Group Puts Out Guidelines To Make Cheerleading Safer

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More and more, cheerleaders are getting injured doing their cheers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with new guidelines to make the sport safer. Since cheerleading has become more competitive in recent years, routines have begun to involve more complex and dangerous stunts.

Each year, there are about 26,000 cheerleading injuries. The pediatrics group wants cheerleading to be designated as a sport in all states, giving them certain safety measures, such as mandatory pre-sport physicals, access to certified coaches and certified training programs.

Other recommendations include no stunts on hard or wet surfaces, and no pyramids more than two people high.

The overall injury rate in high school cheerleading is lower than other girls sports like soccer and gymnastics. But, the rate of serious injuries like skull fractures and spinal injuries is higher.