HOUSTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Today's U.S. cheerleaders can be as athletically gifted as the team they're rooting for and their tough physical demands can be just as risky.
Over the past two decades cheerleading has changed greatly, the Christian Science Monitor said, with accent more on muscle than megaphones. But, with the shift to more gymnastic, circus-like feats, safety and liability become huge issues.
Colleges and high schools are taking a long, hard look at cheerleading and some schools are having to "ground" their squad, as in the case of Prairie View A&M in Texas where a "basket toss" left a cheerleader with a broken neck.
Some are battling lawsuits, like the University of Nebraska which agreed to a $2 million injury settlement. Duke has forbidden stunts since the 1980s.
Because cheerleading is not considered a sport in most states, it's not subject to the safety regulations that govern football and basketball. But, because of the immense popularity of the endeavor, plus scholarships at some colleges, the daredevil drive goes on.
