 layouts, and numerous other skills they learn how to put it together as one and become the best of the best. Elmira College is a division III college, but the head coach takes the time to recruit the best cheerleaders for this team in order to ensure success. Next year the team is looking at gaining 10 new members for the 2010-2011 competition season and high hopes that it will only better the quad.

cheerleading is a sport

"It doesn't matter what people think about cheerleading, if it's something that you love to do then that's all that counts." Author Jade, Barbourville, KY, USA



Not many people consider cheerleading to be a sport. Many people have the same conception on cheerleading that they did many years ago, but this sport have evolved over many years. Cheerleading has been ranked to be one of the most dangerous sports around. Not many people will look past the glitter, pom poms and short skirts. Many people just picture girls jumping around cheering on some type of team. Yes this is true but if you get into the backbone of cheerleading games and why most girls and guys cheer differ in many aspects. Competition in the cheerleading world is very brutal and unfair in many aspects. Teams cheer all year round to perform one routine that is 2:30 seconds long. Teams dedicated majority of there life to this sport for 2:30 second on the mat to prove they are the best. Depending on the level of cheerleading and what category you are focusing in on the amount of practice time can change. For the average high school teams you go five times a week for 2 hours for college you go 6 times a week for about 3 hours and sometimes you will have two day practices that consist from 5 to 6 hours, if you look at an all star team they practice twice a week for 3 hours. Practices usually consist of throwing and lifting girls in the air tumbling jumping and more then any other area of cheerleading high school will practice a cheer or two. After all the sweat blood and tears given for the many months all your practice usually come down to the huge national competition that you want to claim the first place title to. This is where the cheerleading world becomes a cruel atmosphere. The amount of time you gave in to each practice, the injuries your team faced the re working of routines doesn't matter to the judges they don't care about the hardship you have been through all the care about is who can give them the best routine and this is where the sport becomes unfair and teams end up getting a place that they never deserved. Cheerleading as become a very intense sport that people never take the time to understand the new level it was brought to. It is now mostly consist of tumbling, stunting, and tossing. From coed to all girl each team performs a routine that takes strength, motivation, and talent. Male or female each individual must have a work ethic to work hard and strive to push themselves to the best they want to be. When it comes to stunting the flyers (the ones who go in the air) put all there trust that the girls or boys underneath them will catch them no matter what and hope that they will be there if something goes wrong. Cheerleading is a team sport and every one must give a 100 percent no more no less, and they all must trust because to execute one skill and get full points your whole team has to hit it to the best of there ability. Many injuries also occur while preparing for these competitions and like any other sport if more so even worse when you lose one player it takes a lot of effort to fix and re work a routine, sometimes this even happens 45 minuets before a team is suppose to take the mat at two day competition. This sport has become more dependent on the body and is less revolved around jumping around and cheering on your football team, yes some teams do this but in a way they are practices so they can get the idea of what it's like to be in front of a crowd. Cheerleading is a very demanding sport and it evolves with new skills, safety rules and levels of cheerleading each year. People never look at the overall aspect of the sport because they never really give it a chance. Cheerleading is very misunderstood at time because many people don't go out of there way to watch there school perform outside of a sporting event. Cheerleading is a sport and in many areas for college its considered NCAA. Each year cheerleading improves more and more, and hopefully more people will understand the work it takes to be this type of athlete.

My First Post

This is all about cheerleading :)