High rates of injuries

Date: Fri Dec 23 8:16 AM, 2005

High rates of injuries

Date: Fri Dec 23 8:54 AM, 2005

Well, I have two points of view on this. Coming from both types that were very, very competitive this is what I see.

There are the coaches that don't care that a team member has an injury, and expect them to push it through. This leads to the injury not having proper time to heal. However, in most cases especially with those that have options (geographically & financially) to switch teams, these members move on to other teams where the coaches care more about the team members than about winning.

The other is a team where the team members love their team, their coaches, and the entire cheer program that they belong to. With this in mind, when they have an injury they don't want to let their teammates or coaches down. They continue to push themselves even when they are injured. These coaches will make them sit out during practice, and even require a doctors note to return. These people are usually at the competitive level where cheerleading means the world to them and don't care what it is doing to their body. These coaches really do care about the kids, and know that they are pushing their limits. I can relate because I was on a team that as soon as we got off the floor, the coaches MADE every team member with an injury go ice (it was more than half the team). With this level almost everyone on the team had trained in cheerleading or gymnastics for more than 5 years. It starts to take a toll on thier bodies. And to compounded it even more many team members are in their senior year, and know that they probably won't cheer after high school. Therefore, rather than quit they would rather push through their injury.

Date: Fri Dec 23 10:43 AM, 2005

In my point of view, there are basically 2 types of injuries.

Theres the kind you get from landing wrong on some part of your body, like dislocating your elbow because you put your arm down to catch yourself, or rolling your ankle coming out of a stunt wrong. These injuries, I believe, happen for 2 different reasons. Fluke accidents (like spraining your ankle by tripping over your own foot, like a teammate of mine did just this week), or by athletes throwing skills that they are not either mentally or physically prepared for. If a kid isn't mentally prepared to perform a certain skill (they can do it perfectly with out a spot, but are afraid to attempt in on their own), there's a good chance that they'll freak out in the middle of it, lose their air awareness, and land wrong on some part of their body. If they aren't physically prepared, there's an even higher chance that they'll hurt themselves, as they are physically unable to perform what is being asked of them. This is where a coach has a tough decision to make. We all want to push our athletes through their fears and to their limits, and not "baby" them, so that they can be the best they can be, but we need to be careful not to push too far or too hard and risk an injury that could be prevented.

And then there's over use injuries, which is something ENTIRELY different. Overuse injuries happen to the best athletes in every sport, and are in no way a reflection of the gym or the program. These injuries usually happen to kids who want to be their absolute best, at all costs. So they spend countless hours in the gym, come in on their own time to work their skills, and physically abuse their own bodies in order to reach certain goals. Yes, a coach could tell kid to stop, but if an athlete is determined enough, it won't do much good. I mean, no matter how good a coach or a program is at injury prevention, the top level of cheerleading is hard, and hard on the body. With this kind of abuse on your body, the cartilage in your joints starts to wear and tear, and you develop injuries that didn't come from a specific fall, that just slowly creep up on you, and before you know it, you're wearing a brace, icing EVERY night, and getting up the next morning to go into the gym and do what you love to do, despite the fact that it hurts.

And to "Curious": Yes, some parents allow their kids to train with coaches who have more of the first type of injuries, in which case, yeah... Yikes.
But in the "overuse" case, it comes with the territory. I've had a torn meniscus (knee cartilage) for about the past 7 years, from over working it. And yes, my mom is concerned, but this is what I absolutely LOVE to do. My choices are to have surgery to fix it (or just remove it), in which case I'll probably be done cheering within a year of the surgery due to bone damage from lack of cartilage, or to wear a brace and deal with it on a daily basis, inside and outside of practice, and I plan on cheering in college for at least the next 3-4 years.
And there's no spring floors in college.

Date: Fri Dec 23 2:15 PM, 2005

Amac makes a very good point! Injuries happen to all athletes even in the safest environments. There are several athletes in our program who are as she described, have overuse injuries. The ones who ice every night and wear a brace to practice and come in to the gym everyday even when there isn't practice. Its not like EVERYONE at our gym is like that but there are definately a couple and that is a reflection of their dedication, not the way that our gym is run.

I have a feeling that i know which program this post was directed to, and i think i can clear things up so instead of sounding like "2 major injuries" it actually makes sense. There were 2 fluke injuries on that team that weekend. The first was one of the boys landing a tumbling pass wrong and hurting his ankle while competing the first day. Happens to the best of tumblers! The second was a main flyer who, during warmups hit her head/neck against someones shoulder while being caught in a double down and got a concussion. This was a total fluke catch because all the partner stunts/groups always make their double downs all the way around and have consistantly easy catches. They are not performing any skills that are not at their level. The male tumbler was taken out of his tumbling passes but still competed, whereas the flyer was taken out of the routine completely.

