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News From MCCA
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THANK YOU From Kearney
November 19, 2006
Dear Cheerleading Coach,
Please read this letter to your competition squad.
I don’t know where to begin. Since it is impossible to individually express my deepest gratitude to all who were at the Hearnes Center last Saturday for the second session and witnessed the unfortunate incident with one of my cheerleaders, I am writing this letter to thank you from the bottom of my heart. If I could wrap my arms around each and every one of you, I would give you the biggest hug I could. Your outpouring of compassion for a fellow cheerleader who had ‘fallen’ was incredible. Your support when my girls came back out to perform (minus one) was nothing short of amazing. Your applause when they walked out lifted their spirits. Then when you shouted with them during their cheers you helped them to focus on the task at hand. You showed them you cared and that meant the world to them. We may have all been competitors on different squads, but we were all part of the same team – ‘Cheerleading’! I guarantee they will never forget that moment as they exited the floor.
Know that you did a good thing that day. You made a difference. So look around you and see the BEST there is in cheerleading. Give yourselves a hug and know it’s from me. You are all champions in my book!
Cheerleaders Rock!
Sincerely,
Vicki Bush
Kearney High School Cheer Coach
Jim Lord, Executive Director of AACCA, Addresses NBC's Coverage of Cheereading
Dear AACCA Members:
As you may know, the Today Show ran a segment this on the morning of September 15 featuring a cheerleader from Westfield High School in Houston who was injured during a stunt performed for a live local news broadcast. The cheerleader is fine, but the Today Show flew her to New York for the piece today.
Further sensationalizing the issue, the Today Show ran video footage of the Westfield cheerleader's accident more than a half dozen times during the two-minute segment. The Today Show played from the same script earlier this year in regards to the well-publicized incident involving a Southern Illinois University cheerleader.
I am sure you will agree that such alarmist coverage is unnecessarily
one-dimensional. It communicates the message that cheerleading is dangerous, without suggesting what can be done to ensure cheerleader safety.
We learned of both cheerleading segments on the Today Show in advance, and we attempted to work with the producers to include an AACCA representative to discuss our safety guidelines. Both times we were rebuffed.
I have once again lodged a complaint with the Today Show at the highest levels. We are requesting the Today Show work with us on a future segment to feature safety guidelines and tips for parents.
I will continue to keep you apprised of the results of these efforts.
Considering the dramatic nature of the Westfield cheerleader accident, it is possible that some of your local media outlets may pick up the story and you may be contacted.
I want to make it clear that serious violations of AACCA's safety guidelines occurred during the Westfield cheerleading squad's performance. This accident might never have happened had there been qualified supervision, and an adherence to our guidelines. Specifically:
1. AACCA's safety guidelines specifically state that all basket tosses
must be performed on a grass or matted surface. Westfield performed on an asphalt parking lot.
2. AACCA says that all cheerleading performances should take place in a well-lit environment, free from excessive noise or distractions. Again, Westfield performed in a dimly light parking lot before dawn.
3. AACCA standards mandate that all cheerleading performances be done under the supervision of a qualified coach. Westfield's coach was not present during the performance.
It should be noted that, as we understand it, the Westfield coach was not available to supervise the early morning performance for the local news crew where the Westfield High cheerleader fell. She asked the school administration to cancel the local news segment. The administrators chose to ignore the advice of the coach and by doing so placed the cheerleader in unreasonable risk of serious injury.
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