After being blasted on Twitter all weekend for grounding the Gator cheerleaders, the University of Florida athletic association is finally explaining its decision.
Gator cheerleaders were told Friday that they could no longer perform acrobatic stunts and tumble during games. The decision to ground the squad “was not one that was made lightly,” athletic association spokesman Steve McClain said today in an emailed statement.
“Instead of waiting for a tragedy to occur, we are taking a proactive stance to protect the cheerleaders, who represent the University of Florida with enthusiasm and class, and allow them to lead cheers at Gator games for years to come,” he said.
Cheerleaders linked to decision to an accident last week at an Orlando Magic game. After losing her footing on a teammate’s shoulders and falling on her head, a Magic cheerleader fractured three vertebrae and broke a rib.
UF cheerleaders turned to Twitter to protest the decision to ground their team, using the hashtag #UngroundUFCheer.
“It’s a sad day in UF cheer history that we will no longer have the privilege to perform stunts and tumbling for Gator fans #ungroundUFcheer,” cheerleader Haley Violetta tweeted.
“UF cheerleaders are no longer allowed to stunt and tumble..first we aren’t a real sport now we are too dangerous? #what #UngroundUFCheer,” cheerleader Liz Garcia tweeted.
Senior cheerleader Tarin Moses tweeted Saturday, “Woke up this morning thinking that everythin that happened yesterday didn’t. Can’t believe I can’t tumble out the team for my last home game.”
McClain noted in his statement that Gator cheerleading is not a varsity competitive sport, but instead is a support group intended to generate spirit at university events.
“We understand that the modern day culture of cheerleading encourages acrobatic stunts which require tremendous athletic skill,” he said. “The reality, however, is that the danger associated with these types of stunts is simply not worth the risk to the cheerleaders or to the University of Florida.”
UF does have a competitive cheerleading club that participates in national competitions. Ashley Engelbert, president of the club, said that she views injuries as part of any sport.
“If someone blows out their knee in football, they’re not going to ban tackling,” she said.
As a staff member with the Universal Cheerleading Association, Engelbert teaches cheerleading camps for high school students. She said dangerous moves have been banned if found to be linked to injuries, such as the “double down” dismount in which a tossed cheerleader twists twice before being caught.
“In all honesty, each year everything gets safer and safer,” she said.
UPDATE: More on this story can be found here.
