AACCA Limits College Cheerleading Skills at Basketball Games
Sunday March 12, 2006
From a recent press release published by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (Advisors) which encourages conference commissioners, tournament managers and coaches to prohibit basket tosses and 2 ½ high pyramids for the remainder of the basketball season - During basketball games, the opportunity for the cheerleaders to perform is given primarily during timeouts. During this time, there are usually players, game officials, cameramen and other personnel on the floor. There are also tables, chairs and benches in close proximity to the playing surface. The playing surface itself is a less forgiving surface than other venues. Unlike other venues like football games, the performance is also executed on the actual game playing surface.
How Do You Feel About the Decision? - Sound Off
Is Cheerleading Too Dangerous? - Take Our Poll The combination of limited time and space, surface considerations, potential interference, and the fact that even a minor injury may require assessment that will delay the actual game requires that the AACCA take specific action to ensure the safety of cheerleaders and all other personnel in this environment. Thus, AACCA is issuing a recommendation to all conference commissioners and tournament managers to immediately prohibit basket tosses and 2 ½ high pyramids for the remainder of the basketball season, including tournament play.
In addition to the specific prohibition of basket tosses and 2 ½ high pyramids, coaches should consider limiting the skills being performed at basketball games to those that allow for the use of signs and/or poms. In addition, all other upper-level and elite performance skills should be restricted to appropriate venues. Regardless of the skill being performed, coaches must take extra precaution to ensure that only skills that have been mastered are performed in public, and that all unmastered skills should be restricted to a controlled, safe practice environment.
How Do You Feel About the Decision? - Sound Off
Is Cheerleading Too Dangerous? - Take Our Poll The combination of limited time and space, surface considerations, potential interference, and the fact that even a minor injury may require assessment that will delay the actual game requires that the AACCA take specific action to ensure the safety of cheerleaders and all other personnel in this environment. Thus, AACCA is issuing a recommendation to all conference commissioners and tournament managers to immediately prohibit basket tosses and 2 ½ high pyramids for the remainder of the basketball season, including tournament play.
In addition to the specific prohibition of basket tosses and 2 ½ high pyramids, coaches should consider limiting the skills being performed at basketball games to those that allow for the use of signs and/or poms. In addition, all other upper-level and elite performance skills should be restricted to appropriate venues. Regardless of the skill being performed, coaches must take extra precaution to ensure that only skills that have been mastered are performed in public, and that all unmastered skills should be restricted to a controlled, safe practice environment.
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