Varsity, one of CheerSafe’s member organizations, is devoted to safety at their educational camps this summer.
Before the camp season even starts, each instructor must attend a rigorous multiple-day training session that covers best practices for cheerleading safety, including proper spotting and building techniques as well as training in skill progressions. However, prior to attending this training, instructors must first complete the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (AACCA) Certification Course. Once they have passed the AACCA course and their own training program, only then are they are allowed to serve as instructors for Varsity summer camps, under the brands Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), and United Spirit Association (USA).
Once at the camps, instructors not only demonstrate safety techniques throughout the camp, they also teach the high school and college cheerleaders how to stay safe throughout the camp and into the rest of their school year.
The instructors also teach cheerleaders the stunt progressions and the importance of following them. They stress that no matter how skilled they are, it’s important to start with the basics and work their way up at each practice. This not only helps warm up their bodies, but also reinforces using the correct technique.
Cheerleaders are also taught other important safety lessons like:
- Only stunting on approved surfaces.
- If a coach isn’t around, no cheerleaders should attempt to a stunt or skill.
- Knowing their role in their Emergency Action Plan.
Cheerleaders aren’t the only ones who learn about safety at camp; their coaches do, too. Each day at camp, coaches attend a Coaches Meeting and learn how to ensure their program’s safety. The instructors will transfer their knowledge about skill and spotting technique to the coaches. The coaches will develop their Emergency […]