How cheerleading evolved from one man yelling in Minnesota to 4.5 million leaping cheerleaders

Cheerleading is having a moment. What began with a man yelling, and for several decades was a male-only past time, became dominated by women by the 1940s and 1950s. In that era, stereotypes of wholesome women standing on the sidelines supporting men flourished. They've been hard to shake.

The Death Of The Cheerleader

The slutty, ditzy mean girl of an archetype is fading from pop culture.

The most dangerous high school sports, in one chart

This data on high school sport safety was included in a new study in the journal Pediatrics. The study primarily focused on the relative dangers of cheerleading in America. Turns out cheerleading has lower injury rates than most other high school sports, and tumbles cause more injuries than pyramids. Who knew?

As Cheerleaders Soar Higher, So Does the Danger

New acrobatic maneuvers have turned cheerleaders into daredevils. And while the sport has retained its sense of glamour, at dozens of competitions around the country, knee braces and ice bags affixed to ankles and wrists have become accouterments as common as mascara.

As Cheerleading Injuries Rise, Doctors Call For Stricter Safety Rules

Cheerleading seems, well, so cheery, it's hard to associate it with skull fracture, paralysis and death. But cheering accounts for two-thirds of catastrophic injuries among high school girl athletes, a number that hasn't decreased despite repeated attempts to make the sport less dangerous. The flips, pyramids, and tosses that make modern-day cheerleading so eyepopping mean it's also far more risky than the splits-on-the-sidelines version that parents remember.

Cheerleading Injuries in United States High Schools

Although safety remains a concern among cheerleaders, overall injury rates are lower than most other high school sports. Although overall injury rates are relatively low, cheerleading injuries may be more severe when they do occur. A detailed knowledge of cheerleading injury patterns relative to other sports is needed to drive targeted, evidence-based prevention efforts.

Cheerleading Rate of Concussion Higher than Football

Much of the conversation around concussion in youth sports focuses on collision sports like football, hockey, and lacrosse. Little attention is given to the athletes on the sideline, cheering their teams to victory. And yet, cheerleading carries the highest rate of catastrophic injury in sports and accounts for two-thirds (65%) of all catastrophic injuries to female athletes.

Cheerleading: A Major Cause of Brain Injuries

Cheerleading has far evolved from its wholesome, but outdated image. Today’s cheerleading squad requires athletic stamina, precision, and flexibility. The truth is, even as it struggles to be recognized as a true sport, cheerleading teams all over the world practice more than most of the boys in football or basketball. Competitive cheerleading has become a world of its own...

Cheerleading’s peculiar path to potential Olympic sport

So is cheerleading a sport? I guess it depends on who you ask and why you’re asking.

Jump, stunt and tumble: The dangers of cheerleading

Don’t let the pompoms fool you. If you had to make a list of the top 20 most dangerous sports, what would make the list? You would probably say hockey, lacrosse or football...but what about cheerleading? Believe it or not, one study ranked cheerleading 16th on a list of sports with the highest number of injuries. Another recent study found that cheerleading is the most dangerous sport for females because of the high risk for concussions and “catastrophic” injuries, which are classified as injuries that result in long-term medical conditions, permanent disabilities or a shorter lifespan.

Study Finds Benefit of Cheerleading

Could cheerleading be the most progressive sport in terms of gender roles? New research from the University of East Anglia indicates that the traditionally female-centered activity can help participants of both sexes challenge stereotypes about girls in sports.

The Cheerleader Effect

Seeing faces in groups makes them appear more attractive.

The Manly Origins of Cheerleading

You might be surprised to learn that at its inception in the mid-1800s, cheerleading was an all-male sport. Characterized by gymnastics, stunts and crowd leadership, cheerleading was considered equivalent in prestige to an American flagship of masculinity, football.

Treat Cheerleaders as Athletes, Pediatrics Academy Advises

In a report published online Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that cheerleading should be designated a sport at the high school and collegiate levels "so that it is subject to rules and regulations set forth by sports governing bodies," such as the NCAA.

Understand the science behind a wildly popular, iconic American pastime with The Science of Cheerleading, a new ebook

The Science of Cheerleading is designed to help cheerleaders learn how and why certain cheerleading movements and positions work well – and how others can be improved.

Why Cheerleading Deserves to be Recognised as an Olympic Sport

Competitive cheerleading is the most difficult, mentally and physically demanding sport I have ever participated in – and I say that as a keen footballer. It more than deserves the same level of recognition given to other team pursuits, particularly in light of the thinly veiled sexism that has caused it to be looked down upon for so long.

Why Don’t More People Consider Competitive Cheerleading a Sport?

The rigorous activity is dominated by female athletes—and is growing in legitimacy and popularity.

Why Sports Cheerleaders and Dancers Are Worth More Than Minimum Wage

Thanks to recent series of lawsuits, some NFL cheerleaders will now be paid the minimum wage, but that likely still doesn't reflect the full value they provide to a sports franchise.