With the right supervision, staffing and support, cheer programs can help kids build leadership, strength and team skills while minimizing injury risk. Parents and families can help by making these basic prevention steps part of every young athlete's routine.
Here are American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for parents, caregivers, and families on how to ensure cheer and spirit programs are safe and successful.
Supporting general health & wellness
It is also important to help prevent other risks to health and well-being that cheer athletes may face.
Promoting positive body image & healthy nutrition
Cheer athletes have sometimes felt pressure to have a certain physical appearance. This can raise their risk for negative body image. In addition to affecting mental health, this pressure can lead to not eating enough. Poor nutrition and too few calories can affect bone strength and interfere with a healthy menstrual cycle.
Participants, parents, and coaches can help reduce these risks. Avoid language that suggests participants should conform to a specific body type, for example, and choose uniforms that are inclusive for all body shapes and sizes.
Preventing abuse & misconduct in cheer
Cheer programs must be safe, supportive, encouraging places for all kids. The U.S. Center for SafeSport (https://uscenterforsafesport.org/) offers training and model policies to help protect young athletes from sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, harassment, and hazing. Cheer programs (and the cheer community as a whole) must make it safe for athletes to anonymously report possible misconduct or abuse.
Coaches, trainers, and parents can find free online courses and other tools through USA Cheer, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the U.S Center for SafeSport.
Visit HealthyChildren.org for more information.
Disclaimer
Source: Adapted from the HealthyChildren.org article Cheerleading Safety: How to Prevent Common Injuries by Greg Canty, MD, FAAP & Jennifer King, DO, FAAP (AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness 10/21/2024).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
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