NATIONAL CHEERLEADING SAFETY MONTH
March recognizes National Cheerleading Safety Month. During the month, take the opportunity to review safety protocols with your cheer team. It’s also an excellent time to brush up on first aid practices and update certifications.
Princeton University established the first all-male pep club in the 1880s. While teaching at the University of Minnesota, Princeton alumnus Thomas Peebles shared the Princeton cheers while also teaching the students about football. By 1898, the first organized cheer made its appearance during the University of Minnesota football game to rally the team and the fans. The cheer may seem a little familiar to some. “Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah! Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Minn-e-so-tah!”
Since then, organized cheering squads became an important element to many sports teams. Physical fitness and safety are just as important to the cheerleading athlete as it is to any other player in sports. Just like other athletes, cheerleaders risk injury especially if they don’t follow safety protocols. Even when they do, an injury is inherent to the event. Knees twist, muscles strain, and joints become dislocated. Athletes need to be aware of the risks and respond accordingly. National Cheerleading Safety Month addresses these risks and how to reduce the impact on the participants.
HOW TO OBSERVE #CheerleadingSafetyMonth
Take part in a cheerleading safety clinic and follow the team’s best practices. Visit cheersafe.org for more information. Then have fun with your cheer squad as they perform and advance! Use #CheerleadingSafetyMonth to share on social media.
NATIONAL CHEERLEADING SAFETY MONTH HISTORY
Since 2013, the AACCA and CheerSafe.org have co-sponsored National Cheerleading Safety Month, promoting and improving cheerleading safety for athletes around the world.
