Anonymous wrote:It depends on the team. At our east coast private, injuries wouldn’t be an issue as the cheerleaders literally just stand on the sidelines and do cheers…no pyramids or tumbling. Sports are required and it’s the low skill alternative for girls who don’t run or play tennis, soccer, or field hockey.

This is how I perceived OP’s DD’s school to be. Many, many, cheer teams don’t do dangerous stunts or tumbling. There might be a couple girls on the team that can do a back handspring, but that’s the extent of it. The rest of literally just cheering, doing cute jumps, kicks. That sort of thing. Not dangerous

It depends on the team. At our east coast private, injuries wouldn’t be an issue as the cheerleaders literally just stand on the sidelines and do cheers…no pyramids or tumbling. Sports are required and it’s the low skill alternative for girls who don’t run or play tennis, soccer, or field hockey.

My daughter is doing middle school cheer - she likes it well enough. It’s a small school so she knows most of the girls. Their stunts are pretty mild. No tumbling and basket drops. My daughter is a base. They are more dance oriented but created an awesome 6 7 cheer. 🤣

Ask parents of older girls at the school about their injury rates. This varies so much by school you aren't going to get good info on a message board with posters from who knows where. It's very specific to the school and the coaching team.

Anonymous wrote:I find that cheerleaders are the butt of many jokes and aren't taken seriously as people and most certainly as athletes. I would steer my daughter away.

You wish. Sorry your daughter couldn't make the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former cheerleader here, only admitted on an anonymous board, never in real life, even in my 50s now. If they are a flyer, have them do gymnastics instead, because the chance of serious injuries are too great in cheer. Also - it's a group of shallow, catty, clique girls - not who you probably want your daughter hanging out with.

This is a WILD statement and not at all true in my or my two girls’ experience.

My guess is PP is telling us she was a mean girl in the 80s.

OP, sounds great. I was a cheerleader in HS in MoCo. Never regretted it. Two years and then I wanted to do other things.