Education will not be enough to expose the cheer industry for all the dark corners...the cheer industry has not cleansed from within and victims are hesitant, afraid, to come forward. 'The Wizard of Oz'...those within the hierarchy, put forth mandates and rules as if it is for the betterment of the industry...they claim the change is for safety or for industry growth. It is geared 100% towards the top company and their needs. Example: There is no organization in the cheer industry that has the proper tax structure to apply to the USOPC for membership and to be under SafeSport rules. USASF requires (for $20) all to take the SS course, but if there is an issue, reply to [email protected]. There is NO other sport that is allowed to police itself. Ricky Despain was a member of USASF for around 10 years or so....AND he has been a registered sex-offender for al least that long...how does this slip by the radar?....because the rule-making bodies are going through the motions...setting out rules that will enhance the top...screw child-athlete safety! Go to: BreakTheCheerSilence.org. There are over 88 cheer sexual arrests that have shown up online....USASF only lists 14.... And the school sideline cheer programs should be sidelined....and competitive teams should be regulated...why do sideline cheer athletes need to perform the same skills as competitive?...grass surfaces are being used and are not safe...they are still in the rule book because that is what summer camps...a vital part of the top company needs to run their summer camps...What I will agree with is EDUCATION, and good people, are the best regulators around. Whether #Metoo, Smoking, Vaping, Concussions, Opioid Crisis, etc. the biggest changes have happened when people are educated. As with concussions, that information didn't come from a sport governing body, the information that truly impacted people came from the documentary Peter Landesman wrote and produced. #Metoo didn't come from a government group, it came from women that were tired of the silence and shame. Title IX doesn't come without its own controversies and is being challenged not only by the accused, but the victims, as well. Public schools are struggling to meet regulatory math, science and reading scores with their current budgets, and as I said in my first statement, I believe the majority of schools would be forced to ground their cheer programs if regulated. There is no money just sitting around waiting to "afford cheerleaders the opportunity to know and utilize protective measures." Honestly, I hope you're right and I'm wrong, and thank you, I love a great discussion and appreciate your input, as well.
@dat.jpp the above video was put together and articulated well, however, there really wasn't anything to expose. Varsity created businesses to support their businesses (camps, comps and product), from there, it opened the door for private gym owners and other cheer related businesses. Currently, there is no sport to take back, because the score sheet, age grids, safety regulations, etc. continue to evolve every year to adapt to cheers fast growth, skill level, and safety needs. If the IOC fully recognizes the ICU as a sport, I believe it will cause another huge evolution from the top down. Like everything though, unfortunately, it takes a lot of money and patience to get there.