Meg's Cheerleader Blog » Cheerleading News

Judge To Decide If Cheerleading Is A Sport

Meghan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:36:31 +0000

Go! Go! Go-oo Judge! Court to Decide If Cheerleading’s a Sport

The case could set a precedent.

By DIANA PEREZ and LEANNE GENDREAU

Updated 1:30 PM EDT, Mon, Jun 21, 2010

Cheerleaders train regularly, usually perform on a ball field and get a heck of a workout, but there is a debate over whether cheerleading is a sport, and that decision will be made in federal court.

What the court decides could have a major impact on college sports.

A judge will decide whether chants, pyramids, dances and pep constitute a sport because several members of Quinnipiac University‘s women’s volleyball filed a lawsuit after their school eliminated their team in favor of a competitive cheer squad.

The volleyball players say the school has been exaggerating the number of its female athletes and improperly counts competitive cheerleading as a sport.

On Monday, testimony will be heard in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport to determine if cheerleading can be counted toward the school’s Title IX requirement — a federal law that mandates equal opportunities for women in sports.

Last month, a district court granted class action status to the lawsuit. The Title IX blog reports that class action status would allow the volleyball team to represent:

a class of all present, prospective, and future female students who are harmed by and want to end [Quinnipiac University's] sex discrimination in: (1) the allocation of athletic participation opportunities; (2) the allocation of athletic financial assistance; and (3) the allocation of benefits provided to varsity athletes. They also file this action on behalf of females who are deterred from enrolling at [Quinnipiac] because of the sex discrimination in its athletic program, including its failure to offer the varsity sports in which they want to participate (despite [Quinnipiac's] failure to provide equal athletic participation opportunities to females).

The case could set a precedent and critics argue including cheerleading is “a cheap way to inflate Title IX numbers that Quinnipiac must report to the federal government,” Salon.com reports.

Cheerleading Injuries Can Be Prevented

Meghan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:55:21 +0000

Sport Need Not Be So Dangerous
By DOUG GREENE

Check Out This News Clip From NBC30

Once based on smiles, skirts and saddleshoes, cheerleading has become a competitive sport and with that comes injuries.

Since 1982, cheerleading and its stunts have produced more than half the catastrophic injuries female athletes suffered in high school or college, according to a catastrophic injury report surveying injuries in American sports.

“The number one injury in cheerleading is neurologic injury, concussions, as well as spinal injuries,” said Dr. Anthony Alessi, a Norwich neurologist who’s attended cheerleading competitions as event physician.

Parents should be careful about where they send their young cheerleaders to learn their sport, he said. The award-winning Central Valley Panthers in Plainville stand as an example of careful cheerleading. The girls still cartwheel and stack themselves into towers, but certified coaches are watching.

“They’re landing on a spring floor,” Chris Gilbert, the program director, said. “So, if they do fall and they do get hurt, I would have to say that the injury is less than what it would be if you were just on a plain mat or a hardwood floor.”

She and her coaches are credentialed through the U.S. All Star Federation. The girls, ages 7 to 18, have stacks of trophies from cheerleading competitions.

“First of all,” Gilbert said, “we’re hands on. We teach the kids how to base and how to stunt and how to jump. Our coaches literally get in there at practices and say, ‘This has to be done,’ or ‘You’re not doing it right. This is the way it needs to be done. You need to do this.’”

The coaches know first aid, and they know what can go wrong.

“We don’t really see a lot of concussions,” said Gilbert, “but you will see a lot of concussion when you are in probably a level 5 or a 6, when you’re literally throwing a flyer from one base to another set of bases. Obviously, a lot of things can happen.”

Dr. Alessi says parents should keep three things in mind before they pay for cheerleading outfits and lessons. The gym should be certified and properly equipped, and the cheerleaders should be healthy.

“They’re going to be stressed and they should have a preparticipation physical before you start for lessons,” he said. “It’s like any other sport.”

First Published: Feb 8, 2010 10:40 AM EST

Three Media Companies Align to Offer More Coverage for Cheer Industry

Meghan — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:22:49 +0000

Cheer Coach & Advisor, Cheer Leader Magazine and Cheer Channel Inc Unite

By Valerie Ninemire, About.com Guide

AUSTIN, TX (December 15, 2009)-Cheer Channel Inc. (CCI), Cheer Coach and Advisor (CCA), and The Cheer Leader Magazine (CLM) have announced today a joint partnership and strategic alliance that will serve to reach to all markets within the cheerleading and dance communities. Under the structured deal, the three media companies will cross-promote platforms, content and media as well as expand its reach to serve all markets around the world. “The partnership allows Cheer Leader Magazine to accomplish its mission to cover all aspects of cheerleading for all age levels. Enthusiasts can learn from the pros about the sport of cheerleading from people who have lived it.” said Jamie Bewley Byrd, Co-founder of The Cheer Leader Magazine. CCA and CLM will be part of CCI’s growing line-up of media partners to ensure that promotional programming, which among others includes general news, original TV, website video, magazine-style shows and instructional programming reaches intended audiences. The partnership provides a sidebar to publishing by offering readers interactive video and a way for brands to connect directly with their customers through rich media applications. “We are excited about this media partnership. This allows us to greater promote a cheerleading network together with two unique publications that serve our market so we can provide advertisers of any size with a way to streamline their media-buys and do more with their campaigns,” said Cindy Villarreal, founder of Cheer Channel Inc. The collaboration aims to reach the spirited communities at the very local level. Cheer Channel, Inc., Cheer Coach & Advisor, and Cheer Leader Magazine will offer all sectors of the cheerleading industry with superior content, safety information, photos, videos, games, current news, and a way to network with a global community. Through the combined websites, publications and attendance at major events, the partnership will be able to cover the cheerleading world like no one company has been able to offer coupled with unique advertising programs that bring a fresh approach to the cheerleading world. CCI will use its international distribution platform to reach mass youth and spirited markets to greater support CCA and CLM branded affiliates and provide an interactive directory for brands to reach their customers. “Cheer Coach & Advisor magazine is thrilled about its new partnership with Cheer Leader Magazine and its existing partnership with Cheer Channel, Inc. Through these strategic alliances, every sector of the cheerleading industry will be reached and served with outstanding content, up-to-date news and important information on what’s happening in the cheerleading world. When you combine all our audiences (which includes coaches, athletic directors, gym owners, scholastic cheerleaders, recreational cheerleaders, all star cheerleaders and potential cheerleaders) into one package, you get a win-win situation for the cheerleaders, coaches, associations and corporate brands. This union creates something for everyone and will positively impact the industry in ways we’ve never imagined,” said Valerie Ninemire, Editor of CCA. Customers can expect to see a cross promotions of brands at upcoming events and promotions around the globe beginning in December. CCI, CCA and CLM will actively collaborate on marketing campaigns and distribute media collaterals. For more information on this story or for advertising rates please contact Cindy Villarreal at Proformance Sports Marketing at Cindy@proformancesportsl.net.