Netflix "Cheer" series - AIBU to find it horrifying?

[XelaM]

Just finished watching the "Cheer" Nexflix docu-show about cheerleading at Nevarra Junior College. What on earth...?! Has anyone seen this? I may have gone mad, but the training looks absolutely horrific! These kids (girls in particular) are truly risking their lives and that no one broke their neck on camera was just good luck. The number of injuries is insane and they do life-threatening stunts on concrete floor with a thin matt on top. They seem to just be told to get on with it and when girls keep getting dropped (on their heads most of the time) they simply replace them. That's not how gymnasts are trained at all! Why is this allowed? Am I missing something?

I haven't seen but that sounds terrifying

Lots of sport is dangerous

Wow gymnastics/trampolining are scary enough. That sounds a whole 'nother level!

American cheerleading has long been known to be a dangerous, demanding and challenging sport. Akin to gymnastics, with less safety.

It's certainly been raised and discussed, and is a well-known debatable issue as with many high school sports.

@Marriedtothesilverfox Absolutely and my daughter rides horses and I'm very much into figure skating, but all those dangerous sports take precautions! You would not be put on a mad racing horse if you're a novice and just asked to get on with it.

In this show, absolutely zero safety precautions are taken. These kids get thrown in the air on basically concrete floor and when they get dropped (which happens A LOT on this show) so be it

I saw it, it was a really good insight into the world of cheerleading and the incredible skills these young men and women have. I winced at the injuries, they were significant and life-changing but for some, the risks are worth it.

Here ya go: wtbjc.com/blog-post-base/is-cheerleading-the-most-dangerous-high-school-and-collegiate-sport

Is Cheerleading the most dangerous high school sport? Injury statistics say yes.

Even the show prompted opinion pieces such as this:
www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/01/athletes-cheer-deserve-better/605326/

It was a while ago I watched it, but I did feel that the coach exploited the needs of some vulnerable students for a parent for her own gain, and didn't really care about their welfare.

"According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, cheerleading caused 65 percent of the “catastrophic” injuries suffered by female athletes in America from 1982 to 2009—including head and spine injuries, which can lead to paralysis or death.

In high schools, many local athletic leagues restrict the kinds of stunts that cheerleading squads are permitted to perform, recognizing that the limited safety and training resources of most schools prevent their cheerleaders from safely completing the most dangerous moves."

I haven't seen the show, but Texans are lunatics about competitive cheerleading. It's a lot more restrained and safer at most colleges and universities. I'm sure Nevarra was chosen because it's an extreme example.

@Sirinn Thank you! I so agree with the perception of the show in your second article. But there were many many more scenes of injuries that were not mentioned in the article

I feel like you should have watched Bring It On in a bit of light hearted prep…

Anyone trying out for a place at the level has been participating for years and absolutely knows how dangerous it is and what will be expected of them. It isn't a surprise to them at all.

Many do quit/stay competing at a lower level due to the risks involved.

Yes sorry just read everyone's comments. The coach seemed horrific - not in the sense that she shouted at them or was strict. She was just completely indifferent for their health or welfare and it's different to the way coaches behave in the more regulated dangerous sports

I watched it when it came out last year - binge watched it while on the sofa with what I now think was Covid in February 2020!

I agree it was extreme, but no more so than any other competitive training programme.

The coach was strict and a real taskmaster, but the way she talked about “her boys” (several openly gay male cheerleaders in a very conservative community) and how she wouldn’t let anyone mess with them, you knew she did care for those kids.

@CaveMum She did SAY she cared about "her boys" but certainly not about their health. The stunts they do are a lot more dangerous than those that gymnasts do and the way they train those stunts just seems completely lax without any of the precautions gymnasts would take

My dc has trained in this sport since they were 4 and have competed in the USA at the Worlds and Summit (junior).

They know the risks. They love the sport.

It is huge in the UK now and getting bigger every year.

And in fact On July 20, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in favor of granting full recognition to the International Cheer Union (ICU) and cheerleading will be eligible to apply to be included on the Olympics program.

I've spent thousands!

It is the most wonderful sport ever!!

@TartanBonnet Oh wow, that sounds so impressive! But is the show an accurate reflection of how they train? Seemed to lack any safety measures

@TartanBonnet

My dc has trained in this sport since they were 4 and have competed in the USA at the Worlds and Summit (junior).

They know the risks. They love the sport.

It is huge in the UK now and getting bigger every year.

And in fact On July 20, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in favor of granting full recognition to the International Cheer Union (ICU) and cheerleading will be eligible to apply to be included on the Olympics program.

I've spent thousands!

It is the most wonderful sport ever!!

My DD does cheer and i am so pleased that it is finally being recognised for the sport that it is. The skills are amazing and the competition even in the UK is fierce. It’s a great discipline to learn and an amazing tea sport.

I haven't seen the programme for a year or so but can't really remember.

I do seem to remember it was pretty similar to UK training. When my dc started they trained on "dead floor" which means a floor without a spring system.

But now a lot of Cheer Teams actually have their own gyms and they are all sprung floored.

However at higher levels it's still quite dangerous. At every cheer comp you see them all with their broken bones.

It's a wonderful sport though and completely safe at the lower levels it's great for team work and confidence.

My DC trains about 10-15 hours a week. There is something for everyone too. Bigger less agile kids can be bases, small skinny ones can be flyers.

Horse riding is definitely more dangerous than cheering, no doubt about it!

I have friends with daughters who do cheerleading in this country. It’s a sport, yes it can be dangerous but no more than other sports, gymnastics, diving, boxing etc.

@XelaM I think it represents every sport that comes with a college scholarship. It's full time sport with a bit of academics thrown in.

@OaxacaChihuahua Not sure if the clip will work, but stunts like these on dead floor when the girls get dropped on a regular basis make me think it's really not safe

My DD is hoping to get to Summit, would like have been there this year but of course Covid ruined that 😭 she's now dropped out of the junior team and just going with seniors as she's bordering on the age limit. Missed her chance to try out for England Juniors cos of Covid.