Were You Ever a Cheerleader?

August 5, 2009

Cheerleaders might stand on the sidelines, but that doesn't mean they get a timeout from injuries. A new study reveals that cheerleading causes the most serious sport injuries among high school and college athletes. Of course, these injuries aren't caused by overly-enthusiastic hand clapping — rather all that flipping, jumping, and running can result in sprained ankles and broken limbs.

So it seems that girls today can choose between being a jock, a cheerleader, or both. Did you show your school spirit back in the day?

Source: Flickr User El Caganer

48 Comments

3 years 40 weeks

I was a cheerleader briefly in university. I came from gymnastics where injuries are awknowledged and treated. I found that in cheerleading, many injuries are ignored causing further harm to the athlete.

3 years 40 weeks

I was a cheerleader in high school and had numerous injuries. Sprained groin, chipped tooth, concussion....all in one season...

vanitypot 3 years 41 weeks

yup! in high school.. i think i forced myself to be part of the cheer team since it was between these two: the dancing team or the cheerleading! since i couldn't really bust dancing moves (too much grinding and swaying O.O) so i was constantly cheerleading every Intramurals season, despite my dislike of the short skirts lol :D

3 years 41 weeks

Yes I was a cheerleader for four years in high school and I have to agree it was dangerous at times. People always say it's not a sport, but man was I in shape! I wish I could cheer now, it's an all over body workout, lifting girls isn't easy or dancing and running around. I had two broken noses and a slight concussion.

gLam shortie 3 years 41 weeks

Yes yes yes! I was cheerleader all throughout high school and i LOOOOVED IT!!!Cheerleading is my hobby---it was my passion. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL and meniscus when I landed from a hyperextended double toe touch, and I was unable to cheer again from there... I got surgery, but even after 3 years later, I'm still having problems with it. Other than that, I was a flyer so I got dropped a few times and have gotten bruised tailbone, etc...I knocked a baser's arm socket out, and broken a baser's nose. oh good times.... if I could do it all over again, i totally would!!!

gLam shortie 3 years 41 weeks

Yes yes yes! I was cheerleader all throughout high school and i LOOOOVED IT!!! Cheerleading is my hobby---it was my passion. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL and meniscus when I landed from a hyperextended double toe touch, and I was unable to cheer again from there... I got surgery, but even after 3 years later, I'm still having problems with it. Other than that, I was a flyer so I got dropped a few times and have gotten bruised tailbone, etc...I knocked a baser's arm socket out, and broken a baser's nose. oh good times.... if I could do it all over again, i totally would!!!

f1barbie 3 years 41 weeks

High school, I was a third and a base and had more than my fair share of black eyes and bruising! As well as developing tendonitis in both my wrists and ankles!!

danakscully64 3 years 41 weeks

Middle School, but I ended up getting injured within the first month, causing some problems, then my cheer coach decided that she would exclude 1 other girl and myself from the competitions (25 girls max, we had 27 on the squad). To this day, I still have back problems from being dropped on my back when flying. Stupid cheerleading.

luna08 3 years 41 weeks

Middle school, I was a flyer. But, in HS I lost interest, probably because of the lack of dance.

bonchicbongenre 3 years 41 weeks

I cheered for ten years, from elementary school to high school. It was fun!

GlowingMoon 3 years 41 weeks

No, I was an athlete. I was on team sports.

reesiecup 3 years 41 weeks

my current friends have trouble picturing me as that stereotypical type of cheerleader back in middle school. but those were some of the best years of my life. *sigh...to be young

zuke 3 years 41 weeks

In second grade. It sucked. Cheerleading isn't a very big sport at my school. I play basketball, volleyball, and tennis.

Symphonee 3 years 41 weeks

Went to an all girl school so we only had a pep squad and they sure didn't flip. They stepped. I went for tryouts my senior year and I had to days of practice left before tryouts when I was grounded and missed out.

bchicgrl 3 years 41 weeks

I tried out in high school but didn't make the squad, too many other girls there with more experience that had been cheering since they were little. Oh well, I ran track, was on yearbook staff and student council plus I danced and did gymnastics out of school so I was busy enough.

bchicgrl 3 years 41 weeks

I tried out in high school but didn't make the squad, too many other girls there with more experience that had been cheering since they were little.Oh well, I ran track, was on yearbook staff and student council plus I danced and did gymnastics out of school so I was busy enough.

totygoliguez 3 years 41 weeks

No, I'm too danger conscious to be a cheerleader. And I'm not that much into team sports to be honest.

bluebellknoll 3 years 41 weeks

Nope. Soccer and basketball player.

xxstardust 3 years 41 weeks

I was a cheerleader for 8 years, and coached for 3. I was not a cheerleader for my HS, because I did pop warner and got hurt doing it (injured my ACL, but in such a way as to make surgery not an option), so I was never able to tumble again.

Nadia24gv 3 years 41 weeks

Wow, that's pretty even. I was not, it's very dangerous and I never had any desire to be one.

cheer4veggies 3 years 41 weeks

yes! but i never really fit in with the other girls. our team won nationals twice and state a few times competitively. it certainly kept me in shape.

mallorycurtis 3 years 41 weeks

yes! i also played other sports, but cheerleading was my first love. i did it from middle school until senior year of college. contrary to popular belief, you do need a lot of athleticism to be a good cheerleader. AND, to set the record straight, a lot of different types of people were/are cheerleaders, not just giggly airheads.

staple salad 3 years 41 weeks

I was in junior high, then I was mascot in high school. Now I like metal and computer science.

staple salad 3 years 41 weeks

I was in junior high, then I was mascot in high school.Now I like metal and computer science.