The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) is continuing the effort to make cheerleading as safe as possible. Most recently, they have announced new safety standards for cheerleading competitions for the 2010-2011 competitive season. All organizations are asked to put these standards into practice as soon as possible!

The new standards include requirements for spotters on the competition floor, proper environment for the activity of cheerleading, the need for appropriate equipment including mats, border area, and ceiling height, and emergency medical technicians available at all times.

“In working with Emergency Medical Technicians, Certified Athletic Trainers, and cheerleading experts to develop these standards, our goal is to ensure that competitive cheerleading events are as safe an environment as possible for cheerleaders and are consistent with other athletic contests,” Executive Director of AACCA Jim Lord says. “We believe when followed correctly, these standards will improve the safety of all participants. Most importantly, they address the prevention of injuries in the first place and provide for a vital tool of having trained personnel in the event that an emergency situation does arise.”

In addition to upping the standards for competition events, AACCA has also updated its Emergency Action Plan to be used by teams at practice and games and made it available to the public. Lord recommends that all teams renew their Emergency Plan every season and practice it throughout the year to ensure all participants are aware of the procedures in case a serious injury happens.

The Emergency Action Plan is available in the Resources section on the AACCA site as well as the Library section of Varsity.com. If you are a coach or advisor, print this out and go over it with your team. For more information on safety rules and guidelines, visit http://www.aacca.org.   Get the latest updates and announcements at www.cheersafety.org, AACCA's blog.