Yup, those are the "major injuries" and they're only major because it meant one less double full and a whole reworking of the routine including taking out a stunt group and filling in different flyers for baskets and a pyramid. Thats it. Oh and half the team was either starting to get sick or just getting over being sick. nothing more, nothing less.

Date: Fri Dec 23 3:26 PM, 2005

Okay, let's talk about injuries to bases and back spots. I know alot of kids who have had their teeth knocked out from fliers---elbows flying, etc. What is everyone's take on this? How common is this? Also, I have seen this happening because fliers are encouraged to do skills they are mentally not ready to do.

Date: Fri Dec 23 3:27 PM, 2005

injuries- wow well at my gym we have plenty. Injuries happen to best of us. In my case i have a extremly bad ankle. From injuring it so many times and not leting it heal correctly i have scar tissure built up around it so when i tumble it kills me. Landing wrong i can barley walk, jaming it im in tears. Theres 3 options : surgur, break it on purpose and casting, or dealing with the pain. I choose to deal with the pain. If i have to surgury it could be a year recovery and i might not be able to tumble after that. No matter who my coach is or what they say it dosent matter if your stuborn like me and love the sport you just push thew it and deal with the pin and iceing it for the next week. Usually yyes higher level teams do have more injuries because they tend to push themselves to be the best which sometimes is a mistake. These things cant be blamed on a coach or the gyms. Its the athlete. They no when there limits are and they push them to far. But when im dying i still think i havent pushed it. In the end when you have won you national championship or you make it to worlds all the pain and suffering you went throuh is worth it. Yes i might not be able to walk when im 50 but to get the feeling in your heart knowing what its all worth is amazing.

Date: Fri Dec 23 9:10 PM, 2005

someone wrote:

The second was a main flyer who, during warmups hit her head/neck against someones shoulder while being caught in a double down and got a concussion. This was a total fluke catch because all the partner stunts/groups always make their double downs all the way around and have consistantly easy catches. They are not performing any skills that are not at their level. The male tumbler was taken out of his tumbling passes but still competed, whereas the flyer was taken out of the routine completely.

I think the thing that concerns me the most is that in the case above, continuing to compete with a concussion is VERY dangerous. If an athlete with a concussion has what's called a "second incidence" or "reoccurance" injury before the first concussion is gone (which takes about a week), the fatality rate is frighteningly high - upwards of 50%. And I think a lot of the people who make the "executive decision" in these cases (coaches and/or parents) don't know this - and they could be putting the athlete at risk of serious injury or death.

And not just concussions - knee injuries are terrible. I would hate to be a cheerleader who can't walk comfortably when she's 20. Surgery after the fact isn't a magic wand that fixes it all - your dozens of times more likely to reinjure the same area, and even if it doesn't get reinjured, it will likely give you trouble for the rest of your life. I'm not talking about things like overuse injuries - people who are prone to overuse injuries would get them from any sport they did, even just jogging to be in shape.

I'm not trying to freak anyone out or anything. I just think that there are things that people don't realize about particular injuries, just because they are things that only those who are trained in sports injuries or medicine are really aware of. And then the people who make the decisions are putting themselves in a huge position of liability, and the athlete in a huge position of danger to themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I totally get the stubborn athlete concept. I know lots of them, and I treat lots of them. But there are situations when a coach, parent, program owner has to say NO - for the safety of the athlete and to cover their own tail. I would hate to be the gym owner that let a kid with an unhealed concussion compete and then got sued if god-forbid something happened to the athlete. Maybe some gym owners can weigh in with their thoughts...cheerleading is considered a "high-risk" sport in orthopaedic medicine. How many coaches are really prepared to deal with an emergency situation?

Date: Fri Dec 23 10:02 PM, 2005

the girl with the cuncusion did not compete after she was caught incorrecly. Thank goodness or it could have been worse. I definetly aree with curious.

Date: Fri Dec 23 10:11 PM, 2005

Every cheergyms.com coach will be certified up to Level 5 for the USASF; the organization that is finally beginning to govern this industry (and the organization that puts on the "World's" competition) before the beginning of next season. In short time, no teams will be able to compete unless their coach is certified. As well, a coach must be certified a certain level for their team to compete in that level.

Would you enroll your child in a school if the teacher(s) weren't certified?

This won't eliminate injuries as a whole, but it will definitely help.

Date: Fri Dec 23 11:46 PM, 2005

In addition to being USASF certified from level 1 through 5, the cheergyms.com coaches are First Aid and CPR Certified, TB Tested, Fingerprinted, and are required to go through an extensive training week before being allowed to instruct anyone on anything.

Not that cheergyms.com is the only organization to require all of this from their coaches, I'm sure there are many more. I just want people to know that we are well aware of the high risks in our sport and that our owners are doing everything they can to protect our kids.

Thank you to "curious" for your post. It never hurts to be reminded that it is ALWAYS best to error on the side of safety!

Date: Sat Dec 24 1:28 PM, 2005

yes, let me repeat, the girl with the concussion did NOT compete. Contrary to popular belief our coaches would never risk her well being by putting her out on the floor.

Date: Sat Dec 24 2:59 PM, 2005

I just want to say "Great Job" to SBE Coed for going out there on day two after injuries and all the changes and still doing so well. Taking second after all of that says something about each and every one of you on that team.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Date: Sat Dec 24 3:04 PM, 2005

Thank you cheergyms mom!!! Its ver nice to hear a great job :)
Good luck this season and Merry Christmas!!

Date: Sat Dec 24 3:26 PM, 2005

There have been so many great things happening with USASF governing allstar cheerleading. I didn't realize that the coaches were going to have to be certified in a particular level to be able to coach that level. Makes soooooooo much sense!

Date: Sat Dec 24 3:41 PM, 2005

Cheer mom, its a great thing that USASF is taking more of an active role in governing all star cheerleading. It will make the activity safer and promote teams competing at the proper level.

As for South Bay, they have just as many injuries as any other team. I think their program has set Nor-Cal to a new level and am always excited to see what they bring to the table. Congrats to them for placing 2nd in a very competitive division and placing 1st in 2 divisions. Also placing 4th, I think in the sr. excel division which was very tough. Good job to them and all the other teams that competed at the American Grand.

Date: Sat Dec 24 5:11 PM, 2005

thanks to all the congrats. We really worked hard and it was awesome comp. Hopefully in the future we see cheergyms there!

Date: Sat Dec 24 5:20 PM, 2005

Cheer Fan wrote:

Cheer mom, its a great thing that USASF is taking more of an active role in governing all star cheerleading. It will make the activity safer and promote teams competing at the proper level.

As for South Bay, they have just as many injuries as any other team. I think their program has set Nor-Cal to a new level and am always excited to see what they bring to the table. Congrats to them for placing 2nd in a very competitive division and placing 1st in 2 divisions. Also placing 4th, I think in the sr. excel division which was very tough. Good job to them and all the other teams that competed at the American Grand.

Actually they were against themselves in the categories they got the 2 firsts in.it was really 3..also, their all girl got 4th in a division lower than they usually compete in. Seems like that is their appropriate level.

I dont usually post, I am just an avid reader. I've come to notice this and it really makes me mad when the SBE people take it as though every post is about them, weather it be good or bad, when the poster didnt even say who it was about. I'm not a hater nor a fan of SBE but I just wanted to say "get over it, its not all about SBE!" If a post is bad, they think its about them. If a post is good, they think its about them. There a lot of other teams, you know. When someone says something to be general, they go on insisting that they are puttind down SBE. Well you are wrong. Get over youself already.

Gooooooooo cheergyms!

Date: Sat Dec 24 6:45 PM, 2005

wow...what a positive post.

and it kind of makes it obvious that something is about south bay, when it says "south bay" in it.

and i think it was inappropriate for you to put down our all girl team...just like any other team they work very hard and i don't see anyone from south bay coming on here and putting down any of your teams and what place they get at competitions or telling them "where they belong". At such a competitive competition the level 4 division was perfect for them and they would have placed much higher, second place i believe, but recieved a penalty for accidentaly performing a skill that was above their restrictions on the second day. oh well, it happens. The placings are never the most important thing...they've worked hard and performed well and honestly thats all that matters.

i think that if you count the number of appropriate, positive posts by sbe members you'll see that they way outnumber the few negative ones. and that there are even more negative ones like yours aiming the other way. so instead of taking the low way and telling you to "get over yourself" like you did to us...i'll do as my fellow teammates have and wish you good luck for the rest of the season!

Date: Sat Dec 24 8:10 PM, 2005

I think that sometimes conversations online can get a little out of hand because people just take things the wrong way or too seriously. So lets stop all this bickering and have a merry christmas ya'll!!

Date: Sat Dec 24 8:26 PM, 2005

First off, Merry Christmas

Secondly, I have only heard of one comp that the all girl SBE team has competed level 5 so level 4 is there true division.

Everyone have a merry Christmas!