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The AACCA has joined forces with the Columbus Children's Research Institute
and other cheerleading organizations to conduct a comprehensive cheerleading
injury study.
The deadline for participation is June 30, and all coaches are invited to
participate. The study is looking for a cross-section of cheerleading, including
youth, school, all star and college cheerleading. All information is
confidential, and only aggregate information will be released from the study.
"It is imperative that we get good participation in this study for the future
of cheerleading," stated Jim Lord, Executive Director of the American
Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators. "Brenda Shields and her
team at CCRI have done a remarkable job working with experts in the industry to
develop a system that will truly be able to give us a picture of what injury
rates really are and where changes can be made to keep cheerleading safe for the
young people that participate."
The study is conducted entirely on the internet, with coaches completing a
weekly report on the number of practices, participants and any qualifying
injuries for that reporting period. If there are injuries, the coach is asked
for more detailed information, such as the body part, severity of the injury,
the environment, the skill being performed, and other valuable assessment data
that will help those that make safety rules and regulations. Individual
participants are given a code number by the coach so that no individual
information is ever entered into the system.
Coaches of multiple teams can choose to only enter one team in the study, or
they can enter every team in the study. Individual coaches will be able to track
their own information and compare it to the aggregate data.
To participate, go to the study website and enter. Once confirmed, the
coach will complete a short training program and can then begin entering data
weekly. Even if there is no practice or other participation until later in the
season, coaches must enter the study before the end of June to participate.
Coaches that participate in the year-long study will receive a voucher good
for half of the AACCA National Coaches Conference or half off of safety
certification!
Study Website:
http://rissurvey.ccri.ws/TakeSurvey.asp?SurveyID=3KKnm32K8l651
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