I have a daughter who is doing high school cheer for the first time this year. She has done all star cheer for quite a few years now and that is the atmosphere I am familiar with. My question is, they are practicing, stunting, and tumbling on a hardwood basketball court. No mats whatsoever and when I questioned it they said if I would like to provide mats they would most certainly use them, but they have no funding to buy them. Are all high schools practicing on hard surfaces? This seems extremely dangerous and that was confirmed today when a flyer was dropped on her head and has a HUGE lump. To top it off, the parents weren't even called! I would think the school is putting itself in a huge liability issue by allowing this to happen and I just wonder if it is like this at most high schools or are we the exception, not the rule. Are there any guidelines that have to be followed for safety in high school cheer?
There are safety standards for HS cheer squads, but unfortunately someimes the school cannot afford to pay for qualified coaches. Try AACCA.org for a listing of the HS rules as approved by the Federation of High School Athletic Associations.
Also, if the school is willing to store and use a mat if they had it...search out local donors. A few dollars here & there can really go far! Even setting up a donation booth with parents on game day could help. There are many companies who sell used mats. Most of the time these "used" mats were used for 1 weekend competition, so they are still in essentially "new" condition.
I think it is for this very reason more high school cheer teams are going to all star gyms to train for competition cheer (spring floors, mats, experienced coaches, etc...). The gym floor is fine for game cheer, but when it comes time for stunts and tumbling, you're just asking for injuries.
I know for our district you are not allowed to perform any stunts or tumbling on the basketball hardwood, with out a mat but as far as football goes its ok as long as your on the grass. I would be more concerned with the fact that no one was spotting this stunt group. With or without mats when learning new skills you should always have the coach and teamates be spotting the group so this does not happen. I would maybe mention that nicely to your daughters coaches. Just a thought. Many schools do not have funds to purchase mats, our booster club purchased three mat panals for our school so we could continue to do these skills. Fundraising maybe should be a suggestion to your coaches. You really if your a worried parent which it sounds like you should be take these issues up with your advisor and or school administration.
Our hs allows the girls to do backtuck baskets at the pep rallies and games. No mats, whatever surface they are on will do (gym floor, track, grass) The dance coach is the cheer coach. Either she doesn't know any better or she doesn't care. I'm sure eventually someone is going to get hurt, just wondering what she'll have to say when that happens. The girls in question don't have the greatest cheer background in technique and safety so its only a matter of time before a neck gets broken.
I know it is completely illegal to do any kind of college stunts 321, basket tosses etc at the high school leve. The National high school organization that is in charge of rules for high schools put out a coaching handbook that states all illegal and legal rules for high school cheer. Doing those kinds of stunts are extremely dangerous and your coach could get fined by the high school organization if shes teaching them to it. I would definitley bring this up to your coach and possible admin injurys are not worth "looking cool" Just some info for you. Hope it all works out HS can be a lot of fun if the correct rules are followed with safety etc.
She doesn't teach the skills, she just allows them to do them. Which is probably even more dangerous. I think she believes those rules only apply to competition. Since I have no ties to the program, I haven't felt compelled to say anything to her, but I know in the past, the school administration has not been too receptive to input about what is happening in the cheer program so people have just given up and dealt with it.
I looked up some of the rules for HS cheer and the only thing it really says is that they should stunt and tumble on a "proper surface", but it does not specify what that is. I was also told it is up to the administration to have the rules enforced. Considering our administration would just as soon see the whole program "go away", I am hesitant to approach them about it. I would just as soon see my daughter just do all stars, but she really wants to represent her school and feel a part of it her first year there. I am looking into buying used mats as one person suggested. Does anyone know of any gyms or companies that are selling them in No. CA? They are REALLY expensive brand new!
I would suggest you try craigslist.org, the "for sale" portion, entire bay area. It would be worth the drive if someone had what you're looking for. Good luck! Also, if it's for the school, it would be tax deductible I'm guessing, right?
new hs cheer mom wrote: I looked up some of the rules for HS cheer and the only thing it really says is that they should stunt and tumble on a "proper surface", but it does not specify what that is. I was also told it is up to the administration to have the rules enforced. Considering our administration would just as soon see the whole program "go away", I am hesitant to approach them about it. I would just as soon see my daughter just do all stars, but she really wants to represent her school and feel a part of it her first year there. I am looking into buying used mats as one person suggested. Does anyone know of any gyms or companies that are selling them in No. CA? They are REALLY expensive brand new!
I completely agree. If people haven't followed the trends across the country, administrations rather get rid of the cheerleaders all together, than have to deal with getting a full floor, additional facilities, paying coaches more, and anything else since the cheereladers do not produce money like football and basketball do. Granted other sports do not produce as much money as those sports, but for the most part, people are not paying to watch the cheerleaders. Many athletic directors are going to tell you the primary purpose of high school cheer is to promote school spirit and support the athletic teams which is true to all extent. I think the h.s. coaches need to promte safety, by ensuring a proper work area and have all the stunts spotted until they are perfected. Tumbling should only be taught in a proper facility. If a h.s. team does not have a certified coach , then make them ground bound. Why put those kids in jeopardy. Watching a girl get dropped at a basketball game is not a fun thing to watch.
I like the trend we're seeing now -- high school cheerleading teams still doing game cheers, but training differently for competitions, meaning at an entirely different location that has all the right equipment (mats, spring floors, certified coaches). It costs parents more, which means the schools don't have to dish out $$$, but the cheerleaders get the best of both worlds.
i used to do highschool cheer and we would use the wrestling matts. it wasnt even as close to as nice as my gym but it was a lot better than a wooden floor. im sure highschools have to have some kind of mats around
Today is the first time I've read this thread. My daughter was the one dropped on her head during an extension full down (nothing fancy, in fact my daughter has done this stunt for several years) - her entire team was spotting the stunt and her head still bounced off the hardwood floor (no concussion, but a major hematoma which is still healing after 10 days). Apparently the bases only caught her feet and no one caught her upper body. At least they are now stunting on wrestling mats.
Most coaches teach their bases to "do what ever it takes to keep the flyer from hitting the floor" even if that means diving under the flyer.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it.
