All-Star Usasf Routine Interruption

[5-6-7-8]

I am guessing this basically prevents the athlete from continuing for the day with any head injury. I would assume an outside doctor would need to make that assessment, and I think that would (and should) be beyond the scope of anything that onsite medical staff can treat.

If it's a two day competition, this would encourage the athlete to get checked out. I can't imagine a lot of doctors would clear an athlete that has a head injury, so this would at least help prevent someone suffering from a concussion from jumping right back in.

I really like these changes.

Gotcha! And I agree, I'm glad there is now a guideline for handling injuries.

 

[omgitssydthekid]

This past weekend at America's Best in Kansas City, a girl on our junior 2 team came down from her stunt and collapsed on the floor and started crying. If it had been any other girl I wouldn't have really be concerned but this girl has OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) or brittle bone disease. She had come done from the stunt a little too hard for her bones (wouldn't have effected anybody with normal bones in anyway) and ended up snapping her femur. I, of course, had the pleasure of running the music for that routine. Me and another coach were standing on the side by the music table and she other coach was screaming at the music guy to turn off the music and he wouldn't so I reached over and turned it off myself. I knew it was unnecessary to get everyone away from her as soon as possible or else she would risk further injury. Not the best idea but I was afraid that if I didn't stop the music, it wouldn't have gotten stopped because of other recent events that have been brought to light.

 

[cupieqt]

Here is a hard lesson some people really need to learn bc I deal with unfair crap all the time. Life isn't fair. I know--Shocker.

Spit happens and kids get injured. Doing the routine full out is what they are trained to do. Most teams would be given plenty of time to rework or teach a fill in before they have to go on again. I'm sure 30 minutes to an hours worth of rest is plenty of time to go full out again without problems.

When bad stuff happens we can either whine about it or we can fix it the best we can and move on. I know my athletes will follow my lead, so I prefer to teach them to suck it up and soldier through it.

 

[cupieqt]

coachlex1019 my above post is not directed toward you. I came on here to post this after hearing some complaints elsewhere. I went back and read the thread and saw your posts regarding going full out again. I understand your points and they are well thought out and valid--not whining by any means

 

[Ashley]

Here is a hard lesson some people really need to learn bc I deal with unfair crap all the time. Life isn't fair. I know--Shocker.

Spit happens and kids get injured. Doing the routine full out is what they are trained to do. Most teams would be given plenty of time to rework or teach a fill in before they have to go on again. I'm sure 30 minutes to an hours worth of rest is plenty of time to go full out again without problems.

When bad stuff happens we can either whine about it or we can fix it the best we can and move on. I know my athletes will follow my lead, so I prefer to teach them to suck it up and soldier through it.

Yep. Happened to my team at worlds last year, right at the end of the routine. The only thing we had left was a quick and easy basket section and the dance. The officials never pressured us to hurry up with our changes (we had to rework almost the whole routine remember) and we were able to compete again. It sucked, yes, we didn't want to run full out again - we're old - but having an hour between performances meant we were perfectly capable of running full out again. If we only had to mark the routine, those would have been the best tuck tosses you've ever seen at the end of the routine, and that's just not what they ever look like at that point.

 

[yojaehs]

I def think this is a great step in the right direction. I just want to know how the "injured athlete" is supposed to stop the music?

 

[chyeeaaa69]

I def think this is a great step in the right direction. I just want to know how the "injured athlete" is supposed to stop the music?

I guess maybe if they signal to stop it? Even just putting a hand up like they need help? Idk

 

[kristenthegreat]

A step in the right direction, and room for finagling. Well done.

 

[xpressjag]

I don't see this industry being driven by money moreso than any other industry. In fact, I would suspect it's less than driven by the dollar sign than most.

Agreed.. People don't get into cheer for the money. There are other jobs with a lot less stress and double the pay. We do it because we love it

 

[xpressjag]

Prior to Usasf making this rule most companies allow teams to go again and be judged at the point where the athlete got hurt. I see nothing wrong with that policy.

 

[Just-a-Mom]

First off I wanted to come on here and publicly eat my words and possible even apologize and say I was wrong. On the Cali Aces thread I really gave it to USASF and said they wouldn't do a thing about this. I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm wrong, so here it is: I was wrong. It's really nice to see this issue was addressed so quickly after that incident. Even if we can nitpick the recommendations to death, at least something was said and done to at least try to prevent this from happening.

On a side note, omgitssydthekid ummmmm... why is someone with OI doing cheerleading????? I understand parents wanting their child to feel "normal" and allowing them to participate in activities with other kids, but seriously? A dangerous sport like cheerleading is NOT the place for that. Shame on whoever allowed that to happen. I try not to question other people's parenting, but that post just really rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[12stepCheermom]

I am guessing this basically prevents the athlete from continuing for the day with any head injury. I would assume an outside doctor would need to make that assessment, and I think that would (and should) be beyond the scope of anything that onsite medical staff can treat.

If it's a two day competition, this would encourage the athlete to get checked out. I can't imagine a lot of doctors would clear an athlete that has a head injury, so this would at least help prevent someone suffering from a concussion from jumping right back in.

I really like these changes.

There is a concussion protocol we follow at our school that's actually mandated by NC law. Its extensive. It involves outside specialists, baseline evaluations, and usually takes at least a week...more like two...before students are clear to return to activity. By activity I mean...everything. They're usually out of school, banned from reading, tv, Internet etc and have the phase back in on half day schedules before they even get back to school full time....let alone athletics.

So, if there's any suspicion of a head injury or concussion that stops a routine.....from the process we use in NC that athlete should definitely not be back on the mat during that competition (either day) and likely not even at practice for a span of time either.

 

[CheerBank]

There is a concussion protocol we follow at our school that's actually mandated by NC law. Its extensive. It involves outside specialists, baseline evaluations, and usually takes at least a week...more like two...before students are clear to return to activity. By activity I mean...everything. They're usually out of school, banned from reading, tv, Internet etc and have the phase back in on half day schedules before they even get back to school full time....let alone athletics.

So, if there's any suspicion of a head injury or concussion that stops a routine.....from the process we use in NC that athlete should definitely not be back on the mat during that competition (either day) and likely not even at practice for a span of time either.

As it should be everywhere. Concussions are not something to mess with.

 

[cheermommaRN]

First off I wanted to come on here and publicly eat my words and possible even apologize and say I was wrong. On the Cali Aces thread I really gave it to USASF and said they wouldn't do a thing about this. I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm wrong, so here it is: I was wrong. It's really nice to see this issue was addressed so quickly after that incident. Even if we can nitpick the recommendations to death, at least something was said and done to at least try to prevent this from happening.

On a side note, omgitssydthekid ummmmm... why is someone with OI doing cheerleading????? I understand parents wanting their child to feel "normal" and allowing them to participate in activities with other kids, but seriously? A dangerous sport like cheerleading is NOT the place for that. Shame on whoever allowed that to happen. I try not to question other people's parenting, but that post just really rubbed me the wrong way.

I wont lie as a nurse that works with ortho kids all the time this shocked the pants off me! Most of our kids risk injury just walking let alone cheering...and stunting? Are you out of your mind?! The only thing I can assume is she is mild since OI can vary in severity or she was talking about a special needs team.

 

[ASCheerMan]

I def think this is a great step in the right direction. I just want to know how the "injured athlete" is supposed to stop the music?

In most cases, the injured athlete isn't the one to call attention to the injury and have the music stopped. But we wanted to have it in writing that they had the ability to do so